The Ruined Bride of Velvet Nights by Brick Moving Ant

+ Chapter 3

Then inspiration struck. | 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?”

Slooked sympathetic, others skeptical, most just uncomfortable.

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

Money talks. They agreed immediately.

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

| noticed his middle finger twitching. Still trying to flipoff, even at the end.

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

decided to screwover.”

The crematorium technician askedto wait in the lobby.

| pressed a thousand-dollar bill into his hand. “Please, letstay with my husband until the very

end.”

“Rest in peace, darling,” | said sweetly as | 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.

*Lacuse me?” | said sharply.

Yosve the one who pronounced him dead and signed the death coificate..

Now you're saying he’s alive? Want to explain that to me?”

Mike froze, trembling

He never saw dds coming

#1.... 1 just meant.... he'll always be alive in our hearts,” Mike backpedaled desperately

He knew he was looking at serious jail tif he admitted what he’d done.

His medical license would be toast.

“Lady, you hadworried there for a second,” the technician said.

“Though even if he was alive going in, he sure ain't now.”

Suddenly, Dave's arm shot up inside the chamber.

| jumped.

“Don’t worry about that,” the technician said casually.

“Just muscle contractions from the heat. Happens all the time.”

“Oh, thank goodness!”

Mike and | both knew better.

That was Dave's final struggle.

Mike doubled over and threw up.

The guilt of being an accessory to murder was hitting him hard.

“You okay there, doc?” | asked innocently.

80.5%

“L. 1 can’t.” he gasped, collapsing to his knees.

Mike took Carel back to the hospital.

| collected Dave's ashes and his belongings, then headed straight to my mom's place in Henderson.

When | saw her. | broke down in tears and hangged her tight

In my previous life. Mom had sold her house to helppay off Dave's debts.

She worked herself to death, doing double shifts at the diner and cleaning houses.

| had failed her then. Never again.

“Mom, once everything's settled, we're going to live together.”

Dad had passed when | was young, and Mom had raisedsolo, working three jobs to putthrough

college.

She made my favorite meatloaf with mac and cheese-comfort food she rarely splurged on anymore.

Over dinner, she mentioned something interesting.

She'd bought a Mega Millions jackpot ticket last week-just a quick pick with a 4x multiplier.

But the clerk had misheard and printed it as 40x.

She'd left it on the coffee table, but it had vanished.

Yesterday, she saw on the news that someone had won $200 million with a ticket from that same

store.

“Probably was my lucky ticket,” she chuckled sadly. “But what can you do? I'm just getting forgetful in my old

age.”

My heart stopped. | pulled out the ticket and checked the store number. It matched the convenience store

near Mom's house.

“Mom, | found your ticket. We won.”

“We actually won $200 million.”

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side of Volvot Nights

Chapter 3

Mom put on her reading glasses with shaking hands.

“Are you serious? This is really happening?”

“It's real, Mom.”

Now | remembered-Dave and | had been over for Sunday dinner.

While Mom and | were cooking, I'd heard Dave shout excitedly from the living room.

The bastard had stolen my mother’s winning lottery ticket.

Speople deserve what they get.

When | asked him what happened, he stammered and said he’d just landed a big client.

But now | realized-he must have seen my mom's lottery ticket, checked the numbers, and realized it was the

winning ticket.

That's why he was so excited.

That bastard stole my mom's ticket and leftdrowning in debt.

“Mom, | can’t keep this money.”

“If I claim it, it'll becmarital property, and my mother-in-law will try to take a cut.”

“You should claim it instead. I'll ask you for money when | need it.”

“Alright, Ill do it,” my mom agreed.

After dinner, | went back to my house.

The front door was slightly ajar, and the lock had been broken.

“I can’t find it anywhere,” | heard a woman's voice-it was David's high school sweetheart, Sarah.

“Keep looking,” my mother-in-law said anxiously.

They were looking for the lottery ticket.

Cubot Nights

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mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1

mmMwWLHI0RAO&1

mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1

mmMwWL1i10f1ifl0&1

mmMwWLIiI0fiflO&1