He Killed My Grandmother for His First Love

Chapter 3

After leaving the Murrays' house, I drove straight to the hospital to collect my grandmother's death certificate and ashes. I planned to take them back to the old house where she used to live.

But just as I was pulling out of the parking lot, I saw her, Elaina.

I hadn't even had the chance to place my grandmother's photo on the urn yet. Everything had been too rushed.

Elaina's eyes flicked to the urn in my arms. For a split second, confusion crossed her face. Then, with red-rimmed eyes and a shaky voice, she came running toward me like she was the one grieving.

"Charlee," she choked, tears clinging to her lashes. "It's all my fault. I should've held on to Ryan better. If I had, your grandmother wouldn't have gotten hurt."

Then she added, in the same breathless tone, "But… it's not entirely Ryan's fault either. Your grandmother... she should've been more careful."

She was still defending her damn dog.

I could barely see straight from the anger boiling inside me. This woman had let her dog maul my grandmother and now had the audacity to shift the blame?

Fury surged through me. My hand lifted almost on its own, I was about to slap her.

But Elaina grabbed my wrist first. Then, with a sharp tug, she yanked me off balance. To anyone watching, it would've looked like I'd pushed her.

She hit the pavement hard, her hand scraping against the gravel. Blood welled up from her palm, and her eyes shimmered with tears.

"Charlee," she whimpered, "I know you're angry, but why would you push me?"

Everything happened in a blur.

Then came the slap.

Hard.

Phillip's hand connected with my face so fast I didn't even have time to flinch.

"Have you lost your damn mind?!" he yelled, eyes blazing. "Didn't I tell you to stay the hell away from Elaina?!"

He pulled her into his arms like she was some delicate porcelain doll, shielding her from the rain while filthy puddle water splashed all over me.

I stood frozen, the sting of his slap still burning on my cheek.

The urn slipped from my arms.

It hit the ground with a sickening thud.

The lid popped off.

And just like that, my grandmother's ashes scattered across the wet pavement, mixing with the mud and rain.