He Faked His Death to Test My Mother Chapter 03

He Faked His Death to Test My Mother Chapter 03

He dragged me and threw me into the back of the Phantom.

Grandma’s grave.

Mom’s wish was for me to clean it every month.

“Either your mom comes out on her own, or I force her out. Your choice.”

I realized what he was going to do. A hot rush of panic washed over me.

“Are you insane?”

I was shaking. I lunged at him and shoved his chest as hard as I could.

“When you were pretending to be broke, Grandma gave you her life savings to start your business. She felt sorry for you—some orphan. She pinched every penny and gave you the best she had. She treated you like her own son. And now you’re doing this? How dare you.”

But Nathan just looked down coldly. “She told you that, huh? Guess Vanessa was right. Your mom wants to hold that over my head.”

“Since you won’t choose, I’ll choose for you.”

His men stepped forward. The worker swung the heavy hammer, splitting the headstone apart.

“No!” I threw myself over the grave, digging my nails into the crack of the vault.

One year Mom got sick from overwork. She lay in bed unconscious, still calling for her mother.

If she knew Grandma couldn’t rest in peace because of her, how much would that hurt her?

“Get off.”

Someone pried my fingers back. My fingertips scraped raw against the stone surface.

Mom still didn’t appear.

Nathan dumped all of Grandma’s ashes on the ground.

“Clara is so heartless. Her own mother’s ashes are scattered all over the ground, and she still won’t come out.”

“No wonder she acted like she didn’t know you were broke back then. She was playing the long game to lock you down.”

Vanessa covered her mouth, giggling. “Oops, silly me. I shouldn’t have said that.”

Nathan froze, turning to her. “What do you mean? Clara knew I was faking being poor?”

“You’re lying!” I blurted out. “Mom didn’t know! She really loved Dad!”

Nathan’s face went dark.

Vanessa’s eyes flashed triumph. She leaned into him.

“Nathan, remember when Mom adopted me and joked that I was your promised bride?”

“Divorce Clara. I’ve been waiting for you all these years.”

Nathan was silent for a moment. “No. I won’t divorce Clara.”

I didn’t expect him to refuse. Neither did Vanessa.

Her lips tightened. “W-why? Didn’t you say she’s not fit to be the Mrs. Ellis? That I’m better?”

Nathan looked into the distance, remembering. “When I was faking broke, my mom killed herself because Dad cheated.”

“Clara was there for me. She pulled me out of hell.”

“Doesn’t matter if she was sincere or not. Without her, I might not have had the will to live.”

Wind blew, lifting Grandma’s ashes from the ground.

“You told me Clara was bullying you, that she was only after my money. The test is over. I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to Clara and Elena.”

Vanessa’s composure cracked. Her eyes paused on my face for a second.

She moved close, whispering so only I could hear.

“You know what? I’m the one who killed your mom.”