In my last life, he'd fed me the exact same lines.

Back then, I'd been so terrified I actually believed it was my fault. I'd thrown myself into making amends — paying compensation, working myself to the bone to clear the debt, raising those two children as if they were my own flesh and blood.

And where did that get me?

I looked at Andrew, my gaze steady and still, and asked him one question.

"Andrew, do you think I'm stupid?"

He froze. It took him a long moment before he managed a response.

"What did you just say?"

"You want me to take the fall so you can waltz off with my house and my savings."

"Then you'll bring your supposedly dead sister-in-law back from the grave, and the whole happy family can reunite."

I locked my eyes onto his and didn't blink.

The color drained from Andrew's face the instant the words left my mouth.

"You— what are you talking about?!"

His voice shook. "Elena is barely hanging on. What do you mean, come back from the dead?"

Just then, the village medic came running over, drenched in sweat.

"It's too late! It's too late!"

"Chester's gone! No pulse, no breath. He's dead!"

"Elena still has a faint heartbeat, but her pulse is barely there. She won't last much longer. We need to get her to the hospital in town, now!"

The courtyard erupted into chaos.

"Murderer! She needs to pay!"

"Grab her! Don't let her get away!"

Several villagers surged forward with rope in their hands.

Old Mr. Finch raised his cane and swung it straight at my head. "I'll kill you myself, you vicious woman! You owe my son his life!"

Andrew didn't stop him this time.

He stood off to the side, watching me with cold, calculating eyes, as if waiting for me to break down and beg.

I sidestepped the cane.

And then—

"Police! The police are here!"

Someone shouted from the edge of the crowd.

Several officers pushed through the throng and into the courtyard.

"Officers, arrest this woman!" Mrs. Finch threw herself at them like they were her salvation, clutching at an officer's arm. "This monster poisoned my son and daughter-in-law!"

Andrew stepped forward to meet them too, his face a mask of grief, his words halting and broken.

"Officers, I'm her husband."

"I don't want to believe it, but... it was my wife who cooked the meal."

"She was in a bad mood today. She might have acted on impulse..."

"I never cooked."

My voice cut through his performance like a blade.