The villa's courtyard was awash with flowers and balloons. A grand golden arch stood at the entrance, emblazoned with bold letters:

"Welcome Home, Dear Father!"

Beneath the arch, the entire Pruitt family and their circle had gathered.

When they saw me arrive, a strange mix of expressions rippled across their faces.

I stepped into the courtyard—and froze.

In the corner lay a body draped in white cloth.

My entire body went rigid.

Alex stepped forward, his face a mask of wounded innocence.

"Nat, I only meant to teach your father a small lesson. How was I supposed to know he couldn't take it? His heart just... gave out. He died on the spot."

He tilted his head, eyes wide. "You don't blame me, do you?"

So my father-in-law had been killed by Alex James.

My heart pounded. I opened my mouth to speak—

But Roberta swept forward and wrapped her arm around Alex, her voice soft and soothing.

"Alex, this isn't your fault. You were only looking out for me."

She shot me a contemptuous look. "If anyone's to blame, it's his father—too fragile and too fond of stirring up trouble."

"You could have demanded compensation for emotional distress, Alex. The fact that you didn't shows remarkable restraint."

Then Roberta turned her cold gaze fully on me.

"Nat. Look at what your father did."

"He died in my villa. He traumatized Alex. And he ruined the welcome banquet I prepared for my father."

The righteous indignation on her face was almost laughable.

I couldn't help myself. I pointed at the body.

"Roberta, I suggest you lift that cloth and take a good look at who's actually lying there."

Her brow furrowed. "It's your father. What's there to see?"

"I'd rather not dirty my eyes."

Georgia Pruitt chimed in with a sneer. "My sister bought this villa specifically to give to our father when he returns to the country. He hasn't even had a chance to live here yet, and your father came crawling over to mooch off it. Disgusting."

"If you ask me, he deserved to die. At least now he won't embarrass anyone else."

"Did you really think that marrying into the Pruitt family meant your whole clan could ride our coattails?"

With Roberta and Georgia firmly in Alex's corner, the rest of the guests rushed to declare their allegiances:

"Exactly. A father-in-law who freeloads like that is nothing but a parasite on society."

"This time he humiliated us in front of family. Next time it could be in public. Can you imagine how people would mock the Pruitts?"

"People would think we're housing a family of beggars."

"Assistant James handled this perfectly. He's done the Pruitt family a permanent favor."

One by one, they heaped praise on Alex.

As if the man lying dead under that cloth had been some kind of monster.

And Alex—Alex was the hero who'd rid them of a pest.

He shot me a smug glance, then turned to Roberta with a timid expression.

"But Ms. Pruitt... the man who died was still Nat's father. What if he causes trouble for me?"

Roberta gazed at him, her eyes soft with affection.

"Don't worry. As long as I'm here, no one will lay a finger on you."

She snapped her fingers. Someone produced a document and thrust it in front of me.

"Nat, your father was in the wrong from the start. His death is his own misfortune—it has nothing to do with Alex."

"For the sake of our marriage, I won't pursue charges against your father for trespassing on my property or for dying here and ruining my father's welcome banquet."

"But you will sign this settlement agreement. You will guarantee this matter ends here. And you will not make trouble for Alex."

Georgia crossed her arms, looking down her nose at me.

"Nat, your father brought this on himself. Don't even think about pinning this on Alex. Just be smart about it and sign the settlement."

The two sisters stood there, imperious and expectant, waiting for me to put pen to paper.

But I slid the document back across the table toward them.

"If anyone's signing this, it's you two. I'm not the one with standing here."

Roberta's voice dropped, cold and sharp. She thought I was refusing.

"Nat, don't push your luck."

"Your father was nothing but a drifter. He had no value to society whatsoever. Alex is young. He has his whole life ahead of him. Are you really going to destroy his future over a dead man?"

Georgia chimed in with a sneer. "Exactly. Your dad was just a waste of resources. If anything, Alex did the world a favor."

"You should be thanking him, not trying to shake him down."

I kept my voice level.

"You've misunderstood. What I'm saying is—the man who died is your father. This settlement agreement can only be signed by you."

Georgia's face twisted. "Have you lost your mind? How dare you say something so vile at my father's welcome-home dinner? You're cursing him!"

Roberta's composure shattered. "Nat, I've clearly been far too lenient with you all these years. That's the only explanation for this kind of disrespect. You don't even know the basics of honoring your elders."

"My father is the most important person in my life. I won't tolerate anyone disrespecting him—not even my own husband!"

She whipped around to face her bodyguard, her voice like a blade.

"Throw that old man's corpse into a septic pit."

Logan Hale hesitated, glancing at me. "Ms. Pruitt, that's... that doesn't seem right."

"He won't sign the settlement, will he?" Roberta's voice rose. "He wants to curse my father? Then I'll show him exactly what happens to anyone who disrespects him."

"Do as I say. If there are consequences, I'll bear them."

Faced with her fury, Logan didn't dare disobey. He left immediately to carry out the order.

The guests shook their heads, murmuring among themselves.

"Nat's really touched a nerve this time."

"No kidding. Ms. Pruitt's mother passed away when she was young. Herbert Pruitt raised both sisters on his own. Everyone knows he's the person she cares about most. And Nat goes and curses him at his own welcome-home party? The man's insane."

"No wonder his father's dead. With a son this ungrateful, what parent could live long?"

Their words were vicious.

They didn't affect me in the slightest.

I ignored them all and looked directly at Roberta, enunciating each word.

"Roberta. Are you sure you want to take things this far?"

She stared down at me, her gaze frigid.

"Nat, you brought this on yourself."

"Your father died because he was shameless and greedy."

"You had no right to keep cursing my father at his welcome-home dinner."

"If you ask me, your father deserved an early death for having a son as disrespectful and ungrateful as you."

The words had barely left her mouth.

My father walked into the villa.

He looked at Roberta, puzzled.

"Who died?"