Chapter 2

The hot-spring resort was packed with people, and beside them the gifts Milton had gathered for his mother were piled into a small mountain.

The moment the guests saw me, a flicker of surprise crossed every face at once, expressions hard to read.

Milton came forward, one arm around Genevieve's waist, a glass of red wine in hand, the corner of his mouth curling into a sneer.

"Gayle, in such a rush to find your dear mother? There, she's over there——"

I followed his pointing finger and saw the woman by the pool, drenched in blood, a sight that turned my stomach.

My whole body went rigid, and I stumbled toward her.

"Mom, how are you?"

My mother-in-law had always been good to me, and the sight of her set my insides churning like ants on a hot pan.

Her whole face was matted with blood and strands of hair, her features blurred beyond recognition, only broken wisps of breath forcing their way out of her throat.

"Save me… save——"

My heart pounded wildly, and I fumbled for my phone to call an ambulance.

"Oh dear…" Genevieve pretended to lose her balance and knocked the phone clean out of my hand.

"Crack——"

The screen shattered.

She covered her mouth with false regret and apologized.

"Ah, so sorry, Gayle. Your phone's broken. Getting the old lady to the hospital will just have to wait."

"I know you won't mind, right?"

I stared her down and bent to pick up the phone.

That was when Milton stamped his foot down on it, his leather shoe grinding hard into the shattered screen.

His arm still around Genevieve, his voice was soft enough to drip.

"You don't want to take her, then don't. This old woman brought it on herself anyway. Who told her not to know when to quit, forcing her way into the resort to make trouble for you."

With that, he ordered the staff to carry the woman on the ground a little farther off, so she wouldn't spoil the party.

The attendant had just bent down when he suddenly cried out in terror. "Mr. Morton! She… she… she's not breathing!"

Milton's brow creased faintly. He drew Genevieve back half a step, then turned to look at me, the smile on his lips going colder.

"Gayle, looks like there's no need to take her to the hospital now. Shame that such an important day had to be soiled by this dead old hag."

"Couldn't even die somewhere else. Scared Genevieve half to death. What rotten luck."

His face was all impatience, as though what lay on the ground weren't a human life but an ugly stain on the floor of the banquet hall.

"Milton, have someone wipe her face clean. Take a good look at who she is before you speak."

My voice was hoarse, every word forced out of my chest.

Milton frowned and looked away in disgust.

"I wouldn't want to look at your mother's face again if my life depended on it. It makes me sick."

The housekeeper hurried over at once to back him up, her face full of fawning.

"Mr. Morton is right! The resort he bought for Miss Chavez is meant for the woman he loves to rest and enjoy herself. What business does a lowly thing like that have barging in and making a scene?"

"This old woman traded on a little old kindness to boss Mr. Morton and Miss Chavez around. She's long overdue for a lesson! And now she's died by the pool. What a jinx!"

"If you ask me, dying is exactly what she deserved. Saves us from her using that old favor to ruin things later!"

At her words, the blood shot straight to my head, and I was so furious my lips were shaking.

I stared hard at that ugly, sneering face of the housekeeper, wanting nothing more than to tear her apart.

My mother had been more than kind to this housekeeper, mailing her hometown specialties every year, calling to check in on every holiday, always setting aside a share of anything good for her.

And this was the woman who slandered her so viciously behind her back, who turned my mother's kindness into a joke.

Rage swallowed my reason, and my voice trembled.

"You're all out of your minds! Get her to the hospital now and there might still be a chance to save her, otherwise…"

Milton raised an eyebrow and laughed. "Otherwise what? You're going to call the police?"

With that he drained his glass and held out the empty one to the side. The housekeeper took it at once, respectfully.

"Gayle, you listen to me and listen well." He looked down at me, his voice lazy and cold. "Even if I stood right here and watched her take her last breath, no one could do a thing to me. Understand?"

He looked around and raised his voice. "May I ask, did anyone here see us lay a hand on this woman?"

The guests caught his meaning and chimed in one after another.

"Mr. Morton, we didn't see anything. We only know your mother-in-law forced her way into the resort and humiliated Miss Chavez."

"Right, that old woman always loved to boss people around. Ending up like this is what she deserved!"

"Even if Miss Chavez did raise a hand, it was to protect herself, to stand up for Mr. Morton. Perfectly understandable!"

In no time the praise for Genevieve and Milton rose from every side, as if today they had truly carried out justice on heaven's behalf, ridding the world of some unforgivable criminal.

Genevieve shot me a smug glance, then the next second shrank into Milton's arms with a show of injured innocence.

"Mr. Morton, but what if Gayle comes after me later because of what happened to her mother today? What then?"

Milton patted her shoulder gently.

"Don't be afraid. With me here, she wouldn't dare touch you."

With that, he ordered someone to hand two documents he'd already prepared to me.

A written pledge, and a share-transfer agreement.

He looked down at me, his tone icy.

"Gayle, this whole thing was your mother's fault to begin with. For Genevieve's safety, and to make up for the fright she got today, you'll transfer every share of every company in your name over to her. Once I'm sure Genevieve is safe, I'll consider giving them back."

His voice dropped low, carrying an order that left no room for argument.

"Be smart. Sign now, and stop making things hard for Genevieve."