When I finally exhausted myself, he patted me on the shoulder and tried to comfort me.
“The mortuary van is here. You should handle Amy’s funeral. Julia’s frightened, so I’ll take her to the hospital for a check–up.”
He didn’t hesitate for a second.
He walked past Amy’s body, holding Julia, stopping only briefly before walking away with long strides.
I stared at his retreating figure in disbelief.
Julia and Evelyn turned back to smirk at me.
I gritted my teeth in hatred, wanting nothing more than to rush over and take them down with me.
But right now, I had to make sure Amy was laid to rest properly.
As for the rest, I would deal with them later!
By the third day, Amy’s body was about to be cremated.
Antonio hadn’t shown up at all, nor did he even call.
I held back my anger and called him.
1:56 PM d
<
By the third day, Amy’s body was about to be cremated.
Antonio hadn’t shown up at all, nor did he even call.
I held back my anger and called him.
“Sorry, babe, Julia’s heart condition is worsening, and Evelyn can’t handle it alone. You’ll have to take care of Amy’s arrangements on your
own.”
I hung up the phone immediately.
I didn’t even have the energy to argue with him.
After burying Amy’s ashes, I came home.
I noticed Amy’s room had been rummaged through.
My anger flared up, and I stormed into the living room, grabbing Julia and demanding loudly, “Did you go into Amy’s room? Did you take her
necklace?”
As I spoke, I noticed the gemstone bracelet on her wrist.
A bad feeling immediately crept into my chest.
“Miria, you scared me! Antonio, help!” Julia panicked and tried to cover the bracelet.
But my grip on her wrist was firm, and all she could do was helplessly scream.
Antonio and Evelyn rushed out of the study, still looking a bit disheveled.
When they saw my dark expression, Antonio quickly pulled Julia behind him and started shouting at me.
“Miria Carlson, that’s enough! You haven’t even figured out what’s going on, and you’re acting like a madwoman, accusing her.
“Amy’s room isn’t even being used. What’s the big deal if Julia went in and played with some things?
“You scared her! The fortune–teller said that would harm Amy’s luck, so I had a bracelet made for Julia using Amy’s necklace. It’s for Amy’s own good, to help her gather good fortune for her next life.”
Antonio spoke as though it was the most reasonable thing in the world as if I was the one being unreasonable.
“That’s nonsense! No one can take Amy’s things!”
I snapped.
I let my emotions take over, yanking the bracelet off Julia’s wrist in a frenzy.
Her wrist turned bright red from my grip.
“It hurts, Miria, please stop hitting me!”
Julia’s acting was nowhere near as convincing as Evelyn’s.
She cried and screamed for a long time, but no tears came.
Evelyn, on the other hand, was much more skilled. In front of Antonio, she threw herself against the wall.
“I can’t live like this. Mrs. Carlson, if you want someone to pay for Amy’s death, take my life instead.”
“Evelyn, don’t do this!”
Antonio’s eyes widened in shock.
His face turned pale, and he rushed over to hold her.
1:56 PM
<
The house was filled with wailing, and all I could feel was my anger burning hotter.
“Stop pretending! If you’re going to die, just do it already!”
I grabbed a vase, ready to smash it at them.
Evelyn and Julia huddled together, clearly terrified.
Antonio was quicker than me. He snatched the vase from my hands and swung a wooden chair at my head.
“You are crazy!”
The last thing I saw before losing consciousness was Antonio’s furious face, his teeth gritted as he cursed at me.
When I woke up, I found myself strapped to a bed in a psychiatric hospital.
The gemstone bracelet was gone.
He looked down at me, sighing in helpless resignation.
“The only way to ensure Evelyn and Julia’s safety is to lock you up here. Don’t blame me.”
I didn’t look at him again until his figure disappeared through the door.
I smirked inwardly.
I knew he would come back to beg me to get out.
Chapter 3
During my time in the psychiatric hospital, I obediently followed all the rules.
But secretly, I would spit out my medication. Not only did I avoid suffering, but I also ended up with some unexpected gains.
Finally, by the second month, Antonio came.
It had been a while since we last saw each other. His hair had turned completely gray, and his face was lined with fine wrinkles and
exhaustion.
For the first time, he lowered his usual proud stance in front of me, his voice carrying a tone of pleading.
“Miria, Julia’s heart disease has worsened. The doctor says she needs open–heart surgery. The risks are extremely high, but you’re the only one who can perform it.
“Saving her will bring good fortune. Please, let go of any personal grudges and think of it as helping Amy accumulate some blessings for her next life.”
I stayed silent for a long time.
Just as Antonio thought I wouldn’t agree and was about to try again, the nurse came in with the medication.
This was the moment I had been waiting for.
I immediately started trembling, pretending to be terrified and hid behind Antonio,
“I agree. Please, tell them to leave. I don’t want to take the medication.”
Antonio’s eyes flickered, and a satisfied smile spread across his face.
He had no suspicions about me. That same day, he arranged for my discharge.
When I got back home, Amy’s room had been redecorated.
<
Everything in it was Julia’s.
I suppressed the hatred in my heart, hesitating before speaking.
“But I have a psychiatric record. I can’t do the operation right now.”
“That’s easy. I’ll have someone get you a new ID. You can use that to operate on Julia.
“Just send your personal details to this person, and they’ll handle it.”
Seeing that I wasn’t causing a scene, Antonio confidently sent me the contact information for the person who would help me get the new ID.
He didn’t know that this would become the biggest regret of his life.
In the days leading up to the surgery, I noticed that Antonio had started openly appearing with Evelyn at work.
Everyone could see it clearly now. Evelyn had already taken on the role of the company’s lady boss.
She used to act like she didn’t, but now, she didn’t bother pretending anymore.
Right in front of me, she whispered in Antonio’s ear.
“Antonio, I’m still worried. Miria wants Julia dead. Do you really think she will do that for her?”
Antonio looked at me thoughtfully when he heard this.
On the day of the surgery, not only did he put on his surgical scrubs to watch the procedure, but he also hired several experts to supervise me.
Their concerns weren’t unfounded: After all, I hated Julia and wouldn’t think twice about letting her die.
But with my psychiatric record, I wasn’t afraid of anything, even if it went all the way to the police.
So, I secretly hid a scalpel in my sleeve.
When the surgery reached its most critical point, I stabbed Julia’s still–beating heart with all my might…
Antonio and the experts froze in shock at my sudden move.
But I only made a feint, then continued with the surgery as if nothing had happened.
The surgery went smoothly after that.
Antonio let out a sigh of relief and smiled at me gratefully.
But when it came time to stitch up the wound, Julia died from a heart rupture.
“Miria, you must have held a grudge and deliberately killed Julia! I’m calling the police!”
As soon as we left the operating room, Evelyn lunged at me with a fierce expression.
I quickly grabbed her, pointed to Antonio behind me, and smiled coldly. “It wasn’t me. If you don’t believe me, you can ask him.
