Only then did James snap back to his senses.

He stepped forward, shielding Natalie behind him and raised his hand—then slapped me across the face with full force.

“Amy, that slap was for Natalie. What have you become?”

My head rang. A cold, wet sensation slid down the side of my face.

I reached up and touched it—blood.

My cheek throbbed with burning pain. James didn’t even glance at me.

His voice was like ice.

“She’s lost her mind. Get her out of here,” James ordered coldly.

“And those music box—sweep them up and throw them in the trash. Amy, this is what you wanted. He won't be remembered.".”

At his command, people stepped forward to clean up the remains of my son’s memories—our son—right there on the ground.

“James! Do you even have a heart? That’s your child’s favorite things!”

He sneered coldly.

“You should remember this, Amy. Samuel ended up like this because of you. Take this as your lesson.”

With that, he picked Natalie up in his arms and turned his back on me.

I struggled wildly against the people holding me back.

“Please, stop! Don’t do this to me! I was wrong—I’ll apologize, just don’t throw his stuff away. They’re very valuable for me!”

Natalie spoke up with fake concern, her voice trembling ever so slightly.

“James... maybe you should forgive her. She’s only acting this way because she’s upset with you.”

But that smug look on her face—she couldn’t hide it.

I snapped.

“You did this. You grabbed the box. You shattered the box on purpose! James, you saw it too—didn’t you?!”

His face, which had softened for a moment, hardened again.

“So you’ve learned nothing. I only ever tolerated you before.”

And then—he strode toward me.

He dumped every last pieces of Samuel’s music box into the trash can.

The world in front of me bled red.

***

When I came back to my senses, I was on the floor.

James stood over me, a chunk of his cheek torn and bleeding, staring in disbelief and fury.

“Amy! Are you insane?! You bit me!”

I looked up at him—and laughed.

“Yes. I was insane to ever believe you were a good person. You’re a murderer. You killed your own son.”

His face darkened. The next second, a sharp sting pierced my arm.

Just before I blacked out, I saw him panic for the first time.

When I came to, a man’s voice hovered in my ears.

“Don’t worry, Mr. Klawn. It’s just a tranquilizer. The madam was too agitated. Let her rest.”

I slowly opened my eyes.

But what I saw wasn’t James.

It was a man I didn’t know—half-undressed, his expression twisted into a leering smile.

“Madam, you must be lonely. I’m here to keep you company.”

I stared at him, numb.

I didn’t feel fear anymore. Not anger. Nothing.

Only when his hand reached toward me did something in me snap.

CRASH!

A cup flew through the air and shattered against his head.

He let out a guttural cry, collapsing to the floor. The door burst open.

Natalie stood there.

She looked genuinely startled—for a moment.

“Amy... you're still recovering. How could you seduce someone into your room like this? James would be heartbroken if he saw this.”

Once upon a time, I would’ve screamed in defense, fought to explain myself.

Now?

I just smiled, cold as ice.

“Isn’t this what you wanted?”

Natalie stumbled back a step, startled by my tone.

Then came footsteps—fast, heavy.

James burst into the room.

His face went ghostly pale the moment he saw the scene. His expression tightened in fury as his eyes locked on me.

“Amy. Explain. Who is this man?”

I curled my lips into a faint smile.

“Would you believe me if I said I don’t know him?”

The man next to me scoffed and pulled out his phone, his face full of contempt.

“You filthy bitch. You’re the one who contacted me on the app and now you’re playing dumb?”

“Well, I’ve got proof. A picture and everything.”

He flashed his screen.

Just one glance—and my heart dropped.

It was a photo of me, naked.

But I had never taken such a picture.

Let alone sent one with words as vulgar as those.

Natalie gasped, shrieking as she ducked behind James with a face full of righteous horror.

“Amy, James’s been so worried about you... and this is how you repay him? Sneaking around, shamelessly hooking up with strange men?”

James’s face turned a sickly shade of green.

He was trembling with fury.

“This is what you’ve been doing behind my back? I treated you so well and this is how you repay me? Amy, how could you?!”

Just like always, he didn’t even try to listen to me.

I looked straight at him, my voice low but steady.

“I didn’t do this. Someone else sent that photo and message.”

James’s hands balled into fists. Veins bulged at his neck.

“You’re still lying?! That’s your phone. Who else could’ve used it?”

I looked past him—straight at Natalie. My voice now laced with ice.

“Yeah, who else could’ve used my number to send that message? Someone who wanted to frame me. But they must’ve forgotten there’s surveillance in the hallway.”

Her face twitched. She flinched—just slightly.

And then she rushed in, voice trembling in mock righteousness.

“Amy, if you did it, you should own up to it. Admit your mistake and James will forgive you for seducing another man.”

I caught that flicker of panic in her eyes.

And laughed bitterly.

“Why so nervous if you didn’t do anything wrong? Afraid the surveillance will show you were the one behind it?”

Tears spilled from Natalie’s eyes. She looked so pitiful.

“Amy... why are you saying these things about me? I’m just worried for you, that’s all...”

“Worried? No. This was your setup. Actually—no, I take that back. I’m not guessing anymore. I’m sure.”

Her face drained of color. She kept denying it—but then the surveillance footage surfaced.

It showed her entering my room.

I stared her down, my gaze like a blade.

“If you weren’t doing anything wrong, why sneak around and dodge the cameras? Tell me—was it you?”

She looked to James, panic-stricken.

“James, I came to check on her out of concern. Please—you have to believe me.”

“Came with good intentions? Then why dodge the surveillance? And what a coincidence—you just happened to find a man in my room?” The truth was in plain sight now.

I thought James might finally open his eyes.

But instead, he looked at me coldly. Annoyed.

“Natalie isn’t like that. I believe her.”

I felt my smile curl bitterly.

“She’s not ‘that kind of person’? And I am?”

His anger erupted.

“How much longer are you going to disgrace yourself? Natalie is kind and pure—nothing like you.”

Just like before—when we lost our son—he stood by her side.

Always by her side.

Maybe it was because this had happened too many times.

Maybe I’d already reached my limit.

I no longer felt pain—just a cold, hollow laugh deep inside me.

It was my fault.

I could never win against Natalie.

And because of that—my Samuel died.

At first, I stayed in the Klawn Family because I wanted to take Samuel’s stuff and leave quietly.

But now that he’s gone and nothing left, there’s no reason for me to stay.

I lifted my chin.

“Mr. Klawn… It’s over between us.”

He looked stunned. He opened his mouth to say something, but Natalie cut in with a sneer.

“Why must Amy threaten James like this?”

My voice was calm. Cold. Final.

“It’s not a threat. It’s a fact.”

Everything about this man—and everything in this house—I didn’t want any of it anymore.

James was saying something again, furious, but I didn’t hear him.

Didn’t want to hear him.

I picked up my phone.

And I forwarded all the evidence—proof that Natalie had bought the man who murdered my son and that James had protected her at all costs.

I sent it all to the Klawn Family’s greatest enemy: the Arison Family.

James, you love Natalie so much?

Then I’ll make you both pay.

You’ll never be together.

I’ll make you feel every ounce of the pain I’ve lived through—bit by bit.

***

The next morning, I burned everything I owned at the villa.

I no longer needed any part of him.

I didn’t want it.

I didn’t care.

When I reached the airport, my phone buzzed.

[Why didn’t you tell me you were discharged from the hospital?]

It was James.

I stared at the message. Then gave a crooked smile.

Without replying, I shut down the phone and deactivated my number as I boarded the plane.

James, from now on— You and I will never meet again.