He Wanted Me Dead, Now He Pleads

While my husband was busy throwing a lavish birthday party for the child of the woman he once loved, our own son was dying in a hospital bed.

I called him over and over from the ward. My voice cracked as I begged him to look for the best specialist for Milo, to at least make a call, to do something. He lost his temper and cut me off mid-sentence.

Stop ruining this, he said sharply. Therese, if you let that ugly jealousy take over again, dont be surprised when I finally divorce you.

So I stayed with our child alone.

I cradled Milos small hand as the warmth slipped from it. I hummed broken lullabies while the beeping machines slowed, then went quiet. I kissed his forehead, watching closely until his chest no longer rose. I refused to let go until the nurses gently eased him from my arms.

That was the first time I lost a child.

The crematory smelled of scorched air and rusted steel. Sunlight streamed through dusty windows, the particles floating lazilysoft, cruel, indifferent. I kept thinking that some of that dust might already belong to another child who had been reduced to ash.

Soon, my son would be nothing but that too.

I stood there in a loose black dress that hung off my frame. I hadnt eaten in days. Hunger no longer registered. There was only emptiness.

My eyes were swollen and raw from endless crying, yet in that moment, I felt eerily calm.

Too calm.

I slipped my fingers beneath the edge of the white covering and touched his tiny, stiff hand. Cold. Lifeless. I placed two small blue paper stars into his palmorigami I had folded late last night with trembling hands, because I didnt know what else a mother could give at a moment like this.

Milo

The staff exchanged glances and moved closer, their movements careful, as if I were made of glass. But I had already shattered.

One of them slowly pulled the cloth back. There he wasmy boy. Seven years old, though his frail body looked much younger. Too fragile. Too small to have endured what he did.

His lips were cracked. His chest had sunk in. Fresh bruises from IV lines still marked his skin. There was nothing peaceful about the way he had diedonly suffering stretched out over time, while the man meant to protect him smiled beside another childs birthday cake.

I couldnt scream anymore. The tears were gone. I had sworn I would keep him safe.

And I failed.

God I failed him.

Someone beside me murmured softly, Im so sorry, maam. Your son fought bravely. The infection spread too fast for us to stop it.

I didnt respond.

I simply brushed a strand of hair away from Milos forehead. He always complained when it fell into his eyes.

Then I said quietly, You can start. Let him go to heaven. He doesnt belong in this place.

There was hesitation. Pity, maybe. Or maybe none at all. His little body was guided into the chamber of fire.

And I felt nothing.

Nothing at all.

Milo was free now. He didnt have to endure pain. He didnt have to ask the questions that carved holes in my heart.

Mom why doesnt Daddy like me?

Mom why does he only play with Noah?

Mom did I make Daddy stop loving you?

His voice replayed endlessly in my head. Every time he had asked, I swallowed my sorrow and lied because the truth would have destroyed him.

But in the end, he was destroyed anyway.

Adrian killed him.

He had promised Milo a day at the amusement park. Promised to win him the biggest stuffed bear he could find.

Instead, he left town to attend Leos party with Elise.

Adrian didnt even believe me when I called to say Milo was burning with fever and struggling to breathe.

He accused me of exaggerating.

Then he ended the call.

By the time I got Milo admitted, the infection had already poisoned his blood. His lungs failed. His tiny heart simply couldnt hold on.

I gathered him in my arms, shaking so badly I thought I might collapse. I didnt cryI was afraid my sobbing would frighten him.

I whispered again and again, Mommys here. Mommys right here.

But I was already too late.

Ever since Elise returned with her son and her fake tears, Adrian treated me like his enemy. He called me unstable. He locked me inside the house. Cut off my access to money. Told everyone I was jealous, irrational, dangerous.

You harmed Elise and her child, he once accused. And Ill make you pay for it twice over.

And he kept his word.

Now I stood outside the cremation center with a small blue urn in my arms.

BlueMilos favorite color.

I clutched it tighter than I had ever held anything before.

Were going home, sweetheart.

The breeze tugged at my dress. The sunlight was warm against my skin, yet I had never felt colder.

Never felt emptier.

Never felt more alone.

When I returned home holding my sons ashes, I walked straight into the sight of Elise Arthur kissing Adrian on the cheek. Her fingers lingered lovingly on his shoulder.

Thank you again for making Noahs birthday so special, Adrian, she said sweetly. But how is Milo? Therese called earlier and she sounded strange

This time, Adrian didnt move away. He rested his hand on Elises waist and smiled like a man who hadnt just lost his child. Like he hadnt abandoned his wife and son in a hospital room.

She only said that to lure me back, he scoffed. She thrives on drama. Always playing the victim. Honestly, I regret ever having Milo. He turned out spoiled anyway.

The urn slipped tighter against my chest as I stood frozen in the hallway. Tears spilled before I could stop them. I had thought I had none left.

If they wanted each other so badly, I would step aside.

Adrian finally noticed me. He pulled his hand back quickly. His face twitchedwhether from guilt or irritation, I couldnt tell.

You should have told me you were coming home, he muttered. I was planning to send someone for you.

He had forgotten the night I arrived alone at the docks near his private estate. I had begged him to pick me up. He said he was busy. I asked if he could at least send one of his men.

My people arent your personal drivers, he snapped. Stop acting like royalty or Ill sign those divorce papers myself.

That same night, I was nearly taken by strangers on my walk back. When I called him in terror, all he said was, You were stupid to walk alone. What did you expect?

Yet when Elise needed transportation, Adrian dropped everything. Sent cars. Sent men. No excuses.

I met his eyes now and said evenly, Its fine.

He studied me longer than usual. Something unreadable passed through his gaze.

Did Milo recover? he asked quietly.

I tightened my hold on the strap of my bag. The small box tucked inside felt heavier with every step, as though it had gained weight just from being here. I gave a slow, stiff nod.

Milos

Before I could finish, a child slammed straight into me. I stumbled and hit the floor hard, scraping my wrist against the tiles. The box nearly flew from my grip. I lunged for it, catching it at the last second.

Watch where youre going! I snapped.

When I looked up, it was Noah. Elises son. He stood over me with open hostility in his eyes.

Youre the one who should watch it! he yelled. Why did you even come back here?

Adrians voice thundered through the room. Thats enough, Noah. Dont talk like that. And you he shot me a glare, hes just a kid. Dont start trouble.

Elise quickly stepped forward as if the house belonged to her. She placed her hand lightly over Adrians chest and tilted her face up toward his, soft and gentle, like she fit there perfectly.

Please dont be upset, she murmured sweetly. Im sorry if we caused any problems Noah and I can leave if its uncomfortable.

Adrians jaw tightened. He pointed straight at me.

You didnt do anything wrong, he told her firmly. She did.

Something tore inside my chest. I could almost feel it rip open. That was when I understoodthey were already a family. And I was nothing but an intruder haunting the hallway.

Suddenly, Noah lunged at my bag.

Is there food in there? Im starving! he shouted.

The box slipped from my grasp again and hit the floor with a dull, hollow thud.

No! I cried out. Dont touch that!

Noah reached for it with his dirty hands. Whats inside? Can I eat it?!

I shoved him away without hesitation. I didnt think. I didnt care. I had already lost too much to start being careful now.

Adrian exploded. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?! Hes a child! Do you think shoving kids is acceptable now?!

Noah screamed and grabbed a fistful of my hair, yanking hard. Pain shot through my scalp, sharp and blinding. I clenched my teeth to keep myself from sobbing.

Its Milos, I whispered brokenly. Thats thats my son

Elise gently tugged on Adrians arm. Let it go, she soothed. If it belongs to Milo, then Noah shouldnt be playing with it anyway.

Adrian scoffed coldly. This is my house. I decide whos allowed to touch what.

I gathered the box against my chest like a shield and turned away without another word, walking straight to the bedroom.

Behind me, Adrian snorted as if I were being dramatic. I heard him muttering something under his breath before escorting Elise and Noah out as if they were honored guests.

That night, I packed my clothes quietly. I filled out the divorce papers with shaking hands. I set Milos urn beside me on the bed and stared at it for hours without blinking.

---

That same night, Milo came to me in my dreams again.

He was crying. Lost. Barefoot in a never-ending hallway made entirely of glass. The walls were spotless, reflecting nothingonly white light and silence and emptiness. His small voice echoed endlessly as he wandered.

Dad? Daddy? Where are you?

He wasnt calling for me. He was searching for Adrian.

In the dream, my chest split apart. I chased after him, reaching out, running as fast as I couldbut I never caught him. He always stayed just beyond my grasp. Those little hands that once clung to me whenever he was afraid kept slipping farther away.

I fell to my knees, shaking and begging.

Im sorry, my baby Im so sorry.

I repeated it again and again.

I shouldve protected you. I shouldnt have left you there.

When I woke up, I was already kneeling beside the bed. My hands were clasped tightly together, still praying. Praying that wherever he was, he wasnt in pain anymore. Praying that suffering hadnt followed him beyond death.

The room was silent. Adrians massive glass mansion stretched endlessly around mesleek walls, cold air, polished emptiness. It was a house designed to impress strangers, not to shelter families. Certainly not to mourn children.

I wrapped my arms around my drawn-up knees. My pillow was soaked through, my nightgown clinging damply to my skin. My chest burned as if something vital had been carved away beneath my ribs.

And then the memories returned.

The slow change. The way Adrians affection didnt vanish all at oncebut cracked and dried, like a riverbed under relentless sun.

When Elise came back, everything shifted. He started speaking about Noah like he was something precious.

Noahs intelligent, he said one night, as if it were undeniable truth. Well-mannered. Strong. Healthy.

Not like Milo.

He never said those last words aloud.

But I heard them anyway. Because weeks before Milo became desperately ill, Adrian had stared straight at me and said,

I sometimes question whether that boy is even mine. And if he ishes clearly not fit to be an heir. Weak. Always sick. Thats not the kind of bloodline I want running anything.

I remember standing frozen, unable to speak.

I had spent years trying to earn his affection, believing that if I could just improvebe quieter, smarter, more loyalhe would love me again.

I never imagined he would take that love away from our son too.

Milo adored him. Idolized him. He was always trying to show off his drawings, his tiny school trophies, the paper medals he proudly made from foil and childish hope.

But Adrian never looked.

And when Milo grew seriously ill, Adrian didnt lift a single finger.

He was too busy organizing Noahs birthday. Decorations. A private magician. A cake flown in from abroad. A brand-new bicycle that probably cost more than the hospital bill I had to beg the nurses to delay.

Milo died without his father beside him.

Only me.

Only quiet.

Only his voice haunting my dreams

Daddy? Where are you?

And the truth I struggle to admit is thisI hate myself.

Because maybe just maybe if I had taken him and run, he might still be alive. But I didnt. And now all I have are dreams, silent rooms, and the hollow ache where his laughter used to live.

Then I heard footsteps outside the bedroom. Unsteady. Drunken. Voices.

I cracked the door open just enough to see Adrian staggering down the hall, leaning heavily into Elise as she supported him.

Adrian, she whispered softly, are you sure you want to go to her room? Its late shes probably still awake.

He laughed darkly. Why would I go to her? She treated Noah like trash.

Elise led him into her room. She didnt bother closing the door completely. I heard everythingher breathless sounds, his low groans, the creaking mattress. Every sound carved into me.

I didnt cry.

I didnt move.

I stared at the wall with my hands folded in my lap, hollow and silent like a ghost.

By morning, I made hangover soup as I always did and set it on the table as if nothing had happened.

Adrian sat down slowly, rubbing his temples. He looked exhausted. Or ashamed.

I came back really late, he said without meeting my eyes. Didnt want to wake you. I just crashed in Noahs room.

I nodded. Alright.

I didnt question him. I didnt argue. I knew better. His shoulders relaxedit meant he assumed I was still the same obedient wife, still willing to pretend.

Then, quietly, I slid a single form across the table toward him.

Milo isnt stable, I told him quietly. I need to leave for a while and stay with him. I need your signature on this travel authorization.

He didnt bother scanning the paper. Didnt ask a single question. He took the pen, scribbled his name carelessly, and shoved it back at me.

Go ahead, he said indifferently. Look after the boy.

That was it.

He didnt ask what had happened. Didnt ask if Milo was in danger. Didnt ask anything at all. In fact, by the time I lifted my face, he was already smiling againrelieved, even. As if my leaving solved an inconvenience for him.

I walked out of the mansion before the sun rose. The pot of soup I had made the night before still sat on the table, untouched and congealed with cold.

Just like everything else in that house.

Adrian didnt come to see me off.

The drive to my fathers estate took more than six hours. The farther we traveled, the heavier my chest felt. When the gates finally came into view, they looked just as imposing as they had in my childhoodtall black iron crowned with the Calderon crest, guarded by stone-faced men in gray uniforms. The hedges were clipped with brutal precision. Nothing had changed.

Except me.

I was thinner now. My face sharper. My body worn down in ways no sleep could fix. I felt older than I should have been.

I stepped out of the car alone and walked toward the main doors. No maid rushed forward. No servant bowed. The massive estate lay in complete silence, watching me like a living thing.

Then the doors opened.

And there he stood.

Duke Rafe Calderon.

His silver-streaked hair was perfectly slicked back. His suit was immaculate, as always. His face carried no warmth, no surpriseonly judgment carved deep into stone.

So, he said coldly. The daughter who disgraced our family for love dares to return.

I straightened my back despite the ache in my legs from the drive. I didnt weep. I didnt bow. I had already bled all my tears dry inside Adrians house.

I met my fathers gaze and said plainly, The marriage arrangement you once offered meeight years agodoes it still stand?

Silence swallowed the air.

I could hear the faint whistle of wind between marble pillars. Somewhere far off, metal clanged as a gardener trimmed hedges. The staff stood hidden behind walls like shadows, listening.

At last, my father spoke.

No, he said. That man is no longer available. He married into a family that did not tarnish my name.

He took a step as if to close the door.

I didnt move.

I didnt beg.

I simply held his gaze.

He paused, hand gripping the handle.

However, he added slowly, his younger brother remains unmarried. Your sister was intended for him, but she insists on finishing her education first.

His eyes moved over me the same way they once assessed contracts and corporate mergersmeasured, sharp, calculating.

If you are willing, he said evenly, the position is yours.

I didnt hesitate. I didnt pretend to bristle. I simply nodded.

I would marry whoever he decided.

Not for pride.

Not even for Milo anymore.

But for survival.

For power.

For what was coming next.

They assigned me a guest room.

It smelled faintly of dust and sharp lemon polish. Every photo I once had in this house had been removed. Even the servants avoided my eyes, as if I were no longer a living personjust a reminder of a disgrace buried years ago.

That night, after a stiff, silent dinner, I was summoned.

To meet him.

The younger brother.

The forgotten heir.

His name was Ephraim Lambert.

He waited alone in the old observatory, dressed entirely in black. The lighting was dim and muted. His features were fine yet sharp, like glass once shattered and carefully pieced back together. I had expected fragilitysickness, weakness, resignation.

Instead, he stood when I entered.

His movements were slow, deliberatebut steady. His gaze followed me closely, as if he were studying me rather than greeting me.

So, he said quietly, the bride who ran away has finally returned.

My throat locked. I couldnt speak.

He tilted his head slightly. Tell medid you come back seeking forgiveness or retribution?

I bit my lip, not in flirtation, not in coynessonly to keep my hands from trembling.

He let out a soft, knowing chuckle and turned toward the arched windows where moonlight spilled across the glass floor.

Go, he said after a moment. Return when your divorce is finalized.

I wanted to thank him.

I wanted to explain that nothing in my life was simple anymore.

But no sound came out.

So I left.

I closed the door behind me and returned to the cold room that contained no blankets, no photographs, no trace that I had ever belonged anywhere. I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the floor.

Breathing.

Trying to remember who I had been before love destroyed me.

Before grief carved me hollow.

Before I became this quiet, wandering ghost.

I never slept.

The sun rose, but the world still felt frozen in the same gray silence. Morning didnt feel like a beginningonly another layer of quiet laid on top of the last.

I forced myself out of bed. My body kept functioning on instinct, the way it had every day since Milo fell ill, as though it no longer remembered what rest was.

The corridors of my fathers estate were cold and echoing. No one greeted me. No one acknowledged me. I sat at the massive dining table and ate a piece of dry toast that crumbled into dust on my tongue.

No butter.

No coffee.

Only silence.

Then my phone rang.

Adrian.

I answered before I could stop myself.

Were heading out, he said casually. Noah wants to try parasailing. Elise couldnt refuseyou know how she is.

He laughed lightly, as if sharing some harmless joke between spouses. As if Milo had never existed.

My parents will stop by the mansion later, he added. Can you entertain them while theyre there?

My throat tightened. Alright.

Good, he said, and disconnected.

No mention of the date.

No mention of Milo.

Today was his birthday.

Milos birthday.

I informed my father that I would return to the mansion. That I would come back once the divorce was complete. He gave no responsejust sipped his coffee and continued reading the newspaper.

As if I had never left.

As if I had never returned.

The car carried me back to that glass palace that had never once felt like home. And the moment I stepped inside, the memory hit me like a blade.

Milos birthday.

My hands began to shake uncontrollably. I went straight to my roomthe only place in that house that still held traces of him.

I lit a small candle beside his framed photo and the soft pink urn beneath it. His favorite dinosaur plush still leaned against the wall, as if waiting for him to return and scoop it into his arms.

No one remembered.

No calls.

No flowers.

No messages.

Not from Adrian.

Not from his parents.

They were all too busy celebrating Noah.

Milo once told me that he wanted to go sailing too. He saw it in a cartoon and said he wanted to glide over the ocean like he was flying. He even picked out what hed wearhis pirate socks, he called them, the ones with little skulls on the toes.

Adrian laughed at him back then and shook his head. He said it was dangerous. Said a weak child like Milo would get swept right off the rope. Said the wind would knock him away.

But now Noah gets to go parasailing.

And my son doesnt even get a birthday.

I remained standing near the hallway until I heard the sharp electronic beep of the front gate. Moments later, the door opened. Voices entered. Footsteps echoed.

The staff ushered them inside as if welcoming royalty.

Adrians parents.

I stayed where I was as they came in. Not a single smile touched their faces.

His mother barely spared me a glance before curling her lip in distaste.

So where is your sickly little boy? she asked coolly. Already deador barely clinging on?

My lips parted in shock.

But before I could speak, his father waved the topic away.

Thats irrelevant. Hows Noah doing? We heard Elise might be pregnant again. Is that true?

I stood frozen. Silent. Bracing myself so I wouldnt shatter.

Shes a blessing to my son, his mother continued. Always graceful. Never dramatic. So gentle and well-mannered. Very different from some women.

I dropped my eyes.

Then his father added casually, Go check on the kitchen. But first, bring us tea. Also, inform Adrian that we expect him next week for our anniversary. You may come along if you wish. Bring that weak child of yours if hes still alive.

My fingers dug into the fabric of my skirt.

Still, I nodded. Of course.

I went to the kitchen. Told the chef they preferred jasmine. Prepared the tray myself and carried it out as though I had nothing left to protect.

My smile stayed smooth. Carefully set. Like porcelain.

Inside, though, I was falling apart.

As I leaned forward to place the cups down, my hand slipped. One teacup shattered loudly against the floor, breaking into cruel, scattered shards.

His mother gasped, then shot me a sharp glare.

Youve always been hopelessly clumsy, she snapped. Honestly, girlafter all these years, you still cant even serve tea properly?

I stared at the broken porcelain for a moment, then straightened slowly.

Im sorry, I said quietly.

Not for the tea.

For the woman I used to be.

The girl who begged for their approval.

The girl who thought love had to be earned.

The girl who believed she belonged at their table.

That girl is gone now.

Just like my son.

---

They didnt stay for lunch.

Both of Adrians parents stood with thin expressions of irritation, as though my existence itself had offended them.

His mother set her cup down with a delicate clink, her mouth tightening.

This is bitter, she muttered. Even the simplest things you ruin. Bitter tea bitter life.

She adjusted her gloves near the doorwayslow, precise motions. Then she turned back to me, her voice controlled and icy.

Ill make sure Adrian hears about your little accident. Youre unraveling, dear. Maybe this time hell finally realize his mistake and leave you for good. Ive warned him for yearsyou were never meant to be part of our world. Youve never been worth the trouble.

I said nothing.

I didnt bow.

I didnt argue.

I only held onto the edge of the table, my fingers curled tight beneath it, as though gripping something solid might lessen the sting of her words.

She turned away without waiting for a response.

No farewell.

No courtesy.

The front door opened then shut.

A few moments later, tires hissed softly against the driveway as their car disappeared. And then the silence returneddeep, hollow, familiar. The kind of quiet that lived in every corner of that glass mansion.

I exhaled slowly and turned toward the maid.

Theres no need to prepare lunch, I said in a low voice. Theyve already left.

She nodded without speaking.

I went upstairs one step at a time.

My body felt heavy. Detached. As though it no longer fully belonged to me.

Halfway up the staircase, voices drifted up from the kitchen belowwhispers, hushed and quick.

She didnt even cry when they left, one murmured.

I think that little boy Milohes already gone. I saw the urn in her room.

Poor thing. Mr. Adrian only ever talks about Noah now.

He showers Elise with gifts. He hasnt even visited Milos grave. I doubt he even knows where it is.

Even if he did I dont think hed care. Milo was too gentle. Too soft. That kind of child never survives in their world.

She used to be the lady of the house, another whispered. Now shes just existing.

I kept walking.

I didnt stop.

I didnt scold them.

I didnt defend myself.

Maybe none of them were entirely wrong.

I reached my room and closed the door behind me.

Then my phone rang.

Adrian.

The screen lit up with his name as it rang once then twice.

I stared at it until the sound stopped.

No voicemail followed.

No message.

I stood there for a long moment, letting the quiet settle over me again.

Then I changed my clothes.

I chose the soft blue dress Milo lovedthe one with tiny white clouds scattered across it. He used to say it looked like the sky. Said it made me look like a storybook motherthe safe kind. The happy kind.

I lifted his urn.

Cradled it in both arms as if I were holding him again. The porcelain was warm from the sunlight slipping through the curtains.

I left the house without telling anyone.

And I went to Ocean Park.

The place Milo had begged me to take him every year for his birthday.

Just once, Mama, he used to plead. I just wanna see the dolphins. Ill behave, I promise.

But Adrian always refused.

Said the sun was too harsh.

Said the crowd was dangerous.

Said it was too risky for a fragile child.

So we never went.

Until now.

I bought one ticket.

But I paid for two seats.

One for me.

One for him.

We watched the dolphin show together. I lit a small candle near the railing and shielded it from the wind as the flame trembled. I talked to him quietlytold him how proud I was, how much I missed him. I even laughed once.

The sound startled me.

People nearby probably thought I was insanesitting alone, whispering to a tiny pink urn like it could answer me.

I didnt care.

That day wasnt for them.

It was for Milo.

I looked up at the sky and watched sunlight break through drifting clouds.

Happy birthday, my love, I whispered, my voice barely steady.

Tears slipped down my face, but I wiped them away.

Not today.

Today was his.

All his.

By the time I stepped back into the house, night had already swallowed the sky. Only a few weak lights glowed along the hallway. I had just crossed the middle of the foyer when I saw him standing there.

I didnt even get the chance to speak.

His hand came out of nowhere. The impact was sharp and violent, snapping my head sideways before I could flinch. My shoulder slammed into the edge of the doorway, and a flash of white exploded behind my eyes. A heavy ringing filled my ears.

But my arms didnt loosen.

I dont know how they didnt. Maybe muscle memory. Maybe instinct. All I knew was that I couldnt let go. That fragile ceramic urn carried the last pieces of what I still was.

Have you completely lost your mind? Adrian shouted. His voice was so loud it made the glass by the staircase tremble. How dare you disgrace my parents like that?

I looked at him, stunned and silent.

They told me every ugly detail, he went on. Said you spat in their tea. Said you threatened their lives under this roof. What kind of twisted woman does something like that?

I didnt even manage to shake my head before his palm struck me again. This time it landed harder. My neck jerked sharply to the side, and warm iron flooded my mouth. Blood. Still, I didnt cry.

My skin burned.

My heart barely reacted.

Adrian Elise called softly, her tone coated in false concern. Please stop. Shes not worth hurting yourself over. Let her cool off. Shes probably just exhausted or emotional.

He turned to her instantly, his expression shifting as if someone had flipped a switch. Baby, dont bother. Shes always been like this. Playing the victim. Twisting every situation so she looks innocent.

Then, with a nod like hed proven a point, he added, Youve always been too gentle with her. Thats why she thinks she can keep crossing lines.

Elise shrank back like a delicate porcelain doll, pressing against the wall. But her eyes kept darting toward me with quiet satisfaction, like I was something stuck to the sole of her shoe.

Noah sat sprawled on the couch, his headphones hanging loosely around his neck, one side slipping off. His music still played faintly in the background. He didnt mute it. He didnt ask a single question. He just grinned, like this scene was free entertainment.

None of the servants moved.

They lingered near the dining room entrance, whispering behind their hands.

Shes still clutching the urn

She didnt even fight back

Look at her shes barely alive anymore.

I heard she went to the ocean today. Alone. With the boys ashes.

I didnt respond.

I didnt have the strength left.

Then Adrians gaze dropped to my arms. To the pale urn cradled like a newborn.

What is that? he asked flatly, as if it were nothing more than a grocery bag. Before I could step away, he yanked it from my grasp.

No, I said, too slow to matter.

He examined it with open disgust. You seriously carried this around in public? he scoffed. What is wrong with you? Another one of your pathetic little stunts for attention?

He gave it a small shake.

My stomach twisted violently. My fingers curled tight at my sides.

An urn? he mocked. Who died this time? Your pride?

Behind him, Elise let out a soft, hidden laugh, turning her face as if she were trying to conceal it. Noah snorted quietly, still watching like a bored spectator.

My lip throbbed. Blood had dried there. My face burned. But my voice came out steady.

Give it back to me.

He lifted it higher. Why? he taunted. Who is it supposed to be? You collecting ashes now?

I met his stare without blinking.

Its Milo, I said.

The air vanished.

The room fell dead silent.

Adrians cruel grin vanished.

Elise froze.

Noah blinked once and turned his eyes away.

Nobody spoke.

Adrian stared down at the urn in his hands again. His grip loosened slightlybut no apology followed. No word came out.

I just stood there.

Hollow.

Shattered.

Waiting to see whether he would return my son to me

or destroy the last thing I had left.

Then the urn hit the floor.

I didnt even get time to move.

I heard the crack firstthat sick, sharp snap of breaking ceramic. Then came the burst. Ash exploded outward like dust caught in sudden wind. But it wasnt dust.

It was Milo.

My child.

What was left of him scattered across the marble as if he had never been loved, never been cradled, never been mine.

I screamed.

The sound tore out of someplace deep inside me, from a part I thought had already died. My knees buckled. I collapsed to the floor. My hands moved on their own, desperately gathering what they couldashes, fragments of bone, broken pieces of the urnall mixed beyond separation.

My fingers shook so violently they didnt feel like mine anymore. My nails scraped against the tile, cut into the sharp shards. I didnt feel the pain yet.

Only the void.

I heard him behind meAdrianbreathing calmly. Watching me like I was something broken he regretted stepping near.

Stop screaming like someone just murdered you, he said coldly. Youre not the victim here.

I couldnt lift my head. My hands kept scooping blindly. Tears drowned my vision. Something inside me fractured again.

He kept talking, loud and merciless.

The hospital sent an update this morning, he said. Milos fine. Awake. Sitting up. Smiling in his bed. The doctor even sent pictures.

I stared down at my palms. Ash clung beneath my nails, smeared across my skin, packed into the cracks of the floor.

You lied, Adrian accused as he stepped closer. You actually pretended he was dead just to get sympathy? Youre more twisted than I ever imagined.

H-hes gone, I whispered. I was holding him I felt him stop breathing.

It was like speaking into stone.

Elise drifted around from behind him, soft and gentle like a dying flower that had learned how to poison. She crouched beside Adrian and rested her hand on his arm, her voice low and trembling with fake sorrow.

Maybe she hates me, Adrian, she said quietly. Maybe she wanted me to hurt. Maybe thats why she said he diedjust to frighten me. Her eyes slid toward the ashes. Her lips tightened in a practiced shiver. Maybe someday thatll be me, she whispered. Dust on the floor. Forgotten. Thrown away.

Then she began to cry.

Loud, dramatic sobs that felt more like a performance than grief. She clutched her chest and leaned against the couch as if her heart were breaking. Noah watched in silenceuntil she reached for him.

Come on, sweetheart, Elise whimpered between uneven breaths. Lets go. Mommy cant breathe right now. I dont want you seeing something so ugly.

Noah looked puzzled, but he wasnt distressed. He simply stood up and followed without question. Adrian pulled Elise into his arms as if she were made of glass, something precious that could shatter at any second.

Dont cry, baby, he murmured, pressing a kiss to her temple. Youre the only one that matters here. Come on, lets go upstairs. Just forget her.

I was still kneeling on the floor, my hands trembling as I tried to gather the scattered ashes into one small, trembling pile. Then Noah suddenly broke free and rushed toward me.

His shoe came down hard.

Right onto the ashes.

Witch! he screamed. You made my mommy cry!

He stomped again.

The ashes flew apart.

No!

Then he kicked the shattered remains of the urn across the room. It hit the wall with a dull thud before breaking into even smaller pieces.

My body went completely still.

I couldnt move. I couldnt breathe properly. But my chest shook violently, and broken sounds tore out of my throat without permission.

Adrian strode toward me and seized my face with one hand, his fingers digging painfully into my cheeks as if he meant to crush my skull.

Thats enough, he said coldly. Enough of this performance.

I blinked at him. His face looked carved from stoneblank, unfeeling.

I almost believed you, he said slowly. I almost did. For just one stupid second, I nearly felt sorry. Nearly cried. For your pathetic little boy.

He leaned closer. I felt his breath against my skin.

But then the hospital sent proof. Videos. Milo laughing in his bed. The doctor said you used himtold me you made him pretend to be sicker than he was. Said you were in on it. That you let it happen. All for attention.

Behind him, I saw her.

Elise.

She stood halfway up the stairs, one hand resting lightly on the railing, her head tilted just enough. Her expression was softtoo soft.

A smile barely touched her lips.

Just the corner of it.

Like a confession slipping through a crack.

She did it.

She paid someone. Manipulated the story. Twisted Milos condition. Sent fake proof. Built the lie. And Adrianhe swallowed it whole. Again. And again.

They began walking upstairs. Elise slipped her fingers into Noahs hand and leaned her head against Adrians shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her as if she were his entire universe.

Lets just go to bed, she said gently. I cant deal with her anymore tonight.

Noah glanced back oncebut only for a heartbeat. Then he looked up at Elise again and followed her.

The house fell silent.

I stayed on the floor.

With what remained of my child.

With hands scraped raw.

With a mouth too dry to sob anymore.

I dont know how long I lay there.

Hours, maybe.

Until even my heart seemed to give up trying.

---

That night, sleep never came.

Every part of my body throbbed. My knees were shredded, raw and burning. Dried blood crusted behind themI hadnt even noticed when it happened. I was still in the same clothes, still smelling of dust, grief, and bone. I curled against the wall just outside my room, hugging my knees to my chest like a shield.

Sometime after midnight, I heard coughing.

At first, I ignored it, thinking it was one of the maids. Then Adrians voice cut through the darkfrantic, sharp.

Elise. Elise, whats wrong? Where does it hurt?

I stayed perfectly still.

Elise sobbed loudly. Her voice was hoarse, exaggerated.

Icantbreathe. Oh God, my stomach hurts! My chest, AdrianI feel cursed. Ever since she brought that urn into this house, its like somethings been choking me.

I heard the bed creak.

Footsteps.

Adrian pacing.

He swore under his breath.

That bitch.

Elise sniffled weakly, the sound trembling with fake fear.

I overheard the maids talking they said she bought something. Some kind of toxin. Maybe she hid it in the urn. Maybe she wanted to kill me. She hates me so much, Adrian. Im scared. I dont want to die. Not me. Not our baby.

I didnt move.

Didnt blink.

And yet, I already knewhe would come for me.

The door burst open so hard it rattled the walls. Adrian stormed in, his face twisted into something monstrous in the dark.

He grabbed my wrist and hauled me up like I weighed nothing.

You did this.

I stumbled. My ankle buckled. My arm screamed in pain.

You poisoned this house, he snarled. You cursed Elise. You sick freak. You knew she was pregnant and you still brought death into this place.

I didnt I tried to speak.

She couldve died tonight! he roared. Is that what you wanted? You really want her dead?

He dragged me down the hallway into her room like a criminal being paraded for punishment.

Kneel, he barked.

I didnt move. I looked at him.

Kneel and apologize to Elise.

No.

The slap came so fast my vision exploded in sparks.

On your knees.

I refused again. It was the only thing I had leftmy backbone.

He kicked the backs of my knees. I crashed to the floor. The same wounds tore open again. Blood soaked through my clothes. I felt it warm against my calves.

Elise sat on the couch like a queen. Hair flawless. Belly displayed proudly. A small blanket draped over her lap as if she were fragile. She cried into her handsbut her face held no sorrow. Only satisfaction.

I dont believe her, Elise said softly. She doesnt even sound sorry. I cant hear her pain. Make her louder, Adrian. I want to hear her beg.

He stood behind me like a wall of shadow.

Apologize, he hissed. Say it until she forgives you.

I lowered my head. My lips trembled.

Im sorry.

My voice was shredded. It barely sounded human.

Im sorry.

Again.

And again.

And again.

Until my throat felt torn open. Until my voice broke completely.

Finally, Elise began to stand, pressing both hands to her stomach as if it were too heavy to carry. She swayed unsteadily, gasping for breath, her body trembling.

T-Adrian somethings wrong, she whispered. My stomach I think Im bleeding.

She folded into his arms like it was rehearsed. Like shed practiced the fall. Adrian caught her instantly, clutching her as if she were made of fragile crystal.

EliseElise, look at me! he shouted, panic tearing through his voice as his hands flew to her face, her wrist. Someone get the car! Now!

I stayed exactly where I was.

Still on my knees.

Blood continued soaking through my trousers, warm and sticky against my skin. I didnt even attempt to rise.

He lifted her carefully, reverently, like she was sacred. Like royalty. As he turned to leave, he glanced back at me, his stare sharp enough to cut.

Dont move, he said coldly. Not an inch. Dont even breathe too hard. Sit there and think about what youve done.

I said nothing.

You dont get a bed tonight, he added.

Then the door slammed.

Quiet swallowed everything.

I remained where I was. Time slipped through my fingers. Ten minutes? Maybe more. My legs had gone completely numb. My head felt light, distant. When the door opened again, I didnt look up right away.

Soft footsteps padded closer.

Then a childs voice.

Why are you sitting like that? Noah asked.

I lifted my gaze. He held a small blue toy carthe kind with little doors that open. He looked freshly washed, tucked into neat pajamas, hair soft, face calm. Nothing in him showed fear. Nothing showed anger.

He crouched beside me, resting an elbow on his knee, as if observing something on the floor.

My mommys really good at pretending, huh, bitch? he said with a grin.

My mouth opened, but no sound came.

He chuckled, clearly pleased with himself.

Dad always believes it. Every time.

He nudged the toy car across the tiles, stood up, and began humming a tune I didnt recognize. No guilt. No hesitation. Just humming like this was any ordinary day.

I watched him walk off without a single glance behind.

All I could do was sit there and whisper to myself.

Soon.

Soon this would be over. The divorce papers were already with my lawyer. Nothing left but waiting for the final stamp.

Then I would be free.

Then I would make them answer for everything.

---

He returned just before sunrise.

I heard the door before I saw him. His steps were slower now. No shouting. No slamming. Just the quiet footsteps of something finished destroying everything in its path.

Adrian didnt look at me. He tossed a small bottle at my feet.

Painkillers. No label.

Try not to murder anyone next time, he muttered flatly.

He grabbed his keys again, hesitated at the doorway.

My parents anniversary is this weekend. Youre still legally my wife. People will ask where you are. Bring Milo.

I didnt move.

You heard me, he added. Wash him up. Pretend youre normal. Smile when told.

Then he left.

Back to the hospital.

Back to Elise.

---

Anniversary Day.

Adrian made me sit in the front passenger seat. I didnt protest. I didnt speak. He never once looked my way.

Behind us, Elise and Noah were curled together like something out of a picture book. She laughed softly, dragging her fingers through his hair. He rested against her shoulder like a cherished little prince.

I sat stiff in my cheap black dress. The cloth scratched my skin. The others had dressed since dawnsequins, embroidery, jewelry that probably cost more than my life. Elise wore white.

Of course she did.

White, with pearls cascading down her backpure and radiant, like a bride pretending to be a saint.

No one looked at me before we left.

Not even Noah.

We arrived just as the sun dipped low. Cameras were already flashing at the gates. The lights pierced my eyes before the doors even opened.

Adrian exited first. Straightened his jacket. Fixed his cuffs.

Then he opened Elises door himself.

She stepped out slowly, smiling for the lenses. Noah followed, hand in hers. The picture-perfect family.

I exited on the opposite side.

No one offered a hand.

My heels sank slightly into the gravel.

Dont speak unless someone addresses you, Adrian said without turning.

I nodded.

He didnt notice. He was already escorting Elise toward the entrance.

The ballroom glowed with gold. Crystal chandeliers. Champagne towers. A string quartet playing something expensive and forgettable.

Adrian lifted his glass before we even reached the steps.

Everyone, he announced, this is Elise. The woman who will soon be everything to me.

Applause thundered.

She dipped her head graciously.

And this, he added, ushering Noah forward, is the future of our name.

The grandparents praised Noah endlesslyclever, perfect, obedient. They kissed his forehead like he was royalty.

I stood near the coat racks at the very edge of the room. My dress didnt even brush my ankles properly. I looked like part of the staff.

Someone asked Adrians mother who I was.

She answered without blinking.

Oh, thats just the former wife, she said smoothly. She couldnt even raise a healthy child. Wheres that sick little boy she kept hidden all those years? Too ashamed to show him now?

Elise lifted a hand to her chest in false concern.

Milo is improving, she said gently. Traveling would be too much for him. Then she glanced at me with painted pity. Poor thing.

She kissed Adrians cheek as if I didnt exist.

My hands tightened into fists.

I said nothing.

Then a silver tray crashed near the dessert table.

The sound rang through the hall. Everyone turned.

Adrians father laughed loudly.

We are here to celebrate, he boomed. Not to feel sorry for accidents. If she wants to be usefulhe pointed directly at methen she can clean it.

A few guests laughed.

Elise stepped forward again, sweetness dripping from her voice.

She used to host so beautifully, she said. Maybe she can help pass the drinks, just until the staff catches up.

Adrian stayed silent.

So I picked up the tray.

I moved through the room beside the servers, handing out champagne and napkins. One of the girls gave me a sympathetic look. No one else met my eyes.

Near the bar, someone whispered, Is that the original wife? I thought she was locked away somewhere.

Another murmured, Didnt she poison the place once? With a childs ashes?

I kept moving.

My hands didnt shake.

They had already taken everything that mattered from me.

Let them think I was nothing.

Soon, they would all understand.

I drifted along the edge of the garden tables with a champagne tray balanced in my hands, doing my best to fade into the background. Guests reclined in white-and-gold chairs like kings and queens, glasses lifted, laughter spilling easilyas if happiness had been handed to them at birth. Again and again, quiet admiration floated past my ears.

They look unstoppable together.

She absolutely shines beside him.

That boy has such mannersclearly raised well.

They were destined for each other.

Even pregnant, shes elegance itself.

Adrian finally chose the right woman.

I acted as if I were deaf.

I moved from table to table, smile stiff, muscles in my fingers tightening until they burned from how firmly I clutched the tray. My simple black dress felt like a punishment among rivers of silk, flashing jewels, and sequins sewn with inherited wealth. I looked like a shadow pretending to be human.

Then it happened.

Noahs foot slid out.

I saw itbut far too late. The sharp tip of his polished shoe caught my heel. My balance snapped. The tray tilted sideways and everything followed. Glass against glass. Liquid bursting into the air. One flute exploded against a womans pale gown, champagne bleeding down her side like public humiliation.

Gasps cut through the air.

The music staggered and died. Conversations shattered into silence. I stood trapped in the middle of it all, hands trembling violentlybut my eyes stayed dry.

Noah stood proudly beside his chair, chin lifted in triumph.

She wrecks everything, he announced clearly. Just like she destroyed my baby brother.

The silence turned suffocating.

Every face swiveled toward me. My throat locked up. My legs trembled beneath my weight.

Elise rose slowly, palm resting protectively over her stomach. Her voice floated soft and tremblinggentle, rehearsed.

Please, she murmured to the guests, eyes full of false worry. Hes only a frightened child. Hes scared for me and for the baby. Ever since that cursed urn, hes been having terrible dreams.

Shock rippled through the crowd.

The urn? someone whispered.

Oh my God

My lips parted, but no real sound came out. Only a whisper meant for myself alone:

The cursed urn where my sons remains were shattered by your hands.

No one reacted. Either they didnt hear meor they chose not to.

Then Adrian broke through the guests.

His face was a storm.

He seized my arm with crushing force and yanked me forward.

You humiliated me tonight, he snarled low. You ruined her evening.

Before I could even speak, the slap landed.

Fire exploded across my face. Blood filled my mouth. My lip splitbut I stayed standing.

Elise rushed over again, one hand on her stomach, the other raised in trembling caution.

Please, she whispered sweetly, dont do this. Shes still the mother of your child.

Then his parents swept in.

His mothers face was carved from ice.

End this farce tonight, Adrian, she snapped. I refuse to tolerate a woman like this in our family.

For the first timeI did not lower my eyes.

Theres no need, I said, voice shaking but unbroken. The divorce is already filed. Your son is yours.

Adrian froze.

For a moment, he looked like he couldnt process that I was the one walking away.

His mother moved before he could react.

Her palm cracked across my face, harder than his ever had.

How dare you speak in front of us! she shrieked.

The room filled with poison.

Is she serious?

Shes unstable.

A divorce?

She cant survive alone.

She belongs in a clinic.

My phone vibrated in my pocket.

I pulled it out.

One sentence glowed on the screen:

Your divorce has been finalized.

I stared at it.

Then I smiled.

Not from joy.

From releasethe kind that only comes after drowning for years.

I wiped the blood from my lip and straightened my spine.

Then I turned and began walking toward the grand gates.

Each step burned. My body screamed for rest. But I never slowed.

Where do you think youre going? Adrian shouted after me.

I didnt turn around.

To finally live.

He reached for me

But Elise collapsed with a perfectly timed gasp.

People surged toward her. Cameras flashed. Someone shouted for water. Someone else screamed for a doctor.

No one came for me.

---

When I returned to the glass mansion, the maid opened the door as if she were staring at a ghost.

I said nothing.

Upstairs, Milos room remained untouched. His scent lingered in the airsweet and unbearable.

I opened his drawers.

Packed the toys he once carried everywhere. The ones he used to chew. His picture books still marked by tiny teeth. I folded each piece of clothing and pressed it to my chest before setting it inside the bag.

Then I removed my wedding ring.

Placed it gently on his pillow.

The maid watched silently from the hall. She didnt interrupt.

I walked alone to my old car. Shut the door. Turned the key.

Through the windshield, the mansion glowed cold and heartless.

Goodbye forever, Adrian, I whispered. Your judgment is coming.

My phone rang.

Once.

Twice.

Then the messages poured in:

Come back. You disgraced me.

You ungrateful bitch. Apologize now or Ill destroy you.

I smiled.

Typed a thumbs up as a reply. Then I drove.