Chapter 10
Evan Carter froze, the words from the copycat killer echoing in his mind as he turned to look at Lila. Her panicked reaction spoke volumes, and for the first time, reality hit him hard.
“Lila!” he shouted, his voice shaking with rage,
“I can’t believe it. You’re the killer? After everything I’ve done for you, you betrayed me!”
“Why, Lila? Why did you hurt Ava? Why did you hurt Chloe?” he demanded, his voice breaking, “You’re a monster!”
Crabbing a glass from the coffee table, Evan hurled it at Lila.
hattered against her forehead, leaving a bleeding cut,
Instead of crying or cowering, she threw her head back and laughed maniacally.
“A monster? Look in the mirror, Evan,” she sneered.
“You’re no better than me. A weak, pathetic man who abandoned his wife and daughter the moment I crooked my finger.”
“You threw away ten years of marriage without a second thought. And now you dare to blame me?”
Her voice turned cold.
“You’re a killer too, Evan. Maybe I lit the match, but you–you provided the fuel.”
She grinned wickedly.
“Oh, and by the way, I was never sick. That was just another lie. You’re even dumber than I thought.”
“I’ll kill you!”
Evan roared, lunging at her and wrapping his hands around her neck.
Lila gasped, clawing at his arms, but the police intervened, pulling him away before he could do any real harm.
The officers arrested both Lila and the copycat killer.
Left alone, Evan collapsed onto the carpet, sobbing uncontrollably.
“I’m sorry, Ava. I’m sorry, Chloe. I’ve failed you. I’ve failed everything,” he wailed, his grief echoing through the empty house.
Not long after, my mother arranged for Chloe and me to be buried together in the same grave.
On the day of the funeral, Evan showed up with a bouquet of flowers.
As soon as my mom saw him, she slapped him across the face.
“Get out!” she screamed. “You don’t belong here. You’re not worthy to mourn them.”
Evan dropped to his knees in front of our gravestone, tears streaming down his face.
“I’m sorry, Ava. I was never a good husband,” he cried.
“The truth is, I always loved you. But I was too proud to admit it. I took your love for granted and let Lila’s lies poison my mind.”
He struck himself hard across the face, his voice cracking.
“It’s my fault. All of it. Chloe… my little girl… you were only six years old. And because of me, you’re gone.”
With each word, he hit himself harder, until blood dripped from his split lips.
Then, he began slamming his forehead against the ground, the sharp sound of bone hitting stone ringing out.
12:17
ན་དུ་
Butchered by Love
38%
Chapter 10
“Stop!” my mom shouted, her voice filled with disgust.
“You deserve every bit of this pain. Stay here and wallow in it.”
She turned and walked away, leaving Evan kneeling in front of our grave, his tears soaking the ground.
I watched from the sidelines, letting out a soft sigh,
Whether Evan truly regretted his actions no longer mattered. It was far too late for redemption,
“Mommy!”
A sweet, familiar voice called out to me.
ned and saw Chloe running toward me, her small arms outstretched.
A warm, golden light bathed her in a soft glow.
“Chloe,” I whispered, tears welling up as I knelt to embrace her.
“It’s really you.”
“Mommy, let’s go. This time, we’ll never be apart. We’ll be happy and safe forever,” she said, her voice full of joy.
As the light surrounded us, my body began to dissolve, my soul finally finding peace,
I turned back one last time.
“Evan Carter,” I said softly.
“I will never forgive you. May you live the rest of your days drowning in guilt and regret.”
12:17
