I was still on my knees. I wanted to scream, to tell them they were wrong. That my mother wasn’t a thief. That I wasn’t a man-stealing whore. But my throat was dry. My voice, gone.

Colin’s patience wore thin.

“Apologize, Anneliese. I’ll count to three. One… two—”

Disappointment scorched every cell in my body.

I gave in. My knees slammed onto the cold marble. I lifted my chin—and slammed it down in a bow so hard I tasted blood.

“I’m sorry. I was wrong. I’m sorry, I’m sorry—”

Blood mixed with tears blurred my vision.

I looked up with a twisted smile, hollow and bitter.

“Is that enough, Colin? Did your precious darling get enough of an apology?”

He froze. His pupils shrank as if he finally saw me—saw what he’d done.

He took half a step forward. But Piper clutched his arm, her voice trembling with faux fear.

“Colin, I’m scared… she looks crazy…”

He hesitated. Then stepped back. And held her tighter.

His eyes turned away. His voice was tired. Mechanical.

“Go home. Try not to cause any more trouble.”

I stood, somehow. My legs shook, but I didn’t fall.

I turned to him—one last time.

And then I walked away.

***

The night was bitterly cold when I reached the crematorium. Stood in silence as my mother turned to ash. As her remains scattered into the sea, so did the last tether of my heart.

Gone. Just like that.

At midnight, I slipped off the wedding ring. Set it gently inside the nightstand. No need for divorce papers. His love was never real to begin with.

How convenient.

I wheeled out my suitcase, opened the front door.

My phone buzzed.

Colin: [Did you get your wounds treated? Piper says she forgives you. Let’s put this behind us.]

Colin: [I picked up a new dress. It’s gorgeous. I’ll bring it over later.]

No reply.

A moment passed.

Another message.

Colin: [Asleep already? Why aren’t you answering? It’s our wedding day tomorrow. Be good.]

I blocked him. Every number. Every account connected to him. I pulled out the SIM card, snapped it in half and tossed it down a storm drain—just like him.

A car was waiting by the curb.

I got in.

“To the airport.”

The city lights raced past my window, blurring like ghosts.

Ten years of memories, love, pain—gone. Just shadows now.

“We will never meet again, Colin. And by sunrise, your wedding gift will be waiting. Right on time.”