Chapter 4

Iris Finch's words made sense too.

The villagers all nodded, and no one spoke up for us anymore.

But I knew this was even more dangerous than staying home. At least at home, a villager still dropped by once in a while. Once we were out on the road, there was no telling what might happen.

My mom couldn't stop worrying about me either, so after hesitating a moment, she quickly spoke up.

"Then I'll send word to my brother back home, and we'll go together once he arrives, so we'll have someone to look out for us on the way."

"But I've been too selfish. Losing Arthur's mother, you've grieved even harder than I have, and yet you've still been taking care of me. That's not right of me. So from now on, let me be the one to take care of you."

And that was that.

The plan to go meet my dad was put on hold for now. For my sake, and for her own, my mom pulled herself together. She started cooking every day, cutting off any chance for Iris to drug her.

We wanted to leave more times than I could count, but Iris and Rhys wouldn't let us out of the house at all.

Still, they didn't openly turn on us. For one thing, people passed by the door now and then. For another, what they wanted was for my mom to willingly believe she was a loose woman, and to willingly marry Rhys.

But they were afraid that dragging it out would give the whole thing time to go wrong.

So before we could even come up with a plan, Iris and Rhys had already decided they weren't going to wait for my mom to be "willing" anymore.

I overheard their plan and went straight to my mom.

"You never drank the sugar water, so they know we've caught on."

"Tonight they're going to pick the lock and come in."

"We have to strike first. Tonight's dinner—you have to put this in it!"

My mom didn't ask where I'd gotten the drug. She just gritted her teeth and slipped it into Iris and Rhys's food. They didn't suspect a thing. They ate every bite, then slept like the dead.

As their snoring got louder and louder, my mom and I picked up our bags and quietly opened the door. We didn't dare linger, didn't dare waste a single second, so we bolted for the front gate.

But the moment my hand touched the handle of the gate—

I knew something was wrong. Somehow the gate wouldn't open, and Iris and Rhys's steady snoring had stopped!

My head went numb, and cold sweat broke out all over me.

"Mom, get back inside, quick."

I dragged my mom back into the room, but after I shut the door, I realized something else was wrong.

Sure enough, when I turned around, Iris was standing by the bed.

"Where do you two think you're going in the dead of night?"

I immediately tried to pull my mom to open the door and get out, but Rhys was already at the doorway, cutting us off from it.

"You little brat, did you really think we didn't notice you eavesdropping on us?"

"All you actually stole was flour."

I was sick with regret, cursing myself for taking them too lightly.

My mom stayed fairly calm. She pulled out a knife and held it across her own throat.

"If you dare lay a hand on me, I'll cut my throat right now."

Rhys stepped forward, trying to talk my mom down.

"Sister-in-law, I may be a cripple, but I swear I'll treat you well."

My mom wouldn't lower the knife, looking ready to die on the spot. But Iris only smiled. She took out a length of rope, and while I was still trying to think of something, she dropped it right over my neck.

"Go ahead. Cut your throat, then."

"Once you're dead, I'll tie your daughter up and sell her. The money from that will be more than enough to get Rhys a wife."

"Die with your good name, or marry my Rhys and raise your daughter. Your choice."