Mom's funeral was kept simple.

However, a bunch of Andrew's relatives were still hanging around. As I was walking by, I overheard them whispering.

"Did you see the woman's face? All that makeup can't hide how sickening it is."

"I heard she's got a nasty rep. She caused an explosion back in university and hurt a bunch of students. Hey, Mrs. Snyder, wasn't your son saved by her?"

Andrew's mom let out a soft laugh, her voice dripping with skepticism. "Sure, she 'saved' Andrew, but who's to say she didn't cause that explosion on purpose? Maybe she wanted to play the savior card so that she could wrap Andrew around her finger forever?"

"You might be onto something! Jessica Harris is like a walking bad omen. Her friends ended up with broken legs, and she even managed to anger her dad to death. Now, her mom's gone too."

"They were supposed to hold a wedding, but it turned into a funeral instead. Jessica's like a magnet for disaster!"

I bit my lip so hard it turned white. Anger rushed to my head. I could not believe Andrew's family saw me like that.

When he first introduced me to his parents, they had been so warm and friendly. They said my looks did not matter, a good heart was all they cared about.

However, then there was Emma, always playing the sweetheart, bringing gifts, and tagging along to parties with Andrew's mom. I wanted to be part of that too.

However, Andrew's mom just gave me a look that said, "Jessica, you really shouldn't show your face in public."

Emma chimed in with her holier-than-thou attitude, "Don't take it to heart, Jessica. Mrs. Snyder's being blunt, but think about the kids and the VIPs at the party. What if you frighten them?"

"Fine, I won't go."

I pulled my hand away and heard Andrew's mom's voice, tinged with annoyance, behind me.

"Jessica's just too sensitive."

Emma, ever the 'thoughtful' one, said, "Mrs. Snyder, talking about Jessica like that will upset Andrew."

"Not a chance. Andrew would only be mad for your sake."

"Mrs. Snyder…" Emma's voice was sugary sweet as she shot me a challenging grin.

It was as if fate was showing me that she was destined to win.

That, she did.

Even now, Andrew's mom would say, "I've seen Jessica's mom a few times. She's just like Jessica, always sweating the small stuff."

"Jessica took lives, and what goes around comes around. Her mom's death? That's simply payback for you!"

"She had it coming!"

Tears welled up in my eyes as I stormed into the room and, with a single swipe, sent the table crashing to the floor. "Out!"

"Jessica, what on earth are you doing? Flipping tables now? You're turning everything upside down!"

They were all pointing fingers at me, looking at me like I was garbage.

Clutching the knife from the table, I pointed it at those who had bad-mouthed Mom, tears streaming down my face, "Out! All of you, just get out! You have no right to mourn my mom!"

They could talk about anyone, but not my mom. She used to bake the softest, most delicious bread. Her cooking was amazing. She would even buy cat food for stray cats. That was how kind-hearted she was. She deserved a long, happy life.

When I got home, I could not hold back my tears any longer.

However, I happened to see something unexpected.

In the bedroom, Andrew, who should have been far away, was gently lifting the hem of a woman's shirt and tenderly applying cream with his fingertips.

"Does it hurt?"

His voice was softer than I had ever heard.

Emma snuggled into his embrace.

"This pain is nothing compared to yours."

"Andrew, this is all so unfair to you."

"If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have to spend every day looking at that horrific face, worried she'd spill the beans."

My head was spinning. It felt like my blood was running cold. Andrew had known all along about Emma's deeds. He had only stayed with me for her sake. That explained everything.

I must have told Andrew a million times, "Emma? She's bad news."

However, Andrew just would not buy it. He would flash that carefree grin and say, "I get it. You took a hard hit from what went down before, but you can't hold it against her. Maybe you're the one who's got it wrong. Or maybe it was all just one big mix-up."

Every question I ever asked turned into daggers right then, stabbing straight through my heart until it was all just a mess.

Emma, cupping Andrew's chin, looked up at him. "You wouldn't fall for her, would you?"

He planted a kiss on her forehead with no second thoughts. "No way. You're the only one for me."

There I was, frozen at the door, my fingers digging into my own skin. "What are you two doing?

Andrew and Emma sprang apart like they had been caught. Andrew scrambled to fix her clothes, all flustered. "Why are you back? I was just helping her out, putting some cream on a scrape she got on her back."

My voice came out all scratchy. "Is that all you were doing?"

Maybe he had grown accustomed to my humble demeanor, or maybe he thought I was challenging him.

Andrew scrunched up his brows. "Jessica, you're not seriously getting worked up over this, are you?"

He grabbed a box from nearby and shoved it into my hands like he was doing me a favor. "Emma picked this out just for you. It's chocolate from Belmar Island."

Three years together, and he still did not get me. He did not even know I could not stand chocolate. I chucked the chocolate to the floor and stomped on it.

"I don't want anything that's been touched by someone else."

That went for people too.

Andrew lost it. "What are you freaking out about now? I was just helping her to fulfill her wish. What's the big deal?! Emma was worried you'd be mad and had me rush back in the middle of the night. And this is how you greet me?"

"Jessica, are you still mad at me over the wedding? I'm so sorry. It just breaks my heart to think of Andrew marrying you..." Emma's voice quivered, barely above a whisper. Tears streamed down her face.

"All I wanted was to visit Belmar Island with Andrew just once. I'm so, so sorry..."

Andrew, with a heavy heart, wiped away Emma's tears and pulled her close, whispering words of comfort. He glared at me with revulsion and said, "Jessica, you owe Emma an apology."

I shot back, "Why should I?"

Before, I would have caved and said sorry. Andrew had never seen me stand my ground like this. He froze, taken aback.

Emma, clutching Andrew's phone, yelled, "Andrew, you've got a message from your mom."

Andrew's mom's voice came through the phone, full of complaints, "Jessica is out of line. She caused a scene and told me and your dad to get lost. And now, look at my arm. It was cut by glass! Andrew, you can't possibly marry someone like her!"

Mrs. Snyder showed the gash on her arm.

Emma was in a panic. "Jessica, how could you treat Andrew's mom that way?!"

Andrew's rage erupted, and he grabbed me by the throat. "How dare you?! She's my mom! Jessica, just because I missed the wedding, you think you can take it out on her? She's old. Do you have any idea how much that would hurt her?!"

His grip was so tight I could barely breathe. "I didn't..."

As my vision blurred, I saw Andrew take down my mom's ashes from the table. "Jessica, you're insane—using milk powder to pretend they're ashes and setting up your mom's photo... You're cruel and deranged!"

As he spoke, Andrew filled the urn to the brim with water and chucked the broken chocolate pieces from earlier inside.

Tears streamed down my face as I cried out, my mouth tasting of blood, "Andrew, you jerk! Those are my mom's ashes!"

Andrew froze for a moment. Then, he sneered, "You're such a liar, and liars have to pay the price."

He yanked my hair with a cruel grip, his voice icy. "You said you're allergic to chocolate? Let's see if that's true.

"This is just like chocolate milk. You don't like chocolate bars, but you can handle a chocolate drink, can't you?"

He did not wait for an answer and just forced the vile mixture of chocolate and ashes into my mouth. I clamped my lips shut, struggling like crazy.

"Don't do this, Andrew, please—mmph..."

Andrew's coaxing was like a twisted reward, heartless and harsh. "Be a good girl. This is your punishment. You should've behaved."

With tears in my eyes, I cried out, "I'm sorry, Andrew, I'm so sorry! Please, just stop..."

"It's too late for apologies!"

He gripped my chin tightly, insisting, "You're going to drink every last drop of this!"

Despite my tears, he poured the mixture into my mouth, the chocolate and ashes mingling with my sobs.

Finally, seeing my tear-streaked face, Andrew's resolve wavered, and he let go. I retched uncontrollably, my throat burning.

My heart ached as if it were being carved up. The pain was so intense that I could not catch my breath.

I whispered apologies to my mother, over and over...

"Andrew, I hate you!"

He scoffed, "Quite the performance… Jessica, consider this a lesson. If you ever again—"

However, his lecture was cut short as my face broke out in angry red welts, my cheeks flushed, and my breathing turned ragged. These were clear signs of an allergic reaction.

Andrew nudged me with his foot. "Faking an allergy? You think that's gonna make me go soft on you? Keep up this act, and you can forget about me chipping in for your mom's hospital bills ever again!"

I stayed curled up on the ground, not saying a word. Andrew's temper hit the roof.

His forehead veins popped as he punched in the hospital's number. "I'm done paying for Ward 306 this month! And if the patient kicks the bucket, don't come begging me for a dime!"

The nurse on the other end sounded shocked. "You mean Jessica Harris's mom in Ward 306? Didn't you hear? She passed away yesterday..."