Chapter 3

Ashley gently comforted Cole. “Cole, don’t be angry. Nicola is just jealous because you’re so kind to me. When Oliver becomes my son, I’ll discipline him properly.”

Cole replied coldly, “If she hadn’t deceived me into marrying her, you wouldn’t have been so heartbroken that someone could trick you into the mountains and make you suffer. She owes you. What she’s enduring now is nothing compared to what you went through.”

He held Ashley close and walked out.

Ashley glanced back at me with open contempt, triumphant, almost smug.

I carried Oliver upstairs to change his clothes, but several housekeepers blocked my way.

“Mr. Jackman said this room has good lighting. He wants Ms. White’s unborn child to stay here in the future.”

“It’s bad luck to have… that… in the room. Mr. Jackman and Ms. White will be upset if they find out.”

Anyone could see Oliver was gone, anyone except his father, who still insisted he was pretending.

Oliver had died alone in that abandoned monastery because of Cole’s blind faith in Ashley’s words. Yet Cole never believed a single thing his own son said.

The new clothes I had bought for Oliver hadn’t even been brought to his room yet. I dressed him carefully.

The crematorium’s furnace burned through the night. A staff member handed me an urn containing his ashes.

I planned to leave with Oliver’s ashes, to bury him beside my parents. I just did not know how to face my brother, Emilio, the brother I had disappointed by giving up everything for love.

I had barely stepped out of the funeral home when Cole called.

I hung up. He called again.

When I finally answered, his voice was sharp with anger. “If you’re not home in an hour, I’ll flush that emerald necklace down the toilet.”

My composure cracked. “That’s my mother’s keepsake.”

Back home, Cole and Ashley were on the sofa, wrapped around each other. Cole’s hand slid beneath her clothes.

Ashley leaned against him, breathless. “Cole, stop… Nicola will get jealous. She didn’t come home all night. I wonder where she went.”

Cole kissed her ear. “Why care about her? Looks like I was too gentle, you still have the strength to talk.”

Ashley swatted at him playfully. “You’re impossible.”

I stood there calmly, emotionless. “Where is my mother’s keepsake.”

Cole stopped and sneered. “I had it made into an anklet for Ashley. Your things only deserve to be under her feet. Now bring Oliver out. His prayers weren’t sincere. He’ll kneel for another seven days. I’ll have someone watch him, so he doesn’t eat a single bite.”

My restraint snapped. I slapped him. “You monster. Oliver is gone. I’m holding his ashes.”

Cole froze, then snatched the urn and hurled it to the floor. “No one dies from a week without food. Do you think I’m stupid? And he wasn’t even mine. He wasn’t premature — he was full‑term. Three months ago, I saw you with that man, getting into a car together. Don’t think you can use this ‘prayer’ excuse to fake his death.”

The ashes scattered across the floor under Cole’s feet.

I had given birth early because I was severely injured saving him.

That man he saw was my brother. I had begged Emilio, who was already disappointed in me, to help Cole secure that land in the east of the city. I didn’t want Cole to lose sleep over it.

My hands trembled as I gathered the ashes back into the urn. I let out a hollow laugh. “Cole, I’ve never lied to you. That man is my brother.”

Cole’s pupils tightened. He paused, then chuckled. “Still lying? You’re an orphan. I’m marrying Ashley next month. You two will share the same ranking. She’s pregnant, you’d better take good care of her.”