Ashes at the Celebration

I laughed and looked at Dana.

"Ah yes, how can I forget about you?

"If it weren't for you! Throwing yourself at a married man.

"If it weren't for you! Nina would never…

"It's your—"

Before I could finish my sentence, Samuel pulled Dana behind him and swung his hand once more.

I wiped away the blood at the corner of my mouth as I stood up. I glared at him with my reddened eyes.

"Samuel, you really wanted Nina to be here, right?"

Without waiting for his response, I opened the bag and placed Nina's urn in front of him.

Dana — with Tilly in her arms — was so shocked she immediately stumbled backward.

The other firemen looked at each other.

It was obvious what I just took out, yet Samuel pretended and asked, "Rachel, what the Hell are you playing at?"

With reddened eyes, I said, "Nina is here. She's right here."

"Are you doing this on purpose? Are you trying to humiliate me at my celebration party?" Samuel yelled at me as if I was an evil woman.

Dana was horrified by the scene in front of her. She hugged Tilly tightly and hid behind Samuel. She popped her head out and said gently, "Rachel, don't do this. You're scaring the kids."

"Dana Sharp, you can stop with your fake kindness!

"If it weren't for you constantly being around Samuel, he would not have abandoned Nina and rescued your daughter!" I sneered as the tears finally started to pour.

"You… I did not!" Dana's face paled. Her eyes reddened too as if she was holding back tears.

"Enough!" Samuel slammed the table. "Rachel! I am a firefighter! If you keep causing a scene like this! I will never be able to rescue anyone!"

"Anyone?" I chuckled in fury. I pointed at Tilly in Dana's arms and said loudly, "Is your daughter not just anyone? Did you or did you not rescue her? Well you didn't! I told you! Nina was upstairs in the dance studio!"

"Enough!" Samuel roared and swept the urn onto the floor.

The urn fell to the ground and the ashes spilled everywhere.

I looked at Samuel in disbelief with tears constantly falling. "S-Samuel! H-How could you! That's Nina!"