Chapter 5

Seth's POV

Regina was dumbfounded. She seized my arm. "What on earth is wrong with you?"

I had brought up divorce so many times, yet she still thought I was just throwing a tantrum.

"I'm serious. I wish you both well. After seven years apart, you've finally found your way back to each other."

I'd once trashed our home in an attempt to keep Regina and Lucas apart. She'd called me immature, put me under house arrest for a week, and took off on a trip with Lucas instead.

Now that I was sincerely wishing them well, instead of being relieved, Regina scowled at me. "I've already apologized and given you gifts, Seth. If you're still unsatisfied, just tell me what you want, okay?"

Having said that, she suddenly remembered something and muttered to herself, "Hold on… You would never be this cruel to me. This must be your mother's idea!"

Regina was furious, and she dialed Mom's number. However, the phone in my pocket began to ring.

Regina still thought I'd hidden Mom somewhere. "Seth, ask your mother to show herself right now! I'd like to know what I've ever done to offend her. Why does she loathe me so much? Does she have to begrudge everyone else their happiness just because she lost her own husband?"

Tears welled up in my eyes, and I pointed at the urn in my arms. "That's enough, Regina. Mom's right here."

Regina was dumbstruck. Realizing that the box I was holding was an urn, she backed away in disbelief.

Lucas supported her before looking at me with disappointment. "Seth, even if you are terrified of being poor, you can't buy an urn and curse your own mother just to demand gifts!"

After hearing that, Regina frowned. "You brought that urn back on purpose just to spite me, didn't you? Get rid of it right this instant!"

I shot her a cold look and walked straight out the door. I thought this would be the end of it, yet the very next second, Lucas abruptly snatched the urn from me and smashed it hard against the floor.

In an instant, the urn shattered, scattering Mom's ashes across the floor. A loud ringing filled my head, and I couldn't utter a single word. I dropped to my knees and began gathering her ashes, bit by bit.

Mom had once been a living, breathing person. Now, all that remained of her weighed so little, and even that wasn't spared from such humiliation.

This was all my fault. I hadn't been able to protect her when she was alive, and I couldn't give her the peace she deserved after she died.

Noticing how utterly devastated I was, Regina felt a pang of heartache and wanted to come over to comfort me.

Lucas yanked her back. "Unlucky things like this need to be smashed on the spot, or else it will ruin our child's future."

The moment she heard that it could bring misfortune upon the baby, she arched her brow. "Wow, you even went so far as to buy colored powder and pretend it was your mom's ashes. You really went all out with this little performance."

I shot daggers at her. I raised my hand and flung the divorce agreement in her face. Then, I gathered the remaining ashes into a bag and stormed off.

Regina had delicate skin, and the sharp edge of the papers cut her face, drawing a thin line of blood. She clutched her cheek and pointed at my retreating back. "Seth, if you walk out of that door today, don't ever think about coming back!" she bellowed.

That was fine by me. I strode away without a second thought. I never wanted to see her again, not for the rest of my life.

…

Early the next morning, Regina grew anxious when she realized I hadn't come home and hadn't sent her a single message.

The more she thought about it, the more she realized that it had been downright humiliating to lock Mom in a coffin. She had been in the wrong on that part.

"Help me buy some handbags and jewelry, Lucas. Then, accompany me to apologize to my mother-in-law."

Lucas' face fell, and he was about to refuse when the doorbell rang. He smiled. "What's the rush? I told you, Seth is only after your money. He would never really leave you."

At last, she broke into a smile and hurriedly answered the door. "Seth, you're back—"

However, as soon as the door opened, she found several police officers at her doorstep. "Regina, you're suspected of murdering your mother-in-law, Winona Laurel. Please come with us."