Chapter 7
“Is it really Ra… Mom?”
Tobey gazed at my lifeless body, uncertainty flickering in his eyes.
Henry didn’t respond; instead, he moved over to the evidence bag and pulled out the polished ring, its interior still engraved with our initials.
Memories flooded back to me, the promise I once made to protect that wedding ring with my life–a vow that somehow held true even in death.
At that moment, Henry’s shoulders sagged as if the weight of the world had come crashing down on him. He opened his mouth to speak but faltered, struggling to find the right words.
“Your mom,” he finally said, barely above a whisper, “she… she’s gone to a very far place.”
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Tobey’s voice trembled as he asked cautiously, “She won’t come back, will she?
Not even if I wish on Santa?”
I chuckled softly, though the situation felt
surreal.
Doesn’t he already know that Santa was just a myth? I’d spent so much time trying to understand his interests, pouring my heart into Christmas presents he had scorned as childish. Now, here we were.
“I told you, you’re too stupid to go outside- staying home is way better!
“Sophie came back; I only see her as a sister. We owe her that much.
“I’m sorry. I’ve already fallen for you, but I’m too scared to admit it. I’m just a
coward.”
To my shock, Henry broke down, tears streaming down his face, and soon Tobey was sobbing alongside him.
“Mom, I don’t want Ms. Wilde. Please come
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back!”
In death, I finally got the attention I had longed for from my son and husband. They spoke the words I had desperately wanted to hear. It wasn’t until the police arrived that they were forcibly taken home.
Once home, they both lost their appetites and stopped going to work or school. Sophie even cooked for Tobey, but he ended up having an allergic reaction.
When Tobey woke up crying for me, Sophie gently told him, “Tobey, your mom has passed away. From now on, I’ll be here for you. Didn’t you once say you wanted me to be your mom? Here, let Mommy feed you.”
Tobey took a sip, then spit it out in disgust.
“This isn’t the soup Mom makes! I want creamy seafood soup! Mommy, I want soup!”
Every time he was sick, I would spend hours cooking a flavorful shrimp soup, thick and rich. But Sophie had just
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delivered some pre–packaged takeout.
I could see her impatience boiling over as she glared at him. Grabbing the spoon, she roughly tried to shove it into his mouth.
“This is creamy seafood soup! I’m your mom now, so just drink!”
This was the real Sophie–someone who seemingly had no patience for children, especially one that I had given birth to.
Tobey pushed her away, spilling soup. everywhere.
“Ms. Wilde, I have a mom! I was only joking about that; kids sometimes say silly things, right, Dad?”
Henry had just walked in but didn’t even glance in Sophie’s direction.
“I rented a new place for you. You’d better move out this afternoon. Rachel wouldn’t
want you here.”
Sophie’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. as she turned to leave, rage spilling over as
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she stepped out. “Rachel, why do you have to be such a hassle, even in death?”
When Zoe arrived at the hospital, she slapped Henry hard the moment she stepped in, shoving him repeatedly.
“It was me! I was the one who wanted Sophie gone! Rachel was just delivering that money for me! Sophie’s just a greedy opportunist!
“Why don’t you believe me? Why are you treating Rachel like this? I want nothing to do with you!”
Zoe gasped for air, her hand clutching her chest, unable to stand up straight.
Confusion flickered in Henry’s eyes, but before he could ponder further, his assistant rushed in.
“Mr. Hawke, we found out that Mrs.
Hawke’s last phone call was made to
Sophie. Oh, and we’ve apprehended the suspect.”
