A murmur rippled through the guests. Everyone present knew the truth: Bryce was the one who had run my mother down. Fingers pointed; whispers of disgust circulated the room.
Hearing the crowd turn against him, the mask of the aggrieved child slipped from Bryce's face. His expression twisted into a sneer.
"She was just an old woman," he spat, his voice dripping with contempt. "Even if I hadn't hit her, she would have died of old age eventually! If Sis hadn't made me come here to burn incense, do you think I'd bother with this place?"
He strode to the altar. Before anyone could react, his hands clamped around my mother's urn.
"You won't let me burn incense? Fine." He lifted the vessel high above his head, a manic glint in his eyes. "Then no one burns anything!"
"Don't!"
My heart slammed against my ribs. I lunged forward, but I was too late.
Crash.
The sound was sickeningly crisp. The ceramic shattered against the stone floor, sending a cloud of gray dust into the air.
A deathly silence fell over the hall. The guests froze, horror etched on their faces.
A stinging heat pricked behind my eyes and nose. I forced the tears back, dropping to my knees. Desperation clawed at my throat as I frantically scooped up the ashes with my bare hands, ignoring the sharp shards biting into my skin.
Above me, Bryce went on a rampage. He kicked over the flower arrangements and tore down the banners, destroying the memorial hall like a madman.
My mother's funeral was ruined.
I gathered what little remained of her ashes, clutching them to my chest as I walked out of the hall. Layla chased after me, her heels clicking rapidly on the pavement.
"Brandon, wait! Bryce just has a bad temper. He can't stand it when people talk about him behind his back. He went a little too far this time, I admit," she said, breathless. "Don't worry. I'll pay for another funeral. I'll arrange everything..."
Her words, meant to soothe, only churned the bile in my stomach.
Layla grabbed my arm to stop me. I looked down at her hand, then at her face.
"No need."
I pushed her hand away. I didn't have the energy to fight them anymore. I just wanted to be away from their poison.
Layla stared at her empty hand, a flicker of unease tightening her chest.
I hadn't taken more than a few steps away from the mourning hall when my phone vibrated. It was the caregiver from the hospital.