Chapter 3Reborn After My Niece Killed My Son

I glanced into the room. The window was wide open, letting a bitter wind whip through the space.

Ashley’s friend was huddled on the edge of the bed, silent and terrified.

They were old enough for elementary school. They knew damn well how dangerous it was.

Jake tried to mediate. "She's already said she's sorry, honey. You've let off some steam. Let's… let's just bury the baby."

The absurdity of it all struck me. A human life was gone, and a simple "I'm sorry" was supposed to be enough?

My mother-in-law rushed over and pulled Ashley into a tight hug, stroking her face. "You hit her so hard," she murmured, full of pity. "Look how red her poor cheek is."

Her cheek was red. But that baby had lost its entire life.

I shoved my mother-in-law aside and dragged Ashley by her hair toward the open window. "You wanted to see what would happen? Why don't you find out for yourself?"

Ashley started screaming, struggling against my grip. "No! I don't want to! I'll die! You'll go to jail if you kill me! You'll go to jail!"

So she did know. She knew it was a crime, and she did it anyway.

For the second time in my life, I couldn't comprehend how a child could be so profoundly evil.

A sharp pain shot through my arm as Jake wrenched me away. The force of it sent me stumbling, and my head cracked against the wall.

I felt something warm and wet trickle down my temple.

Jake shielded Ashley, his face a mask of exasperation. "Will you stop it? The boy is dead. Why are you taking it out on a child? You're the one who wasn't watching him!"

Both he and his mother stood in front of Ashley, guarding her, looking at me as if I were the enemy.

Just like last time. It finally clicked. They were a family, bound by blood.

My son and I? We were nothing.

Clutching my bleeding head, I reached for my phone with a trembling hand, ready to call the police.

Jake kicked it out of my grasp, the phone skittering across the floor. "This is a family matter! Why are you calling the cops?"

"Ashley's not even eighteen. It's useless to call them."

I used the wall to pull myself up, my gaze locking onto his, full of shattered hope. "That's your son down there. And you're just going to let it go?"

A flicker of guilt crossed his face when he saw the blood on my forehead.

"Nina, we can have another baby."

"But I only have one niece."