Recording His Final Confession

I stood there like a detached observer, watching Sharon Pierce. Impeccably dressed in a designer suit, she completely lost her composure, shrieking at the hospital entrance.

A crowd of curious reporters and onlookers gathered, their camera flashes and pointing fingers all aimed at me.

"No matter what, you can't deny a mother the right to see her son one last time."

"Look at her, like an ice queen. Not a single tear."

"Who stays that calm after their husband dies? She must already have another man lined up."

Their murmurs didn't faze me. It was Olivia who rushed to Sharon's side, helping her up. "Mrs. Pierce, please, let's get you up. Chloe is just overwhelmed."

Sharon steadied herself and jabbed a finger at me. "You're no longer part of this family. The Millers want nothing to do with you, and you will not handle my son's funeral."

A faint smile touched my lips. "Sharon, surely you're aware that as Caleb's legal wife, I have the exclusive right to handle his final arrangements?"

"Besides, you seem to be in remarkably good spirits for a grieving mother. Anyone who didn't know better might think you know something we don't—like that Caleb is still alive."

A flicker of guilt crossed Sharon's and Olivia's faces, but they doubled down on their act. "I lost control when I heard you were going to cremate my son without letting me see him. I'm going to see him now."

I gestured toward the hearse in the distance. "Go ahead. He's in there."

Sharon's eyes followed my gesture, and she erupted in fury, her eyes bulging. "A hearse? Chloe, that's for corpses! How could you just put my son in there like he's... like he's just a body?"

"Have you no heart? After everything my son did for you!"

I met her gaze with feigned confusion. "Sharon, what are you talking about? A hearse is for the deceased. Isn't your son deceased? I'm not seeing the problem here."

Sharon's face fell. She glared at me, clearly thrown off by my blunt response.

However, it was Olivia who stepped forward. "Chloe, don't be so harsh on Mrs. Pierce. She just wants to follow tradition. It's tradition to let the deceased lie in state for a few days. It gives friends and family a chance to pay their respects before the cremation."

Sharon immediately nodded. "That's right. Let's get my son properly situated. Olivia always makes so much sense."

I shrugged. What did I care about following tradition?

However, Caleb couldn't be taken back to his mansion. The neighbors in his upscale community wouldn't appreciate a funeral disrupting their peace.

So, he was temporarily taken to a top-tier private funeral home.

As if on cue, the funeral home was already prepared for a viewing, the room elegantly decorated with lavish floral arrangements for mourners.

Yet there wasn't a trace of grief on the attendees' faces. It felt more like a high-end cocktail party; some people were even murmuring about the stock market.

Sharon, holding a glass of red wine, was all smiles, greeting guests as if she were hosting a party rather than mourning her son.

Olivia turned to me. "Chloe, you've been on your feet all day. Sit down and rest. I'll stay with Caleb."

I picked up a plate of exquisite canapés and, with perfect composure, took a seat beside Caleb's open casket. "There's no need. He's my husband, not yours. Why should you be the one to stay with him?"

Olivia's face darkened as she stared at me.

I waved a dismissive hand. "Aren't we supposed to hold a twenty-four-hour vigil? I'll be right here for every minute of it. I'm not letting anyone disturb his rest."

Olivia shot me an impatient glance before retreating to confer with Sharon.

Two figures slipped into a shadowy corner, whispering urgently as they debated their next move.

I followed them and overheard Olivia's panicked voice. "What are we going to do? If Caleb doesn't get his medication in twenty-four hours, he's going to wake up!"

Sharon sounded extremely displeased. "That bitch is derailing everything. I have an idea—later, I'll go to Starbucks and get her favorite Flat White. I'll add a little 'something' to it to make sure she sleeps like a log."