My father-in-law, Robert Johnson, who was completely paralyzed, was trapped in a raging fire.

My husband, Michael Johnson, a fire captain, let a newly hired intern lead the rescue instead.

The intern’s hands were trembling so badly that she couldn’t even open the fire extinguisher.

She pouted, spread her hands helplessly, and said, “Captain Johnson! Please help me!”

Michael didn’t rush to open the extinguisher. Instead, he used his sleeve to wipe the ash from the tip of her nose.

The flames surged upward, quickly surrounding Robert’s room.

By the time the mission ended, Robert had already been reduced to ashes.

During the review afterward, Michael slapped a letter of consent in my face.

“Your dad is dead. It was an accident!”

“This isn’t Sophie’s fault. If anyone’s to blame, it’s your dad for being too slow to escape!”

I kept nodding.

He probably didn’t realize that the one who lay in bed and was burned alive…

was his own father.

…

Michael ground out his cigarette impatiently.

“What? You don’t want to sign?”

“I told you, this wasn’t Sophie’s fault. Stop wrongly accusing her!”

At that, Sophie Miller quickly stepped out from behind him.

“Captain, don’t be harsh on your sister-in-law. After all, it was her family who died. If she blames me, it’s only natural.”

She paused, speaking with a hint of grievance. “It was my fault. If only I’d been faster, maybe I could have saved Uncle Robert…”

Michael’s hands moved quicker than his words; he instinctively pulled her into his arms.

“Sophie, you just care too much! This wasn’t your fault!”

“It was just an accident. Nobody could have predicted it!”

His words dripped with tenderness, but the look he cast at me was as sharp as a knife.

“Emily, stop being so aggressive. You’ve already scared her enough!”

“Sign it, and apologize to Sophie in front of the whole team—that’ll be your compensation to her.”

I wondered if I had misheard.

Apologize?

When the neighborhood fire alarm was first reported by the security guard, Michael had rushed there with the intern, acting as if he were desperate. I thought he was worried about Robert’s safety.

Who knew that he was desperate only to play assistant to the intern.

Now, because of the delay, Robert had been burned alive.

As his biological son, Michael didn’t care. Why should I?

I pressed my lips together and waved dismissively.

“Since you agreed, I don’t mind.”

“Why don’t we settle this right now—find a witness, record a video, and call it closed?”

Michael’s expression tightened, almost constipated.

His voice even shifted as he sneered, “What’s this got to do with me? Why would I agree?”

“Don’t forget—the one who died was your dad!”

That mocking look appeared in his eyes again.

It was the same look he’d worn when Robert had first been paralyzed in a car accident—when instead of caring, his first reaction was to avoid responsibility.

“Your dad’s paralysis is your family’s problem. Don’t add to the burden of our little family.”

Later, when he realized it was actually his father who had been hit, he suddenly changed his tune.

I said nothing, simply pulling out my phone.

He just snorted, shaking his head. “Fine! Record it. You always make things difficult!”

With that, he shoved me aside. “You’re blocking Sophie from the breeze—can’t you see she’s sweating?”

Sophie leaned on his shoulder, flashing me a smile as if declaring her territory.

Michael’s mouth still didn’t stop.

“Your dad was old, taking his government allowance every year. His death is practically a service to the country.”

He laughed heartily.

I could only wait to see if he would still laugh so freely when he learned the truth.

This fire accident was already drawing media attention. Reporters were camped outside the Fire Department.

With a cold smile, I replied,

“The victim’s son has already agreed to call this an accident.”

Then I played the video right on the spot.

The reporters were stunned.

Before they could ask further, Michael yanked me into his office.

“The department wants to promote fire safety. We’ll use your dad’s remains for display.”

“No!”

My refusal was immediate.

Robert had treated me well while he was alive; I wanted to preserve what dignity I could for him in death.

Sophie eagerly chimed in,

“Sister-in-law, you don’t want more people to die in fires, do you?”

“One man’s death can warn thousands. Uncle Robert’s sacrifice wasn’t in vain. Right, Captain?”

Michael clapped with a smile, not a hint of guilt on his face.

When I stayed silent, he pressed on, speaking earnestly:

“The man is gone. Burned down, he’s just ashes.”

“No different from a stray cat or dog. Don’t be so stubborn.”

I couldn’t believe it.

How could someone who so desecrated the dead have become a captain?

Swallowing my anger, I tried reasoning with him:

“That was your father! How can you be so heartless?”

“In any case, I don’t agree.”

His face darkened instantly. Without a word, he grabbed my hand, pressed it into the red ink, and forced my fingerprint onto the document. His grip was so strong it nearly crushed my wrist.

“You’ll drink the penalty wine if you won’t drink the toast!”

Grinding my teeth, I shouted angrily, “Michael, if you treat me this way, you’ll regret it!”

The next second, a stack of files slammed into my face.

The sharp corner left a long cut across my cheek.

“Emily Summers, you only ever oppressed me by clinging to your father’s influence,” he spat.

“Now that he’s gone, what exactly would I regret?”

He shoved me hard. My waist hit the desk edge, pain shooting through me as I fell.

The man before me felt like a stranger.

Gone was the husband who used to fuss over me at the slightest frown.

I caught the flicker of satisfaction in Sophie’s eyes.

She quickly tugged at his sleeve, comforting him: “Captain, don’t waste your anger on your sister-in-law. Don’t dirty your hands.”

Instantly, Michael’s rage softened into tenderness. His eyes overflowed with affection as he gazed at her.

“Alright, alright! Whatever you say.”

“Don’t look at her anymore—it’ll only taint your eyes.”

He scooped up the signed paper, then led her out.

By the time I reached the Fire Safety Exhibition Hall, Robert’s body was already displayed on the platform.

Michael was nowhere in sight—only Sophie stood there, smiling sweetly, holding a bottle of liquid.

“Sister-in-law, take your time. I’ve got work to do.”

She slipped on gloves, twisted the cap open decisively. A pungent odor filled the air.

Sulfuric acid.

She poured it from Robert’s head down to his feet.

“Oh dear, this flesh is all charred. Let me clean it up for him.”

The scorched flesh instantly hissed into a bloody slurry.

Still unsatisfied, she grabbed a small hammer nearby and smashed the now-exposed bones.

“Only if it’s tragic enough will people remember!”

Within minutes, the acid-eaten skeleton was pounded into fragments.

No one could have recognized who it once was.

Busy with her work, Sophie dialed Michael.

“Captain, you have to praise me this time!”

“My Sophie, you’re amazing! Tomorrow I’ll put in the request to make you permanent!”

My stomach churned.

If not for the need to record video evidence, I would have left long ago.

Sophie swung the hammer in her hand proudly, boasting:

“Sister-in-law, no need to thank me. Just give me a commendation flag later.”

Leaning against the wall, I felt only absurdity.

A murderer demanding a reward banner?

Fine. If she wanted one, I’d oblige.

I pulled out my phone and decisively dialed Michael.

“Make a flag for Sophie, and deliver it yourself.”

“And Michael—let’s get divorced.”

Unexpectedly, he didn’t agree to the second part.

He blocked me at the door. “What are you throwing a tantrum for?”

“I already said your dad’s death was an accident. Why are you acting crazy now?”

I shook my head, weary.

“This has nothing to do with my dad’s death. I just want a divorce.”

His breathing grew heavy, his fingertips whitening. “Is this because I defended Sophie? Is that why you’re doing this?”

Sophie immediately jumped out from behind him, eyes reddening with tears.

“Sister-in-law, if you need someone to blame, blame me. I should have saved Uncle Robert. Even if I couldn’t, I should have died in that fire myself… but don’t blame the Captain. He’s already so tired.”

Seeing her so aggrieved yet still trying to shield him, Michael was deeply moved.

He pulled her into his arms, then glared at me.

“Bullying a girl with no background—are you proud of yourself?”

“Your dad’s gone, your biggest support is gone. Who can you bully now? You want a divorce?”

“Fine, I’ll give it to you!”

By now, Michael wasn’t even pretending anymore.

His dark eyes brimmed with calculation.

“You disgust me. You enjoyed my dad’s resources, yet called him a parasite.”

“So tough, huh? You should’ve refused to be Captain in the first place!”

His teeth gnashed in rage.

Sophie wore a mocking expression, delighted to hear this “truth.”

“Anyone who won’t divorce is a loser!”

“Emily Summers, act so arrogant today—you’d better never need me one day!”

Michael’s face was flushed red with fury, spit flying as he shouted.

With nowhere to vent, his gaze landed on Robert’s remains on display.

A mocking smile curled his lips.

“Hey! We’re doing a fire safety campaign, and my father-in-law’s here too. Come take a look!”

He made call after call, inviting people to see the “father-in-law.”

I stood silently to the side.

I couldn’t help wondering—when he realized that “father-in-law” was actually his own father…

what expression would he wear then?

Before leaving, he still sneered, “Emily Summers, this is the price of angering me!”

The next day, at the Fire Safety Campaign, the entire Riverside Community gathered at the Fire Department.

Michael held a microphone, speaking with fiery passion on stage.

Meanwhile, his favored intern led another group, deliberately desecrating the display area.

Robert’s fragments were first dumped into a bucket of ash.

The skull was smeared with vulgar graffiti in thick red marker, the mouth painted into a grotesque bloody grin—

like some mocking clown.

I asked her why. She righteously replied:

“Sister-in-law, don’t you know? People burned to death carry heavy resentment.”

“I drew this charm for Uncle Robert. This way, he’ll be reincarnated well.”

Furious, I quickly recorded a video and sent it to Michael.

But all I got back was a giant exclamation mark.

He had blocked me.

I almost laughed in disbelief.

Just then, his speech on stage concluded.

The crowd surged toward the exhibition hall, Michael leading the way—

straight to his father’s remains.