The Grieving Me Is Just a Clown

1
My wifes whole family was dying from pufferfish poisoning. The only antidote was made by her company.
After 99 calls, she finally answered, annoyed: Why are you blowing up my phone over one dance with Leo?
I begged her to bring the antidoteher parents and brothers family were dying.
But she gave it all to her first love, Leo, whose family was also poisoned.
Theyre my assets. I decide, she said coldly. If your family died, thats their bad luck.
She showed no remorse and even signed a settlement for me, protecting those responsible.
When I demanded a divorce, she scoffed, Your familys deadis that really a big deal? They were greedy to eat that fish anyway.
Righteous and unmoved, she still didnt realize the dead were her own family.
My in-laws were rushed to the hospital after dining at a new upscale restaurant. Pufferfish poisoning.
By the time I got there, they were already fading.
The doctor was blunt. The only thing that could save them was a specialized antidote manufactured by my wife Chloes company.
I started calling her immediately.
She didn't answer. Call after call went to voicemail.
Finally, on the ninety-ninth try, she picked up. Before I could even speak, her voice, dripping with annoyance, cut through the phone.
It was Leos company gala. I danced one cha-cha with him. Why are you blowing up my phone?
The mention of Leo Vance sent a familiar spike of irritation through me. I wanted to confront her, to demand answers, but the thought of my in-laws fighting for their lives in the ER silenced the angry words in my throat.
My voice trembled as I got to the point. Your parents your brother and his family theyve been poisoned by pufferfish. Its bad, Chloe. The doctor said only your companys antidote can save them. You have to bring it back, please
Before I could finish, a cold, dismissive laugh cut me off. Your family gets pufferfish poisoning, and Im just supposed to hand over the antidote? Do you have any idea how much that stuff costs?
Her tone was chillingly detached. Im a businesswoman, Benny, not a charity. Call me back when they've scraped the money together.
Then, as if she couldn't wait to be rid of me, she hung up.
The dial tone buzzed in my ear. I just stood there, stunned, unable to process the cruelty in her words. How could that have been Chloe?
My phone vibrated. A text message.
It was from the bespoke watchmaker, asking if I was satisfied with the quality of my custom timepiece.
It was a birthday gift from my parents. I'd been so swamped with work I hadnt even had time to pick it up.
Chloe must have gone behind my back.
And I knew exactly what shed done with it. Shed given it to Leo to make him happy. It wasnt the first time shed done something like this.
Every time I confronted her, shed sneer. Look at yourself, Benny. Do you even think you deserve a watch like this anymore? It looks better on Leo. He has the class for it.
So generous with Leo, handing over a ten-thousand-dollar watch without a second thought. But when it came to an antidote that could save five lives, she had to nickel and dime me.
Rage burned through me. I tried calling her again, but her phone was off.
A few minutes later, I was scrolling through my phone when I saw her Instagram post from half an hour ago. A picture of her and Leo, dancing, his arm wrapped around her waist. He was wearing my watch.
The caption read: Gifting my love a custom watch and dancing the night away. Pure bliss!
I was shaking with a fury so intense I felt dizzy. As if on cue, a new post popped up on my feed. It was Leo.
Because of you, my family is safe. Ill love you for a billion years!
The photo was a selfie. He was holding up a vial of the antidote, planting a kiss on Chloes cheek.
I wanted to tear her apart. Her own family was dying, waiting for that very medicine, and she was off playing the hero for another man.
Just then, the door to the emergency room swung open.
The doctor approached me, his expression grim. Im sorry. We did everything we could.
The tears came instantly. I had braced myself for it, but hearing the words still felt like a punch to the gut. Five lives. Just gone.
Wiping my eyes, I pulled out my phone and called the watchmaker.
I never authorized anyone to pick up my watch, I said, my voice cold and steady. I think youve been scammed. You should call the police.
Five deaths put immense pressure on the police.
It didn't take them long to identify the owner of the restaurant.
It wasnt a stranger.
It was Leo Vances parents.
For a moment, I didn't know how to feel. All my grief suddenly felt like a joke. I was a clown, mourning for the family of a woman who had just saved their killers.
A bitter, humorless smile touched my lips. I hoped Chloe would never regret this day.
The police officer explained, apologetically, that they couldn't make an arrest yet. The restaurant owners, he said, were also in the hospital being treated for the poisoning.
My face remained a mask of stone. I know they were poisoned.
But theyve already been saved.
I looked the officer dead in the eye. I will be pressing charges. I expect to see them in court.
My certainty seemed to surprise him, but he saw the look on my face and didn't ask how I knew. He just gave a firm nod. Rest assured, Mr. Knight. This is a five-person homicide case. We will investigate it to the fullest and bring justice to the deceased.
After finishing the paperwork, I collapsed onto a waiting room chair, every ounce of strength gone.
Thats when Chloe called.
She didn't give me a chance to speak, launching into a tirade. You had the store call the cops? Benny, are you insane? Im your wife! How dare you accuse me of fraud?
Because my father paid for that watch, Chloe. And speaking of which, where is the birthday gift my parents gave me?
Silence.
After a long pause, her voice returned, softer now, laced with that familiar manipulative sweetness. Were a team, aren't we? Whats yours is mine. Leo has wanted a custom watch for so long, just a little something to reward himself. How could I say no? You should have seen how happy he was.
Hes not selfish like you, she cooed. He even told me to thank you on his behalf.
Honestly, Benny, look at the difference between you two. The man has class
She kept rambling, her voice a grating buzz in my ear, until I couldn't take it anymore.
Shut up! I roared.
The word slammed into her, and she fell silent, stunned. A moment later, her voice came back, laced with disbelief and a wounded tone. Benny you told me to shut up?
Chloe came from nothing, and Id always been so careful with her pride, always spoken to her gently. I had never, not once, raised my voice to her.
But today? Today she had chosen Leo over five human lives. I had no more ground to give.
Even a dog shows gratitude when you feed it. She was worse than a dog.
Enough of your nonsense, I said, my voice flat and cold. The entire family is in the hospital morgue. Get back here and arrange their funerals.
Her response made me realize that comparing her to a dog was an insult to dogs.
Theyre dead, so theyre dead. Whats there to arrange? The company needs to improve the antidote. They can finally be useful and contribute to the research.
Leo had a scare today, she added breezily. I need to comfort him. I dont have time for this. Just remember to have the bodies sent to the company labs.
She hung up before I could reply.
And that's when it fully hit me.
Chloe still had no idea it was her family that was dead.
I thought about it for a long moment. Then, I decided to honor her wishes.
I would send her familys bodies to her company. Let them be useful.
Given that it was a case of five deaths, the legal proceedings moved quickly.
That afternoon, Chloe stormed into our home, her face a mask of fury, and slapped me hard across the face.
Benny, when did you become so vicious? she shrieked. Leos parents just barely escaped death, and youre already suing them? Are you trying to push them over the edge?
I held a hand to my stinging cheek, my voice void of emotion. And they only escaped death thanks to your antidote, didnt they?
She flinched, a flicker of guilt in her eyes, but she quickly covered it with defiance. Theyre my assets, so I decide what to do with them. If your family died, it was just their bad luck. Why did they have to get poisoned at the same time as Leos family?
Her voice grew louder, more self-assured with every word. Leos parents are good people! Its not like they killed your family on purpose. Cant you be a little more generous? It was a small mistake, and youre clinging to it.
Even if you sue them, even if they go to jail, what good will it do? It wont bring your family back.
Seeing my expression remain unchanged, she switched tactics, her tone softening into a coaxing purr. I know its hard to accept their deaths right now, but you cant bring them back. Those of us who are still alive have to move on.
Ive already talked it over with Leo. Well give you a hundred thousand dollars in compensation.
Just drop the lawsuit, she said, her voice light, as if a hundred thousand dollars could simply erase five lives. Lets just put this all behind us.
A morbid curiosity sparked within me. I wondered if shed sound so casual if she knew it was her family we were talking about.
When I didn't respond, her face darkened again, her tone becoming hard and final. Youll agree whether you like it or not. Ive already signed a settlement agreement on your behalf, as your wife.
With my help, Leos parents will be fine, whether you drop the suit or not. But if you refuse, you wont even get the hundred thousand.
A dry, humorless laugh escaped my lips. I looked at her, my voice laced with ice. If youre so determined to protect the people who killed your entire family, theres nothing more for me to say.
I just hope you dont regret this later.
Regret what? Since youve agreed, Ill call Leo right now.
She seemed surprised by my quick surrender, but she was too eager to think about it. She immediately dialed Leos number.
Through the phone, I could hear his insincere, syrupy voice. Chloe, darling, please tell Benny how sorry I am for his loss. I never imagined such a tragedy could happen
I knew perfectly well Leo couldn't come up with a hundred thousand dollars. But Chloe would cover for him. Hed probably contribute ten grand, if that.
Sure enough, after she hung up, she disappeared into the bathroom. Less than two minutes later, a notification lit up my phone. A hundred thousand dollars had been transferred to my account.
Seeing the bank alert, a knowing smile spread across my face.
Then, slowly and deliberately, I pulled out the divorce papers Id already prepared.
Sign them, I said. I cant stay married to an accomplice in my familys murder.
Chloe froze. Then she snatched the papers, her hands moving to tear them in half.
I crossed my arms, my voice calm. If you tear those up, Im sending the hundred thousand right back to Leo. And our entire agreement is off.
Her hands stopped. Her eyes widened as if she were seeing a stranger. Youre threatening me? Benny, youre actually threatening me?
She completely lost it. So your whole family is dead. Is that really such a big deal?
Besides, she raged, if your parents and your brother weren't so greedy, they never would have eaten the pufferfish in the first place!
Youd divorce me over a bunch of dead people? Are you even human?
I just raised an eyebrow, perfectly calm. No more talk. Are you signing or not? The choice is yours.
A storm of emotions crossed her facewhite, then red, then dark, like a twisted kaleidoscope. The standoff lasted for what felt like an eternity before she finally ground out the words through clenched teeth.
Ill sign.
She scanned the document, then angrily scrawled her name, the pen tearing through the paper. She threw it on the table with a sneer.
A hundred thousand dollars for five lives. Your family really went cheap.
I pressed my lips together, saying nothing.
The fool.
She still hadnt noticed a single thing was wrong. She still had no idea.
Chloe, I said. Before the papers are final, were still husband and wife. Lets go see Mom, Dad, and my brothers family off one last time.
After all, I added, I did what you asked. I sent them to your company, so they could keep being useful.
She was about to refuse, but my last words made her pause. Reluctantly, she nodded.
In the company laboratory, Chloe stared at the five bodies covered by white sheets, her expression placid and detached.
My own heart was a tangled mess of grief and a sharp, cruel satisfaction. Dad, Mom, my brother Michael, his wife Sarah, and little Joey Chloes finally here to see you
Joey. That was her nephews nickname.
The moment she heard the name, her calm expression shattered, ripped apart by a tidal wave of shock.
As if struck by lightning, her legs gave out and she collapsed to the floor, the blood draining from her face.

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