He whipped around and barked at the bodyguard beside him. "Take that old hag's body and throw it in the cesspit."
The bodyguard glanced at me, hesitating. "Mr. Farley, that's... that doesn't seem right."
Elmer's voice cut like a blade. "She won't sign the agreement? She wants to curse my mother? Then I'll show her exactly what happens when someone disrespects her."
"Do as I say. Whatever comes of it, I'll handle it."
The bodyguard didn't dare defy him a second time and left to carry out the order.
The guests began shaking their heads, murmuring among themselves.
"She's touched Elmer Farley's one true nerve."
"Of course—his father died young. Isabella raised those two on her own. Everyone knows she's the person he cares about most. And Margaret stands here at Isabella's welcome banquet and curses her? The woman's unhinged."
"No wonder her mother's dead. Saddle any parent with a daughter that ungrateful, and who'd live long?"
Their words were vicious.
They didn't touch me.
I ignored every single one of them, fixed my gaze on Elmer, and spoke slowly, deliberately—one word at a time.
"Elmer, are you sure you want to take this all the way?"
He stared down at me, cold and imperious. "Margaret, you brought this on yourself."
"Your mother died because she was shameless—always looking for a handout, always cutting corners."
"You had no right to stand here at my mother's banquet and curse her, again and again."
"If you ask me, your mother deserved an early grave for raising a daughter who doesn't know gratitude or respect."
The words had barely left his mouth.
My mother walked through the front door of the villa. She looked at Elmer, genuinely puzzled.
"Who died?"
