I hurled the tablet across the room , shattering it against the wall . " Shut your damn mouths ! She's not dead . Don't ever say that again . She's my wife . She belongs here with me . " Fresca slid close , wrapping her arms around mine , tears spilling down her cheeks . " Beckley ... maybe it's better this way . She was sick , remember ? Maybe this is God's will . ' My head snapped toward her , eyes blazing . " What did you just say ? " She flinched . " I ... I mean , she was suffering . Maybe this was God's way of ending her pain- " I shoved her off me , voice low and dangerous . " Don't you ever say that word to me again , Fresca . Not once . Or I swear I'll forget who you are in my life ." Her face went pale . " Beckley , wait- " I didn't wait . I stormed out , ignoring her voice calling my name . My only thought was one thing . I needed to see that body . I needed to know with my own eyes if it was really Claire . I slammed the morgue doors open , my voice echoing in the cold room . " Show me my wife . Now . " The staff looked at each other nervously before one of them pulled a sheet back . My breath stopped . The face ... it was burned beyond recognition . Nothing left of the woman I knew . Only the ring on her finger , her bracelet , and her phone on the tray beside her proved it was her . My knees buckled , and I gripped the steel edge of the table . " No ... no , this isn't her . This can't be her . " My throat was raw . " Run a DNA test . Right now . I don't care what it costs . Do it ! " TL They nodded quickly and left . I couldn't stay in that room . I went up to the rootop , the wind hitting my face , but it didn't clear the heaviness in my chest . That dream of her in the rain came back to me -her knees to her chest , blood in her eyes , looking up at me like she needed me . And I ignored her . I left her out there . My jaw clenched so hard it hurt . My phone buzzed . Fresca's name lit the screen . I muted it . I didn't want her voice . Not now . Then another call came through - the doctor . My heart stopped . I rushed back 1/3 26.2 % REP Thu , Oct 16 My knees buckled , and I gripped the steel edge of the table . " No ... no , this isn't her . This can't be her . " My throat was raw . " Run a DNA test . Right now , I don't care what it costs . Do it ! " They nodded quickly and left . I couldn't stay in that room . I went up to the rooftop , the wind hitting my face , but it in didn't clear the heaviness Chest . That dream of her in the rain came back to me -her knees to her chest , blood in her eyes , looking up at me like she needed me . And 1 ignored her . I left her out there . My jaw clenched so hard it hurt . My phone buzzed . Fresca's name lit the screen . I muted it . I didn't want her voice . Not now . Then another call came through - the doctor . My heart stopped . I rushed back down . The doctor waited with a paper in his hand . His expression was heavy . " It's a match , " he said softly . " One hundred percent . The body is your wife's . " The world tilted . My hands shook so badly I couldn't take the paper . I stumbled back and dropped to the floor . " No ... no , you're wrong . You're wrong ! " I dragged myself to the table and pulled the sheet back again . I wrapped my arms around her burnt body , not caring about the smell of smoke and death . " Claire ... baby , wake up . Please . You can't leave me like this . You hate me , I know , but scream at me , curse me , slap me ! Just don't stay quiet . " The staff tried to pull me away . " Sir , please , you can't- " " Get your hands off me ! " I roared , clutching her tighter . I pressed my lips to her burned hand . " I still love you . God , I still love you . I'm sorry ... I'm sorry I didn't see you . I'm sorry I slapped you . I'm sorry I left you in the rain . I chose her over you every damn time , and now it's too late . " I sobbed like a broken man , and my chest caving in as I held her . The strongest man in the city , reduced to nothing in that cold room . I arranged everything myself . The funeral had to be perfect . The best casket , the best flowers , the grandest ceremony . " She was my wife , " I told them . " She deserves the world . " A man from the funeral home came later with a file in his hand . " Sir ... your wife actually came here weeks ago . She made arrangements herself and even picked the burial site . " He slid a photo across the table . Claire's funeral portrait . The one she had chosen . My blood turned to ice . 8:56 Thu , Oct 16 . I sobbed like a broken man , and my chest caving in as I held her . The strongest man in the city , reduced to nothing in that cold room . I arranged everything myself . The funeral had to be perfect . The best casket , the best . flowers , the grandest ceremony . " She was my wife , " I told them . " She deserves the world . " A man from the funeral home came later with a file in his hand . " Sir ... your wife actually came here weeks ago . She made arrangements herself and even picked the burial site ." He slid a photo across the table . Claire's funeral portrait . The one she had chosen . My blood turned to ice . I remembered it . The day she was taking those pictures . Fresca and I walked past her . She laughed nervously , saying it was for an ID photo . I believed her . I didn't ask . My hands gripped the frame until my knuckles went white . Even when the accident happened , I ran to Fresca . I told myself she was the one hurt most . I never once thought of my wife ... the woman bleeding , broken , and alone . Now she was gone . And I could never undo it . I hadn't slept for three days . I sat there like stone beside Claire's coffin , not moving , not eating , not answering anyone . Fresca tried to come close once , her hand reaching for the flowers on top of the coffin . I caught her wrist midair . " Don't touch her . " She froze and stepped back . My parents came too , worried eyes , begging me to rest . My father spoke quietly , " Son , this isn't healthy . Come with us . You need strength . " I didn't even look at him . " Leave me . This is my punishment . I'll stay with her alone . " I stayed until my eyes burned , until my body trembled with weakness . The silence of the funeral hall pressed into me . That night , slumped against the coffin , I finally drifted off . In the dream , Claire was walking ahead of me , wearing a white dress , her figure soft in the mist . " Claire ! " I called , running after her . " Wait ! Please don't leave me again . " She kept walking , her face turned away . Just as my hand almost touched hers , arms clamped around me . Fresca . She clung to me , pulling me back . Chanter A 3/3 28.6 % Ardy . Come with us . You neeu Stiengun . 420 I didn't even look at him . " Leave me . This is my punishment . I'll stay with her alone ." I stayed until my eyes burned , until my body trembled with weakness . The silence of the funeral hall pressed into me . That night , slumped against the coffin , I finally drifted off . In the dream , Claire was walking ahead of me , wearing a white dress , her figure soft in the mist . " Claire ! " I called , running after her . " Wait ! Please don't leave me again . " She kept walking , her face turned away . Just as my hand almost touched hers , arms clamped around me . Fresca. She clung to me , pulling me back . " Stay with me , Beckley , " she whispered . I saw Claire turn . She didn't even glance at me . She just walked into the fog until she was gone . I " No ! " I screamed , jolting awake . My chest heaved . Sweat covered me , and I felt my body burn . Fever . The room spun . Fresca was kneeling beside me , pressing a cool cloth on my forehead . " Beckley , please , " she cried . " Why are you punishing yourself like this ? You'll kill yourself ." I tried to shove her hand away . " Don't touch me ." But she stayed there , tears streaming down her face . Then her voice cracked , trembling . " You want the truth ? The reason I delayed the bone marrow surgery all this time ... it's because- " She broke down , clutching her stomach . " Beckley , I'm pregnant ." 8:56 Thu , Oct 16 Chapter 9