Chapter 001

As per regulations, family members are not allowed to observe the cremation process.

Renee Lacey had paid extra to enter the cremation room, her hand tightly gripping the cold metal frame of the gurney.

The air felt scorching, with specks of ash floating in the sunlight.

Perhaps they were the remains of previous cremations.

Soon, her precious child would become just like those specks.

Renee wore a black dress, the smallest size barely concealing her emaciated frame.

Her eyes, red and swollen from crying, now held an eerie calmness.

She reached out to touch the pale, stiff little hand beneath the white sheet, placing two pink origami stars in Sarah's palm.

"Sarah, wait for mommy."

It was time.

The staff member gently pulled Renee away and lifted the sheet, revealing Sarah's face.

Eight years old, yet still so small and thin, with visible ribs and a sunken area below them.

Staring at her daughter's frail body, Renee's tears welled up once again.

She had failed to protect Sarah!

The worker tried to console her softly, "My condolences. At least your daughter's kidney saved another child. That child will live happily because of her."

A flash of cold anger crossed Renee's eyes, and she let out a bitter laugh.

"Yes, that child is my husband's illegitimate son. Right now, the three of them are throwing a grand birthday party in his honor. And the irony...? Today is also my daughter's birthday."

The worker was stunned, at a loss for words to comfort this desperate woman.

Renee gazed at Sarah, managing a pale smile. "Let's proceed. Let's not delay any further. I hope my daughter finds a better family in her next life."

The worker sighed softly, shaking his head as he moved the body to the crematorium.

Perhaps out of sympathy, he tried to shield the process from view.

But Renee wasn't afraid. Sarah was free now.

Free from her father's daily rejection.

"Mommy, why doesn't daddy like me?"

"Mommy, why does daddy prefer Ms. Simmons' son?"

"Mommy, does daddy dislike you because of me? I'm sorry, mommy."

Her wonderful daughter!

Who was killed by Carl Grey!

He had promised to take their daughter to the biggest amusement park for her birthday wish, to spend time alone with her father.

Instead, he had her rushed into surgery to donate a kidney to his illegitimate son.

Then left her to die alone from infection in a hospital bed.

And she was the last to know!

She could never forget bursting into the hospital room to find her daughter's lifeless body.

The blood-stained children's watch on the bedside table was still trying to call "daddy."

When the call connected, only one sentence came through.

"Don't act crazy like your mother."

Hearing the hang-up tone, Renee held back her tears as she embraced her daughter, afraid that crying might scare her precious child.

In truth, ever since Annie Simmons returned to the country with her son, accusing Renee of persecuting them, Carl had forced Renee into the role of a madwoman known to all.

Especially when Carl heard Annie's tearful story of giving birth to a premature baby with kidney problems while struggling abroad, the way he looked at mother and daughter...

That typically elegant man became utterly ruthless.

Ignoring her explanations, he cursed at her: "Renee, you've harmed Annie and my son. I'll make you pay double."

Carl had kept his word. Now everything should be over.

When Renee snapped back to reality, she found herself holding a pink urn.

Sarah loved pink.

She hugged the urn tightly. "Sarah, we're going home."

The wind lifted the hem of the woman's dress, creating a scene of utter desolation in the sunlight.

……

Renee returned to the marital home she shared with Carl, tidied up her daughter's belongings, and then sat motionless, holding the urn until dusk.

She heard the sound of a car parking outside.

Then, a tall figure in black walked in.

It was Carl.

Eight years had passed, but he still looked as striking as when they first met - elegant, dangerous, and aloof.

He continued to act as if she were invisible.

Carl walked past her and went upstairs without a glance.

A few minutes later, he came back down wearing a cherished suit.

It was the one Annie had designed for him when they got engaged.

Carl continued to ignore Renee.

For eight years, this had been his form of emotional abuse.

When he wanted to torment her, he would force himself on her in bed, then leave without a word after he was done.

As for the child...

He even forbade Sarah from calling him "Dad."

Perhaps because Renee was unusually quiet that day, Carl paused, but didn't turn around.

"I won't be back tonight. Tell Sarah not to call me for no reason."

"Okay."

Renee stroked the urn, which seemed to still hold Sarah's warmth.

If he had looked at her for just a second, even a split second, he might have noticed the urn.

Carl adjusted his cufflinks and said coldly, "Think about what you want from the divorce. We'll handle the paperwork in a few days. You can have the child."

"Okay."

Renee remained calm.

At least Sarah would be hers alone now.

Carl's hand hesitated, but he still didn't look at Renee.

"Considering Sarah saved Sean's life, I'll cover all future medical and living expenses. But I don't want to see either of you again. Consider this your final atonement."

"Okay."

Renee thought to herself that indeed, he would never see them again very soon.

Carl felt inexplicably irritated and was about to turn when Annie called.

As soon as he answered, the room filled with a child's excited voice.

"Dad! Hurry up! Mom and I are waiting for you."

"I'm coming."

Carl's voice lifted, and he unconsciously quickened his pace.

He completely failed to notice the woman behind him, clutching the object in her arms, slowly becoming rigid.

As night fell, Renee took out the cake she had ordered for Sarah from the fridge.

She lit the birthday candles.

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you..."

As she sang, she poured gasoline around the house, from upstairs to downstairs, not missing a single corner.

She hadn't planned on sparing herself anyway.

If only she had been firmer in refusing to marry Carl back then.

None of this would have happened.

After preparing everything, she sat back at the dining table, hugging the urn.

"Sarah, happy birthday. Wait for Mommy, okay?"

Renee tossed the birthday candle towards the curtains.

……

At the party, Carl made a grand entrance with Annie and her son.

Amid clinking glasses, everyone praised the happy family. Some even took the opportunity to badmouth Renee.

Only one of Carl's doctor friends frowned and quickly approached Carl.

"Mr. Grey, I'm sorry for your loss."

"What do you mean?"

"Your daughter... she died from a post-surgery infection. Your wife took her to the funeral home today."

"How much did Renee bribe you to say that?" Carl asked emotionlessly, raising his glass.

"Didn't I send you the death certificate earlier? You said you received it."

At this, Annie nervously tightened her grip on her son's hand.

Just then, Carl's phone rang.

"Mr. Grey, the mansion is on fire."

Carl's glass shattered on the floor as he turned and left.

He didn't know how he managed to drive to the mansion, but seeing the house engulfed in flames felt like a knife to his heart.

As the curtain fell, it revealed Renee sitting at the table with a birthday cake, holding an urn.

She smiled at him, just like when they first met.

"Goodbye. I hate you. If only everything could start over..."

Before she could finish, the entire house collapsed.

Perhaps it was a dying illusion, but Renee thought she saw Carl fall to his knees.

Never mind.

Her Sarah was coming to get her.

"Mommy, mommy."

...

The afternoon sun blazed fiercely.

The atmosphere in the Grey mansion's great hall was even more intense, as if set ablaze.

A teacup shattered on the floor, the pain of shards cutting skin jolting Renee awake.

She found herself kneeling in the center of the hall, staring bewilderedly at everyone around her.

This was...