Ethan trembled. He recognized it immediately.
He took a step, then Timmy ran and hugged
his leg.
“Daddy, what are you looking at?”
Ethan shielded Timmy’s eyes, scolding Sarah.
“How could you let him see this?”
Sarah pouted, holding Ethan’s hand.
“What could I do? Timmy missed his
godfather. The fire’s out! I told you there was
no one inside! Sister, why did you choose our
son’s birthday to create this lie, to compete
for attention?”
Timmy buried his face in Ethan’s chest.
“Daddy, I was so carsick! Don’t look at that
ashes!”
Ethan’s eyes filled with tenderness. He
comforted Timmy, then glared at me.
“A child is more mature than you, Chelsea.
You disappoint me!”
“Disappoint? Ethan, wasn’t our daughter
disappointed? Sarah’s son is loved, but my
daughter burned to death! You saw her
aches and you refuse to believe it!”
L
My voice rose to a scream.
Ethan was momentarily stunned, then furious.
“Chelsea, you’re wasting resources! You’ll be
prosecuted!”
A rescuer spoke again, but Ethan roared.
“I know you took bribes from Chelsea! You
used this burnt animal to impersonate my
daughter so I’d pay more attention to her!”
“Chelsea, you’re manipulative. Grandma
forced me to marry you because you said
you’d helped our family!”
“So…that’s how you see me…”
Ethan’s words were like salt on my wounds. I
despaired.
I ran to the car, grabbed a small metal piece
from the ashes, and held it up to Ethan.
“Ethan! I’m not lying! This is our daughter!
She died because you didn’t save her! This is
–
the only gift you ever gave her a cheap hair
clip! She treasured it, wore it every day!”
“It’s here, with her ashes! Ethan, believe me!”
Ethan was shocked. He knew the hair clip, a
small trinket he’d bought her. She’d cherished
it, refusing to let him take it. She’d said,
“Even if you buy me more presents, I won’t
give you this clip, because it’s the first gift
you gave me.”
As Ethan reached for it, Sarah took his arm.
She looked at the clip, then spoke.
“Since she’s done this, Ethan, believe her.”
Ethan exploded in rage. He threw the clip
away, shouting at me.
“Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing!
Chelsea! You want my sympathy? I won’t fall
for it!”
“It’s just a common hair clip! You cursed your
daughter with it!”
“No!”
I lunged for the clip, but it was too small to
find.
<
I glared at Ethan, and he flinched.
“Ethan, you don’t deserve to be her father!
Your daughter burned to death, and you won’t
even look at her ashes!”
My rage was genuine. Ethan froze. He wanted
to help me, but Timmy clung to his leg.
“Daddy! This lady is scary! Waaah…”
Ethan comforted him. But he didn’t see
Timmy’s triumphant smile.
It was deliberate! My husband had destroyed
me and my daughter!
I laughed hopelessly, despairing.
“Ethan, marrying you was my biggest regret.
Grandma said it was repayment, but it was
revenge.”
“Ethan, I don’t want you.”
“I hope you’ll regret this one day.”
I walked to the car, scooped up the ashes,
carefully wrapping them.
Even the rescuers wept. Only Ethan remained
ᄀ
unmoved.
He grabbed my collar and shouted,
“Chelsea! Are you trying to get us on the
news?!”
I ignored him, holding the ashes.
“Baby, Mommy’s taking you home.”
Ethan felt a pang of regret, but he
suppressed it.
He ripped the ashes from my hands, throwing
them back into the wreckage. He grabbed my
hair and threw me against the barrier.
“Chelsea, you love to act! I’ll let you perform!”
My insides ached; I couldn’t stand.
Ethan jumped onto a forklift, drove it, and
crashed it into the remains of the car.
My daughter’s ashes scattered in the air.
I screamed in anguish,
“No-”
Ethan jumped down, grabbing Sarah and
Timmy, about to leave. He didn’t see Sarah’s
く
smirk.
