It happened on my dad’s birthday. He stood in front of his cake, eyes closed, making a wish. My mom leaned in and whispered something in his ear. My dad was famous for being super cautious about his health, but at that moment, he walked straight to the window and jumped. Just like that, he was gone.

Chapter 1It happened on my dad’s birthday.He stood in front of his cake, eyes closed, making a wish. My mom leaned in and whispered something in his ear.My dad was famous for being super cautious about his health, but at that moment, he walked straight to the window and jumped. Just like that, he was gone.After his death, everyone wanted to know: What did my mom whisper to him? The rumors were relentless. People offered insane amounts of money—one woman even put up a million dollars—just to find out what those words were.But my mom never said a thing.Not to the police. Not to me. Not to anyone.Not until my wedding day, when she showed up at the ceremony. And right there, in front of everyone, she leaned in and whispered those same words to my fiancé.After my dad died, my mom became infamous. People couldn’t understand it. My dad was the last person you’d expect to take his own life—he cherished every minute, worried about every little paper cut as if it might be the end. The idea that a single sentence from my mom could push him over the edge? It became the talk of the town.People came to our house, desperate for the truth. Even some rich women in miserable marriages tried to buy the killer sentence from my mom.But she kept her lips sealed, even when the police interrogated her. In the end, the courts found her guilty of inciting suicide, and she got three years in prison.After the funeral, I went to visit her behind the glass in the prison’s visitor room, my heart aching with confusion.“Mom,” I asked, “what did you say to Dad? Why did he do it?”She stared at me, her face calm, almost cold. “He didn’t want to live anymore. That’s not my fault.”Her words stung. I pressed my hand to the glass, desperate. “Dad was terrified of getting sick. He’d rush to the hospital over a scratch, worried he’d get some infection. His birthday wishes were always the same—he wanted a long, healthy life, and for me to get married and give him a grandchild. Why would he just end it all? Why would you say something to push him like that?”I just couldn’t wrap my head around it. My dad was kind, loving, and he and my mom always seemed so happy together. Why would my mom destroy our family with a single sentence? What exactly did she say?She just met my eyes for a long moment, then finally said, “Don’t ask. Knowing too much won’t do you any good.”She ended the visit right there.After that, she wouldn’t see me again.I went home to a house that felt haunted—so quiet, so empty, with just my dad’s black-and-white photo staring back at me from the mantel. I searched my parents’ room for answers. Everything was so neat. My dad’s closet was full of white shirts, because my mom once told him he looked good in white, so he wore nothing else. Her jewelry box overflowed with gold which was gifts from him, because he knew she loved gold. His nightstand was piled with her medicine, because he always worried about her health.Everywhere I looked, it was obvious how much he loved her. How much he loved us.So why did my mom destroy everything?After that last visit, she cut me off completely. Her coldness left me hollow. Eventually, I packed up and moved out, leaving that painful house behind. I moved in with David, my boyfriend of several years.David was there for me through it all. He was gentle, patient, always ready with a hug or a warm meal when I felt like falling apart. He helped me find hope again.Three years later, we decided to get married.The night before the wedding, David brought it up gently. “Joy, your mom’s out of prison now. Are you really not going to invite her? Are you still angry?”I hesitated, then admitted, “I just can’t let it go. My dad was such a good man. Why would my mom do that to him?”David squeezed my hand. “Maybe it was a misunderstanding. Do you really think one sentence could make someone do that? Maybe your dad’s death broke her too. Maybe she just can’t talk about it.”He watched me, his eyes so warm. “She’s still your mom, Joy. This is your wedding. She’s your only family now. Not inviting her... it would destroy her.”That’s just how David is—kind, thoughtful, always seeing the best in people.His words got to me. Eventually, I sent my mom an invitation.She showed up.The wedding was beautiful—David made sure everything was perfect. The hall was packed with friends and family, laughter and music everywhere.When I saw my mom, I barely recognized her. She looked thinner, older, her hair streaked with gray, deep lines around her eyes. She stood off to the side, watching David and me with a look I couldn’t read—something deep and distant.The officiant invited her up to the stage.David turned to her, earnest and a little nervous. “Thank you for coming. I promise, I’ll take care of Joy. I’ll love her for the rest of my life. I’ll never let her get hurt.”The tension in the room was thick enough to choke on. The emcee, sensing the moment, flashed a practiced smile and lifted the mic.“As the mother of the bride, do you have anything you’d like to say to your daughter?”Everyone turned, expecting a blessing or maybe a few tears. My mom just stared forward, her voice level and almost cold.“No,” she said, pausing just long enough for the word to sting. “I only have something to say to my son-in-law.”She didn’t wait for anyone to react. She stepped right up to David, leaned in, and whispered something in his ear.The change in him was instant. One second, he was grinning at me—my soon-to-be husband, the happiest guy in the room. The next, his face crumpled in sheer terror as he jerked his head to look at me.Before I could move, before I could even process what was happening, David spun around and ran—straight toward the hotel balcony.“David, stop!” I screamed, my voice breaking, but it was like he couldn’t hear me at all.He moved like he was being chased by something invisible and monstrous. Without slowing, he climbed the rail and threw himself over.A horrible, final thud echoed from below. Then, a wave of screams.It all happened so fast. No one could stop him. When we raced downstairs, David was already lying in a twisted heap, blood spreading beneath him like a dark halo.He didn’t move again.David was dead.He died on our wedding day. Because of something my mother whispered in his ear.Guests poured outside, their faces a mix of shock and devastation. David’s mother collapsed beside him, sobbing and clutching his body. I just stood there, numb, my heart shattered into pieces I’d never be able to pick up.The man who had just promised me forever was suddenly gone, and I couldn’t make sense of it.Then, my mom appeared at the top of the stairs, walking down slowly, calmly. She smoothed her hair, her face untouched by the chaos.David’s father lost it. He pointed at her, voice shaking with rage. “What did you say to my son? Why did he do this?”David’s friends and relatives crowded around, their anger boiling over.“You’re a monster! This was supposed to be a happy day—why did you come just to ruin it?”“We always heard rumors about you, about how you drove your husband to his death with just a few words. David defended you—he told us not to judge, not to believe the stories. He tried so hard to see the good in you, and this is how you repay him? How can you live with yourself?”“You should be locked up forever. You don’t deserve to see the light of day!”Through it all, my mom barely flinched. She shrugged. “He made his own choice. What does that have to do with me?”Her tone was so light, it was like she wasn’t even part of this nightmare.That’s when David’s mom snapped. She lunged at my mother, grabbing her collar, her voice raw and broken.“Murderer! Give me back my son! He was a good man—he never hurt anyone. He loved your daughter with everything he had. He wanted to build a life with her, have children, grow old together. He was happy! He had so much hope! Why—why would he do this? What did you say to him?”I’d never seen her like this—she was completely undone.I didn’t stop her. I just stared at my mom, my own voice shaking.“Why?” I pleaded, my eyes burning. “Wasn’t it enough to destroy Dad? Did you have to destroy David, too?”There was a time when we were a real family. Dad loved me, and we were happy. Then Mom said something—I never knew what—and Dad was gone. Our family was over.David was the one who put me back together, who made me believe in home again.And now, just when I was about to start a new life, Mom tore it all apart. Again.My hatred for her felt bottomless.For the first time, something flickered in her eyes. Doubt, maybe.“Even you think that of me?” she asked quietly.I swallowed, fighting tears. “I just want to know—what did you say to them? To Dad, to David?”I remembered so clearly—before Dad died, he had looked at me with the same fear, the same heartbreak David had just shown. Then, he was gone, too.What could she possibly have whispered that would drive two good men to the same end?The guests and onlookers pressed in, their anger reaching a fever pitch.“First your husband, now your son-in-law—you’re a murderer! You don’t deserve to live!”“If you don’t tell us what you said, you’re not leaving here alive!”“Tell us! What did you say?”My mom calmly shook off David’s mother, straightened her collar, and looked around at the furious crowd.“I’ll tell you,” she said, her voice sharp as ice. “But are you sure you want to hear it?”The entire room went silent.Everyone went silent, terrified looks frozen on their faces.Because those were the words that killed.Anyone who’d ever heard them, not a single one had hesitated—they’d all chosen to end their own lives.Curiosity hung in the air, but fear was stronger. No one dared even whisper. That’s when I stepped out from the crowd.“I’ll do it,” I said.All because of a single sentence, I’d lost my father—the man who cherished me—and my boyfriend, who loved me more than anything. Both gone, both by their own hands.I had to know why. Even if it cost me my life, I wasn’t afraid.My mom looked at me, her gaze deep and unreadable. “Are you sure you won’t regret this?”I nodded. “I’m sure.”She hesitated, just a flicker, then leaned close and whispered those words in my ear…As soon as she finished, everyone stared at me—wide-eyed, holding their breath. They’d all just seen David’s face twist in horror after my mom whispered to him… and then, in the next moment, watched him throw himself from the building.Now, they waited to see what I’d do. Would I break? Would I follow them?Under everyone’s anxious, curious gaze, I stood perfectly still. Nothing strange. No tears, no panic.Instead, I frowned at my mom and said, certain as anything, “You’re lying.”“There’s no way that’s what you said to them.”She met my eyes calmly. “I told you. Believe it or not—it’s up to you.”I shot back, “If that’s really all you said, why would Dad and David kill themselves?”They were two of the kindest, most optimistic people I’ve ever known. It didn’t add up—there’s no way a single sentence could drive them to such terror.Right then, I was sure she was keeping something from me.But she just kept her face open and honest. “I said what I said. They chose their own paths. It’s not on me.”My accusations, her calm replies—it left everyone around us completely lost. People stared, their eyes full of suspicion and doubt, as if they were trying to see straight through us.Before I could say more, several police cars screeched to a halt nearby. Officers jumped out, heading right for my mom.“We received a report that you’re suspected of provoking others to suicide,” one said. “This is the second case you’ve been linked to. You’ll need to come with us for questioning.”My mom didn’t argue. She just let them cuff her hands and quietly got into the car.Through the window, she looked back at me—her eyes deep, like she wanted to say a thousand things but couldn’t.There was something she wanted me to know, I could feel it, but for some reason, she was holding back.I watched as the police car drove away, taking her farther and farther from me.Even after she was gone, everyone just kept staring at me, waiting.David’s mom was the one who finally broke the silence. She stepped forward, her voice trembling, cautious. “Joy, what exactly did your mother say to you?”When my dad died and my mom was in prison, David had looked after me, and his mom had treated me like her own daughter. I respected her—felt guilty, too.I looked into her eyes, full of heartbreak and desperate curiosity, and answered quietly, “She just said, ‘Congratulations on your wedding.’ That’s it. Nothing else.”David’s mom’s face tightened in disbelief. “How could that be?”“She only said that, but we all saw how terrified David was,” she said, voice breaking. “Why would he react like that? Why would he—” She couldn’t finish.Others started chiming in:“She must’ve said something else! No way a simple blessing could do that.”“Who leans in just to whisper congratulations? That’s not normal—that’s hiding something.”“Joy, David always treated you so well. Don’t protect your mom just because she’s the suspect.”“Yeah, we deserve the truth. Don’t cover for her, Joy.”Even David’s dad spoke, his voice heavy and accusing. “Joy, my son loved you. He never let you suffer, not once. If you ever truly cared about him, don’t let him die without answers.”Their accusations, their grief—it all came crashing down on me. I tried to explain, steady and serious:“My dad and David both died after hearing something from my mom. I want to know the truth more than anyone. Why else would I let her say it to me in front of all of you?”“I don’t believe it was just that sentence either, but that’s all she said: ‘Congratulations on your wedding.’ You all heard me confronting her just now!”Because of those words, I lost the two people who meant the most to me.No one wants to know the reason more than I do.Maybe my voice convinced them. Maybe it was the look in my eyes. The crowd still looked uncertain, but no one pressed me further. Instead, they turned their attention to arranging David’s funeral.A day that was supposed to be filled with joy had turned into a nightmare.My heart felt like it had fallen straight from heaven into hell.Dragging my exhausted body and shattered heart, I made it through Mingze’s funeral. When it was over, I returned alone to the old house I’d once called home.Chapter 2It happened on my dad’s birthday.He stood in front of his cake, eyes closed, making a wish. My mom leaned in and whispered something in his ear.My dad was famous for being super cautious about his health, but at that moment, he walked straight to the window and jumped. Just like that, he was gone.After his death, everyone wanted to know: What did my mom whisper to him? The rumors were relentless. People offered insane amounts of money—one woman even put up a million dollars—just to find out what those words were.But my mom never said a thing.Not to the police. Not to me. Not to anyone.Not until my wedding day, when she showed up at the ceremony. And right there, in front of everyone, she leaned in and whispered those same words to my fiancé.After my dad died, my mom became infamous. People couldn’t understand it. My dad was the last person you’d expect to take his own life—he cherished every minute, worried about every little paper cut as if it might be the end. The idea that a single sentence from my mom could push him over the edge? It became the talk of the town.People came to our house, desperate for the truth. Even some rich women in miserable marriages tried to buy the killer sentence from my mom.But she kept her lips sealed, even when the police interrogated her. In the end, the courts found her guilty of inciting suicide, and she got three years in prison.After the funeral, I went to visit her behind the glass in the prison’s visitor room, my heart aching with confusion.“Mom,” I asked, “what did you say to Dad? Why did he do it?”She stared at me, her face calm, almost cold. “He didn’t want to live anymore. That’s not my fault.”Her words stung. I pressed my hand to the glass, desperate. “Dad was terrified of getting sick. He’d rush to the hospital over a scratch, worried he’d get some infection. His birthday wishes were always the same—he wanted a long, healthy life, and for me to get married and give him a grandchild. Why would he just end it all? Why would you say something to push him like that?”I just couldn’t wrap my head around it. My dad was kind, loving, and he and my mom always seemed so happy together. Why would my mom destroy our family with a single sentence? What exactly did she say?She just met my eyes for a long moment, then finally said, “Don’t ask. Knowing too much won’t do you any good.”She ended the visit right there.After that, she wouldn’t see me again.I went home to a house that felt haunted—so quiet, so empty, with just my dad’s black-and-white photo staring back at me from the mantel. I searched my parents’ room for answers. Everything was so neat. My dad’s closet was full of white shirts, because my mom once told him he looked good in white, so he wore nothing else. Her jewelry box overflowed with gold which was gifts from him, because he knew she loved gold. His nightstand was piled with her medicine, because he always worried about her health.Everywhere I looked, it was obvious how much he loved her. How much he loved us.So why did my mom destroy everything?After that last visit, she cut me off completely. Her coldness left me hollow. Eventually, I packed up and moved out, leaving that painful house behind. I moved in with David, my boyfriend of several years.David was there for me through it all. He was gentle, patient, always ready with a hug or a warm meal when I felt like falling apart. He helped me find hope again.Three years later, we decided to get married.The night before the wedding, David brought it up gently. “Joy, your mom’s out of prison now. Are you really not going to invite her? Are you still angry?”I hesitated, then admitted, “I just can’t let it go. My dad was such a good man. Why would my mom do that to him?”David squeezed my hand. “Maybe it was a misunderstanding. Do you really think one sentence could make someone do that? Maybe your dad’s death broke her too. Maybe she just can’t talk about it.”He watched me, his eyes so warm. “She’s still your mom, Joy. This is your wedding. She’s your only family now. Not inviting her... it would destroy her.”That’s just how David is—kind, thoughtful, always seeing the best in people.His words got to me. Eventually, I sent my mom an invitation.She showed up.The wedding was beautiful—David made sure everything was perfect. The hall was packed with friends and family, laughter and music everywhere.When I saw my mom, I barely recognized her. She looked thinner, older, her hair streaked with gray, deep lines around her eyes. She stood off to the side, watching David and me with a look I couldn’t read—something deep and distant.The officiant invited her up to the stage.David turned to her, earnest and a little nervous. “Thank you for coming. I promise, I’ll take care of Joy. I’ll love her for the rest of my life. I’ll never let her get hurt.”The tension in the room was thick enough to choke on. The emcee, sensing the moment, flashed a practiced smile and lifted the mic.“As the mother of the bride, do you have anything you’d like to say to your daughter?”Everyone turned, expecting a blessing or maybe a few tears. My mom just stared forward, her voice level and almost cold.“No,” she said, pausing just long enough for the word to sting. “I only have something to say to my son-in-law.”She didn’t wait for anyone to react. She stepped right up to David, leaned in, and whispered something in his ear.The change in him was instant. One second, he was grinning at me—my soon-to-be husband, the happiest guy in the room. The next, his face crumpled in sheer terror as he jerked his head to look at me.Before I could move, before I could even process what was happening, David spun around and ran—straight toward the hotel balcony.“David, stop!” I screamed, my voice breaking, but it was like he couldn’t hear me at all.He moved like he was being chased by something invisible and monstrous. Without slowing, he climbed the rail and threw himself over.A horrible, final thud echoed from below. Then, a wave of screams.It all happened so fast. No one could stop him. When we raced downstairs, David was already lying in a twisted heap, blood spreading beneath him like a dark halo.He didn’t move again.David was dead.He died on our wedding day. Because of something my mother whispered in his ear.Guests poured outside, their faces a mix of shock and devastation. David’s mother collapsed beside him, sobbing and clutching his body. I just stood there, numb, my heart shattered into pieces I’d never be able to pick up.The man who had just promised me forever was suddenly gone, and I couldn’t make sense of it.Then, my mom appeared at the top of the stairs, walking down slowly, calmly. She smoothed her hair, her face untouched by the chaos.David’s father lost it. He pointed at her, voice shaking with rage. “What did you say to my son? Why did he do this?”David’s friends and relatives crowded around, their anger boiling over.“You’re a monster! This was supposed to be a happy day—why did you come just to ruin it?”“We always heard rumors about you, about how you drove your husband to his death with just a few words. David defended you—he told us not to judge, not to believe the stories. He tried so hard to see the good in you, and this is how you repay him? How can you live with yourself?”“You should be locked up forever. You don’t deserve to see the light of day!”Through it all, my mom barely flinched. She shrugged. “He made his own choice. What does that have to do with me?”Her tone was so light, it was like she wasn’t even part of this nightmare.That’s when David’s mom snapped. She lunged at my mother, grabbing her collar, her voice raw and broken.“Murderer! Give me back my son! He was a good man—he never hurt anyone. He loved your daughter with everything he had. He wanted to build a life with her, have children, grow old together. He was happy! He had so much hope! Why—why would he do this? What did you say to him?”I’d never seen her like this—she was completely undone.I didn’t stop her. I just stared at my mom, my own voice shaking.“Why?” I pleaded, my eyes burning. “Wasn’t it enough to destroy Dad? Did you have to destroy David, too?”There was a time when we were a real family. Dad loved me, and we were happy. Then Mom said something—I never knew what—and Dad was gone. Our family was over.David was the one who put me back together, who made me believe in home again.And now, just when I was about to start a new life, Mom tore it all apart. Again.My hatred for her felt bottomless.For the first time, something flickered in her eyes. Doubt, maybe.“Even you think that of me?” she asked quietly.I swallowed, fighting tears. “I just want to know—what did you say to them? To Dad, to David?”I remembered so clearly—before Dad died, he had looked at me with the same fear, the same heartbreak David had just shown. Then, he was gone, too.What could she possibly have whispered that would drive two good men to the same end?The guests and onlookers pressed in, their anger reaching a fever pitch.“First your husband, now your son-in-law—you’re a murderer! You don’t deserve to live!”“If you don’t tell us what you said, you’re not leaving here alive!”“Tell us! What did you say?”My mom calmly shook off David’s mother, straightened her collar, and looked around at the furious crowd.“I’ll tell you,” she said, her voice sharp as ice. “But are you sure you want to hear it?”The entire room went silent.Everyone went silent, terrified looks frozen on their faces.Because those were the words that killed.Anyone who’d ever heard them, not a single one had hesitated—they’d all chosen to end their own lives.Curiosity hung in the air, but fear was stronger. No one dared even whisper. That’s when I stepped out from the crowd.“I’ll do it,” I said.All because of a single sentence, I’d lost my father—the man who cherished me—and my boyfriend, who loved me more than anything. Both gone, both by their own hands.I had to know why. Even if it cost me my life, I wasn’t afraid.My mom looked at me, her gaze deep and unreadable. “Are you sure you won’t regret this?”I nodded. “I’m sure.”She hesitated, just a flicker, then leaned close and whispered those words in my ear…As soon as she finished, everyone stared at me—wide-eyed, holding their breath. They’d all just seen David’s face twist in horror after my mom whispered to him… and then, in the next moment, watched him throw himself from the building.Now, they waited to see what I’d do. Would I break? Would I follow them?Under everyone’s anxious, curious gaze, I stood perfectly still. Nothing strange. No tears, no panic.Instead, I frowned at my mom and said, certain as anything, “You’re lying.”“There’s no way that’s what you said to them.”She met my eyes calmly. “I told you. Believe it or not—it’s up to you.”I shot back, “If that’s really all you said, why would Dad and David kill themselves?”They were two of the kindest, most optimistic people I’ve ever known. It didn’t add up—there’s no way a single sentence could drive them to such terror.Right then, I was sure she was keeping something from me.But she just kept her face open and honest. “I said what I said. They chose their own paths. It’s not on me.”My accusations, her calm replies—it left everyone around us completely lost. People stared, their eyes full of suspicion and doubt, as if they were trying to see straight through us.Before I could say more, several police cars screeched to a halt nearby. Officers jumped out, heading right for my mom.“We received a report that you’re suspected of provoking others to suicide,” one said. “This is the second case you’ve been linked to. You’ll need to come with us for questioning.”My mom didn’t argue. She just let them cuff her hands and quietly got into the car.Through the window, she looked back at me—her eyes deep, like she wanted to say a thousand things but couldn’t.There was something she wanted me to know, I could feel it, but for some reason, she was holding back.I watched as the police car drove away, taking her farther and farther from me.Even after she was gone, everyone just kept staring at me, waiting.David’s mom was the one who finally broke the silence. She stepped forward, her voice trembling, cautious. “Joy, what exactly did your mother say to you?”When my dad died and my mom was in prison, David had looked after me, and his mom had treated me like her own daughter. I respected her—felt guilty, too.I looked into her eyes, full of heartbreak and desperate curiosity, and answered quietly, “She just said, ‘Congratulations on your wedding.’ That’s it. Nothing else.”David’s mom’s face tightened in disbelief. “How could that be?”“She only said that, but we all saw how terrified David was,” she said, voice breaking. “Why would he react like that? Why would he—” She couldn’t finish.Others started chiming in:“She must’ve said something else! No way a simple blessing could do that.”“Who leans in just to whisper congratulations? That’s not normal—that’s hiding something.”“Joy, David always treated you so well. Don’t protect your mom just because she’s the suspect.”“Yeah, we deserve the truth. Don’t cover for her, Joy.”Even David’s dad spoke, his voice heavy and accusing. “Joy, my son loved you. He never let you suffer, not once. If you ever truly cared about him, don’t let him die without answers.”Their accusations, their grief—it all came crashing down on me. I tried to explain, steady and serious:“My dad and David both died after hearing something from my mom. I want to know the truth more than anyone. Why else would I let her say it to me in front of all of you?”“I don’t believe it was just that sentence either, but that’s all she said: ‘Congratulations on your wedding.’ You all heard me confronting her just now!”Because of those words, I lost the two people who meant the most to me.No one wants to know the reason more than I do.Maybe my voice convinced them. Maybe it was the look in my eyes. The crowd still looked uncertain, but no one pressed me further. Instead, they turned their attention to arranging David’s funeral.A day that was supposed to be filled with joy had turned into a nightmare.My heart felt like it had fallen straight from heaven into hell.Dragging my exhausted body and shattered heart, I made it through Mingze’s funeral. When it was over, I returned alone to the old house I’d once called home.Chapter 3It happened on my dad’s birthday.He stood in front of his cake, eyes closed, making a wish. My mom leaned in and whispered something in his ear.My dad was famous for being super cautious about his health, but at that moment, he walked straight to the window and jumped. Just like that, he was gone.After his death, everyone wanted to know: What did my mom whisper to him? The rumors were relentless. People offered insane amounts of money—one woman even put up a million dollars—just to find out what those words were.But my mom never said a thing.Not to the police. Not to me. Not to anyone.Not until my wedding day, when she showed up at the ceremony. And right there, in front of everyone, she leaned in and whispered those same words to my fiancé.After my dad died, my mom became infamous. People couldn’t understand it. My dad was the last person you’d expect to take his own life—he cherished every minute, worried about every little paper cut as if it might be the end. The idea that a single sentence from my mom could push him over the edge? It became the talk of the town.People came to our house, desperate for the truth. Even some rich women in miserable marriages tried to buy the killer sentence from my mom.But she kept her lips sealed, even when the police interrogated her. In the end, the courts found her guilty of inciting suicide, and she got three years in prison.After the funeral, I went to visit her behind the glass in the prison’s visitor room, my heart aching with confusion.“Mom,” I asked, “what did you say to Dad? Why did he do it?”She stared at me, her face calm, almost cold. “He didn’t want to live anymore. That’s not my fault.”Her words stung. I pressed my hand to the glass, desperate. “Dad was terrified of getting sick. He’d rush to the hospital over a scratch, worried he’d get some infection. His birthday wishes were always the same—he wanted a long, healthy life, and for me to get married and give him a grandchild. Why would he just end it all? Why would you say something to push him like that?”I just couldn’t wrap my head around it. My dad was kind, loving, and he and my mom always seemed so happy together. Why would my mom destroy our family with a single sentence? What exactly did she say?She just met my eyes for a long moment, then finally said, “Don’t ask. Knowing too much won’t do you any good.”She ended the visit right there.After that, she wouldn’t see me again.I went home to a house that felt haunted—so quiet, so empty, with just my dad’s black-and-white photo staring back at me from the mantel. I searched my parents’ room for answers. Everything was so neat. My dad’s closet was full of white shirts, because my mom once told him he looked good in white, so he wore nothing else. Her jewelry box overflowed with gold which was gifts from him, because he knew she loved gold. His nightstand was piled with her medicine, because he always worried about her health.Everywhere I looked, it was obvious how much he loved her. How much he loved us.So why did my mom destroy everything?After that last visit, she cut me off completely. Her coldness left me hollow. Eventually, I packed up and moved out, leaving that painful house behind. I moved in with David, my boyfriend of several years.David was there for me through it all. He was gentle, patient, always ready with a hug or a warm meal when I felt like falling apart. He helped me find hope again.Three years later, we decided to get married.The night before the wedding, David brought it up gently. “Joy, your mom’s out of prison now. Are you really not going to invite her? Are you still angry?”I hesitated, then admitted, “I just can’t let it go. My dad was such a good man. Why would my mom do that to him?”David squeezed my hand. “Maybe it was a misunderstanding. Do you really think one sentence could make someone do that? Maybe your dad’s death broke her too. Maybe she just can’t talk about it.”He watched me, his eyes so warm. “She’s still your mom, Joy. This is your wedding. She’s your only family now. Not inviting her... it would destroy her.”That’s just how David is—kind, thoughtful, always seeing the best in people.His words got to me. Eventually, I sent my mom an invitation.She showed up.The wedding was beautiful—David made sure everything was perfect. The hall was packed with friends and family, laughter and music everywhere.When I saw my mom, I barely recognized her. She looked thinner, older, her hair streaked with gray, deep lines around her eyes. She stood off to the side, watching David and me with a look I couldn’t read—something deep and distant.The officiant invited her up to the stage.David turned to her, earnest and a little nervous. “Thank you for coming. I promise, I’ll take care of Joy. I’ll love her for the rest of my life. I’ll never let her get hurt.”The tension in the room was thick enough to choke on. The emcee, sensing the moment, flashed a practiced smile and lifted the mic.“As the mother of the bride, do you have anything you’d like to say to your daughter?”Everyone turned, expecting a blessing or maybe a few tears. My mom just stared forward, her voice level and almost cold.“No,” she said, pausing just long enough for the word to sting. “I only have something to say to my son-in-law.”She didn’t wait for anyone to react. She stepped right up to David, leaned in, and whispered something in his ear.The change in him was instant. One second, he was grinning at me—my soon-to-be husband, the happiest guy in the room. The next, his face crumpled in sheer terror as he jerked his head to look at me.Before I could move, before I could even process what was happening, David spun around and ran—straight toward the hotel balcony.“David, stop!” I screamed, my voice breaking, but it was like he couldn’t hear me at all.He moved like he was being chased by something invisible and monstrous. Without slowing, he climbed the rail and threw himself over.A horrible, final thud echoed from below. Then, a wave of screams.It all happened so fast. No one could stop him. When we raced downstairs, David was already lying in a twisted heap, blood spreading beneath him like a dark halo.He didn’t move again.David was dead.He died on our wedding day. Because of something my mother whispered in his ear.Guests poured outside, their faces a mix of shock and devastation. David’s mother collapsed beside him, sobbing and clutching his body. I just stood there, numb, my heart shattered into pieces I’d never be able to pick up.The man who had just promised me forever was suddenly gone, and I couldn’t make sense of it.Then, my mom appeared at the top of the stairs, walking down slowly, calmly. She smoothed her hair, her face untouched by the chaos.David’s father lost it. He pointed at her, voice shaking with rage. “What did you say to my son? Why did he do this?”David’s friends and relatives crowded around, their anger boiling over.“You’re a monster! This was supposed to be a happy day—why did you come just to ruin it?”“We always heard rumors about you, about how you drove your husband to his death with just a few words. David defended you—he told us not to judge, not to believe the stories. He tried so hard to see the good in you, and this is how you repay him? How can you live with yourself?”“You should be locked up forever. You don’t deserve to see the light of day!”Through it all, my mom barely flinched. She shrugged. “He made his own choice. What does that have to do with me?”Her tone was so light, it was like she wasn’t even part of this nightmare.That’s when David’s mom snapped. She lunged at my mother, grabbing her collar, her voice raw and broken.“Murderer! Give me back my son! He was a good man—he never hurt anyone. He loved your daughter with everything he had. He wanted to build a life with her, have children, grow old together. He was happy! He had so much hope! Why—why would he do this? What did you say to him?”I’d never seen her like this—she was completely undone.I didn’t stop her. I just stared at my mom, my own voice shaking.“Why?” I pleaded, my eyes burning. “Wasn’t it enough to destroy Dad? Did you have to destroy David, too?”There was a time when we were a real family. Dad loved me, and we were happy. Then Mom said something—I never knew what—and Dad was gone. Our family was over.David was the one who put me back together, who made me believe in home again.And now, just when I was about to start a new life, Mom tore it all apart. Again.My hatred for her felt bottomless.For the first time, something flickered in her eyes. Doubt, maybe.“Even you think that of me?” she asked quietly.I swallowed, fighting tears. “I just want to know—what did you say to them? To Dad, to David?”I remembered so clearly—before Dad died, he had looked at me with the same fear, the same heartbreak David had just shown. Then, he was gone, too.What could she possibly have whispered that would drive two good men to the same end?The guests and onlookers pressed in, their anger reaching a fever pitch.“First your husband, now your son-in-law—you’re a murderer! You don’t deserve to live!”“If you don’t tell us what you said, you’re not leaving here alive!”“Tell us! What did you say?”My mom calmly shook off David’s mother, straightened her collar, and looked around at the furious crowd.“I’ll tell you,” she said, her voice sharp as ice. “But are you sure you want to hear it?”The entire room went silent.Everyone went silent, terrified looks frozen on their faces.Because those were the words that killed.Anyone who’d ever heard them, not a single one had hesitated—they’d all chosen to end their own lives.Curiosity hung in the air, but fear was stronger. No one dared even whisper. That’s when I stepped out from the crowd.“I’ll do it,” I said.All because of a single sentence, I’d lost my father—the man who cherished me—and my boyfriend, who loved me more than anything. Both gone, both by their own hands.I had to know why. Even if it cost me my life, I wasn’t afraid.My mom looked at me, her gaze deep and unreadable. “Are you sure you won’t regret this?”I nodded. “I’m sure.”She hesitated, just a flicker, then leaned close and whispered those words in my ear…As soon as she finished, everyone stared at me—wide-eyed, holding their breath. They’d all just seen David’s face twist in horror after my mom whispered to him… and then, in the next moment, watched him throw himself from the building.Now, they waited to see what I’d do. Would I break? Would I follow them?Under everyone’s anxious, curious gaze, I stood perfectly still. Nothing strange. No tears, no panic.Instead, I frowned at my mom and said, certain as anything, “You’re lying.”“There’s no way that’s what you said to them.”She met my eyes calmly. “I told you. Believe it or not—it’s up to you.”I shot back, “If that’s really all you said, why would Dad and David kill themselves?”They were two of the kindest, most optimistic people I’ve ever known. It didn’t add up—there’s no way a single sentence could drive them to such terror.Right then, I was sure she was keeping something from me.But she just kept her face open and honest. “I said what I said. They chose their own paths. It’s not on me.”My accusations, her calm replies—it left everyone around us completely lost. People stared, their eyes full of suspicion and doubt, as if they were trying to see straight through us.Before I could say more, several police cars screeched to a halt nearby. Officers jumped out, heading right for my mom.“We received a report that you’re suspected of provoking others to suicide,” one said. “This is the second case you’ve been linked to. You’ll need to come with us for questioning.”My mom didn’t argue. She just let them cuff her hands and quietly got into the car.Through the window, she looked back at me—her eyes deep, like she wanted to say a thousand things but couldn’t.There was something she wanted me to know, I could feel it, but for some reason, she was holding back.I watched as the police car drove away, taking her farther and farther from me.Even after she was gone, everyone just kept staring at me, waiting.David’s mom was the one who finally broke the silence. She stepped forward, her voice trembling, cautious. “Joy, what exactly did your mother say to you?”When my dad died and my mom was in prison, David had looked after me, and his mom had treated me like her own daughter. I respected her—felt guilty, too.I looked into her eyes, full of heartbreak and desperate curiosity, and answered quietly, “She just said, ‘Congratulations on your wedding.’ That’s it. Nothing else.”David’s mom’s face tightened in disbelief. “How could that be?”“She only said that, but we all saw how terrified David was,” she said, voice breaking. “Why would he react like that? Why would he—” She couldn’t finish.Others started chiming in:“She must’ve said something else! No way a simple blessing could do that.”“Who leans in just to whisper congratulations? That’s not normal—that’s hiding something.”“Joy, David always treated you so well. Don’t protect your mom just because she’s the suspect.”“Yeah, we deserve the truth. Don’t cover for her, Joy.”Even David’s dad spoke, his voice heavy and accusing. “Joy, my son loved you. He never let you suffer, not once. If you ever truly cared about him, don’t let him die without answers.”Their accusations, their grief—it all came crashing down on me. I tried to explain, steady and serious:“My dad and David both died after hearing something from my mom. I want to know the truth more than anyone. Why else would I let her say it to me in front of all of you?”“I don’t believe it was just that sentence either, but that’s all she said: ‘Congratulations on your wedding.’ You all heard me confronting her just now!”Because of those words, I lost the two people who meant the most to me.No one wants to know the reason more than I do.Maybe my voice convinced them. Maybe it was the look in my eyes. The crowd still looked uncertain, but no one pressed me further. Instead, they turned their attention to arranging David’s funeral.A day that was supposed to be filled with joy had turned into a nightmare.My heart felt like it had fallen straight from heaven into hell.Dragging my exhausted body and shattered heart, I made it through Mingze’s funeral. When it was over, I returned alone to the old house I’d once called home.