A Love He Let Die

"Brenden, our Daniela..."

In the stark cold of the morgue, Corinna Roberts knelt, tears clouding her vision. Next to her was the small, charred figure of her daughter, almost beyond recognition.

How was she to bear the grief of losing another child? Just three years ago, a tragic car accident had triggered a premature labor, resulting in the death of her twin son before she could even hold him.

Since then, all of Corinna's affection and hopes had been centered on her another child who survived-Daniela Roberts, who had joyously turned three just the day before.

Only yesterday, Daniela's laughter filled Corinna's arms, her childish voice proclaiming her wish to stay together forever.

Daniela, so young and precious...

Yet now, a harsh male voice shattered the solemn atmosphere. "Corinna, for years I've endured raising this bastard, and you've never appreciated it. Are you really expecting me to grieve now?"

Brenden Roberts' tone was cold, void of sorrow, even as their daughter lay deceased before him.

Not only did he display no sorrow, he even also labeled her as a bastard.

"Do you hear yourself, Brenden?" Corinna's voice trembled, tears welled up in her eyes, her disbelief deepening with each echo of his words.

"You're the one who's lost touch," Brenden retorted, his voice dropping to a sinister whisper, his eyes flashing ominously. "Explain how, Corinna, you bore a child when I had been vasectomized?"

Corinna staggered, struck by the accusation, her shocked gaze locked on him.

What was he implying?

A vasectomy had been performed on him? When?

Reflecting on a specific incident from four years ago, just after their marriage, Corinna vividly recalled how Brenden, in a state of intoxication, had forced himself upon her. He might have forgotten that night due to his drunken state, but for Corinna, the memory was clear and painful, leaving no doubt that Daniela was indeed his biological child.

As Corinna was still trying to come to terms with this revelation, a document fluttered from above and landed on the shroud covering Daniela. Wrapped in the chill of the morgue, Brenden's cold tone cut through the silence. "Sign these divorce papers. From this moment, I break all bonds with you and your family, the Gordons."

His words allowed no space for discussion.

In the stark setting of the morgue, with her daughter's body next to her and the divorce papers before her, every aspect seemed to cruelly ridicule the years Corinna had spent in marriage with Brenden.

This move to cut ties with the Gordon family made it clear.

The four years she had poured into nurturing their marriage were mere trifles to him.

To Brenden, the marriage had clearly been merely a strategic ploy for revenge.

With her lips tightly pressed together and her face ghostly white, Corinna resolutely responded, "I refuse to sign."

Her father was still fighting for his life in the emergency room after attempting to save Daniela. Did Brenden think he could dictate their marriage or its dissolution at his convenience? Why should she agree to his demands?

Corinna was just about to speak when a sorrowful female voice interrupted from the doorway.

"Please forgive me, I never imagined it would end like this. Corinna, my son had no intention of causing harm."

Brinley Quinn, accompanied by her son from a previous relationship-Larry Quinn, stepped into the cold morgue. Her eyes momentarily lingered on the charred remains before quickly masking her emotions.

She then noticed the divorce papers resting on the cloth and her expression subtly changed.

"Why are you here?" Corinna asked, her eyes brimming with tears, her voice thick with contempt as she confronted the woman who had captured Brenden's heart.

If Brinley's son hadn't caused the fireworks disaster, Daniela would still be alive.

Brinley, brushing aside Corinna's hostility, brought her son closer to Brenden, explaining, "The fire was an accident. Larry is just a little boy. I should have watched him more closely."

Brenden casually responded, "It's okay."

His dismissive words stung Corinna, her pain deep and sharp.

Brinley, undeterred, added, "I'm really sorry, Corinna. Larry gets too much freedom from Brenden, you see. Fathers and sons have this unique connection. I'll ensure he's better disciplined."

Father and son?

Did she mean Larry was actually Brenden's son?

Though Brinley muttered an apology, a victorious gleam danced unmistakably in her eyes.

Corinna took a moment to truly observe Larry standing beside Brenden, startled by how strongly the child resembled him.

Now it made sense why Brenden questioned Daniela's paternity-he already had a son with Brinley, nearly the same age as Daniela.

Standing in judgmental silence, the three seemed to symbolize the cruel irony that had enveloped Corinna's life these past years.

"By the way, Corinna," Brinley casually interjected. "I stopped by to check on your father earlier. The doctors said there's nothing left to be done, so you'll need to sign his death pronouncement."

Corinna stared in disbelief. "What did you just say?"

First, divorce papers; now, a death pronouncement.

Feeling the room spin, Corinna struggled to keep her balance as she rose from her seat.

Nearby, Brenden remained unmoved, acting as though Corinna's father was merely an acquaintance that didn't really matter.

His only objective in coming here today was ending his marriage with Corinna.

"I'm genuinely sorry, Corinna," Brinley added with artificial sympathy. "If you hurry, you might still catch his final moments."

Corinna bolted toward the emergency room without another word.

Her father had suffered severe burns trying to rescue Daniela. Now that her daughter was already gone, accepting his passing was even more unbearable.

Yet the sight of his bed draped in stark white broke her restraint, tears falling uncontrollably.

"Mrs. Roberts." A nurse gently approached. "We did everything possible, but his injuries were too severe. Could you please sign here to confirm?"

With trembling fingers, Corinna grasped the pen, every stroke feeling impossibly heavy.

It was finished; everything she cherished was now gone.

Today had stolen her entire family, and she realized even Brenden's love had been a cruel illusion.

All because of Brinley!

Remembering Larry's innocent expression-so like Daniela's-sent a fresh wave of anguish piercing through Corinna's heart.

Hatred flared intensely in her eyes.

Masking her pain with an expressionless face, Corinna swiftly typed a message, saying, "Brinley, if you truly want to be Mrs. Roberts, meet me at the warehouse behind the hospital in an hour. I'll personally hand you the signed divorce papers."

...

Brinley read the message, her initial shock quickly turning to satisfaction. She hadn't anticipated the devastation would actually force Corinna to surrender Brenden willingly.

Driven by greed and triumph, Brinley left the boy with Brenden and hurried toward their agreed meeting spot.

The warehouse was in a state of decay, filled with the sharp smell of rot and neglect, almost overwhelming Brinley as she stepped inside.

"I'm here! Hand over the divorce papers," Brinley said harshly, dropping her previous pretense.

Corinna stood silently in the middle of the dim space, calmly withdrawing a folded paper from her pocket. "Here's your precious divorce agreement. Come and get it."

Excitement flashed in Brinley's eyes upon seeing the document, though Corinna's unsettling calmness gave her pause.

Nonetheless, Brinley had worked far too diligently for this moment, and there was no turning back now.

Determined, she awkwardly advanced, her heels scraping noisily against the gritty floorboards.

Reaching forward greedily, Brinley tried to grab the document from Corinna's outstretched hand.

Deftly stepping aside, Corinna smiled coldly. "Slow down, Brinley. You haven't even heard my conditions yet."

Brinley's reaction was explosive upon realizing the manipulation; her rage emerged. "What conditions? You want something from me? Speak up."

She suspected Corinna of trying to squeeze money from her, seeing her as a desperate woman clinging to the remnants of her status while her family's fortunes dwindled.

To Brinley, Corinna had nothing left to lose and everything to grip onto.

Her eyes never left Corinna's hand, half-expecting her to falter in her resolve.

"Listen carefully..."

With a faint smile, Corinna let something slip from her grasp. Instantly, flames erupted, spreading swiftly across the floor towards Brinley.

The fire ring trapped Brinley, cutting off any escape.

"You caused Daniela's death and my father's," Corinna said, her voice thick with vengeance. "Now, you will pay with your life."

Fury distorted Corinna's features. She had meticulously set this deadly trap for Brinley.

For Brinley, the title of Mrs. Roberts was her most desired prize. She could have her wish fulfilled in hell then.

Brinley gasped for air as smoke filled her lungs, instilling a deep sense of dread.

Outside, the smell she had detected had not been merely decaying wood-there was also gasoline!

Corinna had set a fiery trap for her!

The smoke grew thicker, stinging Corinna's eyes, yet she unflinchingly watched Brinley, trapped within the fiery circle.

As Brinley tried to break free, Corinna clasped her wrist tightly, her grin growing wider as she envisioned their impending doom.

"Soon, I'll see you, Dad and Daniela," Corinna silently vowed.

Gasping for air, Brinley struggled, and in a moment of desperation, she exclaimed, "Corinna, release me! I must tell you something critical about Larry... He is your son, not mine."

This staggered Corinna, and although flames began to catch on her sleeve, she remained seemingly unaware.

"What did you just say?"

"Years ago, I swapped him with a stillborn. Look for the birthmark on his lower back-it's the same as your daughter's."

Corinna's body shook with the wickedness of the revelation. A malicious glint appeared in Brinley's eyes as she mocked, "Indeed, Corinna, it was your beloved son who set the blaze that took your daughter and your father. Hahaha..."

No, this couldn't be happening!

Shock after shock caused Corinna to falter. Brinley seized the moment, shoving her towards the flames before making her escape.

Corinna, that wretched woman! Had the car's accelerator stuck during the accident three years ago, she would have died alongside both her children.

She managed to make it out alive back then, but today this fire was going to finish her for good.

With a bitter sneer, Brinley stormed off, oblivious to Corinna's gradual movement. Despite the searing pain on her back, Corinna clawed at the earth, pulling herself forward with sheer will.

Her choices had been a grave mistake.

She had loved the wrong man, resulting in tragedy for her family, and now her sole surviving son recognized her enemy as his mother.

This boy was her flesh and blood...

She must save her son...

She must not give in to death...

Burning hatred and defiance lit up Corinna's gaze. Blood trickled down from her lips, chewed raw, onto her grimy, bloodstained hands. Her survival instinct compelled her to shove at the immovable burning beam behind her.

As the flames devoured her surroundings, Corinna's consciousness began to wane...

Was this what Brenden had wanted?

The sound of car horns and sirens cut through the noise. Through the flickering flames, Corinna thought she heard Brenden's desperate shout, saying, "Corinna!"

His silhouette dashed through the fire towards her, echoing their first encounter when he had approached through a gentle breeze, each step drawing him nearer...

"Brenden, after four years of shattered trust, you've ruined my life. If I live, our next meeting will be your undoing!" Corinna thought.