Covered in Filth

The first light of dawn began to glow on the horizon.

Aria hadn't slept the entire night.

She had thought about so many things.

Realistically, she could’ve chosen to stay hidden, lying low until Micheal gradually loosened the search. Then she could sneak into the Smith family villa to uncover the truth.

But she couldn’t bring herself not to send her grandfather off one last time.

It wasn’t just Micheal who had a deep bond with the old man—she did too.

She would expose Ruby today.

That heartless, venomous woman didn’t deserve to accompany Grandpa to his final resting place.

Just thinking that Ruby was the one who killed him made Aria sick to her stomach.

She couldn’t allow that woman to remain by his side, not even in death.

And who knows—maybe she'd get lucky and stumble upon some clue while she was there.

Aria changed into a new outfit and put on heavy makeup.

She wore a pair of old-fashioned, thick-rimmed glasses, transforming herself into a completely different person.

This time, aside from Philip, she hadn’t told a single soul.

The Smith Family was immensely powerful and influential in B City.

So many people had come to bid farewell to the old man.

They’d stay until the cremation was complete, then follow the procession to the cemetery for burial.

A person’s life—from birth to being laid to rest—so many decades of struggles, a man who once commanded storms and tides…

And in the end, he was killed by Ruby.

Even if Grandpa had accepted it, Aria never would.

The wind was harsh.

Her body ached.

She had caught a postpartum chill.

Every joint in her body throbbed with pain, like cold wind had crept into her very bones.

But she didn’t care.

So what if she was sick?

Even if she died, she wasn’t afraid.

What she feared most was dying without finding out who had framed her.

Otherwise, she'd rather follow her daughter to the next world.

There were so many people around, which became a sort of natural shield for her.

Not everyone knew each other anyway.

Aria quickly spotted Ruby—and beside her, just like at the wake, was Micheal walking shoulder to shoulder with her.

Seeing them together, side by side, filled Aria with a deep, inexpressible rage.

She couldn’t help but wonder—if Micheal ever found out that it was Ruby who had killed Grandpa…

What would he do to her?

Aria kept a quiet but steady watch on Ruby from a distance, hoping to catch her slipping.

Anyone guilty of such a crime was bound to show signs of guilt.

But Ruby never left Micheal’s side. Not for a second.

Aria thought for a moment. Whether or not she could expose Ruby today, she should at least say her final goodbye to Grandpa.

If she failed, this might be the last time she'd see him.

She pushed open the cold morgue door.

She had feared crematoriums and the dead ever since she was a child, but this time, she wasn’t afraid at all.

Because the one lying inside was her dearest Grandpa.

As she stepped in and neared the body, her face changed drastically.

She covered her mouth with her hand, completely stunned.

Grandpa's once beautifully prepared face was now gone.

In its place, from head to toe, he was covered in human waste…

“How could this happen…? How could this happen?” she whispered in shock, completely forgetting where she was—this was the crematorium, Micheal’s territory.

Suddenly, the door that had just closed behind her was flung open.

Two figures rushed in, one after the other.

Before she could react, Micheal grabbed her from behind, wrapping his arm tightly around her neck.

“You… you actually dared to humiliate Grandpa, Aria, you…”

He seemed unable to go on.

Then he turned around sharply and shouted,

“Open the cremation chamber—throw her in.”

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