Chapter 6
Jessica’s smile vanished. Guilt flashed across her face as she instinctively tried to hide behind him. But he didn’t even notice.
His breath caught painfully in his throat, unable to go down. Panic rose in his chest, squeezing his lungs.
“Dad… Lily is your granddaughter… How could you say something like that… How could you joke about this?“%
Compared to Ethan’s father’s explosive rage, Ethan’s mother appeared far more composed. She cast a cold glance at Jessica, who was hiding behind Ethan, then curled her lips into a mocking smile. “Ethan, if I had known you would become such an irresponsible man, I would never have allowed you to marry Hannah. If I hadn’t, she wouldn’t have spent all these years being hurt and humiliated by you.”
In the end, she didn’t just lose five years of her youth–she lost the only child in the world connected to her by blood.
Ultimately, it was her own fault.
If she hadn’t insisted that Ethan marry Hannah, Hannah wouldn’t have suffered so deeply.}
At the mention of Hannah’s name, Ethan’s father’s expression also shifted to guilt. He shook his head slowly, pain etched into his face. “I’ve failed Hannah… I won’t be able to face her parents when I join them down there someday…”
Both parents looked at Ethan with equal parts anger and heartbreak.
Ethan’s father let out a weary sigh. “Forget it. Maybe it’s better this way. You’ve already wasted so much of Hannah’s time. At least now, she’s finally free.”}
Their words sent Ethan into deeper confusion. As they turned to leave, he instinctively grabbed his mother’s arm. “Mom, what are you saying? What happened to Hannah? And… what happened to the child?”
You think you’re qualified to mention that child?” Her voice cracked as tears welled in her eyes. “You knew Lily had a heart condition. Why did you let her get on that bungee ride? How could you be so cruel–to let Hannah watch her daughter die right in front of her? Do you even understand what a child means to a mother?”
The memory of the surveillance footage stabbed at her chest. She felt like she was suffocating.”
With her body trembling and tears falling, she stepped back, leaning heavily on Ethan’s father for support. “Ethan, if you still have any shred of humanity left, go kneel before your daughter’s grave and beg her for forgiveness. Pray that she’s lucky enough to find a better father in her next life–one who isn’t you.”
OF SOUSES @
With those final words, her strength gave out completely. She signaled for Ethan’s father to take her away. Though furious, he knew that nothing could undo what had happened. So, without another word, he held his wife and turned to leave.}
Watching them go, Ethan finally snapped out of his daze. He turned abruptly, ready to run to the place they mentioned.Z
But Jessica grabbed his arm, frowning. “Ethan, where are you going? You never even liked that child. So what if she’s gone? I’m still here. I’m still carrying your baby…”
Her words struck him like a bolt of lightning. His chest tightened as fury exploded inside him.
“Shut up!” he roared, trembling with emotion. “That was my daughter!“}
His nerves were pulled so taut, they felt ready to snap. His entire body was shaking, and every breath was labored.
Then, without another word, he turned and stumbled toward the door.”
Jessica was stunned by his outburst. By the time she came to her senses, he was already halfway down the hall.}
She panicked. “Ethan! Come back to me!” She screamed, furious and terrified.
She rushed after him, but tripped over a chair leg in her haste. Her belly hit the armrest hard.
“Aah… Ethan…”
Jessica’s face turned ghostly pale as pain surged through her body. She trembled violently, expecting the man who once couldn’t take his eyes off her to come rushing to her aid at the sound of her cries.
But he didn’t turn back–not even once.
Ethan didn’t go home. He rushed straight to North Shore Memorial Hall.}
He was too late. The memorial is already over.”
Strangers moved about, coming and going. He stood frozen, unease crawling up his spine.
With trembling fingers, he pulled out his phone and dialed Hannah’s number.
In the past, no matter how late it was, Hannah would always pick up.
