What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger novel Chapter 36

The next morning, Hudson, despite his well-known aversion to germs, tenderly cleaned and redressed my wounds.

The home nurse watched with barely concealed envy. I felt nothing but emptiness.

His heart seemed to break when he saw my crying-swollen eyes, that familiar look of worry crossing his face.

"Reese, I know you're grieving. Trust me, I am too. But you need to rest - I've lost our boy, I can't lose you too. Let me handle the funeral today."

Handle it? Like you handled murdering your own son?

Swallowing my bitter thoughts, I kept my voice steady.

"No. I need to say goodbye to my baby."

At the funeral home, I spotted them immediately - Valeria and a teenage boy, practically holding court with my mother-in-law Eleanor. They were making her laugh.

At her grandson's funeral.

Everyone else wore respectful black. But not Valeria - she'd chosen a skin-tight red dress. The teenager matched in a blazing red suit.

Eleanor didn't seem to notice or care. She fawned over them like they were her actual family, even having the staff shield them with umbrellas from the mild sun.

Valeria's eyes glittered when she saw me. "Oh Eleanor, sweetie, save the umbrella for poor Reese here. After all, she's the one who lost her child. And those injuries..."

Valeria flashed me a triumphant smirk before clutching Eleanor's arm.

"Please don't get upset, Eleanor darling. Besides, Leon would love to be your grandson - your real grandson."

Valeria sauntered over to me, the teenage boy trailing behind her like a prince.

"Reese, darling! Been forever! Sorry about the outfit, hun - literally just landed from overseas. No time to change! But you're always so... understanding about these things, aren't you, sweetie?"

"Oh, let me introduce you properly - this is my son, Leon Montclair."