Abner looked at me, a flicker of discomfort crossing his face.

After a long pause, he seemed to steel himself:

"Lorraine, I know you put your heart into this master bedroom. The bed, the decor, every little detail. I know how much it means to you."

"And honestly, we just got married. Giving up the master bedroom does seem a bit much."

"But she's my sister."

"She's been overseas for three years. She's finally back for a visit, and as her brother, I should make her feel welcome."

"They're only staying two nights. We can squeeze into the guest room. It's not a big deal, right?"

There it was again.

Not a big deal.

Selling the washing machine was not a big deal. Getting dragged out of bed at five in the morning to hand-wash the whole family's laundry was not a big deal. Giving up the master bedroom was not a big deal.

Nothing was ever a big deal.

That was his answer. Every single time.

Looking at that casual, unbothered expression on Abner's face, the last shred of hope I had for this man dissolved into nothing.

I didn't argue. Didn't raise my voice. I smiled and nodded.

"Sure."

"Whatever you say."

Agnes's face lit up the moment I agreed, satisfaction spreading across her features:

"Now that's more like it. See, Lorraine? I knew you'd make a proper daughter-in-law."

Abner exhaled in relief, looking at me with warm approval:

"Babe, you're so understanding. I'm a lucky man to have married someone as considerate as you."

I smiled. Said nothing.

Agnes surveyed our master bedroom, then added one more instruction:

"Lorraine, make sure you tidy this room up properly. Fresh sheets on the bed, bathroom scrubbed clean, new towels and washcloths set out. My daughter has sensitive skin. Everything needs to be the best and brand new."

"And lunch. My daughter and her husband love seafood. I want you to put together a full seafood spread for this afternoon."

At that, Abner frowned slightly, hesitating:

"Mom, Lorraine is severely allergic to shellfish. She can't touch the stuff."

Agnes waved him off without a shred of concern:

"So what? She can wear rubber gloves. It's not like I'm asking her to eat it."

Last year, for Abner's birthday, I'd tried to make his favorite crab roe noodles. I peeled two crabs as carefully as I could.

Within ten minutes, my fingers were swollen and red. Then the hives spread across my entire body.

By the time Abner got me to the ER, the doctor warned me in no uncertain terms: never touch shellfish again. Next time could be fatal.

That night, Abner held me in the hospital room until morning, guilt-ridden and tender, and swore:

"I will never let anyone make you touch seafood again. Anyone who tries can answer to me."

But now, faced with his mother's demand, he hesitated for exactly two seconds before leaning in and murmuring:

"Just wear a few extra layers of gloves, okay? And a mask. And an apron. Be careful. Try not to let it touch your skin."

His hollow precautions didn't surprise me.

"Sure."

Once all the orders had been handed down, Agnes and Abner got ready and headed out.

Before the door closed, Agnes turned back one last time:

"Lorraine, a married woman's first priority is her husband's family. Take good care of your mother-in-law and everyone under this roof, and this family will thrive. You understand?"

I nodded, a faint smile on my lips.

"Don't worry. I understand."

Agnes gave me one last satisfied look, then shut the door. She and Abner left together.

I stood alone in the living room. My eyes drifted to the basket of dirty laundry, then to the master bedroom.

Then I took out my phone and dialed a number.

"I need you to do something for me."

By noon, Agnes and Abner had already picked up Mildred James and her husband from the airport.

It wasn't until they pulled into the apartment complex that Mildred thought to ask:

"Hey, where's Lorraine? How come she didn't come with you guys?"

"Is she still working or something?"

Abner walked ahead, distracted, pressing the elevator button without answering right away.

Agnes jumped in before he could, practically preening:

"I had her stay home to cook and clean for you all. We're having your favorite today, a big seafood spread for lunch."

Mildred looked surprised:

"Mom, I heard Lorraine's job keeps her really busy. She actually has time for all that?"

Agnes let out a little scoff, not a shred of doubt in her voice:

"She pulled a few all-nighters to bank enough goodwill at work for a couple days off after the wedding."

"Besides, once a woman's married, it doesn't matter how busy her job is. Taking care of her mother-in-law and her husband comes first."

"Otherwise, what did we marry her into this family for?"

Abner sighed, his voice uneasy:

"Mom, Lorraine didn't ask for a single dollar in wedding gifts. She even paid for the entire renovation out of her own pocket. Don't you think we're pushing it?"

Agnes turned on him, her tone sharp with disappointment:

"Pushing it? How?"

"When I was young, I was up before dawn doing farmwork. I was still out planting rice paddies when I was pregnant with you, and I survived just fine."

"That's different..."

"Different how? You can't spoil a woman. The more you coddle her, the more entitled she gets."

Agnes patted Abner on the shoulder, her voice heavy with self-appointed wisdom:

"Abner, I'm your mother. When it comes to handling women, I've got more experience than you."

"Women these days, if you don't keep a firm hand, they'll walk all over you."

"Back in my day, every wife knew her place. Old-fashioned obedience and subservience. You served your husband's family without question."

"Lorraine just married in. This is exactly the time for laying down the law. If you go soft now, you'll never get her under control."

Abner still looked uneasy:

"But what if Lorraine gets upset?"

Agnes smiled, dismissive and utterly sure of herself:

"She wouldn't dare."

"Didn't you see how obedient she was? I told her to do the laundry, she did the laundry. I told her to move out of the master bedroom, she moved out. Not a single complaint."

"I'm making sure she knows who runs this household. That way, when Mildred comes to visit, she won't be made uncomfortable."

The elevator arrived.

Abner said nothing. He walked out in silence.

Agnes fished out her keys as she headed for the front door, still riding high on her own confidence:

"Trust me, after the training I put her through today, Lorraine is completely broken in."

"Right now she's probably got the whole place spotless, a table full of seafood, just waiting for us to sit down and eat."

She slid the key into the lock and pushed the door open.

What they saw stopped every single one of them dead.