"I lied to you."
She tossed the medicine out the window into the ornamental pond. "No!"
I watched the bottle arc and sink. My chest broke open; tears streamed down my face.
At that instant, Mrs. Shaw trembled violently. Her eyes blurred. She stretched a trembling hand and wiped my cheek. "Wendy... I'm sorry."
Her apology sounded like penance — for my shame, or for Ethan's betrayal. Then her hand fell limply.
Her shallow breaths stopped.
"Mom? Wake up! Mom!"
I shook her, desperately, but she did not respond.
Mrs. Shaw was gone.
I never imagined a trip to Ethan's restaurant would end with a vicious woman like Clara killing her right here.
I howled. The restaurant manager knelt to check for breath, then shouted in alarm, "Clara — that old woman looks dead!"
"What now?" people cried.
Clara frowned, annoyed. "She insisted on coming to my restaurant to scam me. If she dies, that's her problem."