All Chapters of When the Heart Dies: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

I handled Grandma's funeral arrangements alone, then came home and sat in the living room all night.That night, I thought everything through.It was not until the following evening that Scarlett came through the door. She froze for a moment when she saw me in the living room."Ron, why aren't you sleeping? Why are you sitting out here?"My face remained calm, my tone stiff. "Couldn't sleep.""Don't tell me you can't sleep without me here."Scarlett sat down beside me, her long, pale legs crossing over and pressing against mine. I noticed the black stockings from yesterday were gone.She rested her head on my shoulder. "You're a grown man and you can't sleep when your wife's not around? How embarrassing would that sound if anyone found out?"The moment she opened her mouth, the stench of alcohol mixed with cigarette smoke hit me. It was nauseating.I frowned and stood up, moving to the other couch.Scarlett looked taken aback. "Honey, what's wrong with you?"I let out a cold

The day before yesterday, Scarlett had a craving for clam chowder.When Grandma heard about it, she braved the rain to go to the market for fresh ingredients. On the way, she slipped and fell, hitting her head.Grandma seemed fine at the time and did not want to trouble Scarlett. I was away on a business trip when I got the call, so I immediately phoned Scarlett and asked her to take Grandma to the hospital for a checkup.Scarlett refused, saying she had an important client meeting with Chase at the time and did not have time to deal with it.Left with no choice, I called an ambulance myself and asked a neighbor for help getting Grandma to the hospital.It was because of that delay that after several hours in the operating room, Grandma ultimately did not make it.Her only thought before closing her eyes was seeing Scarlett one more time to tell her the chowder was ready.Afterward, I discovered that the hotel Chase and Scarlett had checked into was right next to our house, less

I wanted to laugh, but the pain made me grimace. "Ms. Hayes, well said. Consider this my formal notice. I quit."The moment those words left my mouth, Scarlett's expression turned ugly.Chase was a master of manipulation. "Ron, this is such a small matter. There's no need to quit."Ms. Hayes has your best interests at heart. She wants harmony among the company's employees."Listen to me. Just do your job and we'll forget this ever happened."You've been here for seven years. Even if you haven't achieved much, you've put in the effort. The company won't mistreat you."As he spoke, he even reached out as if to pull me up. I felt sick to my stomach and shoved him away.I barely used any force, but he performed like an award-winning actor, rolling on the ground and lightly bumping his head against the edge of a desk.Chase hit his head, and Scarlett looked more heartbroken than if she had been the one injured. She rushed forward, cradled his head, and stroked it gently."Chase, ar

"Fine. I'll bring Grandma to your place to talk."Scarlett's expression finally improved a bit."Tomorrow then. My dad is turning 50. You bring Grandma along and we'll settle this once and for all.""No problem."I slammed the door shut. After Scarlett left, my emotions instantly overwhelmed me.Thinking about everything that had happened these past few days, I wanted nothing more than to get blackout drunk.I pulled out my phone and dialed a number I had not contacted in a long time.Less than half an hour later, Jason Carter and I met at the restaurant we had agreed on. He was my best friend.On the day of my wedding to Scarlett, the Hayes family forbade me from inviting any of my relatives or friends. I had agreed at the time.That same day, after Jason found out, he never reached out to me again. And I felt too ashamed and embarrassed to contact him either.Seven years had passed. I thought he no longer considered me a friend, but the moment I called, he came without a se

Early the next morning, I received a message from an unfamiliar number."My dad's 50th birthday is at noon today. Don't forget."Remember to bring a gift. Something small is fine."My expression was indifferent. I wrapped Grandma's urn in a piece of red cloth, pinned a black armband to my sleeve, and left the old house.When I arrived at the Hayes family gate, I was about to walk in when someone stopped me."You there. The kitchen is swamped. Go help out."It was the Hayes family butler. He looked down on everyone and had made my life hell more times than I could count.The Hayes family was like that. From top to bottom, everyone had this inexplicable air of superiority.In their eyes, the young lady's husband was not even as good as a servant.Combined with the Hayes family's indifference, these people felt entitled to order me around and make me do all the dirty work. Even Scarlett was like that.Before, I loved her, so I could put up with it, but today, I refused outright.