Chapter 3The Verdict of Ashes

My ears were ringing.

...It had to be a lie.

I had the discharge papers right here in my hand. I was supposed to take her home today.

Why did this happen?

I threw off the covers and bolted out the door, colliding head-on with Mia in the stairwell.

Her feigned concern couldn't hide the smug triumph in her eyes.

"Mrs. Davies, why do you look so pale? What happened?"

I screamed at her:

"Did you kill my mother?!"

She looked entirely unbothered.

"So what if I did? I just kindly informed her that your dad was a murderer. Who knew she'd be so fragile that she'd just drop dead on the spot?"

"Your whole family of useless losers was nothing but a stumbling block between me and my mentor. It's best if you go die, too... Ah!"

I lunged forward, locking my hands around her throat, and shoved her fiercely toward the open window!

Just as she was about halfway out, the stairwell door was kicked open. Liam yanked me away with brutal force.

He pulled Mia, who was coughing violently, tightly into his arms.

"Don't be afraid. I'm here."

I was thrown to the floor, my back slamming hard against the wall.

Watching him comfort Mia, my internal organs felt like they were being crushed by an invisible hand. I curled up in agony.

He glared at me coldly, his eyes filled with pure disgust.

"Stella, are you trying to become a murderer just like your father?!"

The taste of blood filled my mouth.

"She killed my father, and now she's killed my mother! I want her to pay with her life!"

He cut me off sharply:

"Enough! Mia had already sent someone to pack up your mother's things and take her home because you were taking too long. She was perfectly fine."

"I think you've lost your mind from grief. Apologize to Mia!"

Apologize?

The hatred was practically bursting out of my chest.

"I'd rather die with her than ever apologize!"

As soon as the words left my mouth, a wave of intense dizziness washed over me, and my body swayed uncontrollably.

Only then did Liam notice the gash on my head. He instinctively reached out to touch it, then paused mid-air.

He glared at the victim's family members who had gathered around to watch the spectacle.

"Who did this?"

Intimidated by his glare, the family members defensively argued:

"Don't talk nonsense! She was in the water, our clothes are totally dry. How could we have hurt her?"

"Exactly! She's crazy enough to try and kill someone, who's to say she didn't do this to herself to put on a show?"

Mia let out a delicate sob. "It's okay, Mentor. Mrs. Davies just wanted you to feel sorry for her, that's why she told a little lie. I won't hold it against her."

Liam rubbed his temples wearily.

"Stella, you have disappointed me immensely. I am going to make sure you cool down today and realize exactly what you've done wrong."

With that, ignoring my injuries, he dragged me to the police firing range.

The deafening, continuous crack of gunfire echoed around us, instantly dragging me back to the day my father died.

Every single shot felt like it was ripping right through my heart.

He knew perfectly well how agonizing my father's death was for me. He knew that the sound of gunfire was my absolute worst nightmare.

Yet, while spouting words of debt and compensation, he chose this exact method to punish me, just to vent his anger on Mia's behalf.

I covered my head, unable to suppress my hysterical screams.

It wasn't until my heart had been repeatedly shredded into numbness that the gunfire finally stopped.

Liam looked down at me from above.

"Are you thinking clearly now? No matter how much trouble you cause Mia, your father isn't coming back."

I slowly pushed myself up from the ground, my body completely numb.

I handed him the divorce agreement, disguised as a property transfer deed.

"Fine. Sign this and give me all the money, and I'll stop causing trouble."

He seemed surprised, but signed his name without hesitation.

"Be a good girl. Once the baby is born, our family of three will live a good life together."

I let out a soft laugh.

Liam, the baby is already gone.

And there will never be a "future" for us.

I never brought up my parents again.

Even he believed I had genuinely let it go.

What he didn't know was that I had secretly hired private investigators and lawyers, pouring everything into tracking down Mia's brother's hideout and gathering the evidence that proved she killed my mother.

The day I secured the final piece of evidence, I received a notice to collect my father's ashes.

But when I arrived, I was told the ashes had already been picked up.

My heart sank.

The next second, a text from Mia came through.

[If you want to see your dad, come to the charity gala~]

I stared at the attached photo showing my father's urn sitting on the auction block, my heart stopping cold.