A Child's Death, A Wife's Betrayal

She had my set of healing tools brought in and, without hesitation, took out a scalpel. Grabbing my wrist, she slashed it down sharply.

“I’ll see how you can still hurt anyone after this!” she spat.

The pain from the blade severing the tendons in my hand was excruciating. I stifled a grunt as my body went limp, collapsing to the ground. Blood poured from the wound, staining the floor in a pool of red.

Shena, startled by the intensity of the blood, instinctively dropped the knife and moved to check on me. But before she could get close, Billie suddenly staggered, clutching his chest as he fell to the ground.

“Shena... I feel terrible. I can’t breathe... am I dying? I’m so scared...”

Her attention snapped to him, panic flashing in her eyes as she rushed to support him. She shot me an indignant look before speaking through gritted teeth:

“Remember this lesson, Theo. Bring Bastian to the hospital tomorrow to apologize to Billie. Don’t even think about playing any tricks again.”

With that, she helped Billie to his feet and left the room.

I don’t know how much time passed, but eventually, Hardy arrived. When he saw me unconscious on the floor, blood pooling around me, his face drained of color. Without a moment’s hesitation, he rushed me to the hospital for treatment.

The next day, when I woke up, I refused to stay any longer. I insisted on leaving the hospital to give Bastian one final ride. I buried him with my own hands, despite the pain as the wounds in my hands reopened. But as I placed each handful of earth over his grave, a strange calm washed over me.

When the funeral ended, I bowed deeply to the guests in attendance and turned to leave without a second glance.

“Shena, Bastian and I wish you the best of luck.”

Meanwhile, across the room, Shena was delicately peeling an apple for Billie. Her eyes would occasionally flicker toward the door, as though expecting me to appear. Just as she was about to slice her finger, Hardy suddenly burst into the room, slapping the apple out of her hand.

Shena frowned, clearly irritated.

“Grandpa, is Theo complaining to you again? Is he still refusing to let Bastian apologize? Maybe I didn’t teach him a harsh enough lesson after all.”

“Shut up!” Hardy snapped, his voice trembling with fury as he raised his cane and struck the ground.

“You heartless beast! Bastian is already dead and you’re still thinking about forcing him to apologize to that woman?”

Shena froze, her face paling. Hardy’s disappointment was tangible as he continued:

“You didn’t even attend today’s funeral. Do you have any idea what people are saying about our family?”

For a moment, Shena was silent. Then, as if a thought struck her, she scoffed, her tone mocking:

“Grandpa, Theo is just acting with the child. Bastian loved you most—why are you falling for all these lies?”

Billie chimed in, his voice full of feigned concern:

“Yes, Grandpa, I know you’ve never liked me, but you can’t make light of a child’s life and death.”

The two of them spoke in unison, their words a one-two punch that sent Hardy into a fit of rage. He slammed a death certificate onto Shena’s lap.

“I truly don’t know how the Collins Family managed to produce such an idiot like you!” he yelled, his voice filled with disbelief.

“Open your eyes and look closely!”

Shena’s eyes widened as she glanced at the death certificate. Her face drained of color as she stammered in disbelief:

“Bastian... is really dead?”