My cheek swelled instantly, burning with pain. Facing her storm of accusations, I had no choice but to tell the truth:
“Ethan took the last mask!”
Her eyes narrowed in fury:
“What do you mean!? You’re too cowardly to live, so you’re blaming Ethan?”
If she wouldn’t believe me, I wouldn’t waste words. Ignoring her resistance, I strapped the mask onto her face.
It wasn’t regulation, but at least it could block some of the gas.
Exhaustion hit me like a wave. My body went limp as the poison gnawed at my consciousness. I collapsed on the ground, praying someone would pass by and find us.
Seeing my silence, Margaret thought I was guilty. She spat on me and continued her tirade:
“Rachel, you’re a curse! You killed your father, blinded your mother. I sponsored your research out of kindness, and you repay me by gathering evidence of my embezzlement to report me by email!”
“I humbled myself to bring you food so you’d delete that email, and now this happens! And you want my son to take the blame? Our Miller family’s misfortunes all start with you!”
Unlucky? I forced a bitter smile.