"Stop! Mr. Stephens is in love with me. He said he wants to marry me! If you kill me, someone with his resources will uncover the truth. And when he does, none of you will escape."
Mom and Dad froze mid-step, their grip loosening instinctively.
Ethel slapped me across the face. "Shut your lying mouth! Logan is in love with me!"
"Who could love a gambling addict?" I shot back without flinching. Seeing the doubt creep across our parents' faces, I forced a conciliatory tone. "Mom, Dad, I know you weren't thinking clearly. If you stop now, I'm willing to share the good fortune with all of you. We're family, after all."
"If you don't believe me, I'll call Mr. Stephens right now and prove it."
That broke them. They wavered completely.
"Ethel," Dad said, uncertain. "Maybe we should let her make the call."
Mom had already retrieved my phone, holding it out. "Go ahead, then..."
Crack.
Ethel snatched the phone and hurled it at the floor. It shattered into pieces.
"So what if I gamble?" she snarled. "Once I have that ten million, I'll pay off every debt. I'll be a clean slate. Logan loves me. Abigail is just stalling for time! Hurry up and finish this before the police knock on the door!"