The Conspiracy of My Husband's First Love

My cheeks soon swallowed, and blood seeped from the corners of my mouth.

"Are you expecting me to thank you? If it weren't for your schemes, Megan and I would have been married by now, and that child would never have been born," Crowley lashed out.

"That day, Megan kindly made Chili con Carne for her, but Avalynn refused to eat it and instead set her sights on Megan's necklace. When Megan wouldn't give it to her, she stole it while Megan left it in the bathroom. She's a disgrace to the Baldwin family, just like you!" he continued to accuse.

I fought back through my tears, "Avalynn would never do such a thing. Besides, who would take off their necklace just to go to the bathroom? Do you have any proof that it was Avalynn who stole it?"

Over the years, whenever it came to anything related to Megan, Crowley would lose all sense of reason.

No matter what I said or did, the moment Megan shed a tear, Crowley would immediately take her side.

Whenever Megan cried, Crowley would heap all the blame onto Avalynn and me.

"Search the place! If that necklace turns up, I swear I won't let you off!" Crowley ordered.

At his command, the bodyguards began tearing through my home even more fiercely.

When they finished, not a single piece of my stuff remained intact.

Finally, someone found a necklace in Megan's pencil case.

Crowley held it up in front of me. "What do you have to say now?"

I couldn't help but laugh.

When I left the Baldwin family, the only thing I took was Avalynn's ashes. I didn't take a single other thing.

It was clear Megan had planted that pencil case to frame me!

"Megan was wearing this necklace in the photos she took two days ago."

"Yes, and the necklace was lost yesterday. Yesterday, I only met you and Avalynn..."

Yesterday, my Avalynn was already dead.

I completely snapped. "You lying bitch! Avalynn was only six years old. How could you slander her? I don't care if you like seducing men, but why did you have to target Avalynn?!"

I grabbed Megan's hair and slapped her across the face several times.

I vented all the rage I had bottled up for years.

"You're insane."

Seeing Megan hurt, Crowley was heartbroken. He kicked me hard, sending me rolling across the floor.

The shattered porcelain scattered on the floor stabbed deeply into my skin.

Crowley pinned me down and forced me to kneel in front of Megan, roaring, "Bring Avalynn out. I want both of you to apologize to Megan!"

I spat blood at Megan. "In your dreams."

Enraged, Crowley looked around and spotted the only intact object left in the corner: that small urn.

He grabbed the urn and smashed it against my head.

"Still won't admit your guilt, huh? Let's see how long you can keep that mouth shut!"

I screamed.

With a searing pain, blood and Avalynn's ashes streamed down my face.

At that moment, my world shattered.

Crowley stomped on my hand and sneered, "Are you putting on another act? Where are you hiding Avalynn?"

"She's dead! She died from eating chili. Her ashes are right under your feet! If you don't believe me, call the hospital and ask!"

I knelt there, screaming at Crowley like a mad woman, choking on my own sobs.

"Fine. I'll expose your lies right here."

Fuming, Crowley dialed the hospital director.

The director's voice came through, sounding helpless. "Mr. Baldwin, I'm deeply sorry. Your daughter has indeed passed away. I heard it was her birthday that day."