My mother-in-law's lips moved soundlessly, her voice barely a whisper, her eyes filled with horror.
My sister-in-law's confident expression crumbled. "So it's her. No wonder he'd do this..."
My parents seemed to collapse in on themselves, their voices trembling.
"It's over. It's all over."
In that moment, the way they looked at me changed. Despair. Pity.
Like they were looking at someone already dead.
That's when Benedict walked in.
He was carrying a bag of roasted chestnuts—my favorite.
Seeing my parents and his mother and sister all gathered there, he froze.
"What's everyone doing here?"
Then, as if figuring it out himself, he answered his own question.
"Are you worried about Fern's health?"
"Don't worry. I've already confirmed with the kind donor—she'll be here first thing tomorrow morning to give Fern her kidney."
"I'll be performing the surgery myself. I'll make sure nothing goes wrong."
Everyone knew he was lying.
But no one called him out.
They just exchanged silent glances and said nothing.
After a long pause, my mother-in-law finally spoke, as if she couldn't hold back any longer.
"Benedict, can't you postpone the surgery?"
He frowned slightly. "Why would we do that?"