Chapter 4

A deafening buzz rang through my ears.

I immediately dialed Julian's number, but the only response I got was Chloe's mocking giggle.

"Avery, if you want your kid's ashes, get over to the hospital."

"One second late, and you'll never see him again."

I didn't dare hesitate. I drove like a maniac to the hospital.

The second I shoved the door open, Julian hurled his phone directly at my head, his teeth clenched in rage.

"Avery! Look at what you've done!"

The heavy phone split my forehead open.

Seeing the blood dripping down my face, Julian's expression stiffened, but he quickly looked away, his eyes softening only when he glanced back at Chloe.

Chloe's eyes were swollen from crying. The moment she saw me, she shrieked, covered her head, and dropped to her knees.

"Avery, I was wrong! I shouldn't have stolen Julian from you!"

"People on Twitter have completely doxxed me! I can't even step out the front door!"

I picked up the phone from the floor. On the screen was a trending topic.

Social media users had finally connected the dots: while Julian and I had been publicly together for ten years, Chloe had secretly been his side piece the entire time.

I casually wiped the blood from my brow and offered a cold smirk.

"The internet did that. Don't look at me."

"Besides, did they say a single thing that wasn't true?"

"Avery!"

My mother's eyes turned crimson. She grabbed a pair of surgical shears from the cart and charged straight at me.

"How did I give birth to such a cold-blooded freak?!"

"Chloe is so sweet, and you just can't stand seeing her happy!"

"I should have never brought you back into this family! I should have left you to rot on the streets!"

Julian suddenly moved, throwing his hand out to block her path. The sharp edge sliced right across his palm, blood dripping to the floor.

I looked up in disbelief. His back was stiff, his voice heavy with exhaustion.

"Avery, go live on TikTok and apologize."

"Tell everyone that you were the mistress all along. Clear Chloe's name and say you made up all those lies."

My eyes snapped wide, my voice trembling.

"Julian... are you trying to destroy me?"

Julian's eyes were red as he clamped his bloody hand around my wrist.

"If you don't apologize, you will never see Theo's ashes again."

"You already watched him die once. Do you really want to watch his remains get desecrated too?"

I froze in place. Every ounce of my resolve shattered into dust.

"Julian... are you even Theo's father?"

With shaking hands, I opened the TikTok livestream, claiming all the blame as my own.

The comment section exploded in seconds.

Is this woman even human? Stealing her sister's man and then cyberbullying her?

How is a ten-year homewrecker still walking around shameless? Disgusting.

She ruined their relationship for ten years, and an apology is all she gives? Way too easy on her.

Holding the urn, Chloe said with feigned helplessness.

"Avery, everyone says this is way too easy on you."

I bit down on my lower lip until I tasted iron.

Then, under the gaze of over a hundred thousand viewers, I raised my hand and slapped myself hard across the face. Again. And again.

I didn't stop until my legs gave out and I collapsed to the floor. Only then did Chloe smile and reach out to pull me up.

As she handed the urn to me, she leaned close to my ear, her voice dripping with triumphant venom.

"I scattered that little bastard's ashes in the sewer days ago."

"This urn is completely empty."

"All these years, and you haven't grown a single brain cell."

"Still as pathetic and stupid as ever!"

A bone-chilling frost swept through my entire body.

Blinded by pure, unadulterated hatred, my hands locked around her throat.

Chloe shrieked in terror. Julian's face paled, and he rushed forward to tear us apart.

"Avery, stop it!"

"There's a limit to your madness! Don't you dare hurt the baby in Chloe's belly..."

I snatched the shears from my mother's hand and plunged them violently into his chest.

Blood sprayed across both our faces.

I gripped the handle with all my strength, smiling at him through a curtain of tears.

I twisted the blade deeper.

"Julian, go to hell!"