She never understood that the reason her son clung to her so desperately was because he loved her more than anything.
The thing he said most often was that he wanted to grow up fast so he could protect Mommy.
But in Aria’s eyes, this deep affection was nothing but worthless trash.
She never stopped mocking me and my son.
In the end, she even warned me to discipline him properly, or she’d lock him away forever and never let us see each other again.
My heart felt hollow and dead. I pulled out my phone and made the call.
“Professor Achilles, I’ll join you on the overseas assignment this Saturday.”
After I cremated my son’s body, only then did the Ellison elders finally arrive.
Alaric Ellison and Agatha Ellison saw the grandson, who had been so full of life just days before, now reduced to a small, cold box. Grief washed over them completely.
With bloodshot eyes, I clutched the box against my chest and knelt before them.
“Uncle, Auntie, thank you for all the care you’ve given me over the years.”
Seeing me kneel, they rushed forward to lift me up.
But I only bowed my head stubbornly to the ground.
“This bow is from both Percival and me. From today on, I owe the Ellison family nothing.”
From the moment they heard me change how I addressed them, they understood that everything was beyond saving.
That final bow had been my way of severing all ties with the Ellison family.
Alaric clutched his chest while Agatha beat her chest and stomped her feet.
“What sin is this? My precious grandson, killed by my own daughter.”
“Calix, we wronged you, we wronged Percival, and we wronged your parents most of all.”
Years ago, when my parents passed away, they had entrusted Alaric and Agatha to take care of me.
Because of that favor, I always gave in to Aria in everything.
I had hoped that by tolerating her, by loving her, I could change her.
But in the end, it had all been my own delusion.
Alaric still tried to keep me, saying they would bring Aria back and stand up for me.
I only shook my head softly, held Percival’s urn, and turned to leave.
Stand up for me for what?
I wasn’t the one who died. It was Percival.
And Percival was already gone.
Even justice for him meant nothing anymore.
When I returned home and had just set Percival’s urn in place, Aria came back.
Before I could speak, she slapped me hard across the face.
“What do you think you are, running to my parents to complain?”
“I just locked Percival up for a few days to teach him a lesson so he wouldn’t cause trouble again, and you dare lie to my parents, saying he’s dead?”
I looked at her, hysterical over Zayden as always, and felt no more pain, only an endless regret.
When I stayed silent for a long time, Aria assumed I was admitting guilt.
She slapped me again.
“Remember this: I am your sky. You have no right to defy me.”
“Even Percival was just a product of you forcing me to give birth. Don’t you ever forget that?”
She still resented me for drugging and forcing her in the past.
No matter how many times I explained it wasn’t me, that it was Alaric and Agatha who planned it, she never believed me.
The first half of my life had been completely trapped by the Ellison family.
And now, I was actually freed through my son’s death.
I no longer looked at her. I stood up in silence, ready to leave.
Aria, surprised that I wasn’t arguing like before, seemed caught off guard.
She thought perhaps locking Percival up had gone too far.
So, for once, she tried to ease the tension.
“Fine, I know you loved Percival, but Zayden’s dog was hurt by him. I had no choice but to punish him.”
“You don’t want Percival to die tragically again like in the last life, do you?”
Aria believed she was helping Percival avoid a disaster.
I suddenly turned to look at her.
“If Percival still ends up being killed in this life, will you avenge him like you did in the last one?”
