My most cherished son… “I’m finally coming to see you, sweetheart,” Marjorie, who was sixty years old at the time, whispered with tears in her eyes while holding the framed photograph of her late son Calvin to her chest.
Marjorie’s every moment was haunted by thoughts of her cherished son, who had passed away in a horrible accident a year earlier. She was deprived of the presence of her only child, and this caused her unhappiness.
As Marjorie prepared to exit at the metro station in the new city, she stood there with a weight of anguish that could not be adequately expressed via words. On that particular day, the grieving mother had driven hundreds of miles by herself to pay her respects at the grave of her son.
At the time of his passing, Calvin was only 27 years old, and his passing has left Marjorie in an unending pit of sadness. The world became more gloomy for her when he passed away, and her health started to deteriorate.
In order to provide her with thorough care and therapy, she was hurried to the hospital. When Marjorie finally made it to the city where Calvin had lived, died, and been laid to rest, it was after twelve painful months that she had spent at the clinic.
Taking a moment to wipe away her tears, Marjorie exited the tube and stepped onto the platform. It was a modest flower kiosk that was tucked away within the busy station that attracted her attention.
Marjorie went to the stand and selected a bouquet of white lilies for her burial after making the decision to purchase flowers for Calvin’s grave.
Dear, I am grateful! Don’t let the change go! Taking the flowers, Marjorie flashed a grin to herself.
As she was making her way to the exit, she was prevented from leaving the building by the appearance of a person she had seen before. It was a young woman who had a strong resemblance to Lauren, Marjorie’s daughter-in-law, who had recently lost her husband. Marjorie intended to meet Lauren after the visit to the cemetery.
Marjorie peered very closely, and she was positive that it was Lauren, who was leaving the station in some direction. To take her by surprise, she ran after her in a hurry.
“Lauren! ” My beloved Lauren… Hold on… Hello, my name is Marjorie! With a wave with her hand, Marjorie walked as quickly as she could. “What about Lauren? Don’t let go! With a gasping sound, she touched the woman on the shoulder.
The young lady jerked her head around in surprise. “What about Lauren? Not Lauren, but I am. You are dealing with the wrong individual, ma’am! She abruptly dismissed Marjorie and shook her hand before leaving the room.
You’re not Lauren, are you? If so, how? In a dejected tone, Marjorie remarked, “You look exactly like the wife of my son.”
“I have had enough, ma’am. Not Lauren, but I am. It is time for me to leave…” Before Marjorie could even begin to grasp what had just happened, the woman turned around and disappeared into the crowd.
Marjorie thought that was somewhat peculiar. My eyes can’t possibly be mistaken. What is her name? This person has the same eyes, hair, and voice.
Hey, what’s up? You, Lauren! We need to have a conversation…
However, the woman was vanished, she was lost in the crowd. When Marjorie finally arrived at the taxi stand outside, she let out a deep sigh and hailed a taxi to take her to the cemetery.
“Does she despise me more than she does?” While Marjorie was relaxing into the backseat, she pondered. “Why is Lauren selecting to avoid me… pretended to be unfamiliar with me? Where did I go wrong? The experience continued to torment her throughout the train ride.
After pulling up at the cemetery gate, the taxi driver greeted Marjorie with the words, “Ma’am, we’re here,” which jolted her out of her reverie.
Eyes locked on the gate, she stepped out of the building. Wait here, if you would… I won’t be much longer.” Marjorie walked into the cemetery with flowers in her hand, heaving a sigh of excruciating agony.
In her search for Calvin’s final resting place, she strolled past rows of graves, and the silence that she encountered was unsettling. In the moment that she was kneeling by his grave with the lilies, she was overcome with emotions.
“My little one… My dear Calvin. What’s up, Mama? It’s a pleasure to meet you… During her sobbing, Marjorie brushed her shaking hands against the tombstone of Calvin. Instantaneously, her eyes turned to a grave next to his, and she was overcome with a sense of incredulity.
She was taken aback by the epitaph that was engraved on the headstone:
As a tribute to the memory of
By Lauren T.
To the date of December 3, 2020, January 8, 1995
Never to be forgotten, always to be treasured.
Do not be disturbed.
“Oh, my word… It’s been a week since Lauren, who was my Calvin’s wife, passed away. How come I wasn’t informed? The shocked Marjorie let out a gasp.
“If Lauren is dead, who was the woman at the subway?” she thought to herself. This was a question that haunted her.
Marjorie’s train of thinking was disrupted by the sound of leaves being raked somewhere in the vicinity. It ended up being the groundskeeper. She went up to him in the hopes of receiving answers.
While Marjorie was rushing at the man, she spoke the words “Excuse me.” The man paused and glanced up. “Are you aware of any information regarding the funeral of the woman who was laid to rest there?” She made a gesture toward Lauren’s tomb.
One of the man’s eyebrows was lifted. Where is the new grave located next to the one that has the large cross?
That’s it, that’s it… Do you know what caused her death? What are your thoughts on the funeral?
The man took a deep breath as he blew a puff of smoke from his cigarette. Indeed, I am aware of that one… the funeral took place a week ago. It seemed strange.”
“Funny?” Marjorie wore a frown.
I agree. Surprisingly few people showed up. The only people working in the funeral service. The casket was brought, it was buried, and then they left after placing a simple headstone on the grave. The funeral was not exactly a suitable one.”
“That’s so peculiar…” “Muttered,” Marjorie said. Since then, has anyone paid a visit to her grave?
“No, ma’am….” in response, he stated, “not that I’ve seen.” All day long, I am here. We are close to my cabin. I keep an eye on the graveyard. The grave has not been visited by anyone.
As she turned away, Marjorie said, “Thank you,” while her thoughts were racing.
With the intention of gaining insight into the circumstances surrounding her daughter-in-law, Marjorie made the decision to pay a visit to Liam, Calvin’s closest friend and business partner, who resided in the city. In the taxi that was waiting for her, she made her way to Liam’s residence after spending some time at Calvin’s cemetery.
Following the ringing of the doorbell by Marjorie, a hushed voice cried out, “Coming… One Second!” When she heard Liam’s voice, she stood on the doorstep of his house with apprehension.
As soon as the door opened, Liam was taken aback by the sight of his best friend’s mother smiling at him.
Where is Mrs. Pierce? Liam let out a gasp.
With a friendly smile, Marjorie gave a little nod. Hi there, my dear! I hope all is well with you. As of this morning, I have just arrived in the city… was able to visit Calvin’s tomb. And thought I’d try to surprise you by paying you a visit!
“I’m doing fine… I’m sorry, but might you kindly come in? Liam moved over to the side, opened the door with a swing, and motioned for Marjorie to come in. Despite the fact that Liam appeared to be unduly astonished and apprehensive for some reason, Marjorie was able to perceive his anxiety.
She went inside and saw that there was luggage in the living room. She looked across at Liam as she noticed a bag that was only partially packed.
It is Mrs. Pierce! He expressed his happiness by saying, “I am so happy that you came.” “I had just finished packing.”
Do you pack? Do you have a destination in mind? The question was posed by Marjorie.
“Uh, yeah… ” I am relocating to a different state, Mrs. Pierce. The year that has passed since Calvin’s passing has been a difficult one,” Liam said, his expression a peculiar combination of dissatisfaction and concern.
“There is no surviving business… Nothing is left for me to do here. Therefore, I made the decision to sell this house and go to a location that is far away from all of this chaos.
“Insolvent? ” What are you trying to say, Liam? One of Marjorie’s eyebrows was lifted. “What exactly is going on? And I was able to see Lauren’s mausoleum just next to Calvin’s burial. I was wholly unaware that she had passed away. I was not informed by anyone. Is it true that you could have called? That’s the reason I’m here. Where is my daughter-in-law? Please tell me what happened to her. “How did she pass away?”
“Well, you are aware of…” Liam spoke, his voice resonating with a sense of dissatisfaction. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Pierce,” I said. This is something that I am no longer able to handle. A connection exists between the failure of the company and the passing of Lauren.
“I am not able to realize…” Marjorie said the words, dreading his response.
To put it simply, Mrs. Pierce, I did not intend to make you angry. After Calvin’s passing, you were in such a state of profound grief. After then, I learned that you would be hospitalized for a whole year. You have not been informed of anything. Liam said, “I was afraid that it might worsen your condition if you learned about the company’s financial crisis and what Lauren did,” which made Marjorie feel even more uneasy.
“Liam, what exactly is it? Tell me, if you please. What act did she take? My curiosity is piqued by everything.
A big breath was taken by Liam. Following Calvin’s passing, Lauren became the new owner of the business. Her refusal to run it was based on the fact that she was completely ignorant about the company. Due to the fact that I was already Calvin’s partner, we came to an agreement that permitted me to take over.
“To tell you the truth, once he passed away, the company reached an all-time low. At that point, we were on the edge of giving up. At that point, Lauren entered the picture. “She suggested that the company seek out investors and obtain loans in order to revitalize the business,” Liam explained.
Despite this, Marjorie expressed her suspicion by saying, “But you said Lauren wanted no part in the business.”
You are correct, Mrs. Pierce. But our situation seemed hopeless. In order to save the company, we sought to. Therefore, we were in agreement with her suggestion. On the other hand, everything fell apart a week ago. Lauren absconded from the town after withdrawing five million dollars. It was the money from the loan. The search for her was initiated by the authorities.
Marjorie let out a gasp. It’s a miracle! Did Lauren steal the money from the loan?
She felt a great deal of rage toward her daughter-in-law. It was difficult to come to terms with the fact that Calvin’s wife had erased everything of his life’s work.
You are correct, Mrs. Pierce. Her betrayal of us in such a manner was completely unexpected. Liam continued by saying, “But she paid the price.”
“What exactly do you mean?” Marjorie began to feel uneasy.
While Liam was pouring coffee into Marjorie’s cup, he disclosed the tragedy that had occurred a week prior and had shaken the community. A burned-out automobile that had crashed off a cliff close to the woods was discovered by the police. He was driving Lauren’s automobile. She was claimed to have passed away in a horrible accident right there and then.
“What is it? Oh, my God… ” Marjorie let out a gasp.
The vehicle caught fire after the collision. The burnt body of Lauren was found by the police, along with her gold pendant that has the letter ‘L’ inscribed on it. The remains of hundred-dollar bills that had been burned were found. The remainder of the money had been spent… It was determined that the death was the result of an accident.
‘Jesus…’ All of things were ruined by Lauren. Nevertheless, hold on… what about Calvin’s work? After he passed away, it seems inconceivable that the business would go out of business. I am aware of the amount of effort that he put forth. It had to be possible to find a method to save it.
The words “I understand your frustration, Mrs. Pierce” were spoken by Liam. The contributions made by Calvin were quite useful. However, the situation quickly became out of hand. As a result of Lauren’s actions, she had to pay a significant price. A respectful funeral service was performed for her. Numerous guests were present. Even her close companions. Everyone was saddened by her untimely passing… in spite of everything she had done.
You mean Lauren’s funeral? The level of Marjorie’s suspicion increased. The groundskeeper had mentioned that there was no one there for Lauren’s funeral, she recalled. Her uncertainty was reinforced by Liam’s anxiousness as well as his unexpected choice to depart the city.
It is Liam’s flying time. When is it? In an effort to break his stillness, Marjorie questioned.
In response, he stated, “Early tomorrow morning… six o’clock.”
Seeing a plan take shape, Marjorie nodded. Would it be okay if I stayed here tonight? This is a city that I am not familiar with… be mindful of staying in a motel by oneself.”
After catching Marjorie’s eyes, Liam paused for a moment. The answer is yes, Mrs. Pierce! That is the room reserved for guests… He instructed me to “make yourself at home.”
“That’s it!.” I am really worn out, my dear. I’m going to call it a night. Dear Liam, good night! As she made her way to the room, Marjorie replied, “I’ll see you back in the morning.”
Despite turning out the lights in the guest room, she did not go to sleep. With bated breath, she waited for Liam’s chamber to get dark, all set to look for hints that would help her piece together the puzzle.
Later on, she sneaked into Liam’s room and discovered that he was sound asleep. Marjorie let out a deep sigh as she made her way to the living room, where his luggage was waiting for her.
Her hands were shaking with anxiety and eagerness as she rummaged through his possessions. Imagine that Liam was putting on a show of sleeping. What if he made a catch of her? In spite of this, she was resolute in her pursuit of the truth.
The quest she was conducting turned into a nightmare after midnight. Two counterfeit passports were discovered by her in a concealed container.
“Anna? ” Is that true? Dear Lauren, who are you trying to fool? When Marjorie saw a photo of Lauren with a new name, she was completely taken aback. The moment she laid eyes on the second passport, her disbelief increased.
“Mark?” you ask. As the photo of Liam was displayed under a different name, Marjorie’s face contorted in distress.
Is it a fake passport? How are things going? Are they a part of something that is more significant? The two plane tickets to London that were booked under the phony names were discovered by her.
She felt a chill through her body. There was a nefarious plot being hatched by Liam and Anna, who was actually Lauren. She had no choice but to take action.
She replaced the bags with great care and then hurriedly went to a pharmacy that was nearby.
“My apologies!” Would you be able to provide me with some sleeping pills? Marjorie inquired as she made her way back to Liam’s residence with the tablets.
By the time Liam made his way downstairs to get ready for the airport at five in the morning, Marjorie was already in the kitchen.
“Liam, happy morning to you! Your breakfast was prepared by me. Enjoy a meal and a seat before you leave! It was said by Marjorie with a friendly smile.
Yours faithfully, Mrs. Pierce. That’s very typical of you… While Liam sat, Marjorie attempted to conceal her nervousness.
This is your orange juice, thank you! The glass was placed on the table by her.
“Oh… ” I was in need of this. “Ever since last night, my head has been pounding,” Liam explained as he took a sip of his drink. The phrase “tastes good…”
In ten minutes, he let out a yawn instead. It’s strange… As he spoke, Marjorie gave him a subtle smile. “All of a sudden, I’m feeling dizzy,” he added.
Because she was aware that this was the only way to reveal the truth, she had laced his juice with sleeping drugs.
“Liam, are you feeling okay? It could be a good idea to take a short nap,” Marjorie said.
Liam, who was having a hard time keeping his eyes open, agreed. In accordance with what Marjorie had planned, ten minutes later, he was lying on the couch unconscious.
As she walked, she mumbled, “What is it that is taking her so long? It is currently 5:30. As far as she was aware, Lauren was unable to go without her passport and ticket.
While she waited for Lauren to call or text, she checked Liam’s phone, which was sitting on the table. Another phone rang, and it was coming from Liam’s rucksack.
The name “Anna” flashed on the screen as it rang repeatedly. There was no response from Marjorie. I saw a notice that read:
“Idiot, how could you have slept in that much?
Is it possible that you misplaced our flight to London?
Now I’m going to take a taxi to get to your place.
“Come on… Lauren, I am waiting for you! In the shadows behind the front door, Marjorie said something.
After thirty minutes, a cab arrived at the location. The police were contacted by Marjorie.
“Hello there… “I am informing you of a robbery…” She provided Liam’s address as well as specifics.
“Ma’am, assistance is about to arrive,” the dispatcher informed her.
Lauren entered the room as the door opened with a creaking sound. Seeing her daughter-in-law, who was still very much alive, caused Marjorie’s heart to race.
“Liam! ” Is this even possible? There is no need to go to sleep. We have arrived late. “Stand up!” Lauren yelled at Liam, who was unconscious at the time. Finally, she was startled by a voice.
Is Lauren looking for someone to talk to? This is what Marjorie said as she spun around and struck Lauren on the head with a vase.
Lauren passed out and became unconscious. As Marjorie heard the sound of police sirens playing outside, she hurried to meet them.
In the name of God, Officer! In response to the sheriff’s arrival, Marjorie expressed her gratitude.
“There was a burglary that was reported here,” the police officer replied.
“Yes, that is me. Come have a look at this… There was a flurry of activity inside, and Marjorie quickly retrieved the bogus passports and tickets from Liam’s luggage.
Is it a fake passport? We were under the impression that she had passed away in a collision the previous week… “Marjorie,” the officer turned to face her. As for you, are you?
“The woman who is her mother-in-law… With a sorrowful voice, Marjorie explained that she was the wife of her late son.
After being transported to the hospital, Liam and Lauren were then brought to the police station to be questioned.
You can no longer conceal yourself, Liam. We are in possession of evidence. When the detective inquired, “Where is the five million dollars?”
Liam obstructed the way. It was his insistence that “I don’t know anything.” Lauren, however, admitted her guilt after discovering that her sentence would be reduced.
At the same time that we stole the body of a homeless woman, we bribed a morgue worker. After placing it in my vehicle alongside my gold pendant that was etched with a ‘L,’ we proceeded to pour gasoline on it and then set it ablaze. In order to make it look like we were involved in an accident, we drove the car off a cliff.
The investigator pursued the question, “And the money?”
All five million dollars are now in our new accounts… We believed that we had taken care of everything, including tickets, accounts, and passports. Liam and I had the idea that we would escape. But…” Lauren’s head was chained to her hands as she broke down in tears.
