Chapter 3

Winston's POV

"Coco!"

I scrambled across the floor toward her still form. Blood pooled across the floorboards, but Coco made no sound. I completely broke down, clutching her body as sobs tore from my throat.

Why were they so cruel to me?

I looked at Rebecca and Theo, hatred burning in my eyes, and lunged at them both. But before I could even reach them, Theo kicked me away.

I slammed into the wall, blood pouring from my mouth. The pain was excruciating, like every bone in my body had shattered.

"I hate you, Rebecca!"

At my words, Rebecca froze in place.

"How can you hurt Rebecca like this over a dog?" Theo said with displeasure.

I ignored him completely. I forced myself to stand, cradling Coco's body as I headed for the door.

"Winston, where are you going?" Rebecca shouted after me.

She tried to follow me, but Theo stopped her. "Rebecca, he's probably going back to the hospital. Don't worry about him."

I buried Coco in the back garden of her favorite dog park, hoping she was finally at peace. Afterward, I made my way to the cemetery where Dad was buried. Before I left this world, I wanted to see him one more time.

But when I arrived, Dad's headstone was gone. Staring at the unfamiliar name in its place, my eyes widened in shock.

Gordon Bardot? Who was that?

Panic and confusion flooded through me. I found the cemetery manager, who told me, "Mr. Shaw Senior's grave was relocated a while ago."

"Who gave you permission to do that?" I shouted furiously.

The manager looked unconcerned. "Don't yell at me. Mr. Shaw Senior's daughter-in-law handled everything personally."

Rebecca had done this?

I stood frozen, staring at the photo on Gordon Bardot's headstone. His features seemed vaguely familiar.

A terrible feeling settled in my gut. I raced back to the house as fast as I could. "Rebecca! You monster! Where did you put my father's ashes?"

I shouted for a long time before Theo finally emerged, holding a battered box.

"Where's Rebecca?" I demanded coldly.

"She's out getting my lunch order. You know how particular I am about—"

I turned and headed for the door.

"Don't you want your father's ashes?"

I stopped in my tracks and turned back to Theo. "Where is it?"

Theo didn't answer. Instead, he opened the box in his hands and dumped the powdery contents into a nearby trash can.

My breath caught in my throat. "What was that?"

"Your dad, of course." Theo's smile was gleeful and malicious.

"Rebecca said your dad's plot was the best location in the entire cemetery. Prime real estate like that should go to my family. I only mentioned it once, and the very next day Rebecca had your father's grave dug up."

His words faded into background noise. I rushed to the trash can and fell to my knees, plunging my hands inside. The trash can was full of banana peels, used tea leaves, even a used condom, all mixed with Dad's ashes.

No matter what I tried, I couldn't separate them. I felt utterly helpless.

Rebecca's voice sounded behind me. "Why are you back again?"

I turned to face her, my eyes bloodshot. "You animal! How dare you touch my father's grave?"

I roared at her, my hands lashing out wildly. In seconds, bloody scratches appeared across her face.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Rebecca exploded in fury.

Theo put on a pitiful expression. "Rebecca, you have to help me. Winston's trying to make me eat all that garbage off the floor."

At his words, Rebecca's face twisted with anger. "You're disgusting! Since this was your idea, you can deal with the consequences yourself."

Rebecca shoved me to the ground. My body, ravaged by months of cancer, gave out immediately. She pressed her weight on me, and in my weakened state, I couldn't throw her off no matter how hard I tried.

She forced the garbage mixed with Dad's ashes down my throat. After shoving the last condom into my mouth, Rebecca finally let go.

I immediately stuck my fingers down my throat, trying to vomit, but nothing came up. I was consumed with hatred. I was going to kill these two monsters.

I grabbed a fruit knife from nearby and drove it into Rebecca's body without hesitation.