"A monk told me your family's vengeful spirits were haunting my baby. That's why I've been so unwell." She smiled, serene as a saint. "He said the only way to protect my child was to deal with your family properly."
She paused, savoring the moment.
"So I had your parents' ashes—and your baby's—made into fireworks. To bless my child." Her smile widened. "And to make sure their souls never find peace. Not in this life. Not in the next."
I lurched forward, a scream tearing from my throat.
"Why? Why would you do this to them? My parents—whatever their sins—they helped you once! Why couldn't you let them rest in death? Why scatter their bones to the wind?"
My hand hadn't even touched her when she crumpled backward.
The next second, a crushing force slammed into me.
Mason caught Rebecca in his arms, his gaze slicing into me like a blade.
"Chloe." His voice was ice. "I warned you. Touch her again, and I will end you."
I stared at him—at the hatred carved into every line of his face—and something inside me finally shattered.
I fell to my knees before him.
"Mason." My voice cracked. "I'll do anything you want. Anything. Just—please—let my family keep one shred of dignity. That's all I'm asking."
He went still.
Rebecca immediately wound her arm through his.
"Mason, when I was hospitalized for the baby, I visited the chapel. The monk said vengeful spirits were latched onto us—that the only way to protect our child was to grind their bones to dust and scatter them so they'd never reincarnate." She pressed closer to him. "That's why I had her family's ashes made into fireworks."
I bowed my head to the floor. Once. Twice. Again and again, until my forehead burned.
"Mason. Every sin is mine. Mine. They're already dead—let the debt die with them." My voice broke into a sob. "I'll bear all your hatred. Every last drop. Just... please... leave their remains in peace?"
Mason's face turned ashen. He grabbed my collar and yanked me toward him, his eyes bloodshot with rage.
"Let them go?" His voice was raw. "Who let my family go?"
"My sister never even got to see this world."
My throat had gone hoarse from crying. Blood kept streaming from my forehead, warm and relentless.
"But our baby never got to see this world either!" I choked out.
Mason froze. Something fractured behind his eyes—pain and hatred colliding, neither winning.
Before he could respond, Rebecca rushed forward and grabbed his arm.