Only then did James snap back to his senses.
He stepped forward, shielding Natalie behind him and raised his hand—then slapped me across the face with full force.
“Amy, that slap was for Natalie. What have you become?”
My head rang. A cold, wet sensation slid down the side of my face.
I reached up and touched it—blood.
My cheek throbbed with burning pain. James didn’t even glance at me.
His voice was like ice.
“She’s lost her mind. Get her out of here,” James ordered coldly.
“And those music box—sweep them up and throw them in the trash. Amy, this is what you wanted. He won't be remembered.".”
At his command, people stepped forward to clean up the remains of my son’s memories—our son—right there on the ground.
“James! Do you even have a heart? That’s your child’s favorite things!”
He sneered coldly.
“You should remember this, Amy. Samuel ended up like this because of you. Take this as your lesson.”
With that, he picked Natalie up in his arms and turned his back on me.
I struggled wildly against the people holding me back.
“Please, stop! Don’t do this to me! I was wrong—I’ll apologize, just don’t throw his stuff away. They’re very valuable for me!”
Natalie spoke up with fake concern, her voice trembling ever so slightly.
“James... maybe you should forgive her. She’s only acting this way because she’s upset with you.”
But that smug look on her face—she couldn’t hide it.
I snapped.
“You did this. You grabbed the box. You shattered the box on purpose! James, you saw it too—didn’t you?!”
His face, which had softened for a moment, hardened again.
“So you’ve learned nothing. I only ever tolerated you before.”
And then—he strode toward me.
He dumped every last pieces of Samuel’s music box into the trash can.
The world in front of me bled red.
***
When I came back to my senses, I was on the floor.
James stood over me, a chunk of his cheek torn and bleeding, staring in disbelief and fury.
“Amy! Are you insane?! You bit me!”
I looked up at him—and laughed.
“Yes. I was insane to ever believe you were a good person. You’re a murderer. You killed your own son.”
His face darkened. The next second, a sharp sting pierced my arm.
Just before I blacked out, I saw him panic for the first time.
When I came to, a man’s voice hovered in my ears.
“Don’t worry, Mr. Klawn. It’s just a tranquilizer. The madam was too agitated. Let her rest.”
I slowly opened my eyes.
But what I saw wasn’t James.
It was a man I didn’t know—half-undressed, his expression twisted into a leering smile.
“Madam, you must be lonely. I’m here to keep you company.”
I stared at him, numb.
I didn’t feel fear anymore. Not anger. Nothing.
Only when his hand reached toward me did something in me snap.
CRASH!
A cup flew through the air and shattered against his head.
He let out a guttural cry, collapsing to the floor. The door burst open.
Natalie stood there.
She looked genuinely startled—for a moment.
“Amy... you're still recovering. How could you seduce someone into your room like this? James would be heartbroken if he saw this.”
Once upon a time, I would’ve screamed in defense, fought to explain myself.
Now?
I just smiled, cold as ice.
“Isn’t this what you wanted?”
Natalie stumbled back a step, startled by my tone.
Then came footsteps—fast, heavy.
James burst into the room.
His face went ghostly pale the moment he saw the scene. His expression tightened in fury as his eyes locked on me.
“Amy. Explain. Who is this man?”
