Reality crashed back down. With trembling hands, I straightened my son's small, cold body.

I dressed him in his favorite bear-patterned sweater, smoothing the fabric one last time before lowering him into the icy coffin.

Tucked beside him were two documents I'd guarded with my life—proof of my virginity and a DNA test confirming Benjamin Swanson was my brother.

Benjamin stood beside me, voice thick. "Why bury these, Beth? Why not shove them in Leo's face? He owes you your innocence."

My eyes burned, dry and red-rimmed. No tears left.

"I've explained it to him countless times," I whispered. "In his heart, he condemned me long ago."

Reluctance clawed at my chest as I lowered the lid. "Let these truths stay here. Let them sleep with Joey forever."

Once the arrangements were settled, I picked up my phone and dialed the number etched into my memory.

"Leo." My voice held no warmth. "Joey is dead. I'll send the divorce papers. Sign them, and we're done."

His rage was instantaneous. "Drop the act, Beth."

"Did you plan this? Faking our son's death so you could run off with your lover? It won't work!"

Benjamin snatched the phone. "Leo! I'm Benjamin Swanson—Beth's biological brother!"

"Brother?" Leo scoffed. "Convenient title for your lover."

Eva's voice cut in, dripping with sweetness. "Oh, Beth! I just found out I'm pregnant. I meant to ask—which medicines should I avoid? I wouldn't want to be like you, carelessly taking the wrong pills and giving birth to a retard."

Grief and fury exploded within me.

"Shut up! Joey wasn't a retard!"

Silence stretched for a few seconds before Leo's dark chuckle broke through.

"You two really are singing the same tune. You want me to believe you? Unless I see Joey's corpse with my own eyes, don't waste my time."

The next day, the small coffin was lowered into the earth at the cemetery.

I knelt before the fresh mound, fingers tracing the cold stone over and over: Beloved Son, Joseph Gilbert.

"Beth, you certainly know how to commit to a role."

Leo walked toward me, holding Eva's hand, expression dark.

I didn't look up. "What are you doing here? Leave. Don't disturb Joey's peace."

"Rumors are spreading through the capital's elite. They say my son is dead." He stopped directly in front of me, towering over my kneeling form. A mocking smirk played on his lips. "For such a major event, how could I not come see for myself?"

Eva rested a hand on her flat stomach, sneering. "Honestly, Beth, your acting is top-tier. Even the grave looks authentic."

She pulled out her phone and held it to Leo. "Look—Joey's having a blast abroad. How could he be dead?"

On the screen, a child who looked like Joey ran through an amusement park, smiling.

My breath hitched.

Before I could speak, Leo moved.

He wound his hand into my hair and yanked my head back hard enough to make my neck crack. Pain radiated across my scalp as he forced me to meet his eyes.

"Beth, you sick, twisted woman!"

His eyes were bloodshot, burning with rage.

"To force a divorce, to run off with your adulterer... you used our son's death as a bargaining chip? How can you be this cruel?"

"I didn't!"

The words tore from my throat, my body convulsing with pain.

Leo didn't listen. Blind with rage, he grabbed a fistful of my hair and slammed my head into the cold tombstone.

A sickening crack. Pain exploded through my skull, and warm blood instantly trickled down, staining my vision red.

Eva watched with barely concealed satisfaction, though her voice oozed concern. "Leo, look at her panic. She's guilty. Who knows what's actually buried here? Probably empty—another trick to manipulate you. Dig it up. Then we'll know."

"Dig it up."

His eyes were bloodshot, his voice a low growl. "I want to see exactly what game you're playing."

I threw myself forward, clawing at the dirt, shielding the mound with my body.

"Joey is gone! Why can't you let him rest?"

I glared at Eva, hatred burning through me. I wanted to tear her apart, but the bodyguards pinned my arms, forcing me into the dirt.

Eva shrank into Leo's embrace, sobbing theatrically. "Leo, look at her—she's lost her mind! There must be something cursed in there. She's terrified we'll find it!"

Leo backhanded me across the face. I sprawled into the dirt.

"Behave yourself, Beth. That grave opens today."

Malice flickered in Eva's eyes. She pressed against his arm, her voice dripping false innocence. "Leo, the elders say opening a fake grave brings bad luck. Have the men urinate on it first—ward off evil spirits. We can't let her curse affect our baby."

Leo gave a curt nod.

The bodyguards stepped forward, unzipping.

The acrid stream splattered against the soil, soaking Joey's memorial photo.

Watching the desecration, my heart shredded. I trembled, screaming through tears.

"Leo! Eva! You'll rot in hell for this!"

They ignored me, picking up iron shovels.

Clang.

Metal struck wood.

"Mr. Gilbert." A bodyguard's voice, urgent. "There really is a coffin."

Seeing that small wooden box—I couldn't breathe.

Leo strode forward and leaned over the pit.

His pupils contracted. The sneer vanished, replaced by raw horror.