Chapter 499 Love Letters to Ashes

When I woke up, I was in the hospital.

Jenny was sobbing outside the door. "What do I do... I didn't mean to mistake the sleeping pills for antibiotics..."

"If something happens, it's a major medical accident..."

Then came Liam's gentle comfort. "Don't be scared. I'm here. I won't let anything happen to you."

"Even if they investigate, I can sign the waiver as family."

I bit my lip until I tasted iron.

After a while, the door opened. Liam walked in.

"What happened to me?" I asked, trembling. "Why did I faint?"

"Low blood sugar."

Hearing those three words from his mouth, I heard my heart shatter.

I remembered when we first got married, a socialite tried to force drinks on me. The next day, Liam tanked her company's stock.

When she knelt to apologize, he held my waist and said, "Paige, as long as I'm here, no one touches a hair on your head."

Now, I almost died because of Jenny's "mistake," and he was protecting the culprit!

Liam, oh Liam. How could you hurt me like this?

I was shaking with pain, but Liam didn't notice a thing.

Seeing I was "fine," he stood up impatiently. "Jenny was scared all night because of you. I'm taking her home. I'll come back later."

But for the next few days, I never saw him.

I only saw on Instagram that he took Jenny to the beach, to concerts, to all the places we promised to go but never did.

The day I was discharged, Liam finally appeared.

He leaned against the car holding a bouquet of chrysanthemums. Seeing me, he handed them over.

"Been busy with work. Today is your mom's death anniversary. I'll go with you."

I took the flowers silently, then realized Jenny was in the car too.

I sat in the back, ignoring them, watching the scenery fly by. I remembered my mom's last words:

"Paige, I just hope you find someone who truly loves you."

I touched the three remaining love letters in my bag and thought bitterly:

Mom, I think I picked the wrong guy.

At the cemetery, before I could even pay my respects, I got hit with bad news.

"I'm so sorry, Ms. Carter. The recent rains caused landslides. We need to relocate the graves in this section..."

I gripped my bag, knuckles white.

Mom loved peace and quiet. Now she couldn't even rest in death.

Liam appeared behind me, signing the paperwork the staff handed him.

"Paige, go bring the urn down. I'll handle the relocation procedures."

I nodded and walked up the hill.

Rain soaked the stone steps. I dragged my weak body up, every step like walking on knives.

Staff had already opened the grave.

I knelt in the mud and lifted out the urn. A simple sandalwood box carved with her name...

Eleanor Carter.

"Your mom must have been beautiful," Jenny said suddenly, reaching out. "Mrs. Luke, let me help you carry it."

"No need." I turned sideways to avoid her, carefully walking down the hill with the box.

But then, Jenny screamed. "Ah! A bug!"

In her panic, she slammed into me.

I was caught off guard and tumbled down the stairs.

I hugged the urn tight, my back slamming against the stone steps. Pain blinded me.

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to!" Jenny ran down frantically. "Let me help you pick it up!"

She reached for the urn. Before I could stop her, she slipped...

Smash!

The urn hit the ground hard and shattered.

Grey ashes spilled everywhere, instantly soaked by the rain.

"I'm sorry! I... I'll clean it up!"

Jenny scrambled to scoop up the ashes, but she only made a bigger mess.

Washed away by the rain, my mother's ashes disappeared into the mud.

I shook violently. I couldn't hold it back anymore. I slapped her.

"Enough! You did that on purpose!"

Jenny clutched her face, tears flowing instantly. "I didn't! I just wanted to help! I'm clumsy, but I had good intentions! Why did you hit me? I'm poor, but I won't let you humiliate me like this!"

"You just lost your mom's ashes, but I lost my dignity!"

Despair rushed to my head. I raised my hand again, but a strong grip stopped me.

Liam appeared out of nowhere, grabbing my wrist. "Paige! What are you doing?"

Jenny finally spoke, crying like a pear blossom in the rain. "I just tried to help her move the urn... I accidentally spilled it... and she hit me..."

"If you guys can't tolerate me, I'll just leave."

She took a step, and Liam pulled her into his arms.

"Don't go. I'll get justice for you."

Then, he looked at me coldly. "Apologize!"

Rain mixed with tears on my face.

I watched him tenderly wipe Jenny's tears while yelling at me to apologize. It felt like someone carved a piece of my heart out.

I stared at him, lips trembling. "Liam, did you hear me? She smashed my mother's urn!"

"That's no reason to hit her!"

Liam's voice was colder than the rain. He grabbed Jenny's wrist. "Don't be scared. Since she won't apologize and she hit you, hit her back."

My pupils shrank. Before I could react, I saw Liam's large hand guide Jenny's, slapping me with thunderous force.

Slap!

This slap was ten times harder than mine.