Chapter 3

I drove to the lake house.

Kevin's new place with Jessica. Big, modern, all glass and sharp angles, overlooking the water.

He was in the meticulously landscaped yard, wearing expensive casual clothes, snipping at a rose bush. Jessica, in a flowing white dress that showcased her slight pregnancy bump, watched him, smiling.

Blood-red roses. Perfect, like something from a magazine.

Kevin's smile for Jessica was soft, adoring.

Then he saw me.

His face twisted into a mask of disgust.

"Amelia? What the hell are you doing here? Look at you. You look like something the cat dragged in. Are we going bankrupt? Can't afford to keep you presentable?"

I clutched the small, pathetic bag containing Noah's sneaker and the shred of his shirt. My clothes were dirty from days of searching, my hair matted.

"You think this act will make me feel sorry for you? You can't even raise a child properly, and now you resort to these pathetic mind games. Why can't you be more like Jessica?"

Jessica looked at me, a flicker of triumph in her eyes, then snuggled closer to Kevin, her voice soft and cloying.

"Oh, Kevin, don't be harsh. Amelia's just worried about Noah. If I'd been more careful, he wouldn't have bumped into me. She must blame me. You should bring Noah home soon."

Kevin scowled. "That boy was being ruined by her. Sending him to the camp was saving him. It has nothing to do with you."

He turned back to me, his voice sharp. "Go home. Clean yourself up. Don't be an eyesore here."

I stood there, the bag heavy in my hand.

My voice was still a broken thing, but the words came.

"Kevin," I said, louder this time, the sound scraping my throat. "You're right. Your company... it's going to go bankrupt."

He stared, shocked that I was speaking. "Amelia? You can talk?"

Then, anger. "You deceitful bitch! All these years, pretending to be mute to get my sympathy? What, you can't keep up the act anymore?"

His eyes narrowed. "I'm telling you, the heir to my money will be Jessica's child. Don't even think about it. If you dare try anything with her baby, I'll destroy you."

He waved a dismissive hand. "Looking at you makes me sick. Throw that trash you're holding away and get out."

Trash. He called what was left of his son, trash.

I remembered Noah's small face, looking up at me at night.

"Mommy, if I'm extra good, will Daddy read me a story?"

"For my birthday, will Daddy take me to the amusement park? He promised."

A wave of agony washed over me. My hand holding the bag trembled. Tears streamed down my face.

"Kevin," I rasped, my voice thick with unshed screams. "This isn't trash. This is your son. This is Noah's body. He's dead. Just like you wanted."

Kevin froze for a second, then let out a cold laugh.

"So that's why you're not playing mute anymore? It was interfering with your drama? Cursing your own son now? You're truly a monster, Amelia."

He snatched the bag from my hand, glanced inside with a sneer.

"Since you say this... this mess is Noah, let's see if a dog recognizes it. Is it human, or just some animal parts you picked up for your show?"

My world shattered.

He whistled. A sleek, powerful German Shepherd bounded around the side of the house.

Kevin tossed the small, cloth-wrapped bundle from the plastic bag onto the pristine lawn.

The dog, smelling blood, pounced, tearing at the fabric, pulling out the small, tattered sneaker.

I screamed, a raw, animal sound, and lunged forward.

"Kevin! That's your son! He was killed by dogs! How can you feed him to another one? Are you even human?!"

Kevin quickly stepped in front of Jessica, shielding her from the sight.

He looked at me, his eyes full of contempt. "You're quite the actress, Amelia. You really went all out for this performance. But you should use your brain. Noah is at the training camp, learning discipline. He's fine. I'll pick him up in a week. Nothing you do or say will change that."

I fought the gardener who had appeared and grabbed me, biting, scratching, desperate to get to what little was left of my child.

I finally broke free, snatched the mangled remains from the dog.

The German Shepherd, food stolen, growled, baring its teeth, ready to lunge at me.

Kevin frowned, annoyed. "Get that dog out of here."

He had no patience left for me. He turned, putting a protective arm around Jessica, ready to lead her away.

I stared at their retreating backs, at Jessica's hand protectively on her pregnant belly.

A new, icy calm settled over me. The words formed, cold and precise.

I looked directly at Jessica.

"My child is dead," I said, my voice gaining a chilling clarity. "Her child will not live either."

Then, to her specifically, the words sharp as shattered glass.

"Jessica. That thing growing in your belly... it will be born dead. And your precious beauty, the face you use to fool men? Fire will eat it. You will live in pain and regret for the rest of your miserable life."