Chapter 4

Furious, my eyes burning, I kept firing off comments in Aunt Bethany's livestream.

Soon, someone found my social media profile, dug up my old photos, and identified me as my mother's daughter.

He came back to the stream and commented: [This is Lilah's daughter. Her own daughter is speaking up—looks like something fishy is going on here.]

My father and the others in the livestream exchanged uneasy glances, and Archie's eyes darted around nervously.

But Aunt Bethany, the award-winning actress, instantly put on a wounded expression and said, "I know you're devastated about your mom, but you can't just throw accusations at me like that.

"You're only her adopted daughter. Archie, her real son; her husband, Maurice; and even her parents are all here. Don't you think they loved her more than you ever did?

"If I was really the one who killed her, do you honestly think they'd just let me walk free?"

Everyone started siding with her again.

Someone commented: [She has a point. Look how close Archie is to her. If she killed his mom, why would he act like that?]

A flash of triumph crossed Aunt Bethany's eyes before she continued, "You're just suspicious because I'm marrying your dad, right?

"I've already explained—I'm doing this for Archie. If you really don't believe me, then go ahead and prove I pushed Lilah."

Bethany was so sure I had nothing, and honestly, she was right—I didn't have any solid evidence. All I knew was what happened, and the real proof was in the hands of the police.

But that didn't stop me from calling her bluff. I fired back: [You think I'd dare say this if I didn't have proof?]

Aunt Bethany 's face flickered with panic for a split second, but she forced herself to stay calm and said, "Then show me."

I replied: [Oh, I will.]

That day, the trending topics were inundated with hashtags, [We Love You Bethany] and [Bethany is the best sister].

Comments were all in her favor:

[Bethany, you need to live for yourself!]

[Bethany did everything for her sister, and now people are accusing her of murder? So heartbreaking.]

[That girl's nuts, accusing Bethany after everything she's done for her.]

By now, I was standing in the police station. I didn't have any evidence myself, but the cops did. I asked if I could review the evidence.

But the case was already closed, and the evidence contained sensitive information about other people, so the police refused to show it to me.

"Aren't you just covering for the killer?" I demanded.

"The killer already confessed, and the family decided not to press charges. We have our rules," the officer replied.

I couldn't get my hands on any evidence, but everyone online was waiting for me to show some proof.

People were saying I was just smearing Aunt Bethany, calling me insane, and telling me I should probably get myself checked into a psych ward.

Suddenly, it hit me.

My mother's health was failing, and she spent her last days in the hospital. There had to be hospital cameras—surveillance footage I could check.

I might not have proof that Aunt Bethany pushed my mother, but maybe there was something in the footage that could show she wasn't telling the truth.

She had been driven to kill my mother in the end. Her jealousy and hatred must have been boiling over. I didn't believe she could have hidden her true feelings so well before.

I went to the hospital where my mother had stayed before. After paying some money, I finally got the surveillance footage.

After countless sleepless nights glued to the screen, I finally uncovered the evidence I needed.

In the surveillance footage, Aunt Bethany was shoving her phone in my mother's face, showing her something. my mother's face twisted in fury, her eyes blazing as she shouted, "You—you're shameless!"

Aunt Bethany smirked, looking downright smug. "Hurts, doesn't it, Lilah? Why don't you just die already? Your husband and your son? They're mine now. They love me, not you.

"Once you're dead, I'll marry Maurice. Your husband will be mine, your son will be mine. No one will remember you. No one will love you. They'll all love me instead."

With tears streaming down her face, my mother grabbed a piece of fruit and chucked it at Aunt Bethany, yelling, "Get out!"

Whoever said they had a good sisterly relationship and that Aunt Bethany was doing it for the kids was wrong.

Aunt Bethany and my father had been together for ages, and she was deliberately tormenting my mother. Aunt Bethany had been waiting for my mother to die for a long time.

*****

Two days later, my father and Aunt Bethany held a grand wedding.

No one seemed to care that my mother had only been gone a month. Archie and my grandparents were all smiling like nothing had happened.

Arm in arm, my father and Aunt Bethany made their way to the altar, with Archie following behind as the flower boy.

During the vows, Aunt Bethany said, "I never imagined I'd end up marrying him. He used to be my sister's husband, but now he's my husband. For Archie's sake, I'll do my best to love him and be a good wife and mother."

She put on this whole righteous act, pretending like they were practically strangers before today.

But just as Aunt Bethany was finishing her vows, my mother's furious face appeared on the giant screen behind her, her voice echoing through the hall. "You—you're shameless!"