She seemed shocked that I, usually so mild-tempered, would say such a thing. She sneered, "Threatening me? Do you think you can get a divorce just because you say so?"

Her eyes fell on my face as she gently touched her belly. "If you dare to divorce me, you'll never see this child after it's born.

"Santos, I mean it!

"If you listen to me, I'll give you whatever you want."

She always knew how to manipulate me, giving me a stick and a carrot. She would ignore me for days and then give me a small gift, like training a dog.

But now, I didn't care about anything. She didn't know that the child in her belly wasn't mine. That night, she and Nick went out drinking. She got drunk and was abandoned by Nick on the roadside, where she was assaulted by some thugs.

I never told her, afraid the truth would break her. She always thought the child was mine.

But now, I no longer cared to protect her. She couldn't control me anymore.

Maybe I had been silent for too long, but Lindsay seemed unusually impatient. "What do you want? Are you trying to make Nick leave?"

Nick's face stiffened. "Lindsay, do you really want me to leave? It's his fault! He hit Kim!"

He glared at me. "It's just a box!"

Nick rushed over and snatched the urn from my hands, then threw it hard to the ground.

The contents spilled out, ashes scattering everywhere. Nick looked disgusted and picked up a cushion, swatting it, making the ashes fly even more. "What is this? It's disgusting!"

"No!" I lunged forward, shoving Nick hard. He crashed into the table, scattering papers everywhere.

Lindsay exploded. "Santos!"

I knelt on the ground in despair, trembling hands trying to gather the ashes. But they were everywhere, mixed with dust, stripped of any dignity.

Lindsay sneered, "Is this pile of garbage worth all this fuss? Apologize to Nick!"

I ignored her. Lindsay took out her phone and called her secretary. "Draft a divorce agreement. After the child is born, it will be mine. Santos will never see the child again. Also, stop his mother's medication."

Her words were cut off. The hospital's death certificate lay conspicuously on the ground, mocking everything.

Lindsay bent down and picked up the thin paper. My mother's photo was printed on it.

[Death notice: patient died due to excessive blood loss.]