Yvonne's public lecture was a resounding success. Her reputation soared with how perfectly her demonstration went.
Once the lecture was over, Jasper ran onstage and embraced Yvonne. They then shared a deep, passionate kiss in front of all the reporters.
They were so into the kiss that it seemed like nothing could pull them apart. It was as if they were the only two people left in the entire world.
Meanwhile, Lucas' body had no hope of being restored anymore. The child would never have imagined that his final rites would be his mother tearing his body apart as his father cheered her on.
Thunderous applause rang out from the audience as the cameras flashed wildly.
The reporters had already decided what headline they would use for this news.
"Search-and-Rescue Hero and Genius Forensic Doctor: The Professional Power Couple."
No one paid any mind to the cadaver that'd been taken apart, nor did they notice how calm and at ease I was.
Jasper and Yvonne soon departed the stage and walked toward me.
Jasper's face was still slightly flushed, sheer delight oozing from his gaze. He flung some documents at my face, one of its corners leaving a painful paper cut on my cheek.
"Good on you for not causing any trouble," he said. "Now, sign this! I'm going to propose to Yvonne tonight, so you and your piece of trash son need to get the hell out of my life right now!"
A sealed medical container was then shoved into my arms, It was cold and heavy, filled with black, chunky bits.
"Here's your son. Now, leave!"
I opened up the divorce agreement and signed my name at the very bottom, not bothering to read through the terms whatsoever.
There was not a single hint of hesitation in my actions, much to Jasper's surprise. He snatched the agreement from me as if afraid I'd change my mind.
Yvonne then walked over and leaned into my ear. She whispered in a low voice that only I could hear.
"See how Jasper was willing to use your son's corpse to secure my future? You should really be thanking me for letting your son die such an honorable death, dedicated to science. By the way, all that's left of him is this clump of charred bits. I'm afraid there's no way to piece his body back together at this point.
I gazed at the victorious expression on Yvonne's face and smiled.
"Jasper, all I told you was that 'your son' was caught in a fire at the warehouse. How can you be so sure that the 'son' I was talking about is Noah, and not Lucas?" I said.
Jasper was stunned to hear this. Yvonne's expression shifted immediately as well, as if recalling something.
But Jasper exploded into mocking laughter as if he'd just heard the greatest joke ever.
He jabbed my forehead and said, "Lucas? Lucas is currently studying at a private elite school. How on Earth could he have gone to someplace like that warehouse?
"Only a thieving son like yours would end up dead in a ditch! Are you so overwhelmed with grief that you're starting to spout nonsense, Summer?"
As if wanting to break me completely, Jasper snatched the sealed box from me. He then grabbed my wrist and dragged me to the animal testing lab next door, a twisted grin on his face.
Jasper opened up the box as everyone watched on in shock. He then flung all the charred bits into the feeder meant for the lab animals. Several white mice immediately started feeding on the bits of charred flesh.
"See? This is how your son will be laid to rest—as animal feed!" Jasper had a sickening expression on his face.
The lab door suddenly opened. Jasper's deputy, Gabe Wilson, ran inside looking incredibly panicked. There was a charred object in his hands.
Gabe's voice trembled out of fear. "Something's wrong, Captain Lincoln! I wasn't able to get Lucas from school. But I found this when I was cleaning up that warehouse fire… These are the diamond cufflinks you gifted Lucas on his birthday!"
Jasper's smile immediately stiffened.
He turned around in disbelief, looking at the charred scraps the mice were eating.
