Chapter 3

"Where is my mother-in-law's body?"

As soon as I got the call from the hospital, I rushed over. A doctor who couldn't stand by in silence secretly called me and said that Eugene had already secretly dealt with the body in order to cover up for Peggy.

"You're too late. Your mother-in-law's body has already been cremated," he whispered. "Dr. Shaw signed the consent form for you and even used Peggy's name to access a free body donation program. All of the organs have been harvested…"

My mind went completely blank. Had that damned lunatic Eugene completely lost his mind?

I called my father-in-law, Edison Shaw, who was on his way back to the country, while speeding toward the crematorium.

I arrived just as Amanda was about to be pushed inside.

My vision went black for a moment, and I pounded on the glass with all my strength. "Eugene, stop! Are you crazy? That's your mother!"

Eugene removed his mask and shot me a look of pure disgust. He bent down to kiss Peggy on the cheek and walked out casually.

He then slapped me hard across the face and pinned my head against the glass, making me watch as Peggy handled the body clumsily and disrespectfully. "Look closely. You refused to sign, didn't you? This is what happens when you don't."

Peggy stuck her tongue out at me, then pulled out her phone and opened some silly camera filter. She aimed it at Amanda's body, took a photo, and deliberately showed it to me.

"Ms. Beaumont, your dead mother was completely useless," she said. "I just toyed with her a bit, and now she's gone.

"At least her organs were worth something. It helped me secure my promotion. It's not a total waste, right? You should thank me. People like her are useless alive and take up space when they're dead, so I did you a favor and took care of it."

As a medical professional, Peggy didn't even have the slightest respect for the deceased.

Amanda had always treated me kindly, and I couldn't bear to see Eugene allow Peggy to humiliate her in death.

I shoved him away furiously. "Eugene! Are you insane? I've told you countless times, the person in there is your mother! What else do I have to say for you to believe me?"

Eugene frowned, refusing to accept it. "You don't need to make up excuses to hold me back. The forms are signed. It's too late to turn back. You left me no choice, or I wouldn't have gone this far."

I felt utterly helpless.

During the surgery, Eugene had handed everything over to Peggy. He stood off to the side, serving her tea and flirting while she worked. He hadn't even glanced at the patient's face.

Later, Peggy's error splattered blood all over Amanda's face, and Eugene couldn't recognize his own mother.

No matter what, we were married. I couldn't just watch him let a murderer destroy the evidence.

I shouted, "I'm not lying! My mom is perfectly fine at home, probably snacking on chips! You can call her if you don't believe me!"

Eugene hesitated for a moment before calling Mom, but the call wouldn't connect. Then it hit me—I had asked her to pick some peaches from home yesterday.

She must be out getting them and was probably on a plane with her phone set to flight mode.

Eugene's temples throbbed as he angrily hurled the phone at my face. "If you keep lying and cursing my mother, I will divorce you! Stay here and watch how your useless mother ends up with nothing left."

He turned to leave, but another doctor stepped in. "Eugene, the deceased really is your mother. If you don't believe us, you can check the medical records yourself."

Eugene slapped me across the face and snapped, "Are you insane? Did you even hire someone to act just to trick me into coming here?"

He then turned to the doctor, "Did Lorraine pay you to go along with her scheme?”

The doctor shot him a look. "If you don't believe us, wipe the body's face clean first, then speak."

Eugene froze, staring into the room. His face darkened, and he didn't dare step forward.

Could it really be true, just as I had said?

His hands trembled uncontrollably.

Peggy leaned against him, whining in a high-pitched voice. "Eugene! That old woman is terrible! She kept trying to come between us. I was only helping her mother through her last journey, and she just kept screaming and blaming me…"

She gave the body a deliberate push, and the flames instantly engulfed Amanda's head.

He stared at the body, which had been burned beyond recognition, even to his own eyes.

My vision went dark, and I nearly stumbled. "Eugene, you're beyond saving. How could you let a murderer treat your mother's body like this? I hope you don't regret it when the truth comes out."

He gripped Peggy's hand. "Do you recognize her face? Does it look like this?"

He pulled up a photo of Ananda on his phone.

Peggy cocked her head and thought for a moment, then shook it. "Nope. The patient's face is all wrinkled, the skin all stuck together. She's really old, and she looks a lot like your wife. It has to be her mom."

Eugene let out a long, relieved sigh and grinned triumphantly at me. "See, Lorraine? I told you it was your mother. Good thing she's gone, now she won't be meddling and disturbing my sleep."

Something inside me snapped. Mom had been waking early and working late every day to take care of him, and he called that meddling?

Fine.

I held up my hands. "Alright. You've signed the papers, your precious intern handled the body, and you've made your point. There's nothing left for me to argue."

Assuming I had given up, Eugene let Peggy do as she pleased.

Perhaps to get back at me, Peggy deliberately slipped and sent the body straight into the cremator. Not even the ashes could be saved.

Peggy smirked. "Eugene, I got scared and slipped a little. You won't be mad, right?"

Eugene kissed her on the cheek. "Don't worry. She got what she deserved. I wouldn't dirty your hand, Peggy. You handled it perfectly. Well done."

The two of them leaned into each other, as though they were about to kiss.

At that moment, Edison stormed in with my parents. "Where's Amanda's body? I want to see her one last time!"

I pointed at the disposal room. "Dad, I'm sorry. I couldn't stop Eugene. Mom was… You'll have to see it yourself."

Edison went pale and almost collapsed.

Dad kicked the door open, and the startled pair jumped apart.

Eugene stepped forward to confront them. When he saw Mom, his lips trembled, and all color drained from his face. "How is your mother here? Then who is this?"