Chapter 3

"What did you just say?" Nora froze, staring at me in disbelief. "Mom, are you out of your mind? Eva was fine in the hospitalhow could she be dead? Did Ian put you up to this?"

Her mother sighed heavily. "Nora, Eva really did pass away. I wouldn't lie to you about this. "

But Nora hung up on her, turning on me with anger. "Ian, you're disgusting. You'd sink this low just to keep me away from Julian? My mom's really something, listening to you of all people. I don't know what she sees in youyou're good at everything except what you should be doing!"

Because of my close relationship with her mother, Nora couldn't even believe her own mom's words. 

At that moment, Julian chimed in. "I can't believe you'd pull a stunt like this just to keep Nora from being with me. Nora, let's go. I don't want to be around him anymore. "

But before he left, he threw the pet dog on the ground, and it ended up breaking its leg. 

The shopkeeper quickly picked it up, clearly distressed, but a glare from Julian kept him from saying anything. 

I took the injured Pomeranian and rushed it to the vet. At least I got the dog. I can say I fulfilled my daughter's last wish. 

But when I got home, I found the urn in my daughter's bedroom shattered, with her ashes scattered everywhere. 

I was instantly filled with rage. 

Just then, Nora came out of the master bedroom, now wearing a pair of pantyhose. The moment she saw me, she snapped, "I told you before you leftthrow that filthy thing away! You"

"Smack!"

Before she could finish, I slapped her hard across the face. She clutched her reddening cheek, stunned. 

After a moment, she regained her composure, her eyes filled with rage. "Ian, how dare you hit me!"

I struggled to keep my trembling voice steady. "Hitting you was too kind. How can you even call yourself a mother?"

"Our daughter is dead, and all you care about is your lover!"

Nora stood up, sneering. "Stop pretending, Ian. You probably think those are our daughter's ashes, don't you? You're such a performer!"

"With a pathetic father like you, our daughter's better off dead. "

I couldn't believe she said that. The malice in her eyes grew as she continued, "You'll pay for hitting me. "

I opened my mouth to speak, but she stormed out before I could get a word in. 

For a long time, I just stared at the ashes scattered on the floor, feeling like my heart was being ripped apart. I knelt down, gathering our daughter's ashes bit by bit, tears falling uncontrollably into the box. 

My daughter. . . 

Not only was she betrayed by her selfish mother, but now her ashes had been desecrated by the same hands. 

How could she have such a mother?

That night, as if to get back at me, Nora sent me picture after picture of her making out with Julian. She didn't come home at all. 

Early the next morning, she finally returned, reeking of alcohol, with Julian in tow. 

He glared at me, furious. "Did you really hit Nora last night?"

I replied calmly, "So what? What's it got to do with you?"