Chapter 1

After I had gotten pregnant, my boyfriend, Ben Miller, brought me to his hometown to visit his family.

Ben's grandmother, Edith Dent, took just one glance at my swollen belly and let out a disconcerting wail. Then, she slammed her head into the living room wall.

Blood splattered across the entire wall. However, she didn't die instantly. What frightened us was that Edith's eyes were wide open. A stream of blood seeped out of each eye.

Her once kind and gentle expression was now full of horror, as though she had seen something utterly terrifying.

The scene was deeply unsettling.

Ben's mother, Betty Clark, fainted several times. Meanwhile, his father, Hank Miller, sobbed uncontrollably as he clutched Edith's body.

A neighbor had rushed over upon hearing the commotion. He kindly pointed out that Edith seemed to have something she wanted to say before passing. Thus, we all fell silent, trying to catch her final words.

But in the end, only Hank heard them. Edith whispered a secret to him and then took her last breath.

After hearing it, Hank's expression turned to sheer dread. His hands, which were still holding Edith's body, shook uncontrollably.

Breaking down, Hank shouted, "This is the end of us all!"

His reaction terrified the rest of us.

Betty stepped forward and held Hank. In a soft voice, she asked, "What did Edith say, dear?"

Hank gave us a deep look. Then, he suddenly pushed Betty aside. And before anyone could react, he threw himself at the wall with much force.

Blood splattered across the floor as Hank collapsed onto Edith's corpse. And just like her, his final expression was filled with terror.

As Hank lay dying, Betty broke down. She begged him to hold on, saying the ambulance was almost here. However, when she made out his final words, her face instantly drained of all color. She abruptly ended the call with emergency services.

From then on, Betty never said a single word about what Hank had said to her. It didn't matter who asked her. Even when the police questioned her sternly, she remained silent.

…

After Edith's and Hank's funerals were held, Ben seemed to age overnight. Exhausted, he turned to Betty and asked, "What exactly is the secret Grandma said before she died? Why did Dad end his life after hearing it?"

Tears streamed down Betty's cheeks as she stroked the family portrait. "Stop asking about it. There was no secret. Your grandmother's and father's deaths were just tragic accidents. Don't dig too deep."

Ben cried until his voice gave out. "We're talking about Dad! And Grandma, who raised me! I watched them take their own lives. How can I possibly do nothing? You at least have to tell me why!"

Feeling heartbroken for Ben, I helped him try to persuade Betty. "Edith and Hank died before our very eyes. How could we possibly be indifferent? What's more, they took their lives after learning of that secret. And you know of it too, Betty. So, we're just worried you'll—"

I knew my words were rude, but this was what I feared the most.

However, before I could finish speaking, Betty cut me off harshly. Without warning, she threw the family portrait to the ground. Her eyes were blazing with fury as she looked at me with deep hatred.

"I already told you—there's no secret at all! You two youngsters went against convention and are having a child before marriage. That's what angered them into ending their lives, okay?" Betty snapped.

At the mention of Edith's and Hank's deaths, tears began streaming down her face again. Clearly, she was more heartbroken than we were. But soon, Betty composed herself.

Taking a deep breath, she apologized to me. "I'm sorry. I was overwhelmed with grief and said things I shouldn't have. Edith and Hank both had chronic illnesses. Plus, the economy hasn't been great these past few years. Maybe they just didn't want to become a burden on you two. But enough talk of this. Suicide is nothing to be proud of. Don't bring this matter up ever again."

Betty's attitude toward this subject was cold and firm. No matter how much Ben and I pressed her, she refused to say another word on it.

Still, I couldn't shake the unease in my heart. My hand wouldn't stop trembling, even as it rested on my belly.

Edith had clearly liked me. Yet, the moment she learned I was pregnant, she took her own life.

I wanted to know why. I wanted to know what secret she had left behind.