Chapter 4: The Secret in My Parents' Urns

That night, Reed rested his chin on my shoulder, just like he used to.

“Stop being so cold, Fernanda.”

“What’s done is done. My parents don’t want a Ferraro heir out in the world with no family.”

“If you want, we can have one of our own.”

“Once we have our own child, I’ll have a reason to send them away.”

His kisses trailed along my neck, near my ear.

Nausea churned in my stomach. I couldn’t stop myself from gagging.

*Slap.*

I hit him, hard.

“You slept with her in this bed too, didn’t you?”

“Reed, I can’t believe I fell in love with someone so disgusting.”

He didn’t deny it. Anger flashed in his eyes.

“If you weren’t so uptight, if you were willing to try the things I like, I wouldn’t have had to go to someone else.”

“And don’t forget, without me, you’d still be a nobody, chasing down clients for scraps.”

I stood there, unable to argue.

It was true. He had guided me, step by step, to where I was today.

He had once truly loved me.

But he had also, just as truly, destroyed me.

After that night, we lived in the same apartment, but he devoted himself entirely to Pilar’s care.

I never asked another question.

The morning I was set to leave for Switzerland, Pilar spoke up at the breakfast table, the baby cradled in her arms.

“After having this baby, I’ve realized I want to fight for things, too.”

“Why should your life be so perfect? Why did you get to meet him? Why did he get to pull you up to his level?”

My hands paused over my bowl. I said nothing.

Pilar looked at me, the corners of her mouth lifting into a slow, cruel smile.

“You still don’t know, do you? What’s in your parents’ urns… it’s flour.”

With a crash, my bowl slipped from my hands, shattering on the floor. Oatmeal splattered everywhere.

I shot to my feet, my voice trembling.

“What did you say? Where are my parents’ ashes?”

Pilar gently rocked the baby, still smiling.

“Your parents saw Reed and me going into a hotel that day. They were furious.”

“They insisted on driving over to confront me. That’s why they crashed.”

“On the day of the cremation, you were a wreck, crying so hard you could barely stand. Reed and I couldn’t help ourselves… not even in the lounge.”

“We were making a bit of noise. My heel caught the edge of the table and knocked over your parents’ urns.”

“We had no choice. We filled them with flour. How else were we supposed to explain it to you?”

My entire body went numb.

I finally understood what the white powder I’d seen on the floor that day had been.

My mind went blank.

I lunged forward and slapped Pilar’s face, again and again.

Stunned, her hands went slack. The baby tumbled to the floor and began to wail.

The sound dragged me back to reality.

I instinctively reached down to pick up the child.

I hated Pilar, but I would never hurt an infant.

The next second, a sharp crack echoed through the room.

A heavy blow landed across my face, sending me staggering.

Reed, who had just walked in, had already scooped up the baby.

“Fernanda, have you completely lost your mind? How could you hurt a child?”

Pilar covered her face, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Diana was so furious she immediately summoned two bodyguards.

“Hold her down. Today, I’m going to teach her some manners.”

The men grabbed my arms, forcing me to my knees.

Pilar murmured from the side, “Mom, forget it. As long as the baby’s all right…”

“It was Reed and me who wronged her first…”

Reed looked like he was about to say something, but then he saw the red marks on Pilar’s face and just sighed.

“Fernanda, I’ve spoiled you rotten.”

The slaps came, one after another.

I lifted my head and spat a mouthful of blood onto the floor.

Reed frowned and raised a hand, signaling the bodyguards to stop.

Diana was still fuming.

“Why stop? Is that all?”

The baby started crying again.

The sound seemed to grate on Diana’s nerves.

“Drag her outside. Let her cool off.”

The bodyguards started to move, but Reed sighed.

He grabbed my coat from the sofa and pushed me out the front door.

“You went too far today.”

“Stay out here and calm down. Once my mother isn’t so angry, I’ll find a chance to let you back in.”

The door slammed shut in my face.

I stood on the porch, clutching my coat.

Before long, a heavy rain began to fall.

I was soaked through in minutes.

I took the signed divorce agreement from my pocket and slid it under the door.

Then I hailed a taxi.

“JFK Airport.”

Reed Ferraro. Pilar Salazar.

We end here.