Chapter 5

Zoey suddenly stumbled back two steps and screamed, "Ah! Shawn, why don't you just die?

"You'd really do something this cruel just to fight me for custody of Leo?"

Peter quickly caught her, then turned on me.

"Shawn, you've gone too far. You scared Zoey.

"I saw Leo myself. He was perfectly fine. Why would you—"

I tightened my grip on the urn and glared at him.

"Shut up!

"You don't get to lie about a dead kid. You'll pay for this."

My words hit a nerve.

Zoey exploded. "Shawn, you've really lost it. Cursing your own son wasn't enough, so now you're cursing Peter too?

"With a father like you, no wonder Leo picked up such awful behavior."

A bad feeling hit me, but before I could react, Zoey rolled up her sleeves.

"Peter, hold Shawn down!"

Peter smirked and grabbed me, pinning me in place.

Zoey walked over and ripped the urn from my hands.

"What are you doing?!"

I stared at her in horror. No matter how hard I fought, I couldn't break free.

"Fine. You want to call these ashes?

"If you're so determined to keep this act going, I'll dump your precious ashes all over the floor!"

Zoey smiled smugly, raised our son's urn—

and smashed it to the floor.

"NO!"

I screamed, but it was too late.

Too late.

The urn hit the floor and shattered, scattering Leo's ashes everywhere.

I ripped free from Peter and stumbled forward, collapsing beside them.

My eyes burned as tears poured down my face.

I glared at Zoey and Peter.

"Zoey! Peter! You'll both pay for this! You'll both go to hell!"

Zoey stared at me, stunned by my reaction.

I'd always kept my emotions in check. I almost never lost it in front of her.

She took a step back, her voice softer. "Why are you crying? It's just a box of flour."

I wiped my face with the back of my hand and realized I was sobbing.

When I said nothing, Zoey pouted and waved me off.

"Fine, Shawn. Stop acting.

"Leo can stay with you for a couple of days. I'll pick him up later."

To her, that was already a compromise.

I ignored her and grabbed whatever I could find, carefully gathering Leo's ashes.

Peter stood off to the side. "Forget it, Zoey. I guess Shawn just doesn't like me.

"I only came because my parents wanted to invite you to dinner and thank you for yesterday.

"But with things like this, you should stay and talk to Shawn. I'll go."

He turned toward the door like he meant to leave.