The scene was horrific beyond words. Police officers filled the area, lights flashing everywhere.
The police couldn't even tell what the vehicle had originally looked like from the wreckage.
Only a few personal belongings left inside allowed them to confirm that there had been a single fatality, the body completely carbonized by the flames.
Nothing remained intact.
Damien had imagined the ending between himself and Lydia countless times, but never like this.
Even rescue efforts had become meaningless.
He watched helplessly as the rescue workers carefully recovered what little they could that belonged to Lydia.
His body trembled uncontrollably as he belatedly pulled his phone from his coat pocket.
He mechanically returned the countless missed calls. There was no response.
An earlier number, however, went through.
It was the hospital. "Mr. Hayes? Your wife's surgical abortion went smoothly today, but she insisted on being discharged. We tried calling you many times, but you didn't answer…"
Damien gradually stopped hearing the voice on the other end. The hand gripping the phone only grew colder and colder.
He remembered how Lydia had carefully asked him the night before, and how he had readily promised to go to the hospital with her.
She had a severe fear of sharp objects. Even a simple injection would leave her ashen as if half her life had been drained away.
Damien didn't dare imagine how she must have faced those moments alone on the operating table.
He took a deep breath, straightened himself, and faced Ethan Reeves, an acquaintance who was walking toward him, the officer in charge of the accident.
"My condolences."
They shook hands. Ethan briefly explained what had happened, then, perhaps unsettled by Damien's expression, gave his shoulder an awkward pat before walking away.
Damien's other private phone kept vibrating.
Ava's number appeared on the screen again and again.
He didn't want to answer.
At that moment, all he wanted was a brief stretch of silence.
Memories rushed through his mind, carrying him back through the four brief years he had shared with Lydia. One year of dating, three years of marriage.
There had been sweetness once. Lydia's flawless face had been etched into his heart from the very first moment their eyes met.
Ava had only ever been a resemblance. A substitute.
When had she gradually stopped mattering so much? Even Damien couldn't say.
He had grown accustomed to her waiting. No matter what he did, she was always there.
After signing every accident report, he pulled his coat tighter and got back into the car, driving away at full speed.
The wind howled past. His mind was completely blank.
Inside the estate, Ava sat restlessly. The moment he pushed the door open and stepped inside, she stood up at once.
"Mrs. Hayes, what happened to her…?"
He saw anticipation in Ava's eyes, undisguised and unmistakable. A wave of nausea rose in his chest.
His expression remained indifferent as he replied flatly, "She's dead. The car burned out. Nothing was left."
"What about the Carter family…"
Damien pushed past her impatiently, speaking quickly as he headed toward the study.
"Call the Carter family. The funeral will be held in three days. Tomorrow, you'll handle the paperwork for her death certificate. And one more thing." He paused mid-step. "Have someone pack up all her belongings. Throw them away… no, put them in storage for now."
The obituary for his late wife was released in the middle of the night.
Miles's carefully chosen words vividly portrayed the grief and agony of a devoted couple torn apart by death.
All information about the extravagant birthday celebration for Ava had already been erased from the internet.
As if, from the very beginning, Damien had been a man deeply devoted to his wife, Lydia.
On the day of the funeral, the heaviest snowfall in a decade fell over Crownford.
It was as though the snow meant to bury all filth deep underground, just as the Hayes Estate looked cold and mournful from the outside.
Inside, fires burned warmly. Ava held Ronan close, smiling as she ate the nutritional food served by the servants.
Upstairs in the study, Damien removed his wedding ring and casually tossed it deep into the wardrobe.
