A long beat of silence followed before whispers rippled through the crowd.
Dulce's glare hardened. She stepped forward and struck my cheek.
The force snapped my head to the side. The taste of metal filled my mouth.
The live chat erupted.
[That was good! Deserved!]
[She should have gotten her ego checked way sooner than this!]
[Who the hell did she think she was?]
A sharp gasp swept through the crowd as Dulce shrieked, "I've had it with you, Aya! You've been a thorn in my side for years! It's been five goddamn years, and you've never shown a single positive pregnancy test!
"Our illustrious family will end with Vincent's generation because you can't even conceive a child! What's the point of a wife?! So stop pretending to care about your elders. It's sickening! Do you think your grandfather-in-law is weeping in joy over your half-baked performance?"
I touched the cut on my lip with my tongue and smiled. "On that topic, do you know what the doctor said when I went in for that fertility report? He told me I'm not the problem. Your son Is. Vincent suffers from necrospermia. He is infertile."
The live chat fell silent for a beat.
[He what now?!]
[But she's pregnant! Isn't Stephie pregnant?! Who's the father?!]
So Vincent did not know what was in his report. He must have believed the baby was his, and Stephanie was counting on that.
Oh my God. Now I understood why these commenters were shipping them. They deserved each other.
Kim cut in, "Bullshit!"
"Me? Are you sure?" I raised my voice. "Want more cold, hard truth, Kimmy? Vincent is completely infertile, and you're a shitty aunt who's covering for him while he screws Stephanie Greer in the coffin where Grandpa rests. You and your entire family are full of shit!"
Dulce screamed, "You rabid madwoman! Take it back! Take it back right now, you bitch! My son would never do something like that! He is incapable of anything so disgusting! He's nothing like you. He doesn't make things up and announce them to everyone in attendance! And he certainly doesn't defile his elder's funeral the way you do!"
She grabbed my hair, dragged me toward the coffin, and shrieked, "Kneel! Bend your knees right now, you foul-mouthed lunatic! Beg your grandfather-in-law for forgiveness!"
My other in-laws surged forward. One of Vincent's many aunts cried out, "You must have planned to sow chaos at our sacred event today, didn't you? How could you? He treated you like his own granddaughter, and you repaid him by defaming his true grandson!"
"I know, right?" Aunt Camille added indignantly. "We watched Vincent grow up. We practically raised him in spirit! He has always been a paragon of respect and propriety! You're projecting!"
The live chat spiraled into chaos.
[I knew no one would believe her. Who the fuck would?! Dumb bitch deserves this!]
[How does it feel to be the most hated woman in the room?]
[Am I the only one genuinely worried for Vincent and Stephie? I think their gasps are already weakening…]
Jasmine had already broken into tears. She collapsed against the coffin, resting her head and arms on it as she sobbed.
When no one was looking, she tried to pry it open just a little. "What did I do to offend you, Aya? Why take it out on my brother? And Stephie is just a friend who came to pay her respects! How could you, Aya? How ugly is your heart?!"
The crowd's attention cut into me like blades. Some sighed and shook their heads. Others hurled insults.
It gave Dulce exactly what she needed to grow bolder. "Now beg for forgiveness. Do it properly for once while the Whitaker family is watching, or else…"
I scoffed. "Oh yeah? I'll do your flapping mouth one better. I'll prove it."
I lunged for the coffin.
[WTF, WTF, WTF, WTF! They are naked in there!]
[If she opens it… oh God. Stephie's life is ruined. The man too!]
I yanked the lid off.
