Chapter Seven Ethan opened his mouth to explain- Smack! My mother-in-law's palm cracked across his cheek. "If you dare protect that little bitch, don't you call me your mother again," she spat. Ethan trembled. He tried to say something-nothing came out. "This isn't the time," my father-in-law rasped. "Where is your sister's body?" "R-right. We need to bring Mia home," my mother-in-law said, snapping back to herself. Color drained from Ethan's face. They took two steps toward the door, then realized he hadn't moved. My mother-in-law-sharp all her life -heard her own voice turn hoarse. "Well? Say it. What did you do with your sister's body?" "I-I was afraid Serena would never let it go, so I... I-" "So what?" she swayed on her feet. "I had her cremated immediately," Ethan forced out, using up whatever strength he had left. The words landed-my in-laws' vision went black. They toppled like felled trees. Ethan scrambled to help. Ivy lunged too, then froze-she'd spent so much time flirting at the hospital she couldn't even manage basic first aid. She stood there, helpless. After a long while, they came to. "God in heaven-how could you be so cruel? I didn't even get to see my daughter one last time," my mother-in-law wailed, pounding the floor. My father-in-law muttered in misery, "Disgrace of a son... what a damned disgrace!" I watched, face blank. Where did they get the nerve to blame God? They'd done this to themselves. My little sister spat under her breath, "Serves you right." Mia's ashes were still scattered across the floor of my house. When they arrived and saw them, my mother-in-law broke again. When those ashes first hit the ground, Ethan had looked almost pleased with himself. Now that he knew whose remains those were, pain ripped through him like a blade. "You beast-this is how you treated your sister's ashes? How did I give birth to such an unfilial son?" my She grabbed a chair to smash over him-but seeing how hollow he looked, the chair froze in midair. Her gaze slid, unbidden, to Ivy glued to his side. "This is all your fault! If not for you, my daughter would be alive! I'll kill you!" She hurled the chair at Ivy. Ivy went white. Ethan threw up an arm; the chair slammed into him instead. "Even now you're shielding that little tramp?" my mother-in-law roared, eyes blazing. "Mom, every bit of this is on me," Ethan said, clutching his arm, tears spilling. "I'll give Mia the grandest funeral." "I doubt you'll have the time," I said, evenly. "What do you mean?" he blurted, head snapping up. "It's about time." The words had barely left my mouth when a squad of officers burst in. "When did you call the cops?" Ethan stared at me, panic coming fast. My in-laws stared too, stunned, watching their son get taken into custody. Forgetting their daughter's ashes, they dropped to their knees in front of me, pleading. "Serena, he's your husband!" "If you call this in, you'll ruin him. Tell them this was all a misunderstanding-please." I let out a cold laugh, then looked down at the ashes no one had cared to gather. Poor Mia. To be born into this family.