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Seeing this, the relatives and friends around us started to persuade me. “Lily, at a critical moment like this, you can’t be childish.”
“Sister–in–law, why are you so stubborn? Just play along, even.”
“Just take it, so the old man can rest in peace.”
I said, expressionless, “I won’t take it. What if there isn’t really three million in it? Who’s responsible then?”
At my words, panic flickered across Brenda’s and Kevin’s faces.
Mark frowned, looking at me disapprovingly. “Lily, how could my dad lie to you? This might be his life’s savings.”
Everyone paused, starting to sense something was off.
No one spoke.
Kevin pointed at me, enraged. “What nonsense are you spouting? You have to take this card!”
Kevin’s overly defensive attitude just made everyone more suspicious.
“I’ve heard of siblings fighting over inheritance, but I’ve never heard of them being so polite about it.”
“Kevin is usually so money–hungry. Why is he acting so strange today?”
I pressed my advantage. “I won’t take this card, but my devotion to Dad is genuine, Heaven as my witness.”
My father–in–law, seeing his scheme fail, gasped, his breath caught, and then, just like that, he was gone.
His eyes remained wide open, staring.
Brenda shrieked and lunged at me. “You killed the old man with your stubbornness! Mark, your wife killed your dad! If you don’t teach her a lesson, how can you face your father’s spirit?”
Everyone was in a flurry of activity, some trying to break up the fight, others arranging the funeral.
At the wake, all the relatives and friends were present.
Brenda sat on the floor, wailing to the heavens, pounding the ground with her hands. “Old man, our family is in such a mess! You toiled your whole life for this family.”
12:24 AM P P
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“But your daughter–in–law wouldn’t even grant your last wish. You can’t even rest in peace!”
Brenda’s cries were heart–wrenching. The two brothers glared at me, eyes practically spitting fire.
The aunties helped Brenda up, advising me to show “respect for the deceased” and not cause a scene.
Seeing Jake, my cousin, approaching from a distance, I nodded.
“Alright. But first, I need to test the card in front of everyone to see if it really has three million dollars.”
I asked Jake to bring a POS machine. Looking at Brenda, I said softly, “Mom, please give me the bank card. If I swipe it, we’ll
know if there’s three million, won’t we?”
“If there is, I’ll accept the card and kneel to beg your forgiveness. If there isn’t, then please stop trying to force this useless card
on me.”
At my words, Brenda clutched her pocket even tighter. She looked at Mark, who was burning paper offerings.
Mark’s face darkened. “Don’t flaunt your wealth. Lily, what’s wrong with you today? Why are you always arguing with us? It’s just
about holding a bank card. Just take it and keep it safe.”
I scoffed in rebuttal. “Your dad himself said there’s three million on this card before he died. Everyone knows that. But whether
there’s actually three million on this card, no one can guarantee.”
“Besides,” I paused, looking pointedly, “someone who usually begs you for even a couple hundred bucks, isn’t tempted by this card’s money and is eager for me to keep it–I don’t believe there’s nothing shady going on!”
Kevin stamped his foot, furious. “What are you rambling about? I’m showing you respect by letting you take it!”
“Oh? You don’t even call me ‘Sister–in–law‘ normally. Now you know how to show respect?”
Jake held up the machine. “Arguing is useless. One swipe with this machine will tell us. This one’s from the bank, guaranteed
real. Hand over the card.”
