Police sirens pierced the air just as disaster loomed. Several officers rushed down the slope.

"Stop! What's going on here?"

Athena released me instantly, her face rearranging into innocence.

"Officers, you've misunderstood! She wanted to die alongside my son—I was only trying to talk her down!"

I crumpled to the ground, letting the tears flow.

"No! That's not true! She was trying to force me to die with him!"

"You lying little—" Athena lunged to clamp her hand over my mouth, but the officers seized her arms and held her back.

"All of you are coming in for questioning."

Before the officer could finish, two people in crisp suits approached the scene.

"We're from the Notary Office. Which of you scheduled the in-home appointment?" The lead notary glanced around, then added with thinly veiled judgment, "Forgive me for saying so, but the man just died. Calling for estate notarization this quickly seems... premature."

I blinked. I'd only called the police. I hadn't requested any notary services.

Athena's voice pitched higher, guilt bleeding through every syllable.

"Oh my, I had no idea you'd arrive so fast! Why don't you wait over there for a bit—he's not actually dead yet."

I nearly rolled my eyes into the back of my skull.

They couldn't wait a single moment. They were terrified my parents would learn of my death and come for the inheritance. They wanted everything signed and sealed before anyone could interfere.

The notary looked puzzled.

"But we just viewed the deceased's body. He's clearly passed. According to the will jointly executed by Mr. Stephen Delgado and Ms. Adeline Cox, upon the death of either party, all assets transfer solely to the surviving spouse."

He consulted his documents. "Mr. Delgado's estate includes one vehicle valued at approximately $220,000, one property worth $1,000,000, and roughly $200,000 in cash. All of this now belongs to Ms. Cox." He looked up. "Is there anything you'd like to add or amend?"

The corners of my mouth twitched upward. I couldn't help it.

Before the "accident," Stephen had pressured me into signing a mutual inheritance agreement. Perhaps to make his scheme appear less monstrous, he'd signed the same terms—upon death, everything went to the spouse. Parents, children, anyone else was explicitly excluded.

And now?

Every meticulous plan he'd made, every careful manipulation—all of it had become my wedding gift.

Athena's face drained of color.

"Wait, wait—there's been a mistake! Stephen isn't dead!"

"Mom!" I gasped, widening my eyes in theatrical shock. "What are you saying? I watched him jump off that cliff with my own eyes. How could he possibly be alive?"

She stammered, mouth opening and closing, unable to form a coherent response.

The notary studied her with growing suspicion. "If neither party objects to the will's terms, we can proceed with scheduling the inheritance transfer."

"Hold on!" Athena shrieked. "What inheritance transfer? Why should my son's property go to her?"

The notary sighed. "Testamentary succession takes legal precedence over statutory succession. If you wish to contest the will, you may file an appeal."

Laura's eyes darted to Athena. A rapid, desperate exchange of glances passed between them.

Finally, Athena cracked.

"Fine! My son... he's not really dead. It was staged. A fake death!"

"Fake death?" I pressed my hand to my chest, voice trembling with perfect confusion. "Mom, what does that even mean?"

Athena's gaze skittered away, unable to meet mine.

So I stripped away the pretense myself.

"Let me see if I understand." My voice went cold and precise. "Stephen put on that devoted husband act. He pressured me into signing that will. And then he faked his own death—all so I would follow him, so you could inherit my estate without lifting a finger. Is that it?"

"You're talking nonsense!" Athena spat. "We never thought any such thing! You're the delusional one—no wonder my son nearly died because of you!"

Something in me snapped into place. Clean. Final.

I was done performing.

My voice dropped to ice.

"No 'almost' about it. He's dead. I saw it with my own eyes."

"Bullshit!" Athena shrieked. "Don't you dare curse my son! He's perfectly fine!"

"Then let's make a bet." My voice was steady, almost bored. "If your son is alive, I'll hand over every cent I own. But if he's dead? I don't want much—just stay out of my way when it comes to his estate."

Athena's face contorted with rage. She jabbed a finger inches from my nose.

"You want him dead, don't you, you little whore? Fine! Let's bet! But I want it in writing—every last asset under your name, itemized, so you can't weasel out of it later!"

Under the watchful eyes of a notary, my assets were laid bare, line by line.

Two cars worth $800,000. A luxury penthouse valued at $1.8 million. The electronics plant, appraised at $4 million. Cash deposits totaling $430,000. Even the gold jewelry I was wearing—$210,000.

I hadn't realized I was worth this much.

No wonder they were so eager to kill me.

"Hmph." Athena's lip curled. "You drove my son into depression, and I haven't even demanded compensation for his emotional suffering. Honestly? You were never good enough for him. With his looks and credentials, he could have married a governor's daughter—someone with assets in the hundreds of millions."

She looked me up and down like I was something stuck to her shoe.

"But if you promise to serve me and my son devotedly from now on, I might consider letting you stay as a mistress."

I laughed—a cold, mirthless sound.

"Maybe check on your precious son first."

Athena's heel struck the floor. She yanked out her phone.

"I'm calling him right now! He'll come here and shut you up himself!"

The line rang.

And rang.

No answer.

Instead, more patrol cars rolled up, lights flashing.

An officer approached. "We found individuals impersonating medical personnel nearby. They were operating an unregistered ambulance." He paused. "There was a male body inside."

A gurney emerged from one of the vehicles, a white sheet draped over its still form.