When the earthquake struck on what should have been our fourth wedding anniversary, my supposedly devoted and family-oriented husband, Lionel Brooks, abandoned me and our children, who were trapped under the rubble. Despite our children's pleas for help, Lionel left without a second thought, carrying his former flame, Fiona Smith, and her daughter to safety. While Fiona and her daughter escaped with minor injuries, my precious children had their chests pierced by steel beams, leaving this world forever. It was such a twisted fate. What was meant to be a day of celebration turned into an annual day of mourning for my beautiful children. A week later, during my children's funeral, Lionel had the audacity to call and ask which hospital the kids were in. It was laughable—after ensuring Fiona and her child were comfortable and safe, he finally found time to check on his flesh and blood. I could only say, "You finally remembered your children after a whole week? Lionel, I hope you rot in hell."
View MoreA month later, I visited Nate and Cece's graves. Their headstones were surrounded by withered flowers, superhero toys, and teddy bears. There was also a letter that read, [Nate, Cece, I'm sorry. I'm the worst father imaginable. I don't ask for your forgiveness, but I want you to know I'll make things right!] Fred had been on the run but was eventually caught by local police in New Zaelbourgh. Eventually, my appeal was successful, and the court returned my parents' house to me. When I went to reclaim the house, I found a note in Lionel's handwriting. [One more month… One more month to make up for the two li—] The last word was left unfinished, but I understood its meaning. Lionel must have found out that Fiona was carrying Fred's child. So, he decided that the only way to bring justice for Nate and Cece was by taking the lives of Fiona's children in return. As I left the old house that day, a sudden downpour began. When the rain cleared, two butterflies appeared from nowhere
The hospital reached out to me for help after Fiona began a hunger strike. I decided to go and see her. When Luke heard about my plan to visit that "psycho wretch", he was far from thrilled. However, he reluctantly agreed after my repeated assurances, on the condition that he would tag along. I was shocked to see how much Fiona had aged in just one month. Her once-vibrant face was hollow, and her hair was graying and greasy. "Aster, you finally came!" "What do you want?" "I just want to know how you made Lionel hurt us so brutally," she demanded. I laughed bitterly, "Your own actions brought this on yourself. You treated Lionel like a fool, not realizing that betraying someone who treasured you would have dire consequences." "That's not true! I never deceived him!" I retorted, "Really? You mean you didn't fake your divorce? Didn't manipulate him? Didn't pretend to be seriously injured during the earthquake so he'd abandon his own children to save you? Fiona, doesn't yo
After getting my evidence, I knew someone else would handle the rest. I held my children's photos, lying in the sun on my balcony. "Nate, Cece, I brought you out to enjoy the sunshine…" The next day, I saw videos of Lionel confronting Fiona. In the footage, he grabbed her hair, demanding to know why she had deceived him. Fiona's response was even more unhinged. "Because you're so easy to fool! I rejected you for being poor years ago, yet you still believed I loved you. You're like a dog—even after getting hurt, you'll come back crawling if shown a little affection!" "I never imagined I meant so much to you that you'd actually abandon your own children. Those twins had steel beams through their chests, while I only had scratches!" Fiona laughed maniacally, her face twisted with cruel delight. "So, you only came back to me for money?" Lionel asked weakly. "Why ask when you already know?" Fiona sneered. Lionel released her and slumped to his knees. The next day, new
Lionel kept watch outside the hotel all night. The next morning, he stood there unshaven as Fiona, Fred, and Eva emerged, looking like a happy family. "Uncle Lionel, why didn't you shave? I have Daddy today and don't need you," Eva said cheerfully. Fiona quickly pushed Eva toward Fred and pulled Lionel aside. "I'm sorry, Lionel. Fred just got back yesterday to discuss some unfinished business. It's not what you think…" If Lionel had not witnessed Fred and Fiona together the night before, he might have believed her innocent act again. He muttered, "Unfinished business?" "I'm not lying! Please go home, and I'll explain everything later, okay?" "Alright. I've submitted your paperwork to the museum, and you'll be a permanent employee soon," Lionel replied. "That's wonderful, Lionel! You're always so good to me!" Fiona exclaimed, throwing her arms around him. As Lionel returned the embrace, he slipped a tiny listening device into her purse. He heard every conversation betwe
I shared my theory with Luke. He had spent the last four years building his network overseas since my wedding, and his connections quickly uncovered the whole scheme. It was a classic debt transfer scam, a method by which con artists would shift their debts onto unsuspecting victims through elaborate schemes. They essentially used other people's assets to fill their own financial holes. While Lionel came from a poor background, my parents were renowned college professors who had left me substantial assets, including real estate, valuable artwork, and several retail properties. Fiona must have gotten her hands on this information early on, but she had underestimated me. Perhaps she thought that after my children's deaths, I would become too depressed to care about anything else. While she had severely underestimated a mother's determination for revenge, poor, foolish Lionel remained completely in the dark. I wondered how he would feel when he discovered his precious first love
Luke followed through with his threat and sent Fiona a legal notice. To repay me, she had to sell all the jewelry Lionel had bought her and give up the luxury apartment he had rented. Even after selling everything, she still owed me over a million dollars. Later, Lionel showed up at my door again, carrying my favorite red roses. However, I did not let him in, speaking to him from the doorway. "Are you here to beg for Fiona?" Lionel quickly shoved the roses into my hands, acting submissive. "Aster, Fiona has already sold the jewelry and gave up the apartment. Can't you just let this slide?" I tossed the roses straight into the trash. "My children just died, and you bring bright red roses to beg me to spare your precious girlfriend? How laughable! "She can either pay back everything or face a lawsuit. If she can't handle it, she can go kill herself—I don't care." Lionel's anger flared instantly. "Aster! You're just kicking her while she's down! She's a single divorced mother
Fiona and Eva rushed in behind Lionel. "Oh my… Aster, are Nate and Cece… really gone?" Fiona gasped. "Are you happy now, Fiona?" I hissed, grabbing the vase nearby and smashing it against her head. Fiona screamed and instinctively hid behind Lionel. This time, Lionel did not shield her. He just stood there in shock, muttering, "No, this can't be true…" Blood began trickling down Fiona's forehead where the vase had struck her. "T-They only had minor injuries, and they couldn't have died," Lionel stammered. "Aster, you're just angry with me, right? Is this just a cruel prank? Call them out… Please don't joke like this." "A joke? When Nate and Cece were trapped under rubble begging for help, you chose to save Fiona. When they needed blood transfusions, you were busy comforting this homewrecker! They died alone on that cold operating table because of you!" "No, that's not true!" "Today was their funeral, and you weren't there. You lost your last chance to say goodbye
Lionel was caught off guard. When he finally recovered, he growled, "Aster, have you lost your mind? Instead of caring for the kids at the hospital, you're here stalking Fiona and me? And now you want a divorce over something so trivial? I'm Nate and Cece's father!" "Oh, so you remember you're Nate and Cece's father? Anyone watching would think you were Eva's dad!" I spat back. Fiona cowered behind Lionel with tears in her eyes. "Lionel, this is all my fault. Stop arguing with Aster because of me. I was the reason you couldn't check on the kids. You should go back. I'll be fine on my own." She turned to leave but stumbled dramatically. Lionel caught her immediately and said, "Fiona, I need to get you and Eva home safely first. I can't leave you like this." He picked up Eva and supported Fiona, preparing to leave. "Tell Nate and Cece that I'll visit them at the hospital tomorrow." "Don't bother." "What do you mean?" "You're not going to see them again." "Aster, what are
The children's funeral was scheduled for the following week. For five days and nights, I sat silently in Nate and Cece's room, clutching their photos and refusing to cry or speak. I could almost feel their warmth lingering in the room, and I swore I could still hear them sweetly calling me Mommy. The memories felt so fresh… so real. My childhood friend, Luke Armstrong, rushed back from overseas, dropping a major business deal. The moment he walked in and saw my state, he embraced me tightly. "Let it out, Aster… Keeping it all inside is only going to hurt you," he whispered. I looked at him and asked, "Nate and Cece… are never coming back, are they? Do you think they regret having me as their mother? Why was I so useless?" Before my parents passed away, I married Lionel. Back then, Lionel wanted to be my father's graduate student, and despite the college having their preferred candidate, Dad fought to give Lionel a spot because he saw him as a hardworking man from a struggling
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