8
00
As Ethan was being led out of the ballroom,
he suddenly broke free from the police.
He bolted towards the exit like a madman.
He stumbled through the streets, running until
he reached the neighborhood where his family
home once stood.
But the grand house was gone.
In its place was a dilapidated recycling
center.
A rusty iron gate hung half–open.
Inside, piles of stinking garbage overflowed.
When he saw us, he looked up sharply.
“Sarah! Where are my parents? They’re not
dead, right? They’re just hiding?”
I looked at him, my voice flat.
“Ethan, did you really think you could fake
your death and everything would just stay the
same?”
“Your stupidity killed your parents.”
Before he could respond, I took him straight
to the cemetery.
Three gravestones stood silently.
His mother’s and father’s names were carved
into two of them
The third was a small, unmarked stone.
For my baby. Our baby.
Ethan stumbled towards the graves.
His hand trembled as he reached out to touch
the inscriptions.
He broke down completely, sobbing
uncontrollably.
“Mom! Dad! I’m sorry! It’s my fault! I killed
you! I was wrong! I was so, so wrong!”
Just then, the police arrived.
They helped the broken man to his feet, ready
to take him away.
Kevin Chen briefly took custody of their two
sons.
Shortly after, the police gathered enough
evidence on Kevin Chen for his own corporate
crimes.
He was sentenced to sixteen years in prison.
The boys likely ended up in foster care.
And as for me?
Arthur, Lily, and I continued our quiet, happy
life together.
Our home filled with meals and seasons,
laughter and love.
The world is vast, and we have all the time to
The world is vast, and we have all the time to
explore it, together.
