I cleaned up Shawn's severed hand and laid it in the coffin. His body was finally complete.

I was drained after struggling to hold it together all day. I couldn't take it anymore and collapsed.

Shawn came back to me in my dreams.

He cried, his voice heavy with pain. "Mom, why doesn't Dad like me? Does he not love me?"

All I could do was hold Shawn's little body tight as tears rolled down my cheeks.

"Shawn, it's all my fault. Your dad wouldn't have treated you like this if it weren't for me..." I whispered to myself.

My marriage to Zach started with a mistake. He got drugged at a dance while I was completely wasted.

Back then, I thought it was fate that brought us together, but now I see it was just a disaster waiting to happen.

We had a wild night together and went our separate ways. Who would've thought I'd end up pregnant with his kid?

Shawn needed a whole family, and since I'd always had a secret crush on Zach, my family, the Swains, went to the Sorensens to come clean about everything.

After that, Zach and I rushed into marriage, and I gave birth to our child. He never really loved me but always treated me with respect.

For a long time, I thought I could eventually win his heart. After all, I believed love could grow over time. But then Sue came back from abroad, and everything changed.

Zach never had time to travel with Shawn and me, but somehow he found two weeks to go on a sketching trip in the countryside with Sue.

He never bought gifts but splurged at an auction to get a gemstone I'd always wanted for Sue.

When Shawn was burning up with a fever, Zach said, "Sue's been coughing for days and isn't improving. I know I don't have to worry about Shawn with you looking after him.

"Sue only has me here, so I really need to see her get better to feel at ease."

My heart shattered at that moment. I realized I could never reach Zach's heart but never brought up divorce since our marriage involved both the Swain and the Sorensen families.

I never imagined it would end up hurting Shawn.

I woke up from my dream with tears streaming down my face.

"Cece, we found this in Shawn's room," Mom said, tears running down her cheeks.

I reached for it. It was a simple drawing Shawn had made himself. It had Zach, Shawn, and me together as a family, with the note, "Happy birthday, Dad. I'll always love you."

This was the birthday gift Shawn had made for Zach, but he'd never get the chance to give it to him in person.

I cried until I nearly lost my voice.

Mom placed the divorce agreement I'd been carrying around before me. "If you want a divorce, then go for it. Forget about the company."

…

The divorce agreement was rushed to Sorensen Corporation, and Zach got to the hospital just as fast.

It was ridiculous. It had been almost a week since I miscarried, and he couldn't even be bothered to call me, yet he stopped by my ward because Sue caught a little cold.

Sue walked in with a bouquet, saying it was for me, but when she saw the drawing on my bedside table, she totally lost it.

"A drawing! It's a drawing!" She crouched down, covering her ears and crying her eyes out. "Zach, hurry! Burn it!"

Zach was really worried about her and didn't even check what was in the drawing. He smashed the frame to the floor and flicked open his lighter.

My anger boiled over. I yanked the IV needle out of my hand and lunged forward. I stepped on some glass shards, leaving small drops of blood behind me.

"Give it back! That's mine!" I clutched the hem of Zach's shirt. "It's Shawn's drawing! Shawn's!"

I caught a flicker of hesitation in his eyes when Sue shouted again, "Zach, I'm so scared! I might never be able to pick up a paintbrush again…"

Zach furrowed his brow, looking down at me with a touch of condescension. "Come on, it's just a drawing. Shawn can whip up another one in no time. And don't forget, he's the one who got us into this mess!

"Sue's been in a creative slump lately and can't seem to create anything she's satisfied with. She's lost her passion for painting, and to make things worse, Shawn ruined her hand.

"Now she flinches and freaks out every time she sees a drawing!"

Zach struck the lighter, and the flame sprang to life with a soft whoosh.

"I'm begging you. Please, don't do this!" I dropped to my knees, desperately pleading with Zach. The glass shards dug into my skin, and blood started to trickle down.

But that small flame touched Shawn's drawing and it quickly went up in flames.

I screamed and lunged for the drawing, but it was too late. The fire was too fierce, and the drawing turned to ashes in no time.

I sat among the glass shards, letting them cut into my skin as I held the ashes. "It's gone. Everything's gone… Shawn's last drawing is gone, too…"

"Shawn, I'm so sorry." I whispered to myself.

Zach overlooked my anguish, clearly losing his patience. "Enough with the drama! It's just a drawing."

Just a drawing? That was Shawn's greatest wish, the last piece of him I held onto, and now it was gone.

Zach didn't seem fazed at all. He tossed the divorce agreement my way. "Let's get to the point."

I lifted my head, feeling hopeless. "What do you want from me?"

He frowned and sneered. "What now? Did you find someone new? Is that why you're talking about divorce?"

"Zach, quit talking nonsense," I replied flatly.

His face twisted into a mocking grin. "I figured you went off to find a blood pack, but I guess you really had a miscarriage. The kid wasn't mine, right?"

My eyes widened in shock. "Zach, you've gone too far!"

He scoffed, casually flipping through the divorce agreement, irritation creeping into his voice. "So, who's getting custody of Shawn? His surgery should be done by now, right? Reattaching a hand isn't rocket science.

"Didn't you tell him I was coming today? How's he supposed to run Sorensen Corporation someday if he can't handle the basics? He can't even make the effort to come to see me!"

A sharp pain shot through me. I felt a bitter taste rise in my throat as I said hopelessly, "He'll never come, and he can't call you 'Dad' anymore."

Zach furrowed his brow.

I stressed each word. "He's dead. He's gone!"

The ward fell into a heavy silence. Zach stood there, his face going blank.

Just then, Sue interjected disapprovingly. "Celia, I get that you're not ready to give up custody, but you didn't have to lie and curse Shawn, did you? He's your own son!"

She laid extra weight on the words "own son".

Zach's face fell as he suddenly put it all together. "Celia Swain!"

In a fit of rage, he slapped me hard across the face. "You don't want me to get custody of Shawn because you're worried something's going to come out, right?"

"What are you talking about?" I asked, my face going pale. "What's coming out?"

"Shawn isn't my kid at all!"

His words hit me like a bolt of lightning.

I stared at him in disbelief and yelled, "What did you say?"

"You were already pregnant with that bastard when you married me! Who even knows whose kid he really is? I've just been a fool taking on someone else's mess!" Zach shot me a look of pure disgust.

He stressed every word as he continued, "Honestly, I'd feel nothing but relief if he's really dead! At least our family's bloodline won't be ruined by some bastard!"

I clutched my chest and let out a wild laugh. "So, you never thought Shawn was actually your son..."

I lunged forward and grabbed the IV needle sitting nearby. Anger flared in my eyes as I stabbed the needle into Sue's hand.

"Sue Green, you bitch! I'll kill you!" I'd lost it entirely. I jabbed the needle into her over and over.

Her screams rang in my ears until a strong force knocked me back. I slammed against the headboard, pain exploding in my body.

"Are you out of your mind?" Zach stepped in front of Sue, staring at me in disbelief. "Celia, you think I won't call the cops?"

"Go for it!" I sneered. "You killed Shawn with your own hands, and that's still not enough for you. You want me gone too, don't you? Is that your plan? Get rid of us both so you can marry Sue, right?"

Zach stared at me like I was nuts while shaking his head. "You're insane!"

I lunged at him, sinking my teeth into his neck, my voice muffled. "You think I'm insane? Fine, I'll own it! And insane people don't get thrown in jail for murder!"

He fought back, but I ripped a piece of flesh from his neck. I spat it out, blood smearing the corner of my lips. Then, I let out a bitter laugh.

Zach grabbed his neck, cold sweat pouring down his face from the pain.

I laughed like a maniac and shouted, "Does it hurt? But seriously, no matter how much it hurts, how can it even come close to what Shawn went through when they chopped half his hand off while he was alive? Or the agony he felt when he drowned, gasping for air?"

Zach's expression went serious as he quickly dialed a number. "I'm bringing Shawn over right now so he can see just how unhinged his mom really is!"

The call went through almost right away.

"Bring Shawn to me! Now!" Zach told his assistant, Taylor Croft, in a firm voice.

"M-Mr. Sorensen, that might be… a bit tricky," Taylor spoke hesitantly.

"What do you mean? Is the surgery not done? Is he still under anesthesia?" Zach's anger flared. "I don't care if he's awake or not. Just get him here! Right now!"

"It's not what you think..." Taylor let out a bitter laugh. "Shawn's dead."

"What?" Zach's rage was replaced by disbelief.