But when I got home, the house was dark, not a single light on.

It was eerily quiet.

A strong sense of dread gripped me.

I ran into Nina's bedroom and turned on the light. She wasn't there.

The bed was neatly made.

She wasn't in the living room, the study, or my bedroom.

Finally, with trembling hands, I opened the bathroom door.

I lost my mind. In that moment, I truly lost my mind.

My daughter's fragile body lay in the bathtub, a long gash running down her arm, blood still flowing out.

The entire tub was filled with blood.

There she was...

Soaking in the blood.

Pale face, purple lips.

I held her tightly, screaming her name at the top of my lungs.

"Nina! My daughter! Nina!"

But there was no breath left in her.

My daughter died, but my husband asked me to apologize to the murderer.

Her body was cold.

I cried hysterically, trying to warm her body in my arms.

She was my daughter, the daughter I gave birth to after ten months of pregnancy.

The one I cherished and cared for every moment.

My daughter, who was always on my mind.

And now, she lay there in a pool of her own blood.

Next to the bathtub, her phone was still open.

The video that filled me with rage was playing, the screen flooded with hateful comments attacking my daughter.

They were mocking her, taunting her.

Some even envied that beast.

Some people even wanted that scum to introduce my daughter to them.

All kinds of horrible things were said.

My precious child... she must have seen all of this. That was why she couldn't bear it anymore.

I grabbed her phone, fighting back the fury inside me.

I called Liam. After all, he was her father.

"Liam, Nina... she..."

"Don't mention that disgrace to me! She's brought shame to us all, and now she's dragged Alex down with her!"

"If you still have any sense, bring her to Alex's house to apologize. She's the reason he can't even eat right now."

"He's locked himself in his room and hasn't come out for hours. If anything happens to him, you'll be to blame!"

I screamed into the phone, my voice breaking with madness.

"Liam, who is your real child? Who?!"

"I stand for what's right, not for family. Nina seduced Alex, and now he's traumatized. Bring her here to apologize!"

"I'll talk to Maya and Alex about forgiving her."

I clenched the phone so tightly, wishing I could crush Liam through the line.

I said one last thing to him.

"Liam, go to hell. You all should go to hell!"

I reported it to the police, but all they could do was sympathize with me and offer their condolences.

They were powerless to help.

I stood alone, watching Nina's name flash repeatedly on the large screen at the funeral home.

Tears poured uncontrollably behind my sunglasses.

"Nina, you go ahead. Mommy will avenge you."

I would make sure that monster was buried with you.

I sweared!

Liam arrived at the funeral home.

At this moment, he also looked panicked, he wanted to come forward and hug me.

I kicked him away.

"Monica, I didn't know... I never expected... Nina, she..."

"I never thought it would come to this. I always thought it was just a small issue."

"A small issue? Liam, you call this a small issue? If you had even a tiny bit of care for Nina, you wouldn't think this was a small issue."

It had been dozens of hours since Nina's death, and this was the first time he came to see her.

He didn't come because he didn't know; he came because he was busy trying to protect that beast.

Now that the monster was safe, he remembered he had a daughter.

A daughter who was about to be reduced to ashes.

Fine. At least he didn't taint her last memory with his presence.

I kicked him, hit him, fought him with all my might.

But not a single tear fell in front of him. I bit my lips hard and didn't cry out once.

"Get out, Liam. From this moment on, we are enemies, nothing more."

He still tried to hug me, but it was impossible.

I sank my teeth into his neck. If someone hadn't pulled me off, I would have bitten it through.

Touching his bleeding neck, he pleaded with me for the first time.

"Monica, let go of your hatred. Live well."

"Nina is already gone. Stop hating—it does no good for anyone."

Now I was sure of one thing.

He hadn't come to mourn our daughter.

He came to beg me to forgive that beast.

But there was no chance of that!

Never!

That was why I didn't tell him about Nina's funeral. He didn't come home either.

Because I won't let him step foot in this house again.

He was the one who brought that monster into our home, and that monster was the reason my daughter was dead.

I sat by Nina's grave for a long, long time.

From day to night.

I replayed every memory, from the moment I found out I was pregnant with her until now.

She was such a lovely angel.

She brought me so much joy.

How much happiness and beauty she brought to me.

But now, she lay cold and alone in the ground.

Don't worry, Nina. I would make that monster kneel and beg for your forgiveness. I swear.

Definitely.

I went to the police station every day, spoke to every officer, even met with the police chief.

They all felt sorry for me, and every one of them looked at me with pity.

Every day, I waited outside that monster's house. I couldn't let them live comfortably.

Liam grabbed my hair, his eyes filled with rage as he slammed my head against the wall.

"Monica, can't you see? Nina is gone, but Alex is still alive!"

"Do you want to see Alex end up like Nina?"

"Why are you so cruel? Why can't you be as kind as Maya?"

"She's already forgiven you, but you just won't let it go."

I wanted to tear this garbage apart with my bare hands.

"Yes, I am this way. I want to see him end up just like Nina."

"What? Is that not allowed?"

He slapped me hard across the face.

"You're crazy! You've completely lost your mind!"

I kicked him in the groin, and he doubled over in pain, screaming as he clutched himself.

I seized the moment and started slapping Liam across the face.

One slap after another, until he was completely defenseless.

My hand ached from the impact.

But I kept going—hitting him harder and harder.

If I could beat him to death, that would be even better.

Maya stood by, shielding that monster, Alex.

"The police already let him go! What right do you have to blame him anymore?"

"Monica, your daughter's death was a suicide. What does that have to do with us?"

"It's her fault for not being able to handle things. It's your fault for not raising her properly."

Right, she had raised her child well. Her child had an impressive ability to handle things.

Now, I was going to show everyone just how well he had turned out.