We had not even reached home when we saw that the front gate was wide open.

My mom frowned and asked, “Did you leave the door open when you went out?”

We had just parked. Before my mom could rush inside, the relatives surrounded us.

My dad looked at them in surprise. He did not like their sudden visit.

“Why did you all come without warning? You could have called me first to warn me.”

My grandmother hit my dad’s leg with her cane. She glared at him and said, “Lila is my granddaughter! How could I not come?”

The other relatives scolded my parents and showed off the altar they had set up.

They even carried Lila’s body out of the car as they talked.

My parents looked terrified. They were afraid the relatives would notice something was wrong, but they could not refuse.

I heard someone whisper, “A body that just died should be different. It’s still warm!”

My dad broke out in a cold sweat. He hurriedly lifted Lila into his arms and walked straight to her room.

I called out loudly, “The altar is in the living room! Why are you taking Lila to her room?”

My uncle thought my dad was too grief-stricken to remember where the living room was. He rushed forward to help.

The moment he grabbed Lila, she fell to the ground.

I saw her eyebrows furrow a little in pain, but she did not dare make a sound. She bit her tongue and held it in.

My mom stared at Lila on the ground and felt her heart skip a beat.

“If you can’t handle her properly, stop trying to help! You’re just causing her pain!”

“How can a dead person feel pain? Stop joking around!”

My dad was afraid that their plan to fake Lila’s death would get exposed, so he stepped in to explain on behalf of my mother.

When he saw that no one suspected anything, he was relieved. He did not want any more trouble. He quickly placed Lila on the funeral bed.

My aunt suggested hiring a mortician for Lila, but my mom refused.

“That’s for putting makeup on the dead. It brings bad luck. Absolutely not!”

My aunt looked at my mom in confusion. “Isn’t Lila already gone? If she weren’t, who would even suggest a mortician?”

She glanced at Lila on the funeral bed and grew even more suspicious.

“Yara, are you sure the doctor was competent enough to declare her dead? What if Lila’s still alive?”

I insisted it was impossible, but I did not just sit there. I pinched the spot that hurt the most.

“A dead person cannot feel pain! One pinch is all it takes to know for sure.”

Lila’s face went pale when I pinched her. Her whole body was tense, but she did not dare furrow her brow.

My mom pushed me aside with all her strength. She wanted to protect Lila.

“I saw Lila die with my own eyes! She cannot be alive!

“You just want to use this chance to mistreat her body! I won’t allow it!”

I sighed. “Mom, can you stop making a scene?

“She’s my sister. If she’s alive, I’d be happier than anyone else in this room.”

My mom cursed and stood in front of Lila. She refused to move, no matter what anyone said.

My aunt stepped in and tried to back me up, saying I meant well. A few of the other relatives also tried to reason with her.

I looked at my mother acting so hysterical and pretended to give in.

“You’re right. We should pick a day and bury Lila as soon as possible.”

My mom was afraid that waiting would cause more problems. She did not even check the calendar and insisted on a burial the next day.

The relatives thought it was too rushed, but they agreed to my mom’s demand.

That evening, my parents volunteered to watch over Lila. They said they wanted to stay by her side one last time.

I stood outside the door and listened to Lila complain.

“Yara pinched me so hard! My arm is all bruised!”

My mom looked at the small bruises on Lila’s arm with concern. She thumped her chest and swore I would pay for it.

I took out my phone and sent a text to the pinned number.

[I sent you the address for Lila’s burial. Don’t be late tomorrow.]

After putting my phone away, I watched my family inside. They were so happy and cheerful.

I hoped they would smile just as happily tomorrow.

The next morning, my dad suggested giving Lila a proper burial to help her escape.

I hurried over to my parents and pretended to hesitate.

“Everyone is asking for a cremation. I even arranged a hearse from the funeral home.”

My dad intended to play along with the mistake. On the way to the crematorium, he planned to help Lila slip away.

His plan sounded perfect, but he froze when he opened the door.

A large group of relatives had arrived to pay their respects. They looked at my dad disapprovingly.

“Good thing we came early! Otherwise, you three would’ve had to handle everything!

“We also want to see Lila off on her last journey.”

I tried to persuade my dad. “Dad, at least let everyone come to the funeral home and say their goodbyes to Lila!”

My dad broke out in a cold sweat. Agreeing with everyone meant sending Lila to her actual death.

My mom looked at the room full of relatives waiting to pay their respects and became even more determined to have a burial.

She sat on the floor and threw a tantrum.

“I won’t agree to a cremation! It must be a burial!”

With so many people watching, helping Lila escape seemed impossible.

Only a burial could give her a chance to survive.

The relatives tried to reason with my mom, but it was useless.

I sighed and pretended to give in.

“Then, let’s have a burial! Everyone can come to pay their respects then, right?”

My mom could not refuse anymore and had to agree.

On the way, people stayed close to Lila’s coffin the entire time. My parents could not even find a moment to speak to her.

They had to write a note and, when no one was looking, secretly slip it into the coffin.

Burials were not allowed in our hometown, so we had to pick a random spot on a barren hill near the cemetery.

By the time we arrived out of breath, it was almost too late to bury her.

“If we wait any longer, it’ll bring bad luck! Delaying Lila’s burial could ruin everything!”

Grandma could not stay still when she heard that. She instructed the relatives to dig the grave.

Just as they were about to bury Lila, I looked at the time. The sun was setting. It would soon be too dark to bury Lila.

A cold, sinister voice rang out.

“Who allowed you to dig a grave and bury a body here?”

Everyone, already feeling guilty, hurriedly filled in the hole.

They were terrified someone might catch them secretly burying Lila. They packed the dirt down hard and left no room for her to breathe.

By the time the newcomers arrived, the ground looked untouched.

My relatives assumed they were just park staff, so they smiled awkwardly and tried to play it off.

But I recognized them immediately. They were the three lunatics who had made my past life a living hell.