Chapter 3 Three

Wilona's legs trembled, but she refused to let weakness consume her. With all the strength left in her frail body, she shoved Sonny aside and seized the microphone from his grasp.

Her breathing was ragged, her hospital gown loose around her frail frame, but her voice was sharp and unyielding as it echoed through the cemetery.

"All of you!" she shouted, her grief raw and unfiltered. "You deserve to know the truth!"

Sonny tried to take the microphone from Wilona's hand, but with her weak hands, Wilona slapped his hand away hard.

"Honey, what are you doing here," Sonny whispered through gritted teeth. "You should be resting in the hospital. No--"

Wilona chuckled at Sonny and deliberately brought her mouth close to the microphone so that all the guests could hear her words.

"Why can't I be at my own daughter's funeral? You didn't even bother to tell me. Why, Sonny? So that all your mistakes can be quickly buried together with Maya?" said Wilona in a sharp tone that cut the ears and the heart.

Murmurs rippled through the crowd, the air thick with tension. Wilona took a deep breath, her eyes locked onto the small white casket resting beneath the overcast sky.

"My daughter is dead," she said, her voice breaking. "And the reason she's no longer with us is because of her own father! Engineer Sonny Kendrick, a father who seems perfect and great, but in reality is just a negligent father who prioritizes his animal lust over his daughter."

Gasps filled the air, a few voices whispering in disbelief.

"What does that mean?"

"Is Mrs. Kendrick sick and depressed? It's so sad to see her like that."

"What caused little Maya to die? Wasn't it an accident at the lake?"

Sonny's face twisted with panic and humiliation. "Wilona, stop this nonsense!" he barked.

But Wilona didn't stop. She refused to. Her voice was very sharp and loud, and her eyes were fixed on Sonny who looked restless.

"My daughter died because of the depraved behavior of her father, Engineer Sonny, whom you know as a great and honorable person," said Wilona while pointing at Sonny.

"Wilona, why are you saying bad things about your husband on a sad day like this," said Ariel Kendrick, Wilona's mother-in-law who had been confused since earlier.

"You should also know the animal behavior of your child, mother-in-law," said Wilona sharply. She turned back to Sonny, but her words were directed at the people around her.

"On the day Maya died, I had an accident because I was in a hurry to pick up Maya. The cause of the accident was him!" said Wilona hatefully pointing at Sonny.

"He and our daughter's nanny were making love like a pair of wild dogs, in my room, on my bed, when I came home from the office. That damn nanny even forgot to pick up my daughter from school because she was too busy serving my husband's animal lust!"

A wave of shocked murmurs swept through the guests. Some shook their heads in disbelief, others exchanged knowing glances. Sonny's infidelity was not new gossip, but no one had expected it to end in such tragedy.

Sonny's face darkened with rage. "Enough!" he roared, stepping forward. "You're delirious! Stop spreading lies!"

"Lies?" Wilona let out a bitter laugh. "Tell them, then! Tell them how our daughter was left waiting, alone, because you were too busy entertaining your mistress!"

Sonny's hands curled into fists. His pride, his carefully built image, was crumbling before everyone's eyes. "You crazy woman!"

In a fit of rage, he lunged toward her and shoved her. Wilona, weakened from both grief and her injuries, staggered backward. A collective gasp echoed through the crowd as she nearly collapsed to the ground, until a firm hand caught her.

It was the priest. His gentle yet strong grip steadied her, his eyes filled with disappointment as he turned to Sonny. "This is neither the time nor the place for violence, Mr. Kendrick."

Before Sonny could react, a sudden commotion erupted from the guests. His mother, pale and clutching her chest, swayed on her feet before crumbling to the ground.

"Mom!" Sonny rushed to her side, panic flashing in his eyes.

"She's having a heart attack!" someone shouted.

Chaos followed as paramedics were called, and Sonny, now frantic, carried his mother into his car. Before leaving, he shot Wilona a murderous glare.

"You and I," he seethed, his voice low and dangerous, "are going to have a long talk about this."

And with that, he sped away, leaving Wilona standing amidst the murmuring crowd.

Wilona remained at the cemetery, watching as her daughter's small coffin was lowered into the ground. She didn't shed a tea. She had already cried all she could. But the pain in her chest was unbearable, a suffocating weight that no words could ease.

As the final prayers were said and the guests began to leave, Wilona turned to one of the nurses who had accompanied her from the hospital.

"Take me back," she said firmly. "But stop by my lawyer's office first."

By the time Wilona returned to the hospital, Sonny was already there, pacing outside the ICU. His mother's condition was critical, and his nerves were on edge.

The moment he saw Wilona, his fury reignited.

"You just couldn't shut your mouth, could you?" he hissed, storming toward her. "You humiliated me in front of everyone! You made my mother collapse!"

Wilona stood her ground, her expression cold. "Your mother collapsed because she finally realized what kind of man her son is."

Sonny's hands clenched at his sides, his rage barely contained. "Do you have any idea what you've done?"

"Yes," Wilona said calmly. Then, she turned to the man standing beside her. His name is Benjamin Russo and he has been Wilona' s lawyer for seven years.

Sonny's eyes flickered with confusion before widening in shock as the lawyer pulled out a neatly prepared set of documents.

"These are your divorce papers," Wilona said, handing them to him. Her voice was steady and firm. "I no longer wish to live as husband and wife with a man who cheats and lies. A man whose selfishness led to our daughter's death."

Sonny's face contorted with disbelief. "You're divorcing me?" He let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. "You think you can just walk away after ruining my life?"

Wilona took a step closer, her eyes locking onto his. "No, Sonny. You, who ruined my life. You took my daughter's life along with it."

Sonny's breathing was heavy, his hands trembling. He wanted to argue, to fight, to throw blame, but he could see it in her eyes. Wilona was done.

Wilona's eyes showed hatred and revenge. She was no longer the gentle and loving Wilona. Her eyes were dead and Sonny realized that he had actually killed two people at once.

Wilona turned to her lawyer. "File them immediately."

And with that, she walked away, leaving Sonny standing there, alone, defeated.