The elderly man rushed forward with shaking hands.

“Margaret?”

Another weak knock came from inside the coffin.

The maid pulled at the broken lid, crying harder now.

“Help me!”

For one terrible second, nobody moved.

Then the elderly man grabbed the lid beside her, and together they forced it open.

Inside, the woman in white lay pale and trembling.

Her eyes slowly opened.

The room broke into screams.

The elderly man touched her face like he was afraid she would disappear.

“Margaret… I buried you in my heart already.”

Her lips moved, barely making sound.

“Daniel…”

He leaned closer.

“I’m here.”

Her fingers lifted weakly and pointed past him.

Toward the man in the back.

The same man who had called the maid a liar.

Her son.

The room went silent.

The maid wiped her tears and looked at him.

“I saw you switch her medicine.”

The son’s face turned white.

“That’s insane.”

Margaret’s hand trembled against her husband’s sleeve.

“He wanted the will,” she whispered.

Daniel turned slowly.

The son stepped back.

“Dad, she’s confused.”

But Margaret’s eyes filled with pain sharper than fear.

“No,” she whispered. “For the first time… I’m awake.”

The maid pulled a small bottle from her apron pocket.

“I found this in his trash.”

Daniel stared at his son like the coffin had opened twice.

Once for his wife.

And once for the truth.

The son looked around, but no one stood with him.

The maid knelt beside Margaret, still shaking.

“I’m sorry I broke the coffin.”

Margaret touched her hand weakly.

“No,” she whispered. “You broke the lie.”