I listened to my wife, her words echoing in my ears for what felt like the tenth time, a sarcastic smile on my face.

"Divorce is fine, but first, you need to take me to the hospital. If you delay, your father might really die!"

Hearing my serious tone, my wife hesitated for a moment, but then quickly returned to her usual aggressive demeanor.

"Still pretending? You think I'm a fool? He was fine when I left this morning, and now, less than a day later, you're telling me he's in trouble?"

"You're not even trying to come up with a believable excuse to trick me into going back. Not a chance!"

Her unwavering tone chilled my heart.

Ethan chimed in, "I know you're worried about Grace and me being alone together and what might happen, but you can't joke about her father's life like that. Wishing him dead?"

"Her father has treated you well; how can you be so cruel?"

Ethan's words only fueled Grace's anger, and she suddenly stood up, grabbing a broom to shove me out. "Get out! I don't want to see you again!"

I looked at the locked door, feeling helpless as I sighed.

Father-in-law, I'm sorry for my incompetence; it seems I can't bring your daughter back to help you.

As I rushed back to the hospital, the doctor informed me that my father-in-law wouldn't last much longer.

They had performed an emergency surgery, but it was too difficult, and he had lost too much blood; he might not survive.

I knelt before my frail father-in-law, tears streaming down my face. "Mr. Lynn, it's my fault for not bringing Grace to you."

With great effort, he raised his hand and patted my shoulder, looking resigned. "I understand Grace's temperament."

"Over the years, she has truly made things hard for you."

Seeing his pale face filled me with sorrow. "Mr. Lynn, please don't say that. Just focus on resting."

He knew his time was short. Shaking his head, he sighed deeply, "I've seen everything you've done for me and Grace. You're a good man; it's Grace who doesn't appreciate you."

"I won't guilt-trip you. If you want to divorce, go ahead!"

"I have four courtyard houses; I've transferred them all to your name. This is my small gesture; you must accept it." With that, his hand fell from my shoulder.

"No! Please don't!" I grasped his hand tightly, the tears I had held back finally pouring out.

The attending physician approached, sorrowfully patting my shoulder, and sighed, "Dr. Lynn is very busy. Please accept your loss."

Hearing this, I laughed.

"Indeed, she is incredibly busy. Her own father is hospitalized, yet she still finds time to engage in such affairs with other men."

After saying this, I went to handle the cremation procedures for my father-in-law, leaving the attending doctor confused and perplexed.

Half an hour later, my father-in-law was reduced to a jar of ashes, now in my hands.

I held the urn, crying like a child.

My parents had passed away long ago, leaving me without anyone to support my education.

It was my father-in-law who financed my university studies and provided me with love, allowing me to experience the warmth of family again.

Now that he was gone, I felt utterly alone in this world.

I carried my father-in-law's ashes to the graveyard we had prearranged. Just as I was about to lay him to rest, I spotted Grace and Ethan approaching.

Ethan looked me up and down, sneering, "You seem to be quite in the know. What's the matter? Is today the anniversary of your family member's death?"

Grace glared at me, her anger palpable. "Are you really that annoying? Are you following me for fun?"

"I'm not following you," I replied, too exhausted to argue. I tried to walk away, clutching the urn, but Grace blocked my path.

I looked her in the eye and said firmly, "Get out of my way."

I was determined not to let her delay my father-in-law's burial.

Perhaps it was my first time being so fierce with Grace that caught her off guard, leaving her momentarily speechless.

Ethan, however, continued to mock me, "Oh, look at you, putting on quite the show. Even brought the urn along!"

His words finally made Grace notice the urn I was holding.

After a moment of hesitation, she stormed up to me, furious. "How dare you! You're cursing my father's death?! How did I not see how malicious you are before?"

I sighed deeply, "I didn't wish for your father to die; he has truly passed away."

"If you have any decency left, come help me bury your father and give him a proper send-off."

Grace seemed to ponder my serious tone for a moment.

Ethan, thinking he could manipulate her, quickly interjected, "Grace, don't let him fool you. Your dad was perfectly fine this morning; he wouldn't just die out of nowhere. I think he's just trying to force you to go home."

Hearing Ethan's words, Grace's expression fell.

"Are you done? When I left this morning, my dad was perfectly fine. How could he die by evening?"

"You're lying! You didn't even bother to prepare a proper excuse, just trying to trick me with this pathetic act. I can't believe you'd dare curse my father's life; I'll make you pay for this!"

Even at this moment, Grace chose to believe Ethan over me.

I watched her stubbornness, deciding not to engage any further. Let her think whatever she wanted.

As I turned to leave, Grace suddenly kicked my leg, causing me to stumble.

I instinctively reached out to catch the urn, but it was too late.

With a loud crash, the urn fell to the ground.

"No! Please, no..." I struggled, but it was futile.

My hand was cut by the sharp edges of the broken urn, blood flowing, but I couldn't focus on that.

I helplessly watched as my father-in-law's ashes were swept away by the wind, scattering into the air...

Now, there was truly nothing left of him.

Two people looked down at me, their laughter ringing in my ears. "Serves you right for lying!" one of them taunted.

"Trying to get my attention with tricks like this? You're not even close!"

With that, they turned to leave.

I stared at the shattered urn on the ground, my father's ashes scattered everywhere. Anger surged through me, and I quickly got to my feet, grabbing Grace's wrist tightly.

"What are you doing?" Grace winced, tears welling in her eyes as she realized how serious I was.

"Is this really... my dad's ashes?" Grace asked, disbelief etched on her face. "Is my dad really dead?"

Ethan pushed my hand away, wrapping his arms around the frail Grace, speaking softly, "Grace, don't let him fool you."

"Your dad was fine this morning. How could he have died in a car accident? You just talked to him earlier today, remember?"

Ethan then turned to me, shouting, "If you don't want Grace and me together, just say it! Why scare her with this sick trick?"

"Don't you know how hard she's been working lately? Is this really the time for your pathetic games?"

I let out a laugh, a sharp, mocking sound.

"Yeah, she's definitely busy—busy enough to forget her own father's life while she's rolling around in bed with you."

"Busy? Who could possibly be busier than her?"

Hurt by my words, Grace shot back, "Divorce! I'm going to file for divorce as soon as we get home!"

"I'm going to tell Dad that you wished him dead! I can't wait to see what you have to say then!"

"Grace, don't be impulsive," Ethan pretended to comfort her. "Nathan Lewis might be a bit childish, but he has his reasons."

"He's just scared I'll take you away from him. I'll leave, so you two don’t end up divorcing because of me!"

Ethan pretended to walk away, but Grace grabbed him tightly, "You can't leave!"

"We're innocent here. Why should you get to walk away?"

"He's the one with the dirty mind, thinking the worst of everyone!"

"I'm calling my dad right now to expose his ugly side. Let's see what he has to say!"

With that, she pulled out her phone and frantically dialed her father's number.

But unsurprisingly, it rang for a long time without an answer.

Panic set in for Grace, and the phone slipped from her hand, crashing to the ground.

"No... this can't be happening!"