Tiffany held Peter in her arms and snapped at me, her voice sharp with rage.
"Joseph, are you insane?! Who told you to lay a hand on Peter?!"
Before I could utter a word, Peter cut in first, his voice dripping with grievance.
"Tiffany, I only came to comfort Joseph, but he accused me of wearing red on purpose to bring him bad luck. He said I was trying to curse him and even tried to push me down the steps to make me die with Levi!"
His voice trembled as he choked back sobs.
"I’m devastated over Levi, too! I rushed here straight from the airport. I didn’t even have time to change! Tiffany, you know how timid I am… I’m really scared…"
Tiffany’s expression darkened as she turned to me, her fury burning in her eyes.
"You were just unlucky enough to run into a lunatic and now you’re blaming others?! Peter was only trying to comfort you because he didn’t want you drowning in guilt! If you can’t appreciate it, fine, but why push him?!"
"What’s wrong with wearing red?! Peter already said it wasn’t intentional. Maybe Levi liked bright colors! Why do you have to be so petty?!"
"You even used Levi’s death to curse Peter. Can’t you let your child rest in peace? What kind of heartless father are you?!"
Heartless? Petty? I caused Levi’s death?!
Tears streamed down my face as I jabbed a trembling finger at Levi’s gravestone, my voice breaking with rage.
"Tiffany, you call me heartless, then tell me, do you have a clear conscience?!"
"Do you dare to stand before Levi and tell him why he died?! Do you dare to admit what kind of surgery you had the doctor perform on his father?!"
Tiffany frowned, scoffing as if my words were nothing more than noise.
"What nonsense are you shouting? Levi died because you failed to protect him."
"And as for the surgery, I begged the doctor to save your life. Was that wrong? Joseph, I think you should get your brain checked. Stop making a scene and apologize to Peter!"
Peter leaned into her, his voice pitiful, his body sagging against hers in feigned weakness.
"Forget it, Tiffany… Even though Joseph wanted to hurt me, he did just lose his child. Let’s be the bigger people, okay? My foot really hurts… I think I twisted it just now. Will you take me to the hospital?"
Tiffany shot me one last look, cold, sharp, utterly disappointed, before turning away without hesitation. Without a second thought, she helped Peter walk off, her loyalty no longer mine to hold.
Just before he disappeared, Peter lifted his head ever so slightly and mouthed two words at me.
"Pathetic."
I watched them fade into the distance, the weight of finality settling over me. I knew then that it was over between me and Tiffany.
I bought a new urn and had the cemetery staff carefully retrieve Levi’s ashes. With the utmost care, I placed them inside, cradling the urn in my arms as I turned away.
This farce of a funeral, Levi didn’t deserve it.
This heartless mother, Levi, never needed her.
When I returned home, I dismissed the housekeeper, granting her an extended leave. Silence settled over the house like an unwelcome guest.
Then, Tiffany called.
"Joseph, are you home? Don’t worry, Peter’s foot is fine. I’m sorry about today. I shouldn’t have said those things while you were grieving. That wasn’t my intention."
"But those steps were so high… If Peter had fallen and something had happened to him, what would Gabriel do? We already lost our child; I couldn’t bear to see Gabriel lose his father, too."
"Gabriel is just a child. As his godmother and Peter’s friend, it’s only right that I take care of them. Don’t overthink it."
I remained composed, my voice unnervingly calm. "I understand. It’s fine. Take good care of them."
"That’s why I love my husband, so thoughtful. Levi always wanted to see the ocean, right? I’ve already booked the tickets. The day after tomorrow, we’re leaving. I’ll take you there to relax."
"Even though Levi is gone, as his parents, we should still fulfill his last wish. Be good and wait for me to pick you up."
The entire night, Peter bombarded me with WhatsApp messages.
To make it up to him and to keep Gabriel happy, Tiffany spared no expense by buying a private jet and whisking them off on an overnight shopping spree in Las Vegas.
And yet, in three years, my Levi never once had his mother take him to see the ocean.
"Joseph, what do you have to compete with me?"
If I couldn’t compete, then I wouldn’t.
By the next day, Tiffany still hadn’t returned, but Peter’s messages kept coming, photo after photo, video after video. Some were of their extravagant trip, others… of them entangled in bed, indulging in every pleasure imaginable.
I didn’t reply. I didn’t react.
Instead, I packed up everything that belonged to me and Levi. Then, without a second thought, I gave it all away.
On the afternoon of the third day, Tiffany finally remembered me and sent a message.
[Joseph, something came up at the company. I’ll have my assistant pick you up for the airport first; I’ll be there soon.]
What she didn’t know was that just a minute earlier, Peter had sent me another video.
Today was Gabriel’s birthday. Tiffany had spared no expense, booking the most extravagant hotel for his coming-of-age ceremony.
In the video, she delicately pinned a priceless pink diamond brooch onto Peter’s lapel, then pressed a soft kiss to his forehead.
"Peter, thank you for giving me such a wonderful son. You are our family’s greatest benefactor."
I didn’t reply. I didn’t hesitate.
I blocked them both, then slipped the divorce papers and a USB drive into an envelope and had them delivered straight to the hotel.
After leaving Levi’s wish note on the table, I cradled his ashes, took one last look at the home I had lived in for over a decade and walked out.
Straight to the airport.
Goodbye, Tiffany.
