"Garry, you don't get a say in this."
"I don't get a say?" Garry let out a cold laugh and planted himself right in front of me. "Ida, I think I've been too good to you. Without the title of Mrs. Sanchez, what do you even have?"
Even though hope had long since died inside me, his cutting words still sent a stab of pain through my chest.
"Garry, I have an idea." Kayla's smile dripped with malice as she laid out her little scheme. "The only reason she dares act this way is because she's been living comfortably with nothing to worry about, right? Just freeze her bank cards. Give it a few days and she'll come crawling back, begging to make nice."
"Fine. Freeze them."
Garry turned to me, his face dark as a storm. "You can still apologize. Do it now, and I might reconsider."
"Go ahead and freeze them." I lifted my chin, a bitter smile on my lips. I wanted to see him try.
"Unbelievable." This time Garry didn't hesitate. He dialed the bank immediately. "I have several cards under my name. Shut them all down."
The bank representative verified the information several times before responding in an odd tone. "Mr. Sanchez, are you sure you want to freeze these particular cards?"
"Yes!" Garry's voice was clipped with impatience. "How many times do I have to say it?"
"I'm sorry, Mr. Sanchez, but these cards have had a zero balance for quite some time. There hasn't been a single transaction in six months."
Garry froze. He stared at me, bewildered. "No living expenses? How have you been surviving these past six months? I transferred money to you every month..."
I laughed, hollow and self-mocking. "How generous of you to remember. Six months ago, you told me Kayla was frugal and responsible while I did nothing but blow money buying press coverage to flaunt our relationship. So you cut off my allowance yourself. Ring any bells?"
A tangle of emotions crossed his face. He stood there in silence for a long time, until the customer service representative's voice pulled him back. "Mr. Sanchez? Would you still like to proceed with freezing the cards?"
"No..."
"Of course he would." Kayla snatched the phone from his hand. "Garry, don't let her fool you. Even if her allowance was cut, she still has shares in the Sanchezes. The monthly dividends alone are a fortune."
"Right. You almost slipped that past me." Garry placed the phone firmly in Kayla's palm, a sharp glint in his eyes as he looked at me. "When did you get so calculating, Ida? From now on, Kayla decides how much you spend."
I met the contempt in his gaze without flinching. My expression gave away nothing.
Shares in the Sanchezes? The family had taken those back the day after our wedding, citing one excuse or another.
A message lit up my phone screen.
Ida, your flight in three days is confirmed. Will you be ready to leave on schedule?
I replied yes and started packing.
Before I left, I wanted to visit Lily's grave one last time. I didn't want to be overseas, aching with the regret of not having said goodbye.
I'd hired someone to find the perfect resting place for her. Rolling green hills, clear water, beautiful scenery. Lily would have loved it.
I set the fruit and flowers down in front of the headstone in silence, and only when I lifted my head did my eyes betray me, red and burning. "Lily, I promise you, Mommy will make them pay. Just wait for me a little longer, okay?"
Then I saw the photograph.
My pupils contracted.
That wasn't Lily. It was a stranger. A middle-aged man I had never seen before.
My blood ran cold. Who did this?
I tore through the cemetery in a frenzy, making trip after trip until I finally tracked down the manager. "Where is my daughter? What did you do with my daughter?"
The manager looked completely baffled. "Ms. Swanson, didn't you come in yesterday when the payment was due and say you wouldn't be renewing? You said you had your own arrangements for the ashes."
"What are you talking about? I never received a payment reminder. Who did you call?" My voice cracked, tears choking the words in my throat. Who had done this to my baby girl?
