Chapter 122

Susan's fingers trembled violently as they brushed against the bloodstained fabric.

It was a torn fragment from Daniel's last piece of clothing.

"Stop!" She lunged at the man tearing apart the tombstone, her nails digging deep into his arm.

The man yelped in pain and backhanded her across the face.

Susan collapsed into the muddy ground, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.

"Miss Thompson, don't waste your energy." Nicole stepped closer in her high heels, deliberately grinding Daniel's photo beneath her toe. "Keeping these things around is just bad luck."

Susan's gaze locked onto the shattered smile in the photo.

It was taken on Daniel's fifth birthday.

"Nicole, karma will get you." Her voice was hoarse, barely recognizable.

"Karma?" Nicole bent down, her blood-red nails gripping Susan's chin. "Look who's suffering right now?"

Vincent stood a short distance away, watching the scene unfold with cold indifference.

His pristine suit made him starkly out of place amidst the wreckage.

"Vincent," Nicole turned to him with tearful eyes, "Candy is still in the hospital. The doctors said... she might never..."

A shadow crossed Vincent's expression.

"Keep destroying it," he ordered, his voice icy. "Leave not a single brick standing."

Susan suddenly laughed.

The sound made everyone freeze.

"Vincent," she staggered to her feet, "do you remember that winter in the dungeon?"

He frowned.

"Daniel had a high fever. You wrapped your last coat around him." Her tears fell onto the dirt. "You promised to take him to Hokkaido to see the snow once we got out."

For a fleeting moment, something flickered in Vincent's eyes.

Then it vanished.

"Nonsense," he sneered. "Why would I know a woman like you?"

Susan didn't argue.

She simply clutched the button in her palm—the one Bella had pinned to her collar before leaving.

"Vincent!" Nicole gasped. "She's hiding something in her hand!"

Vincent strode forward and seized Susan's wrist.

"Let go."

She shook her head, her nails biting into her own flesh.

The bones in her hand creaked under the pressure.

"I said let go!" Vincent tightened his grip.

Blood seeped between Susan's fingers, dripping onto the remnants of the tombstone.

Still, she refused to release the button.

"Stubborn." Vincent abruptly released her and turned to his men. "Bring the gasoline."

Susan's pupils constricted.

"No..."

"Since you love this trash so much," Vincent took the canister, "let's make it disappear completely."

The sound of splashing liquid pierced her ears.

As the lighter clicked open, Susan threw herself forward.

Flames erupted, the scorching heat throwing her backward.

She watched as the fabric and button curled, blackened, and turned to ash in the fire.

"Happy now?" Vincent looked down at her. "This is the price for hurting Candy."

Susan didn't answer.

Her eyes remained fixed on the ashes. Then, suddenly, she reached out and grabbed a handful of the still-smoldering remnants.

The stench of burning flesh filled the air.

"Susan!" Vincent instinctively stepped forward before forcing himself to stop.

"It's fine." She pressed the ashes to her chest, her smile more painful than tears. "This way... they'll always be with me."

Nicole recoiled in disgust. "Madwoman!"

Vincent's expression grew complicated.

As he turned away, Susan whispered something so softly only the wind could carry it:

"Vincent, I'll wait for the day you regret this."

The ashes scattered into the distance like black snow.