LOGINCaleb's eyes darted around erratically, and his tone immediately softened."Please, Dad. I'm begging you. Nicky is starting elementary school tomorrow, and your place is strategically located in the best school district in Arielwood. Please let us borrow it and stay there for a while, even if it's just for the sake of your biological grandson's education."I looked down at Nicky and scoffed. "Him? He's five years old and still doesn't know what two plus two is. He might as well not waste his time with school.""What are you trying to imply?" Emery shrieked and furiously lunged at me, while I remained rooted to the spot."What? Are you trying to get violent now? I'm warning you—I'm an old man. If you touch me, my bones will shatter, so don't accuse me of extortion if I end up in the hospital."Caleb pulled Emery back and shook his head. Then, he turned back to me and grinned, saying, "Fine. You don't have to give us the house, Dad, but I'll make sure to harass you at your place eve
Nicky had learned his nonsensical behavior from the adults.Completely done with Caleb and Emery's nonsense, I turned to the judge and requested the final ruling.Emery completely lost her temper. She stormed forward, slammed her chest hard against my shoulder, and snapped, "What the hell is your problem? We apologized, didn't we? All the kid did was nip you, and you just refuse to let it go!"Nicky had done far worse than just bite me.I looked up and coldly stared at her. "You people are really made for each other.""What's that supposed to mean?" she snapped."You know what it means," I said, standing up to jab my finger in her shoulder. "You're a monster who beat up my wife so badly that she was critically wounded."Then, I whipped my shaking finger around to point at Nicky. "And as for you, you're a little monster who flushed my wife's ashes down the toilet!"Struggling to catch my breath from rage, I dropped onto the couch and gasped for large mouthfuls of air.I would r
Caleb finally dropped the act and revealed his true colors. "You haven't spoken a single word to me in ten years, Dad. How was I supposed to know?"Even at this point, he was still making excuses. I had clearly stated that it was hereditary diabetes and mentioned it dozens of times during the first ten years of his life. He had watched me inject insulin into my stomach needle by needle, day after day, but he simply hadn't cared.I couldn't bother to argue with him either. All I did was shut my mouth and wait for the final verdict. Then, I looked toward the judge, who gave me an understanding nod.Just as she opened her mouth to read the final ruling, Caleb violently threw himself out of his wheelchair, his knees slamming hard against the floor.He shrieked and violently pounded his shins with his fists until blood instantly dyed the pure white bandages a brilliant red.Sweat beaded across his forehead, and his voice was hoarse as he rasped, "What do I have to do for you to forgi
Caleb pressed his lips together tightly, his eyes darting around erratically as he refused to meet my gaze."Celia said she didn't blame you and begged me to take good care of you," I continued. "She said you were still young, just fell in with the wrong crowd, and that I needed to help set you straight."Later, after piecing together bits and pieces of the truth, I learned the truth. Caleb's sleeping pills, suicide attempts, truancy, and faked depression… None of it was born out of guilt for what he had done to Celia; he did it simply because Emery had broken up with him.It was utterly absurd, but it was a reality I was forced to accept. As for the missing 100,000 dollars, he had given it to Emery so she could escape.Taking a deep breath, I glanced at Caleb and let out a self-deprecating smile."You dropped onto your knees and slapped yourself over and over, begging me not to hold Emery accountable. I only asked one thing of you back then—study hard."That wasn't too much
On the screen, Celia lay with her eyes tightly closed. She was nothing but skin and bones.Caleb stood beside her, casually turning off the life support monitors and pulling her oxygen tube. His movements were smooth and practiced.Just like that, a human being, completely stripped of her choice to live or die, was forced toward death.Moments later, Emery walked into the frame. With a knowing look, Caleb dragged Celia's body off the bed and threw her onto the floor before grabbing Emery and pinning her down against the hospital sheets.The sounds that followed from the footage were unbearable. Obscene noises, each louder than the last, pierced through my eardrums.I stood frozen amid the static hum of the footage, as if I had just plunged into an ice pit. All eyes were locked dead on the screen, and the only sound left in the room was the increasingly heavy breathing of the audience.When they looked at Caleb again, there was finally a trace of disgust in their gazes.Caleb gla
"Hey! What is that supposed to mean?" Emery barked. "Aren't you the one trying to cut ties with your son? Why are you dragging me into this mess?"Besides, I turned over a new leaf ages ago. Everyone goes through a rebellious phase as kids anyway."Caleb isn't 15 anymore. He's 35 and perfectly capable of deciding who he wants to love and date. What gives you the right to interfere in our lives?"Then, she drawled a long, knowing "oh" and continued, " I get it now, you pervert. Your wife can't move or satisfy your needs, so now you're eyeing my body, aren't you? You wanted to keep Caleb away from me so you could crawl into my bed, right?"I let it slide when you secretly stole my underwear, you absolute monster! If you didn't want your son carrying on the family line, why did you bother having him in the first place? You might as well keep your pants zipped!"The onlookers in the gallery frowned as they listened to her crude outburst, yet they found themselves nodding along. Emery'







