Chapter 3

My fury exploded. Without a second thought, I dropped everything and raced to the cemetery.

My daughter had suffered from illness her whole life. I couldn't let her be tormented in death. I wanted to tear that lunatic apart.

"Ma'am? I'm sorry, but there's some activity inside right now. No entry, please understand..."

A guard stepped in front of the gate, blocking my path.

"Understand? That monster is digging up my daughter's grave! Move!"

I shoved him aside and charged in.

The chaos hit me instantly: a dozen people were clustered around my daughter's grave, shouting over each other. Arthur stood in the middle with a shovel in his hand, gesturing aggressively at the cemetery staff. Beside him stood Vanessa, looking radiant and delicate, as if completely disconnected from the scene.

The sight drained the blood from my face. I stormed over and slapped Arthur—a sharp, loud crack.

Vanessa gasped, startled, and instinctively threw herself in front of him.

"Arthur! Are you okay?"

"Why did you hit him?" she cried, turning pleading eyes on me.

A red mark bloomed on Arthur's cheek. He grabbed my shoulders roughly and shoved me to the ground.

"Have you lost your mind? How did I end up with a crazy wife like you?!"

"Stop this! Everyone, calm down!" The cemetery staff finally snapped into action, restraining Arthur before he could strike again.

A grim-faced worker knelt beside me. "We're deeply sorry, ma'am. We couldn't hold him back. We will restore everything, I swear..."

Arthur snarled over their heads. "This woman is insane! This lunatic faked our daughter's death purely out of jealousy!"

Hearing this, the staff hesitated, unsure what to say.

"No! My girl...!"

Ignoring the ache in my body, I scrambled forward to my daughter’s grave. My fingers trembled as I picked up her broken toy from the dirt. It was her favorite little wooden horse, now shattered beyond repair.

"It's broken… all broken…"

Everything carefully placed for her was smashed. Dirt was scattered everywhere.

Arthur shook with rage. "You belong in a cell, lunatic! Get home now!"

He lashed out viciously, kicking me in the side. A gasp tore from me as pain shot through my ribs.

"Are you truly blind, Arthur? Or are you choosing not to see?" I rasped. "Your daughter is dead!"

He barked a cruel laugh. "Enough with the show!"

His contemptuous gaze swept the scene, landing with finality on my daughter’s urn.

"Fine. Since you want proof..."

He gave a cold, deliberate smile.

"NO! DON'T YOU DARE!"

My scream echoed uselessly as his shovel smashed into the ceramic urn.

A cloud of ash billowed out, settling silently on the horrified faces around us.

The world tilted. I crawled desperately through the dust, trying to gather... my daughter.

"My baby... my sweet girl..."

"Tsk, still playing the victim." He scoffed, wiping his hands as he pulled out his phone and called his assistant.

"My daughter is safe with her grandparents, isn’t she? Bring her home immediately. This disgusting charade is over."

Silence stretched on the line.

Arthur's frown turned sharp. "Didn’t you hear me?!"

A voice thick with pity finally came through. "Mr. Mercer... Your daughter suffered a fatal cardiac episode weeks ago. She’s gone. Your wife called you countless times, but you were with Miss Vanessa and had blocked her calls..."