Nancy's composure faltered. We went back and forth until, in frustration, she slapped the bottle out of my hand. Water splattered across the floor. Her fury boiled over, and she slapped me, hard, before storming off in frustration.
I touched my cheek, the sting barely registering. I’d expected as much from her. They were unraveling faster than I thought, but the real test was yet to come.
When the crematorium’s vehicle arrived, their panic was palpable. They hadn't finalized their plan, and the two exchanged nervous glances. I almost laughed. They had pulled strings, spent resources, and thought they had orchestrated William's "death" perfectly. But now they were cornered. Faking death was no simple feat, and I wasn’t about to let them pull it off a second time.
Instead of getting into my car, I joined the crematorium staff, sitting beside William’s body in the transport van. I made a quiet call to the crematorium on the way, ensuring everything was in order. When we arrived, they were ready for him. William would be cremated immediately—before Thomas and Nancy could even think of spiriting him away.
As soon as we reached the crematorium, Thomas and Nancy made their move, blocking the door. They stood in front of the gurney, their eyes wide with desperation. “You can’t cremate him!” Nancy shrieked, her voice shrill. “We haven’t said goodbye properly! His friends, his family—they need to see him one last time.”
I raised an eyebrow, my patience wearing thin. “Mom, it’s the middle of summer. William’s body can’t be kept like this for long. The sooner we cremate him, the better. Do you really want people to see him like this?”
Without warning, I pulled back the sheet, revealing William’s broken and bloodied form. His once handsome face was now unrecognizable, twisted by the force of the accident. Nancy gasped, recoiling in horror, while Thomas turned away, his face pale.
“You see?” I said softly. “Do you want this to be the memory everyone holds of William? He cared so much about his appearance. Let’s preserve the memory of him as the strong, charming man he was.”
Nancy stammered, her voice cracking. “That—that won’t do. Emily hasn’t arrived yet. She deserves to say goodbye to her father.”