Chapter 4
Layla seemed to regain her confidence the moment she saw Ethan. She threw herself into his arms. “Ethan, you are finally here. This crazy woman bullied me…”
The two police officers straightened their posture and spoke with forced respect. “Mr. Stanford, do not worry. We were about to deal with these troublemakers and make sure Mrs. Stanford receives justice.”
Vanessa trembled with rage. She pointed at Ethan and demanded, “Ethan, look at what they did to Nora!”
Ethan raised his hand to silence her. His gaze swept over me with a strange expression. “Nora, why are you causing trouble?”
I looked at him and slapped him across the face without hesitation. “Explain when you got another wife.”
A flash of shock and anger crossed Ethan’s eyes. He slapped me hard in return, his jaw tight. “Lunatic. What are you talking about? My wife has always been Layla and only Layla.”
Layla’s eyes filled with triumph. “I knew you were lying. Someone hold her down and beat her. Take that urn from her and give it to my dog as compensation.”
Punches and kicks landed on me again. I held the urn tightly, refusing to let go.
A flicker of hesitation crossed Ethan’s eyes. He stepped closer and whispered, “Layla is the little princess of the Lewis family of Oceania. We cannot afford to offend her. Just endure it. It is only an urn. Your dad’s spirit will not blame you.”
Endure it. Only an urn.
I tightened my grip on the urn and forced out each word. “The little princess of the Lewis family? We have been married for seven years. Do you really think I am just an ordinary employee and my dad works in an ordinary company?”
Ethan froze for a moment. Layla urged him impatiently.
Ethan grabbed my hair and spoke coldly. “Nora, what is the point of this act? I advise you to stop resisting.”
He signaled the officers. They rushed forward, tore the urn from my arms, and handed it to Ethan.
My eyes burned as I screamed, “Ethan! How dare you? My father is a martyr. If you touch his ashes, all of you will pay the price!”
Ethan paused, then let out a mocking laugh. “Nora, I told you this act is pointless. When we married, your father said he was a security guard.”
He opened the urn. The gray‑white ashes scattered across the floor.
My world shattered.
“Dad…” I fell to my knees. Blood seeped from the skin where I hit the ground, but I felt nothing. My shaking hands tried to gather the ashes, but they slipped through my fingers.
“Dad… Dad…”
Tears dripped onto the floor, mixing with the ashes.
Vanessa rushed to support me. “Nora, do not worry. We will make this cheating couple pay today.”
Behind us, Layla laughed. “These ashes look cheap. They even smell cheap. Security guards are supposed to be useful. Giving this urn to my dog is his good fortune.”
She laughed, and Ethan laughed with her.
Everyone laughed.
A deafening roar suddenly filled the air. A military‑green helicopter hovered above us like a watchful eagle.
Vanessa looked up, her eyes bright with hope. Her voice trembled with excitement. “Nora, it is my dad. My dad’s men are here.”
The smile on Ethan’s face froze.
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