Chapter 3

The memory of my daughter's broken body in that alley flashed through my mind.

Then the image from my past life—Vivian and Marcus wrapped around each other after I jumped, laughing about the Maldives.

Rage exploded behind my eyes. My throat made a grinding, animal sound.

But the fury burned so hot it turned ice-cold.

I understood them now. The Smith family and Marcus—greedy, ruthless, and desperate to keep up appearances. They wanted my money and to be hailed as saints.

Exposing them outright would be too easy.

No. I wanted them destroyed.

I forced my hands to stop shaking and pulled out my phone. My thumb hovered over three numbers.

Then I looked up at the casket. My voice came out soft, almost gentle.

"How exactly did Vivian die? Which hospital? Do we have a death certificate?"

"What are you implying?" Dad snapped back immediately, eyes flashing with suspicion.

"It was your fault! You overslept and were late. She was driving you to work when the crash happened!"

"She threw herself over you right before impact. Died protecting you till her last breath!"

"Is that so?" I stared him down.

"But I remember falling asleep out of nowhere that day. When I woke up, you were all crying. I never even got to see her body. Doesn't that seem strange?"

The room of relatives froze. Then murmurs started.

"Yeah, now that you mention it... I didn't see her either."

"They brought her straight from the hospital into the casket."

"Isn't that kind of rushed?"

"Who buries someone the same day they die?"

Marcus's expression darkened. His stare could've drilled holes through me.

Dad raised his voice, scrambling. "That's because your sister's body was mangled! I didn't want to traumatize everyone!"

"She's right there in the casket! How could we fake that?!"

The relatives nodded along.

"True. Who would joke about a dead body?"

"I helped close the lid myself. There's definitely someone in there."

"Clara, you're overthinking this."

I smiled—slow, cold, sharp.

"I never got to say goodbye properly to her."

I turned toward the casket.

"So right now—I'm going to see my dear sister one last time."

I reached for the lid.