James' POV

I looked up at Wanda in shock. Her eyes were devoid of emotion, making the threatening glint in them all the more apparent.

She looked like a completely different person from the woman who used to look at me with deep affection.

I stubbornly stared at her as my eyes reddened. "I won't!" I shouted.

Wanda pulled out a remote from her pocket upon hearing my words, saying, "Don't force my hand, James. There are explosives buried under her grave."

Although she said my name softly, I couldn't help but feel as if the devil was whispering in my ear.

It turned out that Wanda had laid this trap a long time ago. She had been prepared to threaten me at a moment's notice just to protect Mason.

Mom's grave was the only thing I cherished in the world. I couldn't just stand by and let Wanda blow it to smithereens.

I swallowed the bloody taste in my mouth and shoved Wanda aside. I then stalked toward Mason and sank to my knees.

"Mom and I were the ones who wronged you, Mason. I'm sorry!"

I raised my head and came face to face with Mason's smug expression before turning to look at Wanda. "Is this apology enough?"

Wanda's chest heaved briefly before she cleared her throat and said, "It's fine as long as you've learned your lesson. You should leave now. Pay my respects to your mother on my behalf."

She then locked arms with Mason and turned around to continue the celebrations.

I could hear the guests whispering among themselves amidst the lively laughter and chatter.

"It's no wonder Ms. Foster refuses to touch him. I didn't know he had such a filthy heart. It makes sense now that his private photo was leaked a few days ago."

"Both he and his mother were bullies. I didn't expect him to ruin his brother's engagement and steal his fiancee with his connections. He's the other man in this case!"

"They've been married for five years, but he's still a virgin. Who would be willing to marry him? Those who don't know any better probably think that he has some sort of disgusting disease."

I pathetically sank to my knees and numbly listened to their insults.

I no longer had the heart to care about the promises of forever that Wanda and I had once made to each other.

Just as I prepared to leave, the chilling sound of a beep resounded in my ears.

Mason stood a short distance away in a secluded corner. He was holding the remote, waving it at me.

The fine hair on my neck stood on end as I watched the numbers rapidly count down. I mustered all the strength I had left to scramble to my feet and stumbled out of the hall.

Wanda stared at my retreating back. She was just about to call out to me when Mason tugged her to his side.

"Come share a toast with me."

Wanda's lips curled up into a smile as she focused her attention on Mason again.

…

Meanwhile, in the cemetery, I frantically tried to dig out the tombstone with my bare hands. My bloodied fingers ached terribly.

In the next second, the sounds of massive explosions reached my ears.

Mom's tombstone was blown to smithereens, with shattered pieces flying through the air in all directions. The casket that had been buried had also exploded with a deafening bang.

My heart turned completely hollow as I watched the ashes flutter in the air around me. A few seconds later, a wave of heat crashed over me, catching me off guard. The next thing I knew, my vision turned pitch-black.