The Wedding House Paid for with My Blood Money

I died under a stamping press at the factory.
My entire right arm was pulp. My coworkers screamed. An ambulance came and went.
At the wake, my mother-in-law's wails were gut-wrenching. My dear daughter-in-law!
My husband knelt before my coffin, bowing his head once, twice, three times.
The compensation was $800,000. My mother-in-law took $500,000 to buy a house for my brother-in-law.
My four-year-old daughter, Lily, was sent to an orphanage.
That winter, the heating broke. No one fixed it.
Lily huddled in a corner, clutching a photo of me, and never woke up again.
When I opened my eyes, the calendar read: March 15, 2024.
Three days before the accident.
This time, I wasn't the one who was going to die.
1
I sat up in bed, drenched in sweat.
The image of Lily's face from the dream still haunted me. Her lips were purple, her small hand clutching my photo, her fingernails cracked from the cold.
"Mommy, I'm cold."
I squeezed my eyes shut.
The door opened, and my mother-in-law, Brenda, came in with a bowl of chicken soup.
"Sarah, you're awake? Here, drink this. You must be exhausted from all those night shifts."
Her smile was warm and kind.
I stared at that face.
In my previous life, three days after I died, she had worn that same expression as she sat in the living room, counting stacks of cash.
She finished counting, looked up at my brother-in-law, and said, "It's enough. Enough for the down payment."
"Just put the soup there, Mom," I said.
"Alright, drink it while it's hot." Brenda placed the bowl on the nightstand. "Oh, and get to bed early tonight. You have the night shift tomorrow."
She turned and left.
I picked up the bowl and took a sip. The soup was genuinely delicious. Brenda was a good cook. In my five years with the family, I had eaten her food every day.
Of course, "good food" wasn't free.
My entire monthly paycheck of $4,500 went straight to her, every single cent.
"Sarah, why don't you just let me hold onto your paychecks? I'll save it all up for Lily's college fund."
She'd been saying that for five years. I'd believed her for five years.
I put the bowl down and walked to the window.
Lily was playing in the yard, drawing circles in the dirt with a stick. She was so small and thin for a four-year-old. She wore a faded pink coat, the only one she owned. Brenda always said kids grow too fast and buying new clothes was a waste of money.
My eyes stung as I looked at my daughter. In my last life, she died alone on a cold floor. This time, I wouldn't let that happen.
A phone buzzed in the living room. Brenda's phone.
I tiptoed over and glanced at the screen. The message was from "Jason."
It was just three words: "Is it set?"
Brenda came out of the kitchen and saw me, freezing for a second. "Oh, Sarah, you're up. Did you drink the soup?"
"I did," I said, taking a step back. "Mom, I think Jason is trying to reach you. Your phone just went off."
A flicker of unease crossed her face, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared. "Oh, it's nothing. He's just asking what's for dinner tomorrow."
She picked up the phone, typed a quick reply, and shoved it into her pocket.
I said nothing.
That evening, while Brenda was out grocery shopping, I slipped into her room. There was a small gap behind her wardrobe, just big enough for a recording pen. I'd bought it last year online, intending to use it to learn a new language. It was still in its packaging. Now, it had a purpose.
I tucked the pen into the gap, set it to voice-activated mode, and left the room.
Lily was watching cartoons in the living room. She looked over at me. "Mommy, what are you doing?"
"Mommy's looking for something."
"Did you find it?"
"I did."
I walked over, knelt down, and pulled her into my arms. She felt so fragile, so thin I could feel her bones.
"Mommy, I'm hungry."
"Hungry? I'll get you some crackers."
"Not crackers. I want meat."
I paused. Lily rarely asked for anything.
"What kind of meat?"
"The braised ribs. The kind Grandma makes for Uncle Jason."
My heart clenched. Brenda's braised ribs were reserved exclusively for her younger son, Jason. The most Lily ever got was a tiny scrap.
"Okay," I said, my voice thick. "Mommy will buy you some tomorrow."
"Really?" Lily's eyes lit up.
"Really."
The front door opened. Brenda was back. She was carrying a bag of groceries and frowned when she saw me holding Lily.
"Sarah, don't spoil her like that. Always carrying her around. What's she going to do when she starts school?"
"I know, Mom." I gently put Lily down and stood up.
Brenda went into the kitchen. Lily tugged on my shirt and whispered, "Mommy, Grandma doesn't like me."
I knelt and squeezed her cheek gently. "That's not true. Grandma loves you."
Lily shook her head. "Grandma washes apples for Uncle Jason. She doesn't wash them for me."
I didn't know what to say. In this house, Lily ranked lower than Jason. In Brenda's eyes, her younger son was everything. Her older son, my husband Mark, was a tool. I, the daughter-in-law, was an ATM. And her granddaughter, Lily, was a burden. Only Jason was the apple of her eye.
At ten o'clock that night, I was lying in bed when I heard voices from Brenda's room. It was my husband, Mark, and Brenda.
I held my breath, straining to hear. The words were muffled, but I caught a few fragments.
"Tomorrow night shift that machine"
My heart skipped a beat. In my previous life, the accident happened during my night shift.
Stamping Press No. 3.
The safety lock was broken. No one had fixed it.
When I walked past, the machine suddenly activated.
My entire arm was gone.
I thought it was an accident. Now I knew it wasn't.
2
The next morning, my brother-in-law, Jason, brought his fiance, Jessica, over for lunch. Brenda was ecstatic, waking up at dawn to braise a rack of ribs. Lily stood at the kitchen doorway, staring longingly at the pot.
"Grandma, can I have a piece?"
Brenda didn't even look up. "Go on, shoo. This is for your aunt and uncle. What's a little kid like you doing eating ribs? You'll choke."
Lily's lip trembled, and she ran off. I saw the whole thing from the living room.
When Jason and Jessica arrived, Brenda's face was split with a grin. "Jessica, you're here! Come in, sit down!"
Jessica was dressed head-to-toe in designer brands. The handbag she carried, I'd seen it in a department store. Over eight thousand dollars. She glanced at me, a faint smirk on her lips. "Oh, Sarah's here too."
"I am."
"Haven't you had that outfit for a few years, Sarah? I'm pretty sure you were wearing it the first time I came over."
I looked down at my clothes. A gray cotton jacket, the collar worn and faded. "It's been a while."
Jessica covered her mouth with her hand, stifling a laugh. "Jason told me your factory isn't doing so well, that they can barely make payroll. It must be tough."
Brenda jumped in. "It really is. Sarah gives me her entire paycheck every month, doesn't keep a penny for herself. She's a very dutiful daughter."
"So where does all of Sarah's money go?" Jessica asked, raising an eyebrow. "It's not"
"It's all being saved!" Brenda interrupted. "For Lily's college fund!"
Mark came out of the bedroom just in time to add, "That's right. We trust my mom to handle the money."
I watched their performance, a cold smile hidden inside me. I'd believed them in my last life. My monthly paychecks, five years of my youth, all of it gone. All for an "accident" and an $800,000 settlement.
At the dinner table, Jessica casually remarked, "Brenda, Jason and I saw a new condo development. A three-bedroom, close to the subway. The down payment is five hundred thousand."
Brenda placed a large rib in her bowl. "Yes, yes. I've got it covered."
Jason grinned. "Sarah, your factory's doing so poorly, isn't it about to go under?"
"It's fine," I said.
"That's good." He glanced at Brenda. "Sarah, do you have worker's comp?"
"I do."
"Oh," he said, focusing on his food. "That's good. You'll be covered if anything happens."
My grip on my chopsticks tightened. He was probing.
Jessica shot me a sideways glance. "What do you do at the factory, Sarah?"
"Assembly line."
"Ah, the assembly line. That must be exhausting." She took a bite of a rib. "I hear there are a lot of accidents on assembly lines. You should be careful."
Brenda tapped the table. "Alright, that's enough. Why talk about such unlucky things at the dinner table?"
"You're right, Mom," Jessica said with a smile. "I'm just concerned about Sarah."
I stayed silent.
Beside me, Lily tugged my sleeve. "Mommy," she whispered, "I want a rib."
"Lily, be good," Brenda said sternly. "The ribs are for your aunt and uncle. You eat your vegetables."
Lily's eyes welled up.
I picked up a rib and placed it in Lily's bowl.
Brenda's face darkened. "Sarah, you"
"Lily is part of this family too," I said, looking Brenda straight in the eye. "What's wrong with her having one rib?"
The table fell silent.
Mark tugged my sleeve. "Sarah, Mom didn't mean it like that"
"I know." I looked down and continued eating.
Brenda's face was livid, but she didn't say anything else. Lily held the rib in her small hands, nibbling on it carefully.
After dinner, Jessica and Jason were in the living room, looking at floor plans. Brenda joined them, the three of them whispering with their heads together.
I was washing dishes in the kitchen when I heard Jessica's voice. "Mom, the down payment is five hundred thousand. How much can you put together?"
Brenda lowered her voice. "Don't worry. The money will be ready before the end of the month."
"Where are you going to get that kind of money?"
"You don't need to worry about that." Brenda paused. "I have my ways."
My knuckles turned white as I gripped the bowl. Five hundred thousand. Before the end of the month.
In my last life, my accident was on March 18th. The worker's comp settlement was $800,000.
The timing was perfect.
That night, my husband Mark came into our bedroom. "Sarah, don't you think you were a little out of line at dinner today?"
"How was I out of line?"
"Mom's face changed the second you gave that rib to Lily."
"Lily is your daughter. What's wrong with her wanting a piece of meat?"
Mark sighed. "Can't you just let things go with Mom? She's old, she's short-tempered."
I looked at him. "And Lily? She's only four. Should she have to let things go with her grandmother?"
"Why are you being so difficult?" Mark frowned. "Mom treats you like her own daughter, and you still argue with her over every little thing?"
I didn't answer.
He sat on the edge of the bed, his tone softening. "Sarah, Jason's wedding is a big deal. Mom's been under a lot of stress. Try to be more understanding."
"Understanding about what?"
"Jason's short on the down payment for the house. Mom was thinking"
"Thinking what?"
"If you could lend Jason the money from Lily's education fund."
I looked up and stared at him. "That's five years of my wages."
"I know, it's just a loan. He'll pay you back after the wedding."
"No."
Mark's face fell. "Sarah, why are you being so selfish? Jason is your brother-in-law! His wedding is a family affair!"
"That is my daughter's money."
"Lily is only four! It'll be years before she needs it for school!" He stood up, his voice rising. "You're just so petty!"
He slammed the door on his way out.
I sat on the bed and heard him talking to Brenda in the living room.
"Mom, she won't lend it."
"Hmph. I knew it," Brenda's voice was cold as ice. "It's fine. There's another way."
"What way?"
"Don't you worry about it. Just make sure she's on the night shift tomorrow."
"The night shift?"
"Yes. Over by Machine No. 3. The safety lock is broken, and no one's fixed it yet"
Their voices grew quieter, and I couldn't hear the rest.
I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.
Stamping Press No. 3.
A broken safety lock.
The night shift.
The scenes from my past life flashed before my eyes.
This time, I wouldn't be so foolish.
3
On the third day, Brenda's kindness was almost suffocating. She brought me breakfast in bed.
"Sarah, time to eat. I made you sweet poached eggs."
I stared at the bowl. In the five years I'd been married into this family, she had never once made this for me.
"Mom, what's the occasion?"
"What do you mean?" she said with a smile. "I just think you've been working too hard lately. You need to build up your strength."
I took the bowl. "Thanks, Mom."
"Don't thank me. We're family." She sat on the edge of my bed. "Sarah, I know I haven't been good to you all these years."
I looked up.
She sighed. "I'm old, and I get grumpy. Sometimes I say harsh things. Don't take it to heart."
"What things are you talking about, Mom?"
"Oh, you know." She took my hand. "It was wrong of me to take your paychecks. As soon as Jason is married, I'll give it all back to you."
I looked into her sincere eyes and laughed inwardly. I'd fallen for this in my last life. I was so moved I almost cried.
"It's okay, Mom."
"Are you sure?" She leaned closer. "Then, about Lily's education fund"
I looked down. "Mom, I really can't touch that money. It's for Lily's future."
A flash of irritation crossed her face before being replaced by her warm smile. "Alright, alright. I won't pressure you." She stood up. "You get some rest. You've got the night shift tonight."
She left.
I finished the eggs and got dressed. Lily was watching TV in the living room. Brenda was busy in the kitchen, and Mark had already left for work.
"Lily, where do you want to go today?"
She looked up, her eyes shining. "Are you taking me out to play, Mommy?"
"Mmm-hmm. Mommy's off today. Let's go to the amusement park."
"Really?!" Lily jumped off the sofa. "I want to ride the merry-go-round!"
Brenda poked her head out of the kitchen. "The amusement park? What a waste of money."
I took Lily's hand. "Mom, Lily hasn't been out in a long time. Just for today."
Brenda pursed her lips but said nothing.
I took Lily to the park. It was just a short bus ride away. She sat on a painted horse on the merry-go-round, smiling so wide her two little front teeth showed.
"Mommy, I'm so happy!"
I stood nearby, watching her. In my past life, she had never been to an amusement park. I was always thinking, I'll take her later. Later.
And then there was no later.
"Mommy, I want to ride that!" Lily pointed to the Ferris wheel.
"Okay, let's go."
As the Ferris wheel climbed higher, Lily pressed her face against the glass, looking down at the world below. "Mommy, the houses are so tiny!"
"They are."
"Mommy, is that our house?"
"No, our house is on the other side."
"Oh." She tilted her head. "Mommy, can we live in a big house someday?"
I stroked her hair. "We can. Mommy will buy you a big house."
"Really?"
"Really."
Lily beamed. My heart ached watching her. In my last life, I couldn't give her a big house. I died, and she was sent to an orphanage. That winter was especially cold. The heating broke, and no one cared. She huddled in a corner, clutching my photo. She froze to death.
I blinked hard, forcing the tears back. Not this time. I would not let that happen again.
When we got home that evening, Brenda met us at the door. "Sarah, you're back! Did you have fun?"
"We did."
"That's good," she said, smiling. "I made your favorite, braised ribs. Go on, eat."
Lily cheered. "Ribs!"
Brenda patted her head. "There's some for you too, Lily."
At the table, Brenda kept piling food onto my plate. "Eat more, Sarah, you're too thin."
"Have this. It's good for you."
"You've got the night shift, so get to bed early tonight."
I nodded as I ate. Mark chimed in, "See, Sarah? Mom's good to you, right?"
"She is."
"Good." Mark looked relieved. "From now on, let's just be a happy, peaceful family."
I didn't reply.
After dinner, I was giving Lily a bath. Brenda was on the phone in the living room, her voice a low whisper.
"...everything's arranged... tomorrow night... don't worry..."
I strained to hear more, but couldn't.
Lily splashed water in the tub, getting my face wet. "Mommy, what are you listening to?"
"Nothing." I started drying her off. "Lily, Mommy's on the night shift tomorrow. You be a good girl for Grandma, okay?"
"Okay," Lily nodded. "When will you be back, Mommy?"
"In the morning."
"I'll wait for you."
I lifted her out of the tub and wrapped her in a towel. "Lily, listen to me. No matter what happens, Mommy will always come back for you."
Lily blinked. "What are you talking about, Mommy?"
"Nothing," I said, kissing her forehead. "Time for bed."
At ten o'clock, I slipped into Brenda's room and retrieved the recording pen. I found a quiet corner, put on my headphones, and pressed play.
Brenda's voice filled my ears.
"Mark, is that machine ready?"
"It's ready. I had someone remove the safety lock."
"She's on the night shift tomorrow. It's quiet over by Machine No. 3..."
"I know, Mom."
"If something happens, how much will the compensation be?"
"I asked. For a workplace death, it's at least eight hundred thousand."
"Eight hundred thousand is enough. Five hundred for the down payment, and the rest for Jason's wedding."
"What about Lily?"
"Send her to an orphanage. We can't afford her."
"Okay. Whatever you say, Mom."
The recording ended.
I took off the headphones, my hands shaking.
Eight hundred thousand.
Workplace death.
Send her to an orphanage.
So this was the endgame after five years in their family.
I clenched the recording pen and walked to the window. The moonlight was cold and stark.
Fine. Just fine.
Tomorrow night, we'll see who dies.

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