Ashley gently comforted Cole. “Cole, don’t be angry. Nicola is just jealous because you’re so kind to me. When Oliver becomes my son, I’ll discipline him properly.”

Cole replied coldly, “If she hadn’t deceived me into marrying her, you wouldn’t have been so heartbroken that someone could trick you into the mountains and make you suffer. She owes you. What she’s enduring now is nothing compared to what you went through.”

He held Ashley close and walked out.

Ashley glanced back at me with open contempt, triumphant, almost smug.

I carried Oliver upstairs to change his clothes, but several housekeepers blocked my way.

“Mr. Jackman said this room has good lighting. He wants Ms. White’s unborn child to stay here in the future.”

“It’s bad luck to have… that… in the room. Mr. Jackman and Ms. White will be upset if they find out.”

Anyone could see Oliver was gone, anyone except his father, who still insisted he was pretending.

Oliver had died alone in that abandoned monastery because of Cole’s blind faith in Ashley’s words. Yet Cole never believed a single thing his own son said.

The new clothes I had bought for Oliver hadn’t even been brought to his room yet. I dressed him carefully.

The crematorium’s furnace burned through the night. A staff member handed me an urn containing his ashes.

I planned to leave with Oliver’s ashes, to bury him beside my parents. I just did not know how to face my brother, Emilio, the brother I had disappointed by giving up everything for love.

I had barely stepped out of the funeral home when Cole called.

I hung up. He called again.

When I finally answered, his voice was sharp with anger. “If you’re not home in an hour, I’ll flush that emerald necklace down the toilet.”

My composure cracked. “That’s my mother’s keepsake.”

Back home, Cole and Ashley were on the sofa, wrapped around each other. Cole’s hand slid beneath her clothes.

Ashley leaned against him, breathless. “Cole, stop… Nicola will get jealous. She didn’t come home all night. I wonder where she went.”

Cole kissed her ear. “Why care about her? Looks like I was too gentle, you still have the strength to talk.”

Ashley swatted at him playfully. “You’re impossible.”

I stood there calmly, emotionless. “Where is my mother’s keepsake.”

Cole stopped and sneered. “I had it made into an anklet for Ashley. Your things only deserve to be under her feet. Now bring Oliver out. His prayers weren’t sincere. He’ll kneel for another seven days. I’ll have someone watch him, so he doesn’t eat a single bite.”

My restraint snapped. I slapped him. “You monster. Oliver is gone. I’m holding his ashes.”

Cole froze, then snatched the urn and hurled it to the floor. “No one dies from a week without food. Do you think I’m stupid? And he wasn’t even mine. He wasn’t premature — he was full‑term. Three months ago, I saw you with that man, getting into a car together. Don’t think you can use this ‘prayer’ excuse to fake his death.”

The ashes scattered across the floor under Cole’s feet.

I had given birth early because I was severely injured saving him.

That man he saw was my brother. I had begged Emilio, who was already disappointed in me, to help Cole secure that land in the east of the city. I didn’t want Cole to lose sleep over it.

My hands trembled as I gathered the ashes back into the urn. I let out a hollow laugh. “Cole, I’ve never lied to you. That man is my brother.”

Cole’s pupils tightened. He paused, then chuckled. “Still lying? You’re an orphan. I’m marrying Ashley next month. You two will share the same ranking. She’s pregnant, you’d better take good care of her.”

Ashley lowered her head and exclaimed, “Ah, my shoes got dirty from the dust just now.”

Cole spoke softly. “I will buy you another pair this afternoon.”

Ashley’s eyes reddened as she cried quietly. “These were a gift from you. Why did Nicola keep bullying me?”

She gave me a cautious glance.

Cole frowned at me. “Clean Ashley’s shoes for her.”

The housekeeper beside her sneered. “Mrs. Jackman, I can teach you how to serve others.”

He looked up at Cole as if he wanted praise, and Cole silently approved his behavior.

My face was pressed against Ashley’s shoes.

Ashley laughed with triumph and took several photos. After a moment, she screamed again. “My feet hurt so much. Nicola, you do not have to make me suffer if you do not want to clean my shoes. Pregnant women are afraid of getting hurt.”

Cole grabbed my collar and slapped me. “You are cruel. Make her kneel in the yard. She can get up only when Ashley calms down. Find that hidden child and make him kneel at the monastery to pray.”

I was forced to kneel in the pouring rain with my shoulders held down. I clutched Oliver’s ashes tightly in my arms and numbly watched Cole feed Ashley in the living room.

The priest Ashley hired returned and waved his rosary while chanting. “The harmful aura has not been removed. We must find the child quickly and make him pray.”

Cole stood under the umbrella while holding Ashley. “Push her into the pool to clear her head. Throw away the urn she is holding. The sight of it bothers me.”

I screamed in disbelief. “That is Oliver’s ashes. Are you even human?”

I refused to let Oliver lose his peace.

I knelt on the ground and begged Cole. “You cannot do this.”

Cole kicked me away with a cold expression.

Someone snatched the urn and threw it to the ground. The scattered ashes were washed away by the rain.

I was pushed into the pool, and water rushed into my throat. When I was close to losing consciousness, Cole ordered people to pull me out.

The priest sighed and spoke helplessly. “Since we cannot find the child, there is only one method left. The child came from the mother’s womb, and the mother and child are connected by blood. We will use one of Ms. Darcy’s organs, soak it in holy water, and burn it in a large fire.”

Cole frowned. “Will that work?”

Ashley clutched her stomach. “Ouch.”

The priest’s eyes widened. “The harmful aura is starting to gather. We must hurry.”

Cole took the knife from the housekeeper. “Nicola, I will take only one of your kidneys. I will treat Oliver as my own child to make it up to you.”

The knife pierced my skin, and I laughed with disbelief. “You ungrateful man. I should not have invested tens of billions of dollars into the Jackman Group.”

Cole’s hand froze as he stared at me. “What did you say?”