“You evil woman!” Ian screamed, punching my side. “You made our mom cry!”
Vale hit me too—right where my arm still burned from earlier.
Elara dabbed at her tears, pretending to be weak.
“Stop, boys. I’m fine.”
But she didn’t stop them.
She never did.
Then Vale suddenly bolted from the hall. I barely had time to register it before he returned, holding a small jar.
The second I saw it, my blood turned to ice.
“No!” I screamed, lunging forward.
Vale laughed—and dropped it.
The jar shattered against the marble floor with a crack like a gunshot. Ash scattered across the tiles. Soft. Grey. Sacred.
My mother.
Gone. Spilled under strangers’ feet like dirt.
For a second, my mind refused to process it. Then my world tilted.
“What did you do?!” I screamed.
Ian stepped closer, eyes cold. “If you ever hurt our new mom again, you’ll regret it.”
Whispers spread through the crowd.
“That’s the Don’s former woman.”
“The one who refused to leave.”
“So shameless.”
“She’s ruining the engagement.”
“And Elara’s still defending her… what a saint.”
“What a wicked woman.”
My hands clenched until my nails bit into my skin.
“Say whatever you want!” I shouted. “Those kids—”
“That’s enough!” Magnus roared.