Blind Devotion, Bitter End

My daughter's ashes scattered across the floor, and I scrambled to gather them with my hands like a madwoman.

Xavier frowned. "Eloise, what is wrong with you? Why are you bringing dirt into the house?"

Reina's eyes flashed with something sinister before she leaned weakly against Xavier's shoulder. She said softly, "Xavier, it wasn't on purpose. I'll clean it up."

She stood up and grabbed a broom while Xavier pinned my arms back to keep me from stopping her.

"No! That's my daughter's ashes! Reina, what are you doing?!" I screamed, thrashing desperately, but it was useless. I could only watch as Reina swept away every last trace of my precious baby.

"Xavier, where should I dump this?" Reina asked casually.

Xavier finally let go of me. "Flush it down the toilet. It's disgusting. You shouldn't touch it—so much dust, you'll make yourself sick."

He reached for the dustpan, fully intending to dump my daughter's remains into the toilet.

"No!" I let out a bloodcurdling scream and threw myself at him, collapsing at his feet.

"Xavier, please, I'm begging you! Don't throw it away! That's our daughter. Those are her ashes!"

My swollen, tear-streaked eyes barely opened, but the desperation in them was unmistakable.

For a split second, Xavier hesitated. However, Reina's voice cut in smoothly, pulling his attention away.

She said, "Eloise, why are you lying to Xavier? You gave birth to a healthy baby, so why are you making up these horrible stories? This can't be ashes. No mother would curse her child like that—no matter how angry."

With just a few gentle words, she twisted the entire situation. As a result, Xavier's brief hesitation vanished.

He scoffed, his lips curling into a smirk. "Almost had me there. But Reina's right—if you cared about this baby so much, why are you still here acting normal? If she were dead, you'd be falling apart."

Then, without warning, he kicked me aside and headed straight for the bathroom, dustpan in hand. I watched in horror as he moved to dump my daughter's ashes into the toilet.

I shouted, "No! Please, don't do this!"

Xavier chuckled. "If it means so much to you, then apologize to Reina."

I nodded frantically. "Okay! I'll apologize!"

I dropped to my knees, the metallic taste of blood filling my mouth as I choked out the words. "Reina, I'm sorry."

Xavier was not satisfied. He said, "Not good enough. Get on your knees properly and bow."

I clenched my teeth so hard I thought they might crack, but I obeyed. I bowed deeply and apologized. "Reina, I'm sorry!"

Reina's eyes glowed triumphantly before she quickly masked it with a kind expression. She reached down, pretending to help me up.

"Eloise, just don't lie again, okay? I won't hold it against you."

Her fingers dug into my arm, her sharp nails biting into my skin, making me tremble in pain.

Xavier finally seemed satisfied. "Now that's more like it. But don't think this means I believe you. Keeping something this filthy in the house is bad for Reina's health."

Without another word, he casually tipped the dustpan forward, letting the ashes pour into the toilet bowl.

"Xavier! No!" I let out a strangled sob and stumbled forward, plunging my hands into the water, desperate to save what little I could.

Yet, as my fingers touched the ashes, Xavier pressed the flush.