Chapter 4

I couldn't get a cab, so in the end I begged the staff at the funeral home for help.

I paid them an extra twenty thousand to drive me away in a hearse.

"To the Convention Center Hotel!"

The moment I reached the entrance, I heard one of Winston's buddies, the one serving as best man, ribbing him.

"Winston's really generous to Paula. Not only did he spend a hundred grand booking out the top floor of a five-star hotel, he even gave her ten years' worth of savings as a gift."

"No kidding! Winston and Paula are the ones who never got their happy ending. It's all Adeline Henson's fault for taking advantage of him. Otherwise the one marrying Winston today would be—"

I clenched my fists, and my palms, cut open from working on the construction site, throbbed with a piercing pain.

Winston's eyes stayed fixed on Paula, brimming with tenderness.

"I was the one who wronged Paula back then. I fell for Adeline Henson's scheme. If I'd only waited a few more years, I'd be the one marrying Paula now."

"But things are what they are. All I want is for Paula to be happy!"

The car pulled up in front of them. Winston's voice, neither loud nor soft, shattered my defenses with ease.

It was true that I'd loved him for eight years.

But back when Paula left Winston, when his depression flared and he hurt himself,

I was the one who saw him through it.

Every cent of his medical bills, I earned.

Even our first child—that pregnancy happened because he couldn't have one otherwise.

And yet now, in his eyes, all of it had been scheming!

The driver glanced at me and hesitated.

"Ms. Henson, are you sure this is the place? There's a wedding up ahead, and this is a hearse. It's bad luck…"

I tightened my grip on the urn in my arms, stared at Winston holding Paula's hand, and spoke.

"Drive up closer."

"But…"

"Whatever happens, it's on me. Keep going!"

The driver hesitated a moment, but did as I said, stopping the car in front of the hotel, right in front of Paula's wedding car.

The white paper flowers and red silk quickly caught Winston's and Paula's attention.

Paula went pale and shrank behind Winston.

"Winston, is your wife upset? Is that why she rented a hearse to trash the place?"

Winston stepped in front of Paula.

When he saw me climb out carrying the urn, his frown deepened.

"Adeline Henson! Enough! You bring something this ominous here to wreck the wedding, all over one lousy wedding dress!"

"You really think I won't divorce you?!"

I gently stroked the urn in my arms and let out a cold laugh.

"Fine. I'll give you what you want."

Winston froze, then pulled Paula tighter against his waist, as if doing it on purpose for me to see.

"Adeline Henson, keep this up and I'll steal the wedding today and marry Paula on the spot!"

"Get out of my way right now, hurry back and bring the dress, and I'll let everything go!"

I didn't move. I slapped a set of divorce papers down in front of Winston.

"Sign it."

His eyes went wide and his voice climbed.

"Are you serious?"

His buddies suddenly broke into cheers, whooping like they were celebrating something.

"Nice, Winston! The woman's finally done clinging to you!"

"Today's a lucky day—why not just marry Paula right here!"

"Marry her! Marry her! Marry her!"

Winston and I locked eyes in a standoff.

Paula tugged at his clothes.

Just as she was about to say something, he signed the divorce papers and threw them in my face.

"Fine! Divorce!"

"The kid's mine. Now get lost!"

With that, he turned, pulled Paula close, and kissed her deeply.

I don't know how long it lasted before he finally let her go.

He pressed a bank card into her hand.

"Paula, this is my paycheck card, and there's five hundred grand on it. It's all yours."

"Will you marry me?"

Holding my daughter's urn, I gave a bitter laugh.

"Winston, three years of marriage. All those times you watched me suffer alongside you—did you think I was a fool?"

Winston's lips moved.

I closed my eyes, and when I opened them again, my gaze was ice cold.

"I'm not giving you the child!"

"Because you don't deserve to be a father!"

Winston scoffed.

"Fine. Then see you in court!"

"Now get out of here, right this second! You bring a hearse to trash my and Paula's wedding—what rotten luck!"

He swung his arm and shoved me to the ground.

The blow was hard, and I fell in a heap in front of everyone.

The urn slipped from my hands, and my daughter's ashes and photo spilled out.

Carried on the wind, they swept to Winston's feet.

And the instant he saw his daughter's photo, the color drained from Winston's face.