Chapter 2

Bethany pov

*2 YEARS LATER*

NEW RET CEMETERY

I stood silently at my son’s gravestone, barely breathing, eyes closed, trying to conjure the strength to be here, to face what I lost.

With a shuddering breath, I knelt, brushing the cold stone with trembling fingers. In my hand, a rose flower—Jason’s favorite.

“Jason… Mama brought you a flower.” I whispered, placing it gently on the grave.

“Promise me you’ll wait for me on the other side. Don’t go anywhere… Mama will meet you soon.”

The weight of the words sank into me, pulling me down. Mama will meet you soon.

If there was a way out of the endless ache, this would be it. My life, once bursting with love, was now as barren as this frozen earth.

Jason was gone, and his father, that bastard, Fred had taken everything else I held dear. The success I’d found in business felt hollow, a counterfeit comfort. Without Jason, life had no color, no taste—just a ceaseless, cold ache.

A tear slipped down my cheek, landing on the stone with a gentle plop. “I’m so sorry, Jason. I never thought… I never thought I’d be here, saying goodbye to you.”

The memory of his face, bright and curious, shimmered in my mind. Now all I had was this stone and the rage that had scorched through me since he left.

Two years of barely contained fury, waiting for the moment when I’d face the man who’d caused this and finally have my revenge.

My fists clenched, but the anger left as quickly as it came, replaced by a crushing sadness. “Jason, forgive me,” I whispered.

“I shouldn’t think of him here, not in front of you.”

My hands trembled as I pulled a handkerchief from my coat pocket wiping my tears. “I owe you an apology, love. I’m sorry I couldn’t bring myself to look at you one last time in the casket.

If I’d seen you…” My voice broke. “If I’d seen you, I’d have gone with you.”

Ten minutes passed in silence, the atmosphere filled with grief and sadness.

I took a quick glance at my watch and saw that I had an hour to my meeting, so I forced myself to stand.

Just as I was about to leave, a voice behind me startled me.

“I think he’d want you to stay.”

I spun around, heart hammering, to see Dean, my business associate, whom I had a meeting with standing a few feet away.

He’d never seemed the sentimental type, but he was the closest thing I had to a friend now.

“Do you speak ghost?” I forced a smile, though my heart wasn’t in it.

He returned the smile, soft and knowing. “No, just English.”

I glanced at him, confused. “What are you doing here? Our meeting’s at the restaurant, not a cemetery.”

With a casual shrug, he took a few steps closer, hands in his pockets. “Let’s just say my ancestors are reaching out for a better business deal.”

Despite myself, I chuckled, shaking my head. “You didn’t have to come here, Dean.”

He paused, staring past me at Jason’s grave. “I know what it’s like to lose family. You’re a fighter, Bethany.”

A sad smile flickered across my face. “Fighter or not, it still feels like losing.” My voice was barely a whisper.

For a moment, he just stood there, hands in his pockets, before offering gently, “If today isn’t a good time, we can reschedule. I didn’t mean to intrude.”

“No,” I said quickly, more for myself than him.

“I’ll be fine. Just… head to the restaurant. I’ll join you shortly.”

“Alright.” He nodded, lingering a moment before finally walking away.

Just as I was turning back to leave, a white Mercedes screeched to a halt beside me, nearly hitting my car. I spun around, ready to shout, but the words died in my throat as I saw her—Chantel. The woman my ex-husband had left me for, the woman whose presence had poisoned the last years of my life.

I didn’t want to talk to her, didn’t want to even breathe the same air, but she strode towards me, her heels crunching over the icy ground, wearing a white gown and sunglasses like she was oblivious to winter.

Her audacity was galling.

She stopped a few feet away, feigning surprise. “Bethany! Fancy meeting you here.”

I clenched my fists, trying to keep calm. “I’m not interested in small talk, Chantel. If you don’t mind, I have somewhere to be.”

Ignoring my attempt to leave, she gave me a once-over. “Still single, are we? It must be difficult… keeping someone in your life.”

“Excuse me?” I shot back, my voice like ice.

“I could say the same to someone who wears sunglasses in winter.”

She flinched, caught off guard and whined. “Oh, Bethany, still the same defensive spirit. Well, Fred sends his regards.”

She let out a cruel laugh. “He still remembers you, you know. That is… when I remind him.”

I felt the blood drain from my face as she kept talking, savoring my discomfort.

“Well, in case you haven’t heard, we’re getting engaged. You’re invited to the party.” She held out her hand, showing off a ring that wasn't on her finger.

I clenched my teeth. “I don’t care about you or him. You don’t exist to me, Chantel.”

“Oh, Bethany…” she sighed, pretending to be sympathetic.

“It’s just sad, you know? You can’t blame me for taking what you couldn’t hold onto.”

The line crossed a part of me I’d tried to keep contained. I stepped forward, raising my hand, fury boiling over.

But before I could slap her, Dean was there, pulling me back.

“Bethany, stop!” His voice cut through the fog of anger, grounding me, and I took a shuddering breath, stepping back.

Chantel smiled, basking in her victory. “So easy to rile you up, Beth. No wonder Fred left.”

I felt Dean’s hand on my shoulder, and I allowed him to guide me back to the car.

Just as I was about to climb in, Fred stepped out yelling, " Chantel...you said you wanted to say hi, that's all. What the hell is keeping you so long? "

This time I retreated, walking back to their presence.

" Bethany! "

" My Ex-husband Fred, " I said confidently.

" Long time no see. Yet, I see no reason why you should keep my wife waiting! "

I sneered, " Look at you. You have no shame at all. Aren't you supposed to be here grieving for your dead son? No, you're here flaunting your life with your wife! "

" Beth...

I cut him off with a warning, " I've waited my life for this moment, it's been two years so it won't be immature to take revenge on you now. I'm being so sizzling because I will come at you like a lion. You son of a bitch! "

I stared daggers at him before heading to my car but a tiny voice stopped me.

“Hey..., I want to go to school… my friends are waiting.”

The voice… it was Jason’s voice. I turned, heart pounding, and saw a small boy with familiar, bright eyes tugging at Fred's sleeve.

“Jason?” I whispered, the ground seeming to shift beneath me.

Fred looked up, surprise flashing across his face, but before I could speak, he hurried Jason away. The shock of seeing him alive, Jason, hit me like a tidal wave.

I stumbled back, grabbing onto Dean’s arm for support. “That’s… that was my son,” I murmured, breathless, unable to comprehend what I’d just seen.