Georgia crossed her arms, looking down her nose at me.
"Nat, your father brought this on himself. Don't even think about pinning this on Alex. Just be smart about it and sign the settlement."
The two sisters stood there, imperious and expectant, waiting for me to put pen to paper.
But I slid the document back across the table toward them.
"If anyone's signing this, it's you two. I'm not the one with standing here."
Roberta's voice dropped, cold and sharp. She thought I was refusing.
"Nat, don't push your luck."
"Your father was nothing but a drifter. He had no value to society whatsoever. Alex is young. He has his whole life ahead of him. Are you really going to destroy his future over a dead man?"
Georgia chimed in with a sneer. "Exactly. Your dad was just a waste of resources. If anything, Alex did the world a favor."
"You should be thanking him, not trying to shake him down."
I kept my voice level.
"You've misunderstood. What I'm saying is—the man who died is your father. This settlement agreement can only be signed by you."
Georgia's face twisted. "Have you lost your mind? How dare you say something so vile at my father's welcome-home dinner? You're cursing him!"
Roberta's composure shattered. "Nat, I've clearly been far too lenient with you all these years. That's the only explanation for this kind of disrespect. You don't even know the basics of honoring your elders."
"My father is the most important person in my life. I won't tolerate anyone disrespecting him—not even my own husband!"
She whipped around to face her bodyguard, her voice like a blade.
"Throw that old man's corpse into a septic pit."
Logan Hale hesitated, glancing at me. "Ms. Pruitt, that's... that doesn't seem right."
"He won't sign the settlement, will he?" Roberta's voice rose. "He wants to curse my father? Then I'll show him exactly what happens to anyone who disrespects him."
"Do as I say. If there are consequences, I'll bear them."
Faced with her fury, Logan didn't dare disobey. He left immediately to carry out the order.
The guests shook their heads, murmuring among themselves.
"Nat's really touched a nerve this time."
"No kidding. Ms. Pruitt's mother passed away when she was young. Herbert Pruitt raised both sisters on his own. Everyone knows he's the person she cares about most. And Nat goes and curses him at his own welcome-home party? The man's insane."
"No wonder his father's dead. With a son this ungrateful, what parent could live long?"
Their words were vicious.
They didn't affect me in the slightest.
I ignored them all and looked directly at Roberta, enunciating each word.
"Roberta. Are you sure you want to take things this far?"
She stared down at me, her gaze frigid.
"Nat, you brought this on yourself."
"Your father died because he was shameless and greedy."
"You had no right to keep cursing my father at his welcome-home dinner."
"If you ask me, your father deserved an early death for having a son as disrespectful and ungrateful as you."
The words had barely left her mouth.
My father walked into the villa.
He looked at Roberta, puzzled.
"Who died?"
