Chapter 1
On Children's Day, my husband Edward Jason took our twins, Charlie Jason and Zoe Jason, to ride the Ferris wheel at the brand-new amusement park.
But as they arrived, he got a desperate call from his first love, Lily Evans, who was suffering acute appendicitis. Using the absurd excuse of "toughening the kids up", he left them at the amusement park in the middle of a torrential downpour.
I collapsed outside the security room, crying and begging them to show me the surveillance footage. Meanwhile, Edward was off with Lily, pampering her at a beauty clinic.
He sent me a voice message, sounding utterly casual: [How dangerous could a Ferris wheel be? Boys need to toughen up.]
Three hours later, with Charlie's torn bear jacket pressed to my chest, I finally found my daughter curled up in a corner, clutching her doll as if her life depended on it.
That night, Edward lit up the whole city with fireworks, celebrating that Lily was carrying his baby.
*****
I sat outside the emergency room in a daze, and the strong scent of disinfectant stung my nose.
My heart was racing with worry for my daughter, but I couldn't get the haunting image of how Charlie had died out of my head.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone.
Seventeen missed calls were all from Edward's assistant, Sandy Lawson.
The latest message was sent ten minutes ago: [Mr. Jason won't be coming home tonight. Please take care of everything yourself.]
He wanted me to deal with the remains of my own child.
Stunned into numbness, I could almost hear Charlie's screams echoing in my ears, imagining the excruciating pain as those merciless gears crushed him.
The pain was like a knife slicing right through my heart.
Suddenly, a heart-wrenching wail came from the direction of the morgue. I turned stiffly and saw my mother-in-law, Susan Jason, being supported as she stumbled toward me, clutching a death certificate stained with blood.
"Charlie, my Charlie!" she sobbed, collapsing to her knees. "Where is Charlie? Where is my grandson?" Her hands shook violently as she reached for my empty arms.
I tried to speak, but no sound came out.
An hour ago, Charlie's body was found. It was a bundle of broken, bloody flesh, so mangled that it no longer resembled a human being.
"Where's Edward?" Susan suddenly grabbed my shoulders and screamed. "His son has been torn to shreds, and he's still off with that wicked woman?"
I stared at the emergency room doors and suddenly gave a bitter laugh.
It was so ironic. Edward was probably holding Lily close and enjoying the fireworks right now, while all that remained of our son was no longer even a complete body.
Seeing Susan break down, I grit my teeth and asked for a divorce.
Family arrangements and childhood sweethearts no longer mattered to me. I was done with it all.
Grief made Susan weak as she tried to plead with me, desperate for me to reconsider.
Just then, the doors to the ER swung open. The doctor tugged off his mask and said, "Mrs. Jason, your daughter has been so traumatized that she can't speak right now. She needs to be transferred to another hospital immediately."
Susan's sobs cut off abruptly. She stumbled and clutched my leg, begging me. She said, "We've brought this upon ourselves. Vivian, I never should've let Edward marry you. That bastard... I'm so sorry for what he's done to you."
The little girl who used to chatter nonstop, always trailing after me and calling out Mommy in that sweet, soft voice, would never speak again.
I staggered, lost all control, and smashed the back of my head against the wall. Then I crumpled to the ground, my body drained of every ounce of strength.
I bowed my head and bit into my hand until I tasted blood. The sharp sting jolted me back, barely keeping me from losing consciousness.
"You can handle the transfer paperwork now," the doctor said, handing me a stack of forms.
I reached out to take them, my hands shaking like a leaf caught in the wind.
Susan quickly tried to take the papers from me and said, "Let me do it."
"No need," I replied, my voice terrifyingly calm. "Go be with Zoe."
As I turned to head to the payment counter, my phone buzzed again.
Edward texted: [Did you get both kids home? Lily had a fright today. I'm not coming back tonight.]
I stared at that infuriating text, and out of nowhere, I couldn't help but let out a laugh.
In the hallway's glass window, I caught my own reflection, a twisted grin staring back at me, wild and unhinged.
It wouldn't have mattered even if I were crazy.
Charlie was gone, Zoe was left mute, and Edward was out there lighting up the city, celebrating Lily carrying his baby.
It felt like a hollow joke, the cruelest irony life could offer.
The nurse at the payment window glanced at me with obvious worry. She asked, "Are you okay?"
Only then did I notice I was counting out cash with hands stained in blood. The edges of every bill streaked dark red.
It looked so much like the amusement park ticket Charlie had clutched at the end. He had been so excited about the Ferris wheel that he held it so tightly until his palms were damp with sweat.