Chapter 4

In under an hour, David's father and mother, his sister, her husband Joshua Welch, and Ruth had all arrived.

I was busy getting the food ready while they were already seated.

"Go pick out a good bottle for Dad," his sister ordered.

Joshua went straight to the liquor cabinet to choose one.

"You can drink anything else, just leave that jar alone." I stepped out and pointed at the jar of medicinal liquor.

Ruth looked at David's sister. "When I'm at your place, I eat and drink whatever I want. How is it that at your sister-in-law's, there's liquor we're not allowed to touch?"

His sister shot me a glance. "One lousy jar of liquor and we can't drink it? What kind of sister-in-law are you?"

"What, isn't Dad good enough for the good stuff?" she added.

David's father's face darkened too. He looked at me. "How much is it? We'll pay to drink it."

"Dad, it's not about money." I spoke up quickly. "It's medicinal liquor. David went out of his way to get it for me from a renowned doctor."

"If we can't drink it, we can't drink it. Why make up reasons?" his sister said, snide.

"Really, it's not that you can't. David prepared it for me. It can treat my illness."

"A whole jar this size, are your dad and Joshua really going to finish it?" David's mother glared at me. "You had us come over to talk. Do you actually want to talk, or do you want to embarrass us?"

"Besides, David prepared it. What right do you have to say we can't drink it?"

"Mom, I really wasn't saying Dad and Joshua can't drink. Look, I've got whiskey, everything, they can drink all they want."

"The thing is, this medicinal liquor is for treating illness. Dad and Joshua are perfectly healthy. There's no need for them to have it."

"What do you mean, no need?" His sister stood up. "If you're sick it cures you, if you're not it strengthens you. My husband's drinking from this jar. Everyone should try it."

"David said he went to a lot of trouble to get this medicinal liquor for me, you... you..."

His sister's expression went cold. "My brother got it. That means I have to try it."

Joshua had already hauled the jar onto the table.

"I haven't even had any yet. Go easy on it." I gave the helpless reminder and turned back to the kitchen.

Joshua had already poured a glass for everyone.

"Why is the smell of this so strong?" David's father frowned.

"Dad, if you can't stand the taste, then don't drink it." I poked my head out from the kitchen to remind him.

"Dad, it's medicinal liquor. It's got to be full of herbs. A strong smell is normal." Joshua spoke up and took the first sip.

Seeing that, David's father hurried to take a big gulp too.

His sister and the others raised their glasses one after another.

I watched all of it in silence.

Ever since my parents passed, they'd shown me less and less respect.

Before, whenever I came home with David, his parents would always make me cook.

When they came to my place, they wouldn't even let the housekeeper cook. It had to be me making the food for them.

And while I cooked, they never waited. By the time I sat down, the table was basically a mess of empty dishes.

That was exactly what made today's plan work.

The more I told them not to touch something, the more eagerly they went for it.

The whole family sat gathered together, drinking freely from big glasses.

Watching them all drink the medicinal liquor, I placed a video call to David.

I wanted him to see with his own eyes: his family, cheerfully drinking down the poisoned liquor he had prepared.