Chapter 4

Shiloh looked up at Manuel, calm.

"If there's poison in the recipe, have a doctor test it. Or do you not care about the truth? Are you just taking your anger out on me? In that case, stop dragging this out. Punish me. I'll take it."

Rainee had framed her before.

She'd thrown herself down the stairs, then cried that Shiloh pushed her.

She'd splashed hot oil onto her own hand while Shiloh was cooking, then bit her lip and swore Shiloh hadn't meant it.

There were too many scenes like that to count.

Back then, Shiloh couldn't understand how someone as smart as Manuel didn't see through the lies.

Now she got it.

It wasn't that he couldn't.

He just couldn't stand seeing Rainee hurt, so someone else had to take the hit.

That someone was always Shiloh.

She couldn't even be bothered to react.

She was numb. Manuel misunderstanding her didn't hurt anymore.

Something heavy settled in his chest.

"What do you mean, I'm taking my anger out on you?" He frowned. "If something's bothering you, say it. Stop talking to me like this. I'm your husband, not your enemy."

Shiloh closed her eyes. "There's nothing left to say."

Manuel's chest tightened. "What do you mean, there's nothing left to say?"

Shiloh didn't answer.

Her eyes stayed closed. She wouldn't look at him. Wouldn't listen. She shut him out completely.

Unease crept through Manuel.

For some reason, he felt like he was losing her for good.

He needed to say something. Do something. Anything to keep her.

After a long silence, he said, "Tomorrow's Zach's wake. I'll go with you. We'll stay for visitation and go to the funeral together."

Shiloh went still, but she didn't open her eyes.

A nurse spoke from the doorway.

"Mr. Preston, Ms. Duffy's been treated. She's stable, but she's scared and keeps asking for you."

"Okay," Manuel said.

He looked back at Shiloh.

"Get some rest. We'll go home tomorrow and say goodbye to Zach."

The night dragged on forever.

Shiloh lay awake until dawn.

***

The funeral was the next day.

The child she'd carried for nine months and brought into the world would be cremated, sealed in an urn, and laid to rest.

Manuel showed up the next morning and drove Shiloh back to the Preston estate.

The house had been turned into a funeral home. Black ribbons framed the entrance. White lilies filled the halls. The staff wore dark clothes.

Soft sobs drifted from the memorial room. Some people were truly grieving.

Others were putting on a show.

But no one hurt more than Shiloh.

Leaning on her crutches, Shiloh slowly made her way to the memorial room.

She wanted to see Zach one last time before the service.

The second she stepped inside, Manuel's mother, Olivia, rushed her like a lunatic.

"You evil woman! How dare you come back here?"

She slapped Shiloh twice, grabbed her hair, and started hitting her.

"This is all your fault!" Olivia screamed. "You killed my grandson! You knew Zach couldn't swim, but you still took him surfing. You wanted him dead!"

Shiloh froze.

'Rainee was the one who took Zach to the beach. Why is Olivia blaming me?'

She looked at Manuel.

He looked away.

The mourners closed in, joining Olivia as they cursed and shoved her.

"Kill her! What kind of mother kills her own son?"

"Throw her out! She has no right to be at Zach's funeral!"