The next day at the crematorium, Seth completed the paperwork for the cremation. He stood there, watching as Estelle’s body was pushed into the furnace. Then, he turned to leave.
Just as he turned around, he saw Dillon and Timothy arriving at the entrance together.
A mocking smile crept back onto Seth’s face. “Are you two here to see if Estelle’s really dead? Do you believe it now?”
Timothy glanced at Seth, then looked toward the furnace. Soon, his eyes brimmed with tears, and his face turned ghostly pale.
“Is the person inside really the troublemaker?” he asked.
“Troublemaker?” Seth scoffed. “Timothy, are you out of your mind? Mrs. Sawford died because she had stomach cancer. Even if Estelle hadn’t been involved, she would’ve died anyway. Estelle didn’t kill her!”
“Shut up!” Timothy shouted at Seth in anger.
As he was about to charge at Seth, Dillon stepped forward and stopped him.
Timothy glared at Dillon in disbelief. “What the hell are you doing, Dillon? Don’t tell me you’re still trying to protect this bastard?”
Dillon shot Timothy a cold glance, then turned to Seth. “Estelle was my wife. From here on out, I’ll handle everything.”
Seth let out another dry laugh, looking at him warily. “You? You’re not planning to scatter her ashes in the river to feed the fish, are you?”
“No,” Dillon replied after a long pause.
His response came so quickly that Seth narrowed his eyes and glanced over at Timothy.
Catching his meaning, Dillon added, “He won’t, either.”
“Good,” Seth said before turning to leave.
Timothy looked at Dillon with frustration. “Dillon, are you just letting him go after he humiliated us like that?”
Dillon didn’t respond. He simply stared at the furnace.
Suddenly, he raised his hand to his chest. A sharp pain flared up inside, growing more intense by the second.
Why did Estelle’s death make it feel like his heart was being torn apart?
Timothy slumped to the floor, letting out a bitter laugh. “I never wanted her to die.”
Dillon closed his eyes and clenched his fists.
Estelle had been the person he hated most, yet now, all he could think about was her. Her voice and her face only grew clearer in his mind with each passing moment.
Timothy looked up and said, “Dillon, you regret it, don’t you? If I had just been a little kinder to her back then…”
“I don’t regret it,” Dillon interrupted firmly.
Timothy raised an eyebrow. “Is that so?”
Yet, he didn’t argue any further.
Whether Dillon regretted it or not, only he knew.
An hour passed, and a staff member came out holding a small box.
“Excuse me. Are you family to Mr. Ryan Johnson?”
Dillon frowned. “Ryan Johnson? I’m here to pick up my wife’s ashes.”
The staff member’s face softened with sympathy. She could tell that Dillon had an air of distinction, so his wife must have been someone important, too. It was shocking to see such a young man lose his wife.
The staff member apologetically said, “My condolences. May I ask your wife’s name?”
“Estelle Sawford,” Dillon replied without hesitation.
The staff member’s lips twitched in surprise.
Noticing his reaction, Timothy’s eyes lit up. “I knew it! Estelle’s not dead! Seth must’ve been putting on an act earlier.”
However, the staff member’s next words shattered his hopes.
“Sir, Ms. Sawford’s ashes were already picked up. The person who spoke to you earlier was the
first one in line.”
It had to be Seth.
Timothy quickly snapped back to reality. Just as he was about to speak to Dillon, Dillon had already turned and was heading for the door.
By the time Timothy reached the door, Dillon was already gone.
Timothy hurried after him, but when he didn’t see Seth, panic set in. “Dillon, what should we do now?”
