Love Too Late, Ashes Too Soon

Chapter 8

A flicker of realization crossed Frank's face. He stumbled back, clutching his chest.

"You said Autumn pushed you... that's why you lost the baby. Jennifer, " His voice cracked. "Did she really push you? Was that baby even mine?"

Jennifer's expression twisted in panic. With a shriek, she turned and bolted for the door.

But Frank moved faster. He caught her and, without a word, locked her in the basement.

Then, turning to the secretary, his voice trembled, eyes glossy with tears. "I was wrong... I was so wrong. I destroyed Autumn. Please… tell me where she is. I'll pay you, anything you want."

He choked on a sob. "Just… let me make it right. Please. I need to make it right."

But the secretary stared him down with cold, disgusted eyes.

"Keep your blood money. No one wants it, not from a murderer like you." His words were sharp, cutting. "You betrayed the one person who loved you with everything she had. From now on, you'll live with that. That's your sentence."

"You've lost the one heart that ever truly cared. So go ahead, Frank. Drown in your regret."

And just like that, the truth crashed down on Frank with finality.

He collapsed to the ground, sobbing, his shoulders trembling violently.

"Autumn… what have I done? God, Autumn."

"I killed you. I killed the woman who loved me more than life itself… and our child. I destroyed everything we could've had."

He pressed his palms into the cold floor, whispering through broken gasps, "Wait for me. Please. I'll find you. I swear I will."

But my voice, cold and distant, echoed through his mind.

"Don't come looking for me, Frank. You'll only taint my path to reincarnation."

What use was his guilt now? No amount of regret could turn back time. It couldn't bring me back. Or our child.

Dragging Jennifer out of the basement, he ignored her sobbing pleas and trembling hands. His voice was eerily calm.

"We agreed to get married. I keep my promises."

He dressed her in a white wedding gown. She sat frozen, tears spilling silently, as he carried her to the bed. Her eyes darted nervously, looking for a way out.

It wasn't until he started tying her down that true terror set in.

She thrashed and screamed, her voice raw with panic.

"Please, Frank! I was wrong! I'm sorry! Please, don't do this!"

But he didn't flinch. His face was devoid of emotion.

"I just want you to feel what Autumn felt in those final moments."

Jennifer sobbed, begged, cursed herself. None of it mattered.

Frank doused the room in gasoline. With one flick of the lighter, flames erupted around them.

As Jennifer's screams echoed through the house, Frank slumped in a corner, eyes hollow but finally… content.

"Autumn," he whispered, "will I see you soon?"

"If I do… I'll tell you the words I never said enough: I'm sorry. I love you."

He kept his gaze fixed on the ceiling, waiting. But I never came.

Only fire embraced him.

And just before everything turned to ash, his final expression was one of pure despair.

I stood silently in the corner, watching.

And then I spoke my last words to him.

"Frank… let's not meet again in the next life."

A soft white light bloomed before me. In it stood a small figure, glowing and radiant.

A little angel smiled at me, reaching out a tiny hand.

"Mommy," he said sweetly, "let's go to our next life. I want to be your child again."