When My Daughter was Burned to Death, My Husband Lost Contact

I whispered the words, hardly able to speak.

Nick stopped in his tracks, the turtle still in his arms.

His laughter was tinged with mockery. "That explains why Mia's not around. You're really laying it on thick with this act, huh?"

"Well, the act's over, bring her back already. I'm in a hurry; this turtle needs a vet."

He still believed I was playing tricks on him.

I was too tired to argue.

"The kitchen blew up yesterday, Mia was hurt badly. We didn't make it to the hospital in time."

"If she hadn't been calling for you with her last breaths, I wouldn't want you anywhere near her now."

"Her funeral is tomorrow. As her father, you should be there."

Nick scoffed, glancing back at the scorched kitchen.

"You're really selling this story, even planned a funeral, huh?"

"I saw the news, that kind of explosion wouldn't kill anyone."

"Besides, it was Mia who made me late for Jen; her cooking burned."

I moved into Mia's room to pack up the last of her belongings.

Nick caught up and held down the box.

"Chloe, I was just helping Jen with a stuck jar. You don't have to leave over this, let alone take Mia away."

"Nothing happened between me and Jen, you know."

The smug certainty in his eyes was evident.

He was sure I wouldn't leave, thinking this was all just a play to keep him.

He had no idea how wrong he was.

Pain throbbed through my heart.

I brushed his hand off the box and stepped past him.

"Be there tomorrow, at the funeral."

I had organized everything for Mia's funeral myself, down to the last detail—all in her favorite pink.

Her grandfather had flown over twenty hours to make it back in time.

Once we were alone, my repressed tears finally spilled over, and I wept uncontrollably in his arms.

When we'd calmed somewhat, he sensed something was off.

"Chloe, where's Nick?"

Caught off-guard, I hadn't yet explained everything to him.

I told him about the day's events and how Nick had transferred all my funds out of my accounts.

Dad was livid. "That man's a monster! How could he be so cruel!"

Concerned about his health, I quickly soothed him, "Dad, I want to handle this on my own."

Not much later, Nick entered, still carrying the turtle.

"You went to all this trouble just to get me back, huh? I'm impressed."

Even at Mia's funeral, he persisted in believing it was all an act.

Mia's portrait hung solemnly in the hall; her smile seemed to light up the somber room.

I seemed to hear her sweet voice.

Nick saw it and smirked.

He stared at the photo for a long moment, then burst out laughing.

"Chloe, you and Mia really went all out to bring me back, didn't you?"

"Enough with the drama, I've got a trip to make."

It was just the two of us there.

Nick was holding his suitcase in one hand and the turtle in the other.

He was clearly planning another visit to Jen.

"Nick, take a look at this."

I handed him the hospital's death certificate.

Nick looked at the document quietly, and then his tone turned icy. "You're quite prepared, aren't you, Chloe?"

He walked over to the photo, and angrily threw it to the ground.

"Want to play games? Fine, let's play."

He knocked over the pink floral arrangements.

The room turned into chaos from his rampage.

As I scrambled to pick up Mia's photo, I noticed Nick was already at her casket.

"A casket too? What's next, Mia jumping out to surprise me?"

He reached for the casket lid, and I rushed to stop him.

"Nick! Please, don't open it. Let her rest."

He continued, unfazed.

"Rest? I wanted peace, too. If it weren't for the bad luck of meeting you and Mia, I'd be living quietly with Jen by now."

"Stop!"

He opened the casket anyway.

Mia lay there, serene and pale.

Nick quickly closed the lid again, his voice cracking,

"Mia... is she really gone? How can this be..."