I stared at that text for ten whole minutes.

I replied with two words, "I'll go."

Setting the phone down, I looked at Dad's urn and gently traced the grain of the wood. "Dad, please wait just a little longer. I'm going to get you justice."

The next evening, the Wood family's car pulled up downstairs. It was Alex Baxter, Eliza's driver, who came to pick me up.

"Mr. Hardy, get in. Ms. Wood doesn't like to be kept waiting," he shouted through the open window, not even bothering to get out of the car.

I pulled open the door and sat in the back.

The car reeked of cigarette smoke. It was the specific brand Leon smoked.

When we arrived at the hotel, Eliza was already waiting for me in the lounge.

Seeing me in my cheap suit, she frowned, and her eyes were filled with instant disgust.

"You're wearing that?"

She tossed a garment bag over. "Change into this. Don't embarrass me."

It was a slim-cut white suit, but it wasn't my size.

I glanced at the collar tag. It was the brand Leon always wore, and it was his size.

"I'm not changing."

I threw the suit back onto the couch. "I'm here for a divorce, not a fashion show."

She sighed. "Fine, if you won't change, wear that. Just remember, once we're out there at the gala, keep your mouth shut."

…

The ballroom was brilliantly lit, but all I felt were the strange looks coming from the crowd.

"Isn't that Ms. Wood's husband? Why does he look like a tagalong?"

"Shh! You don't know? Her favorite right now is her assistant, Mr. Turner."

"Wow, Shawn is pathetic. How does he just take that?"

I stood in the corner, holding a glass with a completely blank expression.

Leon, however, clearly had no intention of leaving me alone.

Holding his glass, he strolled over with a few wealthy heirs in tow.

"Shawn, drinking all by yourself?"

He swirled his wine, a mocking smirk on his face. "I heard your dad is sick. Why aren't you at the hospital looking after him?"

A ripple of laughter echoed around them.

My knuckles turned white around my glass as I glared daggers at Leon. "Get lost."

The smile on Leon's face stiffened for a second before turning entirely malicious.

He leaned in and whispered at a volume only the two of us could hear, "Shawn, you still don't know, do you? I was the one who reversed the transaction with Eliza's phone.

"Man, I really didn't expect those kidnappers to be so sensitive. They actually killed your dad. Tsk tsk. I heard he died a horrible death. Every single bone was shattered. Do you think he was screaming your name before he died?"

The final string of sanity in my mind snapped. All my restraint and reason were reduced to ash in a split second.

I raised my hand and swung it at Leon's face with everything I had.

The force of the blow spun him right around. His glass flew from his hand, drenching him in red wine.

The music cut out.

Every single eye in the room locked onto us.

Leon clutched his cheek, staring at me in utter disbelief. Then, his eyes welled up, and tears streamed down his face instantly. "Shawn… why did you hit me?"