The Ruined Bride of Velvet Nights by Brick Moving Ant

Chapter 3

Then inspiration struck. I threw myself across Dave’s body, wailing. “Baby, what are we going to do? If we don’t get you cremated before 11 AM, your soul won’t find peace!

The other families in the waiting room turned to stare.

1 dropped to my knees, clasping my hands. “In my grandmother’s culture, there’s a belief that cremation has to happen before 11 AM, or the soul can’t cross over. Please. I’m begging you could we possibly go ahead of you?”

Some looked sympathetic, others skeptical, most just uncomfortable.

I pulled out my phone. “I’ll send each family $3,000 through Venmo right now.”

Money talks. They agreed immediately.

After transferring the cash, I wheeled Dave toward the cremation chamber.

I noticed his middle finger twitching. Still trying to flip me off, even at the end.

I leaned down and whispered, “Scared now, aren’t you? Should’ve thought about this before you

decided to screw me over.”

The crematorium technician asked me to wait in the lobby.

I pressed a thousand–dollar bill into his hand. “Please, let me stay with my husband until the very

end.”

“Rest in peace, darling,” I said sweetly as I helped slide him into the chamber and hit the ignition

button.

The flames roared to life.

Moments later, the doors burst open.

Carol and Mike had made it.

When Carol saw the flames through the chamber window, she collapsed in a dead faint.

Nightc

80.3%

“Shut it down! He’s not dead? Mike showed, rushing toward the control.

me?” I said sharply.

him dead and signed the death

saying he’s alive? Want to explain that to me?”

Mike froze, trembling

never saw dds

meant…. he’ll always be alive in our

knew he was looking at serious jail time if

medical license would be toast.

there for a second,” the technician said.

alive going in, he

up inside the chamber.

I jumped.

the technician said

contractions from the heat. Happens

“Oh, thank goodness!”

and I both knew better.

Dave’s final

doubled over and threw

guilt of being an accessory to murder

there, doc?” I asked innocently.

80.5%

I can’t.” he gasped, collapsing to

took Carel back to the

belongings, then headed straight to my mom’s place in Henderson.

down in tears and hangged her tight

my previous life. Mom had sold her house to help me pay off

death, doing double shifts at the diner and cleaning

had failed her

everything’s settled, we’re

young, and Mom had raised me solo, working three jobs to

my favorite meatloaf with mac and cheese–comfort food

mentioned something

Millions jackpot ticket last week–just a quick

and printed it as

it on the coffee table, but it

had won $200 million with a ticket from that

store.

sadly. “But what can you do? I’m just getting

pulled out the ticket and checked the store number. It matched the convenience store near

found your

actually won $200 million.”