"Margaret, I only meant to teach your mother a small lesson. How was I supposed to know she couldn't take it? She just... had a heart attack and died on the spot."
She blinked at me with wide, innocent eyes. "You don't blame me, do you?"
So my mother-in-law had been killed by Lorraine?
My heart hammered against my ribs. I opened my mouth to speak—
But Elmer was already at Lorraine's side, pulling her into his arms, his voice soft and soothing.
"Lorraine, this isn't your fault. You were only looking out for me."
"If anyone's to blame, it's her mother—short-lived and always stirring up trouble."
"The fact that you haven't asked Margaret for emotional damages is already more than generous."
Then he turned to me, his expression darkening as he looked down his nose at me with undisguised contempt.
"Margaret, look at what your mother did."
"Dying in my house—not only did she scare Lorraine, she ruined the homecoming banquet I arranged specifically for my mother."
Watching him stand there, so self-righteous, so utterly convinced of his own moral superiority—I almost laughed.
I couldn't help it. I pointed at the body and said, dead serious:
"Elmer, I suggest you take a good look at who actually died."