Chapter 3
The teacher who once treated her like a father now spoke only of gains
and losses.
“I’ll give you half a month. Turn in a project that satisfies me, or…”
The cold voice paused. “Then rot wherever you should rot.”
Kathy steeled herself.
She buried herself in the library, day and night.
Her foundation was solid. Even after years of neglect, once past the initial struggle, she quickly found her rhythm again.
The tight schedule left no room for grief.
Only, her backpack now held a small white urn.
Everything she brought home that day had turned to ash in the furnace.
What she cradled in her arms was no longer à soft, fragrant little body, but a cold urn
Kathy couldn’t bear to leave Mike alone in the house.
Her son’s last cries still rang in her ears.
“Mommy, they’re biting me! It hurts!”
Every time the hallucination came, she bit her lip and sobbed, pounding her chest in silent agony.
The wound on her lip split, again and again, never healing.
PAR ers
Chapter 3
A whole week passed. No word from Justin.
Kathy didn’t care. In fact, she was relieved.
If they’d met the day it all happened, she might’ve fought him to the death.
She wanted him dead.
Or better yet–a life worse than death.
Every bit of pain Mike suffered, she’d repay a thousandfold. Even that wouldn’t ease her guilt and hatred.
Eight days left. That’s when she had to turn in her project.
Kathy went back to the villa to retrieve her long–hidden research.
Just as she stepped in, a shadow shot toward her and slammed into the door behind her.
Shards flew, one cutting her cheek.
“The butler said you’ve been gone a week. Where’d you go? Who did you meet?”
Justin leaned against the couch, sleeves rolled to his elbows.
His face was dark, eyes menacing.
Kathy ignored him and headed upstairs.
She froze when she saw Luciana walking down, wearing her nightgown, hair messy.
“Justin, I slept in Mrs. Garrett’s bed. She won’t be mad, right?”
She rubbed her eyes, but her gaze was sharp with provocation.
Chapter 3
Then she pretended to notice Kathy and covered her mouth in mock
shock.
“Mrs. Garrett, you’re back? You… you heard that? Please don’t blame Justin. He just pitied me, seeing how much I’ve suffered.”
Justin’s voice followed from behind.
“Lucy, it’s not your fault. Why apologize? You’re so kind—it’s no wonder she kept pushing her luck!”
A tall figure passed by and wrapped the petite figure a few steps above in his arms, holding her tightly.
As if they were the ones truly in love, until death.
Kathy turned away, unwilling to spare them a single glance.
She could come back for the documents another day, but there was no way to wash her eyes clean after seeing this dirty stuff.
“Stop! Did I say you could leave?”
Justin’s voice was cold and threatening.
“Kathy, did I spoil you so much that you forgot your place?”
He held Lucy, stepping down slowly. On the stairs, only two steps apart, he reached out and grabbed Kathy by the neck.
“Where’s Mike, huh? You failed as a wife; now you can’t even be a mother?
“Forget it. Take him to the house on the outskirts. Don’t come back these days. Don’t disturb Lucy’s rest.”
Before he finished, he flung her back.
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Chapter 3
Kathy staggered, barely grabbing the handrail before she fell down the
stairs.
She steadied herself and took out the small urn from her bag.
Her clear eyes turned to ice as she stared him down.
“Mike is right here.”
Justin’s pupils shrank. He reached out.
However, Luciana suddenly cried out and rushed forward, slamming into Kathy’s arms first.
“Mrs. Garrett, even if you’re mad at Justin, you can’t curse your own child!
“What did the kid do wrong? Why pretend he’s gone for no reason?”
She tripped, and in a movement that looked like she was trying to regain balance, her hand smacked the urn.
It flew through the air, the lid falling off mid–spin. Ash–white powder burst out like mist. The urn hit the floor, shattering.
Kathy’s breath caught in her throat. Her eyes only managed to follow the falling urn.
Her brain refused to process the crash. She went blank, frozen in place.
She couldn’t speak, nor could she move.
Luciana acted like she’d just realized something shocking, covering her mouth in disbelief.
“No way… did I guess right? That urn’s a prop to sell your lie? You’re still Mike’s mom. How could you do something so cruel?”
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Chapter 3
Her back to Justin, her voice trembled with fake guilt, but her eyes gleamed with wild glee.
She leaned close, pretending to help Kathy. In a whisper, fast and low-
“Mrs. Garrett, when your son was torn to pieces, his eyes were still open. Want to see?”
Thunder roared in Kathy’s ears.
Her eyes turned blood–red as she lunged and wrapped her fingers around Luciana’s throat.
“It was you! You planned it all! Do you want to die? Is that what you want?!”
Her grip tightened, using every ounce of strength.
Luciana’s lips turned purple, eyes rolling back.
“Stop!”
A powerful force yanked Kathy’s wrist
Crack! She fell like a kite with its string cut, \tumbling down the stairs.
Shards of the urn stabbed into her. Ash clung to her, quickly soaked with blood.
“Mike, it doesn’t hurt. I’m here!”
Her wrist hung limp, clearly broken. But Kathy didn’t feel it. She scooped up the ashes with one hand, carefully pouring them into the biggest shard.
“Kathy, have you lost your mind?!”
Justin shielded the weeping woman in his arms, glaring down with eyes
Chapter 3
like knives.
“You cursed Mike, slandered Lucy, and even tried to kill! If I hadn’t been here, would you have killed someone today?
“Apologize to Lucy. Now!”
Kathy stared at him, her gaze tracing every line of his face.
The face she once loved deeply was now so unfamiliar, it felt like seeing it for the first time.
She suddenly remembered–there were cameras in the cabin.
That day, pain had numbed her brain. All she could think about was gathering up Mike’s remains. She’d forgotten to retrieve the cameras.
