Chapter 4

Without even looking at it, I signed the stack of papers and pushed them back.

Lambert seemed relieved. He put the documents away and casually chatted with me about what we should have for dinner.

A vast wave of sorrow rose up in me.

So this was how he meant to give Deidre her rightful place.

With one thin piece of paper, he was ending our years of marriage, ending all the trust I had misplaced.

Suddenly none of it seemed worth anything.

In that instant, I made up my mind.

He wanted a divorce. I would grant it.

The next day, I got up very early.

Before Lambert left, I called out to him.

"After work today, will you come somewhere with me?"

He glanced back at me, his tone light.

"Of course. What time? I'll come back early."

"Around evening."

He came over and kissed me on the forehead.

"Okay."

I sat on the sofa and waited until the sky went dark, but he never showed up.

After dozens of calls, he finally picked up. His voice on the other end was a little breathless.

"Eleanor, something urgent came up at the school. I might have to pull an all-nighter tonight. Go ahead and have dinner without me."

I gripped the phone tightly.

"Lambert, do you know what day it is today?"

There were a few seconds of silence on the other end, then a somewhat apologetic reply.

"Valentine's Day?"

"You've never celebrated these holidays, though. How about I bring you a present when I get back tomorrow?"

The signal kept cutting out, and he added one last thing.

"All right, that's enough, I've got to get busy over here."

The call ended.

I twitched the corner of my mouth, but couldn't manage a smile.

Just as I thought—he had even forgotten the anniversary of our child's death.

He already had Harvey, so why would he care about a dead child?

I drove alone toward South Hill.

There was an empty patch of ground there, no headstone, only a small tree I had planted with my own hands.

The moment I reached the top of the hill, a luxury car was already parked by the roadside.

I hadn't expected it—Lambert and Deidre were there too.

Not far off, Deidre was clinging to Lambert's arm.

Lambert pointed to the luxury car.

"Well? Do you like this Valentine's gift?"

Deidre rose up on her tiptoes, and the two of them fell into a kiss.

When they finished, Lambert smiled and said,

"There's another surprise."

Fireworks suddenly burst across the sky, one after another, going on for a full half hour.

The two of them standing together looked like the happiest couple in the world.

As the fireworks ended, Lambert seemed to sense something and turned to look.

His smile froze in an instant, his expression flustered.

"Eleanor? What are you doing here?"

I pushed open the car door and got out, walking step by step until I stood in front of him.

"Lambert, do you know what this place is?"

He looked around, and his face suddenly changed.

"My child is buried on South Hill—buried right here." I looked at him and said each word slowly. "Today is the anniversary of his death."

"Lambert, you have no heart."

Right then, pain and hatred churned in my chest, as if they would burn through my throat.

His lips moved, his voice trembling.

"Eleanor, let me explain—"

"No need to explain. I already know everything the two of you have done."

I turned, rushed into the driver's seat, and started the car.

Lambert chased after me, shouting my name.

"Eleanor! Wait! Let me explain!"

I slammed down on the gas and tore along the mountain road.

In the rearview mirror, Lambert ran back to his own car like a madman and gave chase.

When I reached Southriver Bridge, the steering wheel suddenly jerked hard to the side.

The car burst through the railing and flew into the cold river water—