All Chapters of The Moment of No Return: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

"Mom, I want that one."The sweet plea of my son's voice pulled me back from my thoughts.I looked down to see my three-year-old pointing eagerly at a cake behind the glass counter, his big eyes filled with hope.The saleswoman smilingly chimed in, "This is our latest creation, a peanut-flavored cake with a whopping fifty percent peanut content. And it comes with our very own handmade Chocolate-Covered Peanuts! This is the last piece we have for today.""I want that one, Mom." He wrapped his little arms around my leg, his determination clear—he was not leaving without that cake.Memories flooded my mind.It was my birthday, but it was also a haunting reminder of the past.In my previous life, my son had a severe peanut allergy attack, just an hour after eating! However, I had bought a strawberry cake, not a peanut one.I had been so careful, checking everything he ate to make sure there was not even a trace of peanuts. How did he still have an allergy reaction?My fingers pinc

A quarter of an hour later, the doctor burst in.We all stepped back, holding our breath, eyes wide with fear as the doctor rushed to save our boy.However, Brian had already slipped away. His skin was a map of red welts, his little body barely twitching then—it was a bad sign.I stood there, numb.My lack of reaction drew sharp whispers from onlookers."Joyce, your son's fighting for his life, and you're just standing there?""Are you even his mother?"Before I could muster a word, James was there, shielding me. "Sorry, Joyce is just in shock. She loves Brian more than anyone. Let's not do this now."He shot me a look meant to comfort me, the same way he always had my back.The doctor worked furiously, but time was not on our side. Brian's pupils were blown, the heart monitor flat.The doctor let out a heavy sigh, shaking his head defeatedly. "I'm sorry, we've done all we can."My mother-in-law's cry tore through the room as she begged, "There's got to be something more, do

"Joyce, have you completely lost it? You destroyed Brian's life-saving medicine. Wasn't hurting him enough for you? Now you're making up wild stories to go after my son!" Fury blazed in my mother-in-law's eyes.James, caught off guard by my accusation, managed a bitter smile. "If only it had been me. Then I could've gotten to Brian in time to stop the allergic reaction. I'd give my life for that."Tears broke through as James covered his face, his sobs slipping through his fingers.His raw emotion only fueled the crowd's anger."She's out of her mind.""She doesn't even regret what she did to her own son, and now she's trying to pin it on someone else. Why isn't she the one who's dead?""Her poor husband and mother-in-law, stuck with a heartless witch. Marrying someone like her brings misfortune to the whole family.""Shameless woman! How can you even show your face? You don't deserve to live. Just die!"Even friends could not watch without speaking out against me."Joyce, whe

Everyone was shocked. They thought I had lost my mind—a murderer calling the cops on herself.I stayed silent, waiting for the police to arrive.When they did, the crowd rushed to tell them everything."Officer, this woman is a killer! She poisoned her own son with an allergen.""She destroyed her son's life-saving medication right before my eyes, watching nonchalantly as he choked for air.""Let the record show, she's the killer!"The doctor who stayed confirmed that Brian, my son, had indeed died from suffocation—a telltale sign of a severe allergic reaction.The police stepped up to me. "Ms. Scott, we need you to come with us for questioning."I shook my head. "I'm sorry, I can't do that."My resistance seemed to stop time itself, and everyone around me thought I was signing my own death warrant.The officer's brow creased, and I did not mince words. "I didn't kill anyone."Furthermore, I'm filing a report against my husband, James—he's been plotting to kill me and my son

Joy had just begun to bloom in my mother-in-law's heart.However, then she saw Brian, lifeless and pale on the ground, and it was like a cruel splash of reality."Joyce, how could you use Brian's death to toy with me!"James chimed in, his voice measured, "I wish Brian didn't have the allergy, but we all saw his reaction."I'm aware that Brian isn't your flesh and blood, and I can only imagine how hard that hit you. You decided to get back at me and Mom by killing Brian, didn't you? I'm at a loss for words."Joyce, just own up to it. I don't have the right to hate you, but I'll be there for Brian, making things right on your behalf."James's words were laced with emotion, but they all pointed the finger at me for Brian's death.I had always known he would not confess easily. With that, I pulled out a medical report.Right after getting the cake, I rushed Brian to the hospital for a full check-up.The results were clear: Brian had no peanut allergy.The mother-in-law grabbed t