My Husband Killed My Daughter

I returned home in a daze with Maria's ashes in my arms.

There were two roses in the backyard that Maria grew. She loved roses the most.

"Mom, roses do wonders for menstrual cramps. When these roses are ripe, I'll dry them and make you some tea."

She was so sweet. She knew I suffered from menstrual cramps, so she offered to make me tea with roses, her favorite flower.

Maria, how could you leave me before you made me tea?

I picked all the petals and placed them one by one in Maria's urn.

Then I walked out of the house with her ashes on my back. In the next second, I saw Hale and Audrey walking towards me side by side.

Audrey held her stomach, looking in pain. When Hale looked at her, his eyes were full of love and distress.

When he looked at me, the love in his eyes was replaced by indifference.

"I missed Maria's birthday. So what? You blocked me and threatened to divorce me? What's wrong with you, Judy?"

"Piss off!"

I said coldly, not wanting to waste another second on him.

Audrey came to me, too. "Judy, don't blame Hale. I had menstrual cramps that night, so I asked him to be with me. You know he has always been concerned about me. It's all my fault."

She had her back to Hale when she was talking. Though it sounded like she was blaming herself, the expression on her face was triumphant and defiant.

She held Hale's arm, telling me he was hers.

"I see. Your husband is so good to you."

I was devastated and didn't give a damn about anything.

"Judy, are you listening to yourself? Audrey is in so much pain. You're a woman, too. Have some sympathy!"

Hale immediately stood up for Audrey as if she was indeed his wife, and I was picking on her.

"Yeah. Whatever."

I walked past them indifferently and left.

Hale was a bit stunned. This was the first time I talked to him so indifferently as if he was a stranger to me.

Immediately, he rushed toward me. "It's not like I was missing all night. I made Maria shrimp soup, OK? And she loved it.

"Audrey was in so much pain. Tell me. How could I ignore her? Stop being so unreasonable. You're turning me off!

"Maria has been admitted to an Ivy League college. You're her mom. Be generous. Don't tarnish her reputation!"

I was so sad. At this point, he still didn't know Maria was dead.

If he had shown a little more concern for us, he would have noticed something was wrong. But Audrey was the only one he had ever cared about.

"Enough, Judy. I'll go with you when Maria reports for her freshman year, and I'll buy whatever you want."

After he finished speaking, he stood in situ calmly, waiting for me to feel flattered.

Indeed. In the past, no matter what mistakes he made, as long as he coaxed me or offered me something nice, I'd forgive him at once and be as happy as a kid.

But now, I was utterly cold.

"No need."

I left without looking back.

Hale stood in situ in astonishment.

In a daze, he felt that something had slipped away from him.