Chapter 4
Harrison was embracing another woman, his face lit up with happiness.
Barely holding herself together, Essie managed to call an ambulance and get herself to the hospital.
She'd listed Harrison as her emergency contact.
The hospital tried calling Harrison several times on Essie's phone.
But Harrison ignored every single call.
He ended up switching his phone off completely.
Harrison was busy snapping up a place in the most exclusive neighborhood in Ostville, moving in with Carolyn, and building their love nest together.
After the celebration party, they were both tipsy.
Once they got home, they were making out as they stumbled toward the bathroom.
The moment they opened the bathroom door, Carolyn instantly went pale as a sheet, letting out a terrified scream.
Harrison spun around, and when he caught sight of what was inside, his pupils contracted, and he dashed forward.
"Essie!" Harrison's voice cracked with panic.
Essie was soaking in a tub full of blood, her left hand draped over the edge.
Her wrist was slashed with several gruesome scars.
Blood dripped relentlessly onto the floor, painting it crimson and winding its way right to their feet.
Essie locked her gaze on them, her laughter manic and desperate.
She said, "Harrison, I won't let you and that bitch be together unless I'm dead!"
Harrison's eyes were red with desperation as he pressed her wrist to stem the bleeding, then frantically scooped her up and rushed out.
Harrison yelled, "Essie, have you lost your mind?
"Don't you dare die on me!"
"I won't let you die, you hear me?"
Carolyn stood in the blood-soaked bathroom. When she heard Harrison's words, her expression instantly twisted with venom and rage.
Essie survived after all.
The next morning, when Essie woke up in her hospital room, she got a call from the cemetery office.
"Ms. Greene, your parents' tombstones have been destroyed. Please come quickly and see for yourself." The cemetery worker's voice was frantic over the phone.
Essie's heart lurched. She immediately grabbed a cab and rushed to the cemetery.
But by the time she arrived, it was already too late.
Her parents' tombstones had been toppled and smashed to pieces, and their urns had been dug up and thrown across the ground.
The ashes were flying everywhere, making a mess all over the place.
Essie remained on her knees, turning to look at Harrison, who had also rushed over after hearing the news, with Carolyn right behind him.
Harrison looked around, stunned by the chaos everywhere.
"How did it end up like this..." Harrison said under his breath.
Carolyn's eyes gleamed with smugness and malice, though her face was all surprise.
Carolyn said, "Oh, my god! Who scattered the ashes everywhere?
"Even the dead can't catch a break."
Essie moved toward her, expressionless, each step deliberate and cold.
"This was your doing, wasn't it..." Essie said, her voice icy as she stared at Carolyn.
Carolyn put on just the right touch of caution and fear, making her act look perfectly convincing.
She said, "Ms. Greene, I have no idea what you're talking about.
"Last night, when you were rushed to the hospital, I was praying for you, hoping you'd be okay.
"If it weren't for you giving me money to study and putting me by Mr. Vance's side as his secretary, I wouldn't be where I am today. I'm grateful to you."
As she spoke, a mocking curve tugged at her lips as she looked at Essie.
Essie saw how Carolyn couldn't hide her smugness, and a slow smile spread across Essie's face.
Essie said, "It's always the same old story. The farmer and the snake. Maybe I should blame myself... It's all my fault...
"But of all the things you could've done, you should've never touched my parents!"
Essie gripped the shards of the urn tightly and suddenly swiped them at Carolyn.
The sharp edge sliced across Carolyn's cheek, her expression shifting dramatically as she screamed in panic.
"Ah! My face!" Carolyn shrieked in terror.
"Carolyn!" Harrison shouted, his face twisting in shock.
He yanked Carolyn behind him, shielding her protectively.
Then, without hesitation, he lashed out and kicked Essie hard.
A stabbing pain shot through Essie's stomach.
She was caught completely off guard, and the kick knocked her off her feet, sending her sprawling backward.
Essie bounced and rolled down the cemetery steps, only stopping when she crashed into a tombstone.
Harrison stared at the blood streak on Carolyn's cheek, his fury burning as he turned on Essie.
He shouted, "Essie, it was your greedy craving for cake that got your parents killed back then.
"And now, you keep causing trouble and offending people, so even after they're gone, they can't rest in peace.
"Your parents suffered this fate, all because of you.
"This is all your fault. Who are you to blame anyone else?"
Essie was wracked with pain, lying helpless on the ground, battered and disheveled. She gazed at Harrison, her eyes dazed and unfocused, barely able to process what had just happened.
Essie could still recall the first time Harrison learned how her parents had died. He hugged her tightly, genuine concern in his eyes.
He said gently, "Essie, this wasn't your fault. Your mom and dad went to get that cake so your life would always be filled with sweetness.
"If they saw you beating yourself up over what happened, they'd be heartbroken to see you like this."
After that, no matter how busy Harrison was, he'd always come home for her birthday and personally bake her a cake.