All Chapters of In the Name of Love and Loss: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

Two days. That's all it took to plan my daughter's funeral.After leaving the cemetery, I gathered every last thing Liam Harrington had ever given me, sold it all, and put the cash on a card.I didn't expect him to be right there the second I walked into his office.The sneer on his face said it all. "Thought you were done? Here you are, crawling back like a dog."I bit down hard and shoved the card at him. "We're done. For good."He slapped it out of my hand, and I, running on empty, stumbled to the floor. He just looked down like I was trash. "What's with the attitude? I missed Millie's birthday—she'll have plenty more."My throat tightened.While he'd been off with his lover, Millie was in the ICU, tangled in tubes. And while they held each other, she'd slipped away, leaving nothing but ashes."There won't be any more birthdays," I said, barely holding back tears.Liam's face twisted with anger, and he ground his heel into my hand. "I had to cut my trip short by three days

Back home, I found myself saying, "Millie, be good. Mommy's making your favorite for dinner tonight—baked ribs."Silence answered me.That's when I remembered—Millie was gone.Just like my mother before her. Everyone I love slips away, leaving me alone.My strength gave out, and I collapsed onto the bed, clutching Millie's favorite doll, holding it tight as if her scent still lingered on it.Millie had always been so easy to reassure; she believed anything I told her. Every birthday, she'd sit on her little stool, waiting for her dad. And every year, Liam never showed.When she was diagnosed, I called him over and over as her birthday came up, but he never answered. So I put on a smile and said, "Daddy's on a secret mission and can't be here, but he sent you a special gift." Then I handed her the doll.Millie hugged that "gift from Daddy" right up until her last breath.I used to tell myself Liam just wasn't one for remembering birthdays. But one day, I saw him post a picture c

Liam froze. "That can't be. Grandma, you must be mistaken. Millie was just... a little weak—how could she be gone?"Claudia Ellsworth let out a heavy sigh. "If I hadn't come back early, I wouldn't have known about all the terrible things you've done!"Liam's gaze turned blank, his eyes shifting to me, his voice shaky. "Andrea, tell me this isn't true. You're lying to me, right?"Blood was still trickling down his forehead, but I just looked away, quietly picking up the pieces of Millie's broken doll."I-It must be a trick—you and Grandma are working together to deceive me. She's always liked you and wants us to marry, doesn't she?" he stammered.I pulled my suitcase toward the door, but he blocked my way. "You're not going anywhere until you bring Millie to me! She can't be dead. You're just putting on a show, right? Otherwise, why wouldn't I have heard anything about it?"I looked up at him, my disappointment endless. Did he really think I'd been hiding Millie to manipulate him?

The next day, I checked out of the hospital and went straight to visit Millie's grave.Kneeling down, I carefully wiped the dust off her headstone. In the photo, her bright, innocent smile shone back at me, finally free from pain.Footsteps approached behind me. I turned to see Vivian holding flowers, though the gleam in her eyes was anything but kind."This isn't a place for you," I said, my voice ice-cold.Over her shoulder, I spotted Liam parking the car. Seeing my expression, Vivian dropped her gentle act."Did you really think having a daughter would keep Liam?" she sneered. "How naive. Too bad your little girl was weak and didn't last. Now you're out of cards—what do you have left to compete with me?"I grabbed her by the hair, and she gasped in pain. Leaning close, I whispered, "Vivian, I have proof you're a murderer."Panic flashed across her face."What do you think will happen when Liam finds out who you really are? Think you'll still stroll into the Harrington family

In the days leading up to her wedding, Vivian's insecurity showed up in my messages. She bombarded me with texts:[Andrea, if you have any shame, you'd stay away from a married man!][We're getting married soon—give up already. You'll never beat me.][The doctor says my baby's already three months along. Don't worry; this one will be much healthier than your short-lived daughter.]I typed back a quick response:[Oh, how are the wedding plans? Will it be a big celebration?][Your husband once promised me he'd livestream our wedding so the whole world could see how he'd make me the happiest bride alive. Didn't he tell you?]No response.I'd heard she'd argued with Liam, who wanted to keep the ceremony private, but she'd managed to talk him into livestreaming it. Perfect. Time for my wedding gift.On the day of Liam and Vivian's wedding, I tuned in to the livestream, watching every second.Vivian appeared in a custom-made gown, gliding down the aisle. Liam, stiff and somber in h