Marla brought the car to a halt as they neared their home, her expression grave as she turned to Crystal, who possessed Maurice's soul. "We need to be convincing," she said, her voice tinged with urgency. "When we get back, we have to act as if we're distraught, as if we've just lost Maurice to those rogues."
Crystal's grin widened at Marla's words, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Don't worry, Mom," she reassured, her tone dripping with confidence. "I can play the part perfectly."
Marla nodded, her gaze unwavering as she considered their next steps. "Good," she replied, her voice firm. "Remember, we have to make this believable. Beta Gary will be asking questions, and we need to have our story straight."
Crystal's grin softened into a smirk as she leaned back in her seat, her mind a
