Rage exploded within me, a white-hot fury that consumed all rational thought. I surged
forward, my vision tunneling until all I could see was Victoria''s smug face and Ethan kneeling
before my daughter''s grave.
"If there''s another life after this one," I heard Ethan say, "I hope you''ll be my daughter again. And I promise, Lily, I''ll make you the happiest child in the world."
His words ignited something primal within me. How dare he? How dare he speak of another
chance when he had squandered the one he had?
"You!" I screamed, my voice shattering the cemetery''s morning stillness.
Both Ethan and Victoria whirled around, shock evident on their faces. Victoria recovered first,
her expression shifting to one of practiced innocence.
"Olivia," she began, her voice honey-sweet with false concern. "We were just-"
"Shut up!” I snarled, advancing on them. "How dare youe here? How dare you bring her to my daughter''s grave?"
kicked over the offerings Ethan had arranged, sending moonberry cakes and toys scattering
across the ground. The Crystal-Embroidered Ice Princess Gown-the one Lily had begged for
but never receivednded in the dirt.
"Olivia, please," Ethan said, rising to his feet with obvious pain. "I''m just trying to-
"To what?" I demanded, my voice rising hysterically. "To ease your conscience? To pretend you
were a father to her when you weren''t?"
< Chapter 104 Cemetery Confr
+15 Points
I turned my fury on Victoria, who had retreated a step, her blue eyes wide with feigned fear.
"And you," I hissed, advancing on her. "You have the audacity toe here? To stand at the grave of the child you helped kill?"
Victoria gasped, pressing a hand to her chest in a perfect disy of shocked innocence. “Olivia, how can you say such a thing? I loved Lily!"
"Liar!" I screamed, lunging toward her.
Ethan stepped between us, his amber eyes shing with warning. "Olivia, that''s enough.
Victoria is not responsible for Lily''s death."
His defense of her pushed me over the edge. I turned on him, my entire body trembling with
rage.
"How dare you!" I cried out, tears streaming down my face. "You have no right to be a father! You''ve cursed Lily''s spirit by bringing her killer here!"
I grabbed the thermal food container I''d brought-filled with Lily''s favorite venison stew that I still prepared on her birthday-and hurled it at Ethan with all my strength.
(Ethan''s POV)
The container struck me squarely in the chest, the impact sending a shock of pain through my already injured body. I stumbled backward, my hand flying to my mouth as I tasted blood.
"Ethan!" Victoria cried, rushing to my side as I swayed unsteadily.
My vision blurred, the world tilting dangerously. The wound on my temple from Olivia''s previous attack had barely begun to heal, and now fresh pain radiated through my chest.
I coughed, feeling something wet and warm on my lips. When I pulled my hand away, my fingers were stained red.
Victoria''s arm slipped around my waist, supporting me as my knees threatened to buckle. Her face was a mask of concern, but her eyes-when they turned toward Olivia-gleamed with
something darker.
"How could you?" Victoria demanded, her voice trembling with what sounded like righteous anger. "Can''t you see he''s already injured? Do you want to kill him too?"
Olivia stood frozen, her emerald eyes wide with shock as she stared at the blood on my lips. For a moment, I thought I glimpsed regret in her expression, but it vanished quickly, reced
by cold fury.
"He deserves worse," she said, her voice low and dangerous. "For bringing you here-the woman who ensured my daughter died alone."
+15 Points >
Victoria''s grip on my waist tightened. She shook her head vehemently, tears streaming down
her face.
"Don''t me Ethan!" she cried, her voice breaking. "Can''t you see? Lily is dead, and Ethan, as her father, is heartbroken! He sincerely wants to make amends to Lily!"
She stepped forward, cing herself between Olivia and me in a protective gesture.
Victoria continued, her voice rising with emotion. "It''s all my fault."