The crematorium was cold and empty. I sat there the whole night, staring blankly at nothing.
On the third day, I officially signed away my legal identity and brought my brother’s ashes bacl home.
The moment I stepped through the door, Vincent was already waiting. His voice was sharp irritated.
“Why didn’t you answer my calls last night? Do you have any idea how upset Sable was? You completely ruined her birthday.”
I kept my voice calm. “I was at the crematorium. Waiting for my brother.”
He let out a cold, mocking laugh. “Always the lies with you. What are you gonna say next? That what you’re holding is really his urn?”
I said nothing. There was no point trying to defend myself. He never believed me anyway.
Vincent waved his hand like he couldn’t be bothered. “Forget it. Sable didn’t sleep well last night
You owe her.”
Sable’s eyes lit up instantly. “Andrea, why don’t you make it up to me by giving me a birthday present? That ring you’re wearing would be perfect.”
My wedding ring. The Blackthorne Family heirloom Vincent had put on my finger. Out of everything he’d ever given me, it was the only thing that ever felt meaningful.
I raised my gaze and looked Vincent dead in the eye. “Is that what you want too, Vincent?”
For a brief moment, I saw hesitation flicker across his face.
Sable dropped her gaze, playing the innocent victim.
“It’s okay, Andrea. If you don’t want to give it to me, I understand. It’s just a birthday gift anyway. don’t really need it.”
Her pitiful act worked like a charm. Vincent’s face hardened.
“If she wants it, give it to her. Don’t make me take it off you myself.”
Before I could react, Sable jumped up and reached for my hand. In the struggle, the urn slipped from my grip.
The porcelain shattered as it hit the floor, sending my brother’s ashes scattering across the hardwood.
My heart clenched. I dropped to my knees, frantically trying to gather what little I could.
And then, just as I reached out, a gust of wind blew through the hall, sending the ashes flying in every direction.
“No… please, no…” My voice broke as my eyes welled up with tears.
Vincent stood there, finally seeming to grasp something wasn’t right. “Andrea, you-”
But Sable cut him off immediately. “I’m so sorry, Andrea! I didn’t mean to!” she said sweetly though her foot intentionally crushed one of the remaining bone fragments as she kept trying to snatch the ring from my hand.
I shoved her away, my voice shaking with rage. “Get away from me!”
Chapter 6
5:37 pm DDDX.
She stumbled backward, landing hard on her backside. The next second, her fake sobs filled the
air.
“Andrea… you know I’m pregnant. How could you push me like that? Do you hate this baby so much?”
Vincent immediately wrapped his arms around her.
“Andrea! She just wanted the ring, for God’s sake! Why would you get so aggressive?”
Tears were pouring down my face. Something inside me finally snapped.
“You will pay for this!” I screamed, my voice breaking. “One day, you’ll both pay for everything you’ve done to me!”
I had never been this furious in my entire life: My rage silenced even Vincent; Sable sat frozen, wide–eyed, as if she didn’t recognize me anymore.
But I didn’t care. I didn’t care about either of them. All I could think about was my brother. His ashes now scattered across the floor like worthless dust.
I dropped to my knees, desperately trying to salvage what little I could, my hands slicing open on the shards of broken porcelain. My blood mixed with the ashes, turning everything into a sticky, painful mess.
Vincent’s voice softened slightly, like some twisted part of him felt pity.
“If
you didn’t want to give the ring, you could’ve just said so. You didn’t need to put on this act. Anyone watching might actually believe this really was your brother’s urn.”
I froze. My hands still bleeding, my chest heaving.
Even now–after everything–I still couldn’t get him to believe me.
Sable clicked her tongue, letting out a little sigh of annoyance.
“Owh, the ring’s dirty. What a shame.”
Vincent brushed her hair back, comforting her like she was some fragile princess.
“Don’t worry. I’ll buy you a new one.”
And just like that, they walked away–stepping on my brother’s ashes as if they were nothing but dirt beneath their feet.
That afternoon, Sable bombarded me with messages.
Vincent bought me dozens of rings today! All different designs, with matching necklaces and bracelets too!
He said I deserve the very best. Tonight, he’s even taking me to an auction to bid on some antique royal jewelry!
Rings… the symbol of a lifetime promise, of loyalty, of love.
But Vincent’s love? Just like these rings–cheap and mass–produced, thrown around like meaningless trinkets.
Fine. If that’s who he is, then I don’t want him anymore.
And I don’t want the filthy ring either.
I walked into the study and opened the drawer.
Chapter 7
5:37 pm DDDX.
Inside were the photos of his one hundred mistresses and the divorce papers I’d quietly prepared
long ago.
I took off the blood–stained wedding ring and placed it inside, along with my medical report–the one confirming I’d lost our child.
Once everything was in order, I gently placed what little was left of my brother’s ashes into my suitcase and headed downstairs.
I left the house key on the dining table and wiped my fingerprints from the security system.
Every trace of me in this mansion was now gone.
And then, under the cover of night, I stepped into the car waiting for me outside.
I pulled out my phone, snapped the SIM card in half, and tossed it out the window of the moving
car.
The wind caught it, carrying it far into the trees.
By the time he returned… I was already gone.
