My Son's Death, His Cruel Betrayal

husband, Jonathan, a U.S. Senator. But when our five-year-old son drowned, he didn't c

rderer. He watched them shove my head into a freezing pond, for

s always for Hail

re when our son fell in the water. He saw him struggl

our s

e down, begging for a second chance in front of his new colleagues, I played a recording for everyone t

pte

tal

m, trying to stop the trembling, trying to ignore the fresh stitches burning on my el

t," the nurse insisted, her voice soft with wor

rry spot on the floor. "There's no need," I whispered

pressed, her eyebrows furrowed. "That

esture I' d perfected over the years.

t was impeccable, his face a mask of concern that didn' t quite reach his eye

nough authority to make the few other patients look up. He strod

ing my injured arm closer to

htly. "Nothing? You're in the emerg

that my ears were working differently now. I could hear the un

u," I replied, my voice flat

"Krystal, what's wrong with you? You used to call me for ever

ng to say. Those days were gone.

ing area. "Is that Senator Hurst?" someone murmured

nd pale, looking like a wilting flower. Her ankle was wrapped in a pristine white bandage, looking far too neat for a

d. Then his eyes darted to me, a flicker of something I c

he said, his voice low, as if it we

My heart didn't even skip a beat. It just s

tasting like ash. My words were a

, the one who would have yelled, cried, demanded an explanation.

, "you once told me that if I ever stopped caring

e had just slapped him. He opened his mouth,

the young aide stammered, poking his he

e, then back at the door. "I'll be right back, Krys

ly, so silently, he barely noticed. He just hesitated

utching her ankle, stumbled, almost falling. Jonathan was t

d to carry across the room. "I'm so sorry. I know this is

rred, but no tears came. I just watched him,

ly stroking her hair. "It's not your f

rances. He never looked back. He

ne buzzed. It was the ca

. "Your application for the classified research project has been

. "Excellent," I replied, my

a hint of surprise. "It's a multi-year commitment, in a v

the rising sun. "I'm an orphan. A