The Wife Who Jumped on New Year's Eve

Chapter 4

With Grandma Wilson and Lily Bennett now laid to rest, Joanna Taylor thought—just for a moment—that her grief had finally begun to dull.

That illusion shattered the second she stepped through the front door.

Inside the living room, workers were dismantling the walls—no, not the walls, Lily's paintings. Her daughter's final masterpieces.

Joanna's heart jumped into her throat. She charged forward.

"Hey! What the hell are you doing? Who told you you could touch those?"

At the top of the staircase, Crystal Lynn appeared in satin pajamas, rubbing her eyes as if she'd just rolled out of bed.

"Oh, Joanna," she said with a lazy yawn, "I asked them to take those down. I want to hang some of my own work. Ryan already said it's fine."

Before Joanna could respond, Ryan Bennett descended behind her, cool and composed.

"Joanna, Crystal's a professional. She says these pieces lack technique and artistic value."

He waved a hand, as if dismissing dust.

"Just get rid of them. When Lily comes back, Crystal can guide her properly."

Joanna's entire body tensed. Her voice trembled with fury.

"You think you can just throw them away? Those are our daughter's last drawings!"

"She's never coming back!"

Ryan's jaw tightened. His tone turned cold.

"Not this again."

"Burn every single one," he ordered the workers. "I don't want to see them again. Crystal will handle Lily's education from now on. I won't let you poison her anymore."

Joanna snapped.

She lunged for the nearest canvas, but security guards pinned her back. All she could do was scream as the workers smashed the frames, feeding them to the roaring fire in the hearth.

"No!"

Her cry ripped through the house, guttural and raw—but no one flinched.

Behind Ryan, Crystal wore a smug smile, running her fingers gently down his back.

"Don't be upset, Ryan," she cooed. "I'll take good care of Lily."

Joanna broke free, hurling herself at the flames. She reached in, ignoring the searing pain, and yanked out the last half-burnt canvas.

Ryan stepped forward, alarm flashing across his face.

"Stop her!"

But it was too late. No one could stop a mother who had nothing left to lose.

Through the blackened edges of the canvas, Lily's smiling face was still visible—clutching three flowers.

One for Grandma. One for Mommy. And one for Daddy.

Joanna stared down at it, her vision swimming.

Her sweet girl, who loved so selflessly. Who had done nothing to deserve this.

Everything went black.

Somewhere in the darkness, Crystal's sugary voice echoed like poison.

"Ryan… maybe I should just leave. I don't want to cause any more trouble."

"My health is fragile. But with Joanna acting out, hurting herself like this… I feel guilty."

Ryan's reply was cutting.

"I'll handle her. She's gone too far. You're not going anywhere."

Crystal sighed softly.

"You've always taken such good care of me."

Joanna fought to wake up. But the nightmare dragged her deeper.

When she finally came to, sunlight was leaking through the blinds—and her phone had over 30 missed calls.

They were all from the funeral home that handled Lily and Grandma's arrangements.

A knot twisted in her gut as she picked up.

"Ms. Taylor!" the director's panicked voice burst through. "Serenity Peak—Ryan's sending in bulldozers! He's leveling the site to plant lilies for Crystal!"

Joanna shot up, heart pounding.

No. Please, no.

She drove like hell, praying the headstones were still there. That their names hadn't been erased.

But when she arrived, heavy machinery loomed over the graves like predators.

She leapt from the car and threw herself in front of the excavator, her eyes wild, her voice hoarse.

"My family's buried here! You'll have to kill me before you touch a single inch of this land!"

Ryan stepped forward, face like stone.

"Enough, Joanna. Crystal said Lily's being neglected at boarding school."

"Bring her home. When the lilies bloom, she can paint in peace."

He nodded toward the graves.

"And Grandma can rest here too. Will that finally shut you up?"

Joanna's knees buckled. Her voice cracked.

"They're gone. They've been dead for months. Why won't you listen?!"

But her pain didn't register.

Crystal walked over with a look of fake sympathy and concern.

"Don't worry, Joanna. I'll take care of Lily."

Her soft smile oozed triumph.

Look at me. I've taken everything. And Ryan will always choose me.

Joanna's fist shot out. She shoved Crystal hard.

"You sick—"

Crystal crumpled to the ground like glass, sobbing on cue.

"I was only trying to help..."

Ryan's last shred of patience snapped.

He gestured to the guards without even looking at Joanna.

"Get her out of here. Don't let her come back."