After divorcing my ex-husband, my daughter committed suicide by jumping from a building. I found the letter she left behind and sent all those who had harmed her to prison to reunite with her.
My daughter suffered severe depression from the torment of the family of my ex-husband, Archie Vaughn.
She took her own life by jumping off a building.
I rushed back but failed to see her one last time.
I confronted Archie's family, but none of them admitted any fault.
They told me not to make a scene.
They said family scandals should stay hidden.
It didn't matter. I could find the person responsible for my daughter's death on my own.
1
I received the news of my daughter's death.
I took leave without hesitation and returned home for her funeral.
Before I even stepped inside, I overheard Archie's wife, Natalie Patel, spreading vile rumors about my daughter in front of relatives and friends. "She was always reckless. When she grew up, her dad and I couldn't handle her. That's why things ended this way. If we'd known, we should've sent her to her mother. She's brought shame to our family."
Anger surged through me at her words.
I swung my bag at her.
"What nonsense are you spouting?" I shouted. "My daughter's death is on you! Don't you dare smear her name! My daughter would never do such things!"
Natalie clutched her head, feigning innocence. "I was just talking. Why are you so worked up? You couldn't even raise your own child properly, and now you're blaming others. What's the point?"
I was already heartbroken, and now fury left me dizzy.
I lunged to grab her hair. "That's no excuse to slander my daughter!" I yelled. "She's gone! How dare you spread lies about her after her death?"
My suppressed emotions erupted.
The people around me fell silent, watching.
Only Natalie spoke, her tone dripping with disdain. "Everyone knows your daughter was pregnant before she killed herself. A teenager like that? What else could it be but fooling around? She's just like you, a shameless vixen!"
"Vixen?" I sneered and slapped her hard across the face. "You, a homewrecker who meddled in someone else's relationship, dare call anyone else a vixen? You have no shame, but I do!"
Natalie covered her face, tears welling up, and turned to my ex-husband to complain. "Honey, look at her! She's an absolute shrew!" she cried.
My ex-husband wrapped his arm around Natalie's waist, the two of them looking disgustingly affectionate.
He sized me up with a glance.
"Zelene, after all these years, you're still as aggressive as ever," he said with contempt. "I understand your pain over losing your daughter, but Natalie didn't mean it. She's just blunt. Why stoop to her level?"
My hands trembled with rage at my sides.
I recalled what the coroner had told me earlier. "Are you the deceased's family?" the coroner asked. "We found signs of prolonged assault on the body. Hospital records also show your daughter had severe depression. We recommend cooperating with the police for an investigation. If there's any criminal activity, please report it promptly."
I instinctively denied the coroner's words. "Impossible! My daughter was lively and cheerful. She called me last month, saying she got first in her class. How could she have severe depression?"
The coroner sighed and handed me the report.
I felt as if lightning had struck me.
I never knew my daughter had suffered from depression.
Due to privacy concerns, the coroner only shared this with her immediate family.
I was the first to know. So why did Natalie know too?
I couldn't help but suspect she knew something.
"What do you know about what happened to my daughter? Speak!" I demanded.
I grabbed her arm tightly, my voice raw with anguish.
I didn't care about appearances or dignity anymore.
Natalie flinched, startled.
She yanked her hand free and hid behind my ex-husband.
"Are you crazy? Who knows what your daughter was up to?" she snapped. "You didn't care about her when she was alive, and now that she's gone, you're blaming me?"
My ex-husband stepped in front of Natalie.
He glared at me with a warning. "Zelene, can you stop making a fuss? This was just an accident."
I sneered. "Accident or not, I won't let a single culprit go free. I'll make them pay for my daughter's life!"