Chapter 5

In the days that followed, I numbly handled Heidi's funeral arrangements. Each step I took was heavy, and I felt like I was living in a hell on earth.

The funeral was a sad affair with only me in attendance. There were no relatives or friends, laughter or tears—just endless grief and despair.

Regret and guilt gnawed at me, and I truly wished I were dead. I even considered joining Heidi after everything was settled, imagining how lonely she must be on her journey to the afterlife.

Just when I had hit rock bottom, I received messages from Ethan that jolted me like a bucket of ice water.

[Ethan: Are you done with your tantrum? Where's Heidi? Where have you taken her?]

[Ethan: Come back immediately. Apologize to Mandy, and we can put this behind us.]

His tone was as presumptuous and condescending as ever, as if I were the one who had done something wrong. As I read his messages, my heart turned cold.

Ethan had not realized that his precious Mandy had caused the death of his own dau