Chapter 6

Joanna's POV

"If you run now, Carter will destroy the evidence first, then he will destroy you. Valerie will keep playing the victim, and they will paint you as a madwoman," the man's voice was low and calm. He was Arthur Aston, my biological father.

"Joanna, endure it just a little longer. When the time is right, the Astons will make sure they lose everything. We will collect every single debt they owe to Lily and Evelyn."

I stared at the light bleeding under the door crack.

"I want them ruined."

"I want them to face justice."

"They will. I promise you," another voice joined the call. It was Ashley, my biological sister. "The moment you give us the green light, our people will move."

I hung up.

A moment later, the door unlocked. Carter walked in, followed by two burly security guards.

He glanced at my bloody hand. "Valerie's hand was hurt in the scuffle, too."

I looked up at him.

"You're going to the hospital to take care of her," Carter said flatly.

Evelyn's ashes were sitting in a small black box on my vanity.

Just a small box. That was all that was left of the woman who raised me.

I looked at the box. "My mother just died."

"I know," Carter said, frowning. "That's why you need to keep busy. It'll keep you from overthinking."

"You want me to nurse her killer?"

"You're delusional again! Valerie is the victim here! She's been shaking all night because of you, and her wrist is sprained. You owe her this, Joanna."

"Fine," I said, a dry, mocking laugh escaping my throat. "I'll go."

I reached out and picked up the urn.

Carter blocked me. "Why are you bringing that?"

"I don't want my mother to be lonely."

Carter remained silent for a few seconds before stepping aside.

The VIP hospital room was warm.

Valerie was sitting up in bed, a bandage around her wrist. But on her fingers, she wore a small, silver-plated safety bracelet on a red string.

On the back of the silver plate, the name Lily Vance was engraved.

I froze at the entrance.

Carter had placed that bracelet on Lily's wrist for her third birthday.

I remembered him kneeling down, tying the red string around our daughter's tiny wrist, then holding my hand.

"I will protect both of you from now on."

And now, that red string was on Valerie's wrist.

Valerie raised her hand, showing it off. "Carter said I've been having nightmares, so he gave me this to keep the bad spirits away. You don't mind, do you, Joanna?"

I looked at her with pure disgust. "Keep it. Dirty things belong together."

Valerie picked up a bowl of chicken soup from her tray, smiling sweetly. "Really? Joanna, I had the kitchen make this soup for you. You haven't eaten in days. Have some."

She opened the box next to her, and my blood turned to ice.

That was the urn I had brought.

Valerie used a silver spoon to scoop out a small mound of grey ash, slowly pouring it into the hot soup.

"Evelyn died such a painful death. Drink this, and you two can be reunited."

"You sick bitch!"

I lunged at her, but the guards immediately pinned me down.

One of the younger guards looked at Valerie's sadistic smile, a flash of disgust crossing his face. He subtly loosened his grip on my arm, but he didn't dare let go completely.

Valerie walked up to me with the bowl, forcing my jaw open.

"Drink up! Don't you want to be with your mother? Hahaha!"

I struggled wildly, but the soup mixed with ash was forced down my throat.

I coughed violently, tears streaming down my face.

Valerie turned around and dumped the rest of the ashes onto the tiled floor.

The greyish-white powder scattered everywhere.

She stepped on it with her slippers, looking down at me. "See? Who can you protect, Joanna?"

I managed to wrench myself free from the guard's grip and tackled Valerie to the ground.

My left hand gripped her neck, while my right hand's bandages tore open, dripping fresh blood onto her face.

"I will kill you!"

Carter slammed the door open and dragged me off her.

Valerie scrambled into his arms, sobbing hysterically. "Carter... I just wanted her to eat something... she suddenly went crazy..."

Ignoring the excruciating pain in my hand, I crawled on the floor, desperately trying to gather Evelyn's scattered ashes with my bare fingers.

Carter stepped on my wrist, hard. "Take her to the basement cold storage room. Let her freeze until she calms down."

As I was dragged away, my eyes burned red.

After I left, the younger guard stared at the messy room. He clenched his teeth, pulled out his phone, and took photos of the spilled ashes and the soup bowl. When no one was looking, he used a clean plastic bag to scoop up a small amount of the ash and soup, hiding it deep in his pocket.

The heavy steel door of the basement cold storage slammed shut. The freezing air immediately cut into my bones.

I curled up in the corner. My right hand was completely numb, and the taste of ash still lingered in my mouth.

I pulled out my phone and typed one word: Proceed.