Chapter 3

Wearing the repaired necklace, I bring flowers to the cemetery.

From far away, I see a crowd gathered around my mother’s grave.

When I get closer, I realize it’s Preston and Serena.

“Please hurry up,” Serena mutters. “This place gives me the creeps.”

My mother’s headstone has been smashed to pieces.

The soil is dug up and piled into a small mound.

“What are you doing?” I rush forward and block the grave. “Stop right now!”

I turn on Preston.

“Are you blind? This is my mother’s grave.”

“I know,” he says.

He sounds a little guilty.

“But Serena is pregnant. You know how much my mother cares about the baby.”

“My mom hired some spiritual advisor to bless the pregnancy. He said your mother’s grave is bringing bad luck to the baby.”

“He said it could curse Serena’s pregnancy.”

“Chloe, try to understand me.”

“If my mom gets upset, there’s no way you and I can get remarried later.”

I’m so angry I can’t speak.

He thinks my silence means I agree.

He immediately smiles and lightly traces a finger across my palm.

“I knew you’d see it my way.”

“When Serena’s baby is born, you can be the second mom.”

Slap.

My slap cuts him off mid-sentence.

I grab his collar.

“I don’t care whether your baby lives or dies. But no one touches my mother’s grave.”

“Chloe, what the hell is wrong with you?”

Serena steps between us, her eyes red, looking wounded and innocent.

“You can’t have a child yourself, so now you’re cursing mine? How can you be so vicious?”

My fingers tremble.

I stare at her and laugh coldly.

“Serena, who are you performing for?”

“You know better than anyone whose baby you’re carrying.”

Panic flashes across Serena’s face.

She quickly turns and grabs Preston’s arm, whining.

“Babe, my stomach suddenly hurts.”

“What if this dead old woman’s grave really is hurting my babies?”

Worry flickers across Preston’s face.

He immediately orders the guards, “Why are you standing there? Dig.”

“No!”

I rush forward to stop them, but Preston clamps a hand around my wrist.

“Chloe, what are you making a scene for?”

“You don’t get a say. I paid for this plot.”

His words drain the strength right out of me.

I cry.

I choke on my sobs.

And I watch helplessly as my mother’s grave is dug open in front of me.

They throw the dirt-stained urn at my feet.

Only then does Preston let me go.

He looks guilty.

“Enough, Chloe. Don’t cry. I’ll buy your mom a better plot.”

He cups my face.

His rough thumb wipes across my cheek.

“Being Mrs. Vale means learning to be gracious. Patient. Able to swallow your pride. I told you that two years ago.”

I pick up my mother’s urn and wipe away my tears.

Then I turn and look straight at him, saying each word clearly.

“No one wants to be Mrs. Vale.”

“I’m already married.”

“And as for being gracious and patient, I hope you remember those words after Serena gives birth.”

I turn and leave.

Behind me, Preston shouts.

“What do you mean? Chloe, explain yourself!”

Serena’s wounded sobs follow right after.

“Babe, my stomach hurts!”

Preston doesn’t chase me.

Instead, he hurries to pick Serena up and leave.

I find my mother a beautiful new resting place, nestled between the hills and the river, where it stays green year-round.

My phone fills with messages.

All from Preston.

Huge money transfers.

Apologies.

Excuses.

Promises that he’ll divorce Serena as soon as she gives birth.

I don’t reply.

None of it has anything to do with me anymore.

I only want to buy back my mother’s family estate.

I only want to fulfill my mother’s last wish.