I begged the staff to cremate my daughter immediately. I couldn’t risk giving Vanessa another chance to harm her.
When it was over, I held the tiny urn in my arms, tears falling endlessly.
“Cherry... I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry...”
I left the urn in the funeral home’s care and made a phone call.
“Have you returned to the country? I need your help.”
But no matter how I tried, the images wouldn’t leave my mind—my daughter’s cruel death, her body mutilated.
Rage burned through my veins.
Without hesitation, I went straight back to the neighborhood, and headed upstairs, to Vanessa’s apartment.
The door was slightly ajar.
Her smug voice drifted out.
“Cooper, you did well today. Otherwise Daddy might’ve pitied that horrible woman. Here—this is Mommy’s reward for you: a bracelet made from human bones.”
“Mommy, this bracelet smells disgusting—just like that horrible woman’s daughter. You’re amazing though! You knew that little brat always played near the flowerbeds downstairs, so you smashed her with a toy car and killed her. Now no one will fight me for Daddy’s attention!”