Chapter 2

The following day marked the anniversary of the deaths of both my parents and my daughter.

Bruce drove me to the cemetery. He was holding my hand tightly on our way.

His touch used to be my only comfort and strength.

But it felt so intense that it made me want to take my hand back now.

Just as we arrived at the cemetery gates, Bruce's phone rang.

He glanced at the screen, and his gentle expression shifted slightly at that moment.

He quickly released my hand and stepped aside. He spoke in a low voice, yet I could still hear him clearly. "Don't cry. I'll be there soon."

The tone of urgency and concern was something I'd never felt from him before.

Bruce returned with a guilty look on his face. "Vera, something emergent happened in the company. There was an accident at the construction site in the southern suburbs, and someone died. I have to handle it right away."

I looked at him quietly. "Do you remember what day it is today? Are you going to lie in front of my parents and our daughter?"

A flash of panic and guilt quickly crossed Bruce's eyes.

He emphasized it. "Vera, this is truly urgent. It's a matter of life and death. Please don't make a fuss. You can go in and visit their graves alone. I'll ask the driver to pick you up afterward."

With that, he turned and walked away briskly, leaving me at the cemetery entrance.

I stood before the three cold tombstones and slowly placed my daughter's favorite strawberry candies one by one on her grave.

Tears finally fell, blurring my vision.

I recalled the time when Bruce was first adopted by my parents. He was small and frail, timid and insecure.

My father taught him to read and write. My mother fed him. They had helped him become who he was now.

He once expressed deep gratitude to my parents and vowed to treat me well forever.

I remembered our wedding day when he swore in front of my parents.

"Don't worry about Vera. I will never fail her. I will die a miserable death if I do."

The vow still echoed in my ears, yet the man who swore it had betrayed me in the most brutal way.

Just then, my phone vibrated abruptly.

It was from the same anonymous number.

I received no taunting words, just a video.

I trembled as I opened it.

It only showed two entwined naked bodies.

The background sound was a woman's seductive moans and Bruce's passionate groans. "You little temptress, such a seducer. You lied about Caiden being sick and worried me to death. Just wait. I will punish you today."

My heart hurt so much that I could hardly breathe.

It turned out his "construction site accident" was just an excuse to rush into the arms of this temptress.

He couldn't even wait to pay respects to my family.

I closed the video and gently touched the cold photo of my daughter on the tombstone.

My other hand rested on my slightly rounded belly. "Sweetheart, I have a baby now. We won't forgive him, will we? We will never, ever forgive him."