Police sirens pierced the air just as disaster loomed. Several officers rushed down the slope.
"Stop! What's going on here?"
Athena released me instantly, her face rearranging into innocence.
"Officers, you've misunderstood! She wanted to die alongside my son—I was only trying to talk her down!"
I crumpled to the ground, letting the tears flow.
"No! That's not true! She was trying to force me to die with him!"
"You lying little—" Athena lunged to clamp her hand over my mouth, but the officers seized her arms and held her back.
"All of you are coming in for questioning."
Before the officer could finish, two people in crisp suits approached the scene.
"We're from the Notary Office. Which of you scheduled the in-home appointment?" The lead notary glanced around, then added with thinly veiled judgment, "Forgive me for saying so, but the man just died. Calling for estate notarization this quickly seems... premature."
I blinked. I'd only called the police. I hadn't requested any notary services.
Athena's voice pitched higher, guilt bleeding through every syllable.
"Oh my, I had no idea you'd arrive so fast! Why don't you wait over there for a bit—he's not actually dead yet."
I nearly rolled my eyes into the back of my skull.
They couldn't wait a single moment. They were terrified my parents would learn of my death and come for the inheritance. They wanted everything signed and sealed before anyone could interfere.
The notary looked puzzled.
"But we just viewed the deceased's body. He's clearly passed. According to the will jointly executed by Mr. Stephen Delgado and Ms. Adeline Cox, upon the death of either party, all assets transfer solely to the surviving spouse."
He consulted his documents. "Mr. Delgado's estate includes one vehicle valued at approximately $220,000, one property worth $1,000,000, and roughly $200,000 in cash. All of this now belongs to Ms. Cox." He looked up. "Is there anything you'd like to add or amend?"
The corners of my mouth twitched upward. I couldn't help it.
Before the "accident," Stephen had pressured me into signing a mutual inheritance agreement. Perhaps to make his scheme appear less monstrous, he'd signed the same terms—upon death, everything went to the spouse. Parents, children, anyone else was explicitly excluded.
And now?
Every meticulous plan he'd made, every careful manipulation—all of it had become my wedding gift.
Athena's face drained of color.
"Wait, wait—there's been a mistake! Stephen isn't dead!"
"Mom!" I gasped, widening my eyes in theatrical shock. "What are you saying? I watched him jump off that cliff with my own eyes. How could he possibly be alive?"
She stammered, mouth opening and closing, unable to form a coherent response.
The notary studied her with growing suspicion. "If neither party objects to the will's terms, we can proceed with scheduling the inheritance transfer."
"Hold on!" Athena shrieked. "What inheritance transfer? Why should my son's property go to her?"
The notary sighed. "Testamentary succession takes legal precedence over statutory succession. If you wish to contest the will, you may file an appeal."
Laura's eyes darted to Athena. A rapid, desperate exchange of glances passed between them.
Finally, Athena cracked.
"Fine! My son... he's not really dead. It was staged. A fake death!"
"Fake death?" I pressed my hand to my chest, voice trembling with perfect confusion. "Mom, what does that even mean?"
Athena's gaze skittered away, unable to meet mine.
So I stripped away the pretense myself.
"Let me see if I understand." My voice went cold and precise. "Stephen put on that devoted husband act. He pressured me into signing that will. And then he faked his own death—all so I would follow him, so you could inherit my estate without lifting a finger. Is that it?"
"You're talking nonsense!" Athena spat. "We never thought any such thing! You're the delusional one—no wonder my son nearly died because of you!"
Something in me snapped into place. Clean. Final.
I was done performing.
My voice dropped to ice.
