Chapter 1

I noticed the surveillance footage on the phone glitching several times, with my husband Edward Zucker's voice coming through. "I think we can just get her a decent grave plot. It's the least I can do for Maddie since her parents have been helping me out for the past three years."

That surveillance footage cut off completely after that.

I declined the repair service and went home as if nothing had happened.

Edward gently wrapped his arms around me. "You haven't been doing well since your parents passed away, so Mom and Dad came especially to look after you, Maddie."

He had clearly brought his parents—Victor Zucker and Mary Smith—over to kill me!

I looked at Edward in a daze, recalling how he had never spoken harshly to me in the three years we had been married. He wouldn't even let me do the housework, saying, "I want to cherish and protect you for as long as I live, Maddie."

I recalled how Mom and Dad had always told me that I had married a good man, which prompted them to pour their money and energy into building his career. I then remembered Edward's declaration about killing me, sending a shudder through my whole body.

Edward didn't notice anything unusual and casually asked, "Have you finished the paperwork for inheriting your parents' estate, Maddie?"

I replied calmly, "It's all taken care of."

Edward was grinning from ear to ear, as if my death had already happened and the money were already his.

I had no intention of dying, though, so I had to make sure the person who deserved it died instead.

Mary was cooking in the kitchen.

I could smell a faint hint of cilantro, which I happened to be allergic to. I walked into the kitchen without giving anything away.

Mary turned around and immediately went pale with fright, the pale green liquid still dripping from her hand.

I held her steady and said, "You should take a break, Mom. How could I let you do the work here?"

Mary hid her hands behind her back, letting out a nervous smile.

I decided to take a page from her book.

I quietly opened the mistakenly purchased seasoning that contained peanuts once she was gone and carefully sprinkled it over each dish.

When it was dinnertime, I hesitated for a moment before finally picking up some of the eggs I had cooked myself.

Edward, Mary, and Victor picked up their cutlery and began eating, looking visibly disappointed.

I smiled faintly and said, "Mom's cooking skills are amazing. She actually blended cilantro into a juice and mixed it into the dishes so that I wouldn't notice."

Mary looked offended. "I just forgot this one time. Is it really such a big deal? I only added cilantro because it brings out the flavor in the food. I just wanted you to have an enjoyable dinner. Why can't you see that I meant well, Maddie?

Victor snapped at Edward, "You're just going to watch your wife mistreat your mother like that?"

Edward's expression hardened as he slammed his hand on the dining table.

"Your parents have been dead for two months already, yet you're still acting like some pampered wealthy heiress, Maddie! You're always making a fuss about everything! I've never even heard of anyone dying from a cilantro allergy, so what's wrong with adding it to the food?"

He deliberately brought up Mom and Dad's deaths to reprimand me. He was truly my "wonderful" husband!

Edward became even more furious after seeing how upset I looked. "You'd better apologize to Mom right now! You'll be dependent on me from now on, so you'd better think twice before pissing me off; otherwise, you—"

He suddenly trailed off. He clutched his chest and fell to the floor, his body convulsing as red blotches appeared all over him.

"Edward!" Victor was horrified, only for himself to collapse onto the floor a moment later.

Mary stared at the scene in sheer terror, shaking uncontrollably.

Edward weakly grabbed my pant leg. "W-What happened to us?"

I smacked my forehead and cried out, echoing what Edward and Mary had said earlier. "I simply forgot for a moment that you and Dad have a peanut allergy. Is it really such a big deal? I've never even heard of anyone dying from a peanut allergy, so I didn't think much of it."