Chapter 4A Sea of Bitter Regrets

I looked up in pure shock, my fingertips shaking uncontrollably.

"What are you going to do?"

George sighed softly. His eyes held that familiar gentle warmth, but his words were mercilessly cruel.

"That cemetery is Martins family property.

"If you insist on playing tough, I'll flatten your mother's grave.

"I'll make sure she dies carrying the shame of a homewrecker, her ashes ground into the mud forever!"

I stared at the man standing over me. It was as if I were looking at a complete stranger.

He had personally walked that land with me to pick out the plot.

He knew my greatest fear was my mother being humiliated by Maya and her mom even in death.

To secure those few square feet of land, he had scoured every inch of the city.

He spent three months consulting spiritual advisors just to select that private hill owned by his family.

Back then, he held me near her headstone, whispering tender promises.

"Clara, trust me.

"This is Martins land. Under my protection, your mother will finally rest in peace."

Now, he was the very monster cursing her to rot in hell.

My knees finally gave out.

I knelt numbly before Maya and slammed my forehead hard against the floor.

"I swear I didn't touch your child. Please. Don't touch my mother."

George stared down at my swollen, bleeding forehead. The harsh accusation died in his throat.

A subtle, triumphant smirk curved Maya's lips as whispers flooded the room.

"This home-wrecker is desperate. Kidnapping a child? She's just as vile as her mother."

"Look at her. She looks like a dying rat on the street. I wouldn't be surprised if she caught something disgusting."

"Her mother was a scheming slut who crawled into another man's bed. She's even worse, she won't even spare her own brother-in-law."

I remained on the ground, listening in silence.

I kept bowing my head, over and over like a broken machine.

After Maya had thoroughly enjoyed my humiliation, she gently pulled on George's sleeve.

"George, I'm so sorry. It was a mistake.

"The nanny didn't see him sleeping. Leo was in his crib the whole time."

George froze.

He looked at my battered, blood-stained state and a flash of panic darting across his eyes.

He forced his posture straight and extended a hand down toward me.

"Since it was a misunderstanding...

"You don't need to kneel anymore. I'll personally handle moving your mother's remains."

From an angle he couldn't see, Maya used her status as Mrs. Martins to send a silent text to the cemetery groundskeeper, Mr. Luke.

She gave the order to destroy the grave.

She smiled maliciously down at me, mouthing words without making a sound.

“Five minutes. The explosives under your mother's grave are set to blow.”

The blood in my veins turned to ice.

Gathering every last drop of strength, I scrambled up and sprinted out of the hall like a madwoman.

George's hand hovered in empty air. Maya smiled, reaching up to take his hand in hers.

"George, let's go check on Leo after this.

"The nanny said he's been crying for his daddy."

Thinking of his sweet son, George looked away from the door. Suppressing the uneasy knot in his stomach, he gave a firm nod.

* * *

I didn't dare slow down for a single second.

When I reached the plot, I clawed frantically at the dirt beneath the headstone.

My fingernails snapped quickly.

My fingers bent at grotesque, unnatural angles as blood soaked into the topsoil.

The next second, a deafening explosion shattered the earth.

The blast detonated right beneath the gravestone, blowing the buried urn to pieces.

The force threw my weak body backward like a tattered rag doll.

My body finally gave out.

Warm blood poured out beneath me.

A wave of overwhelming exhaustion swept over my mind, dragging my eyes shut into total darkness.

Miles away, Mr. Luke dialed George's phone in sheer panic.

"Mr. Martins! An explosion just tore through the cemetery, and your wife was right on top of it!”