As we neared the cemetery, a reckless car slammed straight into me.

A second before the shock, I saw the license plate ahead.

A927.

A cipher of death.

In all of Harbor City, only one man dared use it: Samuel.

As expected, Serena Rowe's fragile voice floated to my ears.

"What do I do, Brother Samuel? I hit someone."

"Will they arrest me? I'm so scared! I don't want to leave you!" Samuel kissed Serena Rowe's cheek.

Without looking at me, he ordered his men to dump a stack of cash at my feet.

He used the power I had given him to trample my dignity.

A cramping pain spread through my body.

I clutched my belly, ground my teeth, and looked up to see Samuel's men digging a grave.

Serena Rowe snuggled into Samuel's arms, pretending to tremble as she peered up.

"Brother Samuel, will Sophia be angry if she finds out we're doing this?"

"What if she comes after us? She's fierce, I'm so scared..."

Samuel smoothed her hair, dismissing her, "What are you afraid of? I have your back."

"In Harbor City now, I hold the final word."

Moved by his earnestness, Serena Rowe tilted her head and pouted.

"Really? I've suffered so much for you. An amusement park isn't enough. I want you on all fours to ride me like a horse!" Samuel kept smiling and nodded. Serena Rowe pressed on. "I want you to make me a birthday cake, too." "I want you to watch the stars and set off fireworks with me." "And I want us to have many, many babies." Samuel's smile grew brighter. The man who had fought through storms now looked like a lovestruck boy. He hugged Serena Rowe tightly, nodding repeatedly. "Okay, okay, I'll do as you…

No matter how outrageous her demands, Samuel smiled and agreed.

The fondness never left his face.

The bulldozer's roar became the anthem of their happiness.

And the small bodies below watched their love as witnesses.

The Buddhist beads on my wrist were stained with blood.

Compassion in my chest hardened into murderous intent.

I drew my pistol and fired without hesitation.

The bullet left the muzzle in an instant.

Samuel, without thinking, shielded Serena Rowe beneath him.

In the next breath, dozens of guns were trained on me.

Pain in my abdomen flared.

It felt as if Maggie, beneath the soi,l cried wide, accusing eyes.

I glared at Samuel, teeth clenched.

"You disturb Maggie's rest for this whore."

"Samuel, you are unfit to be a father!"

Samuel frowned. "Sophia, calm down."

"Our child is gone." "The dead are gone, the living remain."

What prize is living's supremacy? Old love cannot rival new love.

I bore the searing pain and raised my pistol once more.

But before I could fire again, Serena Rowe seized the full urn behind Samuel and smashed it down.

The box that held my longing and hope was scattered and swept away by the wind.

"Maggie!"

I lunged forward, screaming with hysteria.

Rage drowned the pain.

When I scooped the ashes into my arms, I froze, startled. For a moment, time stretched; memories rushed back in jagged, relentless waves — the child's first laugh, the night we concealed her in a box to hide from killers, the smell of smoke and iron, Samuel's desperate oath over a severed finger. Each memory struck like a bell, tolling loss and a promise of blood. I felt every wound reopen, every betrayal sharpen, and beneath the frenzy a cold clarity settled: whoever had dug here, whoever cheered or laughed had to answer with equal fury soon.

Blood soaked the hem between my legs.

My Maggie seemed to be leaving me again.

My body lurched, and I collapsed uncontrollably.

I regained consciousness in a hospital.

The doctor looked at me sadly and said the baby could not be saved.

"The severe blow to your abdomen, combined with the emotional shock, has caused critical damage. You must rest and recover." I closed my eyes in near despair. I felt utterly hopeless. My daughter, my Maggie. She still would not forgive me. She left me again. The doctor added, "Mr. Westbrook is astonishing. He assumed you were faking illness and stayed with Miss Rowe the whole time, refusing to come."

"Ah. Back then, your relationship was so enviable..."

I said nothing, quietly making my choice.

At the villa, the floor was strewn with debris.

Serena Rowe was bossing people as they tossed my belongings outside.

Seeing me return, she smiled with triumph.

"Sophia, thanks for that shot."

"Brother Samuel said I was too frightened and likely to have an accident, so he told me to move here to recuperate."

Samuel shook his head and said, "Nonsense," but without reproach.

He only added, "About Maggie, Serena didn't mean any harm."

"I've arranged a new place. I'll let Serena stay here for now. She behaves well and won't disturb you, let alone replace you." "

In Harbor City, no one can take my place.

Not even Samuel."

I ignored them and flew to the airport alone, carrying the urn of ashes.

When the plane left Harbor City, I armed the bomb at the villa.

Gazing at the familiar land below, I whispered:

"Samuel, you promised..."

"If you betray me, you will not die well."

You cannot escape that.

I'll make sure you achieve it.

...

At the villa, Samuel, about to make love for Serena Rowe, received a call from Dr. Lawson.

The doctor's tone was sharp and reproachful.

"Mr. Westbrook, Sophia has suffered so much with you over the years. How could you not be there when she had a car accident and miscarriage?"

"You've already hurt her once. If she learned the truth of that year... I fear she would never forgive you." "Car accident? Miscarriage?" Those unfamiliar words tugged at Samuel's memory of Sophia's pale face that day. He glanced at the way Sophia had left, uneasy. Before he could ask more, an explosion boomed across the land.