10

380words
Before,he’d turned a blind eye.
He hadn’t planned to ruin our family for her.
Now,Emily was nothing more than a punching bag.

My death ignited a flicker of love that had come too late in him.
Seeing her taunt me with the pregnancy report sent him into a rage.
To me,it was utterly laughable.
Emily snapped,cackling.“Nathan,you think I love you?I wanted your money.”
“You selfish pig,spare me the devoted-husband act.”
“If you loved Claire so much,why’d you cheat with me?She’s dead—go join her if you’re so loyal.”

Her words hit a raw nerve in him.
Nathan attacked,hitting her,cursing.
“If not for you,Claire wouldn’t be dead.You vile woman—I’ll kill you to bury you right alongside her!”
Emily let out a scream.

His mom burst in,horrified.“Nathan,stop!You’ll kill her!”
His eyes blazed with fury as his hands tightened around Emily’s neck.
His mom slapped her thighs in a frenzy,pulling at him.
Emily flailed,weakening,blood pooling beneath her.
“Blood!She’s bleeding!”
“Nathan,let go—she’ll die!”
He came to his senses,releasing her,collapsing.
Emily was rushed to the hospital.
She miscarried.
Weak yet resolute,she glared at Nathan.
“I won’t let you go.”
His mom,learning of his infertility,felt her world collapse.
She nearly fainted.
Waking,she stormed Emily’s room,cursing.
“You shameless tramp,sleeping around,trying to pass off your illegitimate child as my son’s?No way!”
“Good thing he beat you.That mbrat has no place in our family!”
“You’re a washed-up nobody.My son was your blessing…”
She ranted;Emily sneered.
“Old hag,look at your precious son now.”
“He killed my baby and almost kill me.He’s going to jail.”
Emily,recovering,sued Nathan before discharge.
Jobless and listless,he didn’t fight back.
She had recorded his mom’s tirade.
With evidence stacked,Nathan faced justice.
His mom managed to keep her public meltdown somewhat in check.
The day he was jailed,I could move freely.
My presence gradually faded away.
I visited Mom.
Her mental state was shot,muttering to herself.
Her own daughter had abandoned her.
Instead of feeling any satisfaction, I only felt a sense of calm.
If fate was fair,I wouldn’t be dead.
I wanted to live,to thrive.
Trading my death for their grief was pointless.
I took one last look at Mom.
A touch brushed my hand.
It was Dad,translucent like me,guilt etched on his face.
“Claire,I’m sorry.You suffered.I’m late.Come with me.”
Come with Dad,back to our happy home.
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