I fell to my knees before him.
"Mason." My voice cracked. "I'll do anything you want. Anything. Just—please—let my family keep one shred of dignity. That's all I'm asking."
He went still.
Rebecca immediately wound her arm through his.
"Mason, when I was hospitalized for the baby, I visited the chapel. The monk said vengeful spirits were latched onto us—that the only way to protect our child was to grind their bones to dust and scatter them so they'd never reincarnate." She pressed closer to him. "That's why I had her family's ashes made into fireworks."
I bowed my head to the floor. Once. Twice. Again and again, until my forehead burned.
"Mason. Every sin is mine. Mine. They're already dead—let the debt die with them." My voice broke into a sob. "I'll bear all your hatred. Every last drop. Just... please... leave their remains in peace?"
Mason's face turned ashen. He grabbed my collar and yanked me toward him, his eyes bloodshot with rage.
"Let them go?" His voice was raw. "Who let my family go?"
"My sister never even got to see this world."
My throat had gone hoarse from crying. Blood kept streaming from my forehead, warm and relentless.