Chapter 20 I lowered my gaze to my abdomen , where the wound had been neatly stitched up .
Yet , the emptiness inside me was a cruel reminder I had been forever stripped of my ability to be a mother .
Wheres Liam ? I asked dully .
Willys expression darkened with guilt .
Hes been sent to the funeral home for cremation .
The funeral is tomorrow .
Carol , Im sorry … As a father , I failed to protect our child .
@ A sharp pain stabbed through my heart , but I didnt expose his lies .
My eyes drifted to the bedside table , where a delicate box lay .
Inside it was a long life lock .
\ Willy , today is Liams birthday .
We havent bought him a present yet .
Let this long life lock accompany him .
I hope he finds longevity and peace in the afterlife , okay ? Willys brows twitched slightly , but he quickly masked his unease with a gentle smile .
Carol , a friend asked me to buy this for his child .
How can we take it away from him ? Its meant for the living and Liam … he cant wear it anymore .
Besides , this material isnt worth much .
It doesnt suit our Liam .
Ive already arranged for something more appropriate from the funeral store .
Everything will be burned for him he wont feel shortchanged in the afterlife .
I didnt argue , but my heart sank further .
Willy had long forgotten that before becoming a housewife , I was a skilled jewelry appraiser .
The long life lock was made of the highest quality jadeite worth a fortune .
Its intricate design was .
engraved with the words peace year after year , a symbol of a parents deepest love .
For two months , I had secretly watched Willy spending countless late nights in his study , meticulously designing this very pattern .
I had foolishly believed it was meant for Liams birthday gift .
But in his heart , the ones truly unworthy were my son and me .
Under my insistence , Willy processed my discharge papers and took me home .
He refused the nannys assistance , personally helping me bathe and wash my hair , carefully avoiding my wound .
He even blow dried my hair with gentle attention .
-a picture perfect husband .
\ Once , I would have been moved by such tenderness .

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But as I stared at the grotesque scars on my stomach and thought of my sons cruel death , I felt only emptiness .
My heart was a barren wasteland .
**** That night , while Willy slept , I crept into his study .
Using my laptop , I accessed his cloud drive .
The password was Sophias birthday .
Inside were tens of thousands of photos and videos , capturing every moment of Sophias pregnancy , the birth of their child and his growth over the years .
And there , amidst the sea of memories , lay a prepared share transfer agreement .
} Fifteen years of marriage Willy had spent most of it traveling , supposedly for business expansion .
But in reality , he had been by Sophia and their childs side all along .
I had never once doubted him .
How ridiculous .
A notification flickered in the corner of the screen his WhatsApp was still logged in .
A single click opened a chat group pinned at the top : A Loving Family of Three .
The words burned into my vision .
For eighteen years , Willy had showered Sophia and their child with countless lavish gifts .
Willy , Benny is just a newborn .
How can he drive a Maserati ? Youre spoiling him too much ! Ohz and by the way , I adore the sapphire necklace you got me .
Mwah ! Willy , Benny is three years old today .
The island you bought for him is breathtaking ! Youll be arriving this afternoon , right ? He cant wait to see his daddy .
All that love .
All that devotion .
Things Little Liam and I never had .
I had once been a rising star in the jewelry industry , but I gave up everything at twenty to marry Willy .
I devoted myself to him , endured hardships by his side , sacrificed my body and struggled for years before finally conceiving only to have him treat it as nothing more than an inconvenience .
I used to think his indifference was meant to ease my burden .
I had even been grateful for his so called understanding .
But in the fifteenth year of our marriage , when I finally became pregnant , he had not been overjoyed .
He had only forced a smile a mere formality .
And now , everything made sense .