Chapter 3

Chapter 3 The following morning, an urgent call from the cemetery caretaker shattered the quiet of the ward.

"Miss Ward! A construction crew just showed up at the memorial park with heavy machinery, and they're preparing to break ground on your family plot!"

My heart leaped into my throat. "What did you say?"

The man's panicked voice hit me like a thunderclap. "They claim they bought the deed and are about to dig up your parents' urns!"

I ripped the IV needle straight out of my arm, ignoring the blood dripping onto the white sheets, and rushed out the door.

By the time I reached the hillside cemetery, my parents' resting place had already been torn apart.

Dirt was scattered everywhere, and a worker holding an iron shovel was bending down to pull out the porcelain urns.

My vision turned red. I charged forward like a wild animal and shoved the man away. "What the hell are you doing?"

"Who gave you permission to desecrate my parents' graves?"

The workers exchanged uneasy glances.

Seeing the standoff, the foreman sighed, pulling out his phone. "Look, lady, we're just hired labor following orders. I'll call the boss right now."

Ten minutes later, Landon and Kelsey appeared at the end of the cobblestone path.

Seeing Landon, the blood in my veins turned to ice.

Landon supported Kelsey with utmost care, his hand resting gently against her back. Kelsey looked slightly nervous, but seeing how protective Landon was, her smirk returned.

Landon didn't even look at the woman standing in front of him. He simply said, "A close relative of my wife passed away. A master told us this hillside has the best energy, so we decided to buy out this entire section. How much do you want? One million? Two million?"

"Landon Pierce."

"No amount of money will ever be enough."

Hearing my voice, Landon finally snapped his head up. His brow furrowed with immediate irritation, and after waving the workers away, he snapped, "Helena, what kind of childish tantrum are you throwing now?"

I looked at him, feeling an overwhelming urge to laugh through the tears. "A tantrum? You hired men to dig up my dead parents, and you call this a tantrum?"

"Your parents?" Landon froze, his gaze darting to the overturned headstone. When he read the engraved names, the color drained from his face.

It took him a long time to find his voice. "I'm sorry. I didn't know this was their plot."

Kelsey immediately burst into dramatic tears. "Miss Ward, I truly didn't know either! I was just grieving and wanted to find the most peaceful resting place for my family. They raised me, and I only wanted to honor them in death."

Landon's heart melted at her tears. He gently wiped her cheeks with his thumb. "It's not your fault, baby. You never met Helena's parents."

When he turned back to me, his tone had flattened into cold authority. "Since the ground has already been broken, and Kelsey didn't do it on purpose, I'll purchase a premier plot in the city for your parents. Stop making a scene."

"Let Kelsey's family have this spot."

With just two dismissive sentences, he decided the fate of my parents' final resting place.

He didn't even give me a chance to speak.

A spark of triumph gleamed in Kelsey's eyes as she shot me a mocking glare from behind Landon's shoulder.

Looking at the desecrated dirt, a gaping void opened in my chest. I said nothing more. I knelt down, gathered my parents' urns into my arms, and began walking down the hill step by step.

Seeing how unnervingly quiet I was, an uneasy look crossed Landon's face. "Helena, let my chauffeur drive you down."

I shook my head without looking back. "Don't bother, Mr. Pierce."

"We are divorced."

Kelsey hurried after me, putting on a sickening show of concern. "Miss Ward, you're covered in dirt and not even wearing proper shoes. Let me have the assistant bring you some flats. The rocky path is dangerous, and your feet are already bleeding."

She reached out to grasp my hand, but beneath her polite facade, her sharp acrylic nails dug viciously into my bruised wrist.

A sharp pain shot up my arm, and I instinctively pulled away.

Kelsey took two exaggerated steps backward and stumbled to the grass, sobbing instantly. "Miss Ward, I was only trying to help! I'm so sorry!"

Landon immediately lunged forward to shield Kelsey, glaring at me with utter contempt. "Helena, when did you become so toxic and unhinged? You're acting like a raving lunatic!"

I didn't bother explaining. I turned to walk away.

Suddenly, Kelsey discreetly stuck her foot out. I tripped, tumbling violently down the stone steps. The porcelain urns shattered across the jagged rocks, and my lower abdomen slammed directly into a protruding boulder.

A searing, blinding agony tore through my core, soaking my back in cold sweat. A heavy, tearing pain dragged in my pelvis. I looked up at Landon in pure desperation. "Landon... my stomach... my baby..."

Before I could finish the sentence, Kelsey whined loudly, "Landon, I feel dizzy. Take me home."

Hearing her, Landon tapped her nose with affectionate concern. "You shouldn't be running around in your condition. Let's get you home to rest."

Landon's eyes were filled entirely with Kelsey.

He didn't spare a single glance for the woman bleeding on the rocks. As I curled into a ball from the excruciating pain, all I received was his parting scoff.

"Cut the dramatic act, Helena. It was just a little trip."