Chapter 9
She suddenly froze and then dropped to her knees.
But just then, the nearby water tank sprang open, and a rush of water spilled out, washing away the pile of mixed soil.
“No-!” Lena scrambled to hold it back.
She clawed desperately, trying to scoop it all up again and again. Still, the fine white powder slipped right through her fingers, carried away by the water, and vanished into the dirt, along with her tears.
Her mother’s ashes were gone.
“Zoey!” Lena snapped her head up and glared, murder in her eyes. She bolted to her feet and lunged toward Zoey, aiming to wrap her hands around the woman’s neck–but before she could even touch her, someone yanked her back.
Kevin grabbed her wrist and barked, “You just got back, and you’re already losing it again?!”
But Lena wasn’t listening. All she could think about was tearing Zoey apart–only then could she make it up to her mom. But she was no match for him physically.
Eyes red with fury, she screamed at Kevin, “Let me go!” She looked completely unhinged, wild with rage and grief.
Kevin had never seen her like this. He turned to Zoey, confused. “What the hell happened?”
“I… I don’t know…” Zoey stammered, playing the victim. “I was trying to
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Chapter 9
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move the flowers into the greenhouse before heading out, and then Lena suddenly came in and shoved me. I dropped the pot, and it shattered. I guess she got mad that I touched her flowers.”
And just like that, she pushed all the blame away.
Kevin’s face darkened. He yanked Lena’s arm and shoved her to the ground, towering over her, his voice laced with contempt. “It’s just a pot of flowers. Was that really worth going psycho over? Looks like you still haven’t learned your lesson.”
Just a pot of flowers?!
Lena sat there, pale as death, laughing bitterly.
She thought of how much her mom had suffered because of her. Even in death, she couldn’t rest in peace. It felt like someone had punched a hole in her chest–the pain was hollow and endless. She curled up on the ground and sobbed.
For a second, something flickered in Kevin’s chest. That cry hit something in him. He almost stepped forward to hold her, but before he could, Zoey pulled him back.
“Let it go, Kevin,” she said gently, like always. “Lena’s probably just tired. Everyone gets moody sometimes. I don’t blame her. We’re running late anyway. Let’s head to the gallery first. She probably just needs some space.”
Kevin didn’t argue.
He looked down at Lena and sighed, his voice softening for once. “Stop crying. Go take a shower and get some rest. I’ll go to the exhibit with Zoey first, and when I get back, I’ll bring you that strawberry cake you like.”
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Then, he left the villa with Zoey.
Wait for him?
Not anymore. Never again.
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Lena let out a quiet laugh, wiped her tears, and got up, her legs trembling as she walked into the living room.
She found her phone. A few new WhatsApp messages were waiting— from the supplier she’d ordered the realistic corpse replica from. They were asking for a delivery address.
She typed it in and hit send. Then she went to shower.
When the body arrived, she turned off all the security cameras and had it moved into the greenhouse out back.
That greenhouse–Kevin had built it for her.
They had once promised to grow old together there. Even agreed to be buried side by side beneath its flowers. He probably forgot all that, but she hadn’t. So today, she’d give him something he’d remember forever.
Lena took one last look at the place. Then, she doused every inch of it in gasoline. Flowers. Soil. Every memory. As she walked out, she tossed a lighter behind her. In seconds, the entire greenhouse went up in flames.
And she disappeared into the fire.
Goodbye, Kevin. For real, this time.
