A roar filled Caelen’s ears. He staggered back, slamming into the window frame.

*CRACK!*

A wooden splinter dug deep into his arm, leaving a bloody gash.

No—

“It can’t be… Dad!”

He ran like a madman toward the interrogation room. How could his father commit suicide?

He had promised he would be okay, that nothing would happen to him!

But—

When he reached the interrogation room door, the scene before him made his vision go black.

His father lay on the cold floor, a gaping wound on his forehead. The walls, the floor, everything was spattered with blood…

“Dad!”

He stumbled forward and fell to his knees, crawling toward the old man’s body. He took his hand, his voice a gentle, trembling whisper. “Dad, wake up. Don’t scare me…”

“Please, just open your eyes and look at me. I know you were wronged. I’ve already found someone to clear your name. I’ll be able to take you home soon.”

“…Dad.”

He cradled the man in his arms, his voice shaking with terror. “Please don’t leave me… I can’t live without you…”

But no matter how much he begged, the man in his arms never opened his eyes again.

Outside, the wind howled, whipping the snow into a frenzy.

The world grew cold, and there was no warmth left in it.

…

With his death, all accusations and injustices were buried.

Soon, it was Arthur Rhodes’s funeral.

In the three days leading up to it, Liana, his daughter-in-law, never once appeared.

At the gravesite.

Caelen stared blankly at the smiling face in the black-and-white photograph, his eyes shattered and empty.

He was once the most envied son of the mill director in the whole community. In the blink of an eye, he had nothing.

How did it come to this?

What had he done wrong?

But if he was the one who did something wrong, why wasn't he the one being punished? Why did his father have to endure such slander?

Just then, a sharp, mocking voice came from behind. “Tsk, tsk, how tragic. The great Director Rhodes, once worshipped wherever he went, and now not a single person comes to his funeral.”

“Caelen Rhodes, how pathetic are you and your father?”

Caelen turned numbly. Julian Croft stood there, smugly holding up his right hand, flashing a conspicuous gold ring in Caelen’s face.

“See this? Liana picked it out for me herself yesterday. We’re getting married soon. As for a jinx like you, who got his own father killed, if you have any decency, you’ll leave this place forever and atone for your father’s death.”

Caelen’s head snapped up. “What did you just say?”

Seeing he finally got a reaction, Julian’s smile widened. “Your father died for you, you know.”

“But he died for nothing. Liana told him she was going to divorce you. Your father, worried about dragging you down, killed himself. But even with him dead, you couldn’t save your marriage in the end, could you?”

“Get out!”

Caelen couldn’t listen anymore. He shoved Julian. “Don’t you dare speak ill of my father in front of his grave!”

Julian staggered back, his face darkening with rage. “If you don’t believe me, go ask Liana! I was just telling you out of pity, and you’re ungrateful? You’re insane!”

After spewing his venom, he left.

A light rain began to fall.

Caelen had no umbrella. He just walked slowly through the rain, icy pellets stinging his skin.

Soon, his face and hands were blue with cold.

But he kept walking forward, his eyes numb and expressionless, like a corpse that could no longer feel pain.

He returned home, his soaked clothes already stiff with a thin layer of ice.

Liana was there.

Seeing his drenched state, her expression changed. She grabbed a towel from the bedside and hurried toward him. “How did you get so soaked?”

“…Don’t touch me!”

Caelen recoiled, his jaw chattering as he spoke.

He couldn’t tell if it was from cold or hatred. The frigid air caught in his throat, and he clutched his shirt, struggling to breathe.

“*Cough, cough!*”

Liana frowned, ignoring her reddened, slapped hand. She turned and poured a cup of hot water. “Here, warm up—”

“I don’t need your crocodile tears!”

Caelen slapped the cup away, stumbling back.

His left hand trembled, his eyes locked on the woman before him, burning with an intense hatred. “You and Julian are about to get married. Is there any point in putting on this act?”

“What marriage? What are you talking about?”

Liana looked even angrier than he was.

Caelen let out a bitter laugh, his gaze fixed on her eyes. “Let me ask you this—did you or did you not mention divorce to my father?”

Liana froze. After a long silence, she nodded. “I did.”