Chapter 3

I cleaned up Shawn's severed hand and laid it in the coffin. His body was finally complete.

I was drained after struggling to hold it together all day. I couldn't take it anymore and collapsed.

Shawn came back to me in my dreams.

He cried, his voice heavy with pain. "Mom, why doesn't Dad like me? Does he not love me?"

All I could do was hold Shawn's little body tight as tears rolled down my cheeks.

"Shawn, it's all my fault. Your dad wouldn't have treated you like this if it weren't for me..." I whispered to myself.

My marriage to Zach started with a mistake. He got drugged at a dance while I was completely wasted.

Back then, I thought it was fate that brought us together, but now I see it was just a disaster waiting to happen.

We had a wild night together and went our separate ways. Who would've thought I'd end up pregnant with his kid?

Shawn needed a whole family, and since I'd always had a secret crush on Zach, my family, the Swains, went to the Sorensens to come clean about everything.

After that, Zach and I rushed into marriage, and I gave birth to our child. He never really loved me but always treated me with respect.

For a long time, I thought I could eventually win his heart. After all, I believed love could grow over time. But then Sue came back from abroad, and everything changed.

Zach never had time to travel with Shawn and me, but somehow he found two weeks to go on a sketching trip in the countryside with Sue.

He never bought gifts but splurged at an auction to get a gemstone I'd always wanted for Sue.

When Shawn was burning up with a fever, Zach said, "Sue's been coughing for days and isn't improving. I know I don't have to worry about Shawn with you looking after him.

"Sue only has me here, so I really need to see her get better to feel at ease."

My heart shattered at that moment. I realized I could never reach Zach's heart but never brought up divorce since our marriage involved both the Swain and the Sorensen families.

I never imagined it would end up hurting Shawn.

I woke up from my dream with tears streaming down my face.

"Cece, we found this in Shawn's room," Mom said, tears running down her cheeks.

I reached for it. It was a simple drawing Shawn had made himself. It had Zach, Shawn, and me together as a family, with the note, "Happy birthday, Dad. I'll always love you."

This was the birthday gift Shawn had made for Zach, but he'd never get the chance to give it to him in person.

I cried until I nearly lost my voice.

Mom placed the divorce agreement I'd been carrying around before me. "If you want a divorce, then go for it. Forget about the company."

…

The divorce agreement was rushed to Sorensen Corporation, and Zach got to the hospital just as fast.

It was ridiculous. It had been almost a week since I miscarried, and he couldn't even be bothered to call me, yet he stopped by my ward because Sue caught a little cold.

Sue walked in with a bouquet, saying it was for me, but when she saw the drawing on my bedside table, she totally lost it.

"A drawing! It's a drawing!" She crouched down, covering her ears and crying her eyes out. "Zach, hurry! Burn it!"

Zach was really worried about her and didn't even check what was in the drawing. He smashed the frame to the floor and flicked open his lighter.

My anger boiled over. I yanked the IV needle out of my hand and lunged forward. I stepped on some glass shards, leaving small drops of blood behind me.

"Give it back! That's mine!" I clutched the hem of Zach's shirt. "It's Shawn's drawing! Shawn's!"

I caught a flicker of hesitation in his eyes when Sue shouted again, "Zach, I'm so scared! I might never be able to pick up a paintbrush again…"

Zach furrowed his brow, looking down at me with a touch of condescension. "Come on, it's just a drawing. Shawn can whip up another one in no time. And don't forget, he's the one who got us into this mess!

"Sue's been in a creative slump lately and can't seem to create anything she's satisfied with. She's lost her passion for painting, and to make things worse, Shawn ruined her hand.

"Now she flinches and freaks out every time she sees a drawing!"

Zach struck the lighter, and the flame sprang to life with a soft whoosh.

"I'm begging you. Please, don't do this!" I dropped to my knees, desperately pleading with Zach. The glass shards dug into my skin, and blood started to trickle down.

But that small flame touched Shawn's drawing and it quickly went up in flames.

I screamed and lunged for the drawing, but it was too late. The fire was too fierce, and the drawing turned to ashes in no time.

I sat among the glass shards, letting them cut into my skin as I held the ashes. "It's gone. Everything's gone… Shawn's last drawing is gone, too…"

"Shawn, I'm so sorry." I whispered to myself.