I've met Mr. Delgado in person. Incredibly kind, very respectful toward women. Guess when you're that successful, jealous people just come crawling out of the woodwork.
That level of trending traffic didn't happen organically.
I knew Marian's hand was behind it.
I went back to the home I hadn't set foot in for three years.
I ran my fingers over the photograph on Freddy's urn, smiling bitterly.
"I'm sorry, buddy. Daddy didn't protect you."
A set of divorce papers landed on the table.
I had just reached for Freddy's urn to take him with me when the door was kicked open.
Marian stormed in, dragging Frederick behind her. His forehead was wrapped in gauze.
"Where's Freddy?"
I wiped the tears from the corners of my eyes. "What do you want?"
"What do I want?"
Marian let out a cold laugh. "Frederick got hurt. You put Freddy up to it, didn't you?"
"Marian!"
My fists clenched. "What are you talking about?"
Frederick gritted his teeth.
"Mr. Graves, why bother denying it? When that kid came at me with a hammer, I saw his face clear as day. It was him.
"He said he was getting revenge for you.
"If Marian hadn't shown up when she did, I was completely caught off guard. That kid might've actually killed me."
I clenched my jaw.
Marian stared at me, her expression ice-cold.
"I knew it. Living with a father like you, Freddy's learned how to lie too!
"If I'd known it would come to this, I should've taken him with me three years ago!
"Where is he? I'm taking him back. Frederick and I will raise him together. Anything is better than letting you ruin his entire life!"
"Fine!"
I carried the urn out. My eyes burned as I looked at them.
"Then you'd better go down there and teach him yourselves."
The portrait on the urn stared back at us.
Marian looked at me in disbelief.
My clenched fists trembled.
A year ago, when Freddy died, I'd spent every last cent I had to give him this final little home.
And in the next second, it shattered.
I lunged forward with a scream.
"Freddy!"
"Are you done with this act?!"
Marian seized me by the collar.
"How many times are you going to pull this stunt?"
She grabbed a fistful of ashes. "Charcoal powder mixed with bone-shaped molds. Did you really think I wouldn't notice? I pulled the same trick three years ago!
"You enjoy cursing your own son that much?"
"Mmph!"
The ashes were shoved into my mouth. I gagged violently.
"Eat it. You made the prop yourself, didn't you? Why so squeamish now?"