Chapter 5

Joshua gave Lexi a cold look. "Lexi, I am informing you, not discussing this with you. Don't forget that Sebastian's and your mother's ashes have not been buried yet. You would not want another accident to happen, would you?" Lexi clenched her teeth so hard that a metallic taste filled her mouth. "Joshua, are you seriously threatening me with Sebastian's and my mother's ashes for a dog?" Joshua looked at her with dark, unreadable eyes. "Lexi, I am just teaching you how to be obedient." Her legs gave out, and she sank to the ground, pale and numb, nodding. "Fine. I will set off the fireworks." She struggled to her feet and staggered toward the backyard. On the lawn, the fireworks had already been arranged in the shape of a heart. It was cruelly ironic. Lexi walked over and was about to light them when she suddenly noticed something off about the placement of the fuses. Just as she bent down to check, Melissa's dog suddenly charged toward her. Before she could react, the lighter in her hand ignited the fireworks. The next second, a deafening explosion tore through the air. The fireworks detonated right in front of her. The world spun violently, and pain ripped through her body, almost knocking her out. Just as she was about to pass out, a figure burst through the smoke. Joshua rushed toward her in panic and pulled her tightly into his arms. "Lexi, I am sorry." She wanted to smile, but tears started streaming down her face. She thought, "Joshua, if I could choose, I wish I had never met you." ··· When she opened her eyes, everything was black and white, as if the world had lost all its color. "How could this happen?" She panicked and tried to get out of bed. Joshua immediately jumped up from the couch and rushed over. "Lexi, stay still! The explosion damaged your eyes. You… might never see color again." Large tears fell from Lexi's eyes. Her hands trembled as she touched them, yet she still could not see any color at all. The eyes that once could pick out colored wires in a bomb couldn't even tell colors apart now. How was she supposed to accept that? Joshua held her tightly, his face full of pain. "Lexi, I will find a way to cure your eyes. I have also arranged the burial for Sebastian and your mother. Don't worry, everything's under control with me here." Lexi opened her mouth, but no words came out. Only a tide of endless hatred filled her gaze. She stayed in the hospital for a full week before being discharged. The first thing she did after leaving the hospital was go to the cemetery where Sebastian and Sapphire were buried. Rain soaked through her clothes as she made her way slowly into the cemetery. But before she reached the grave, she froze in horror. Not far off, a group of people was gathered, digging into the ground. She stepped closer, and her heart stopped. Broken urns lay scattered on the ground. Thunder rumbled overhead, the only sound she could hear. Those people were digging into Sebastian's and Sapphire's graves. "Why are you digging up my son's and my mother's graves?" Lexi rushed forward and clutched the broken urns tightly in her arms. One of the men glanced at her and shoved her to the ground with disdain. "Ms. Lowe wants these plots. Commander Lowe personally ordered us to dig them up to bury Ms. Lowe's dog." Joshua Lowe? Upon hearing his name, Lexi felt as if a thousand arrows had pierced her body, every nerve screaming in agony. She did not understand why they still refused to let her go. The man then raised his shovel and swung it down toward Sebastian's urn. Ignoring the pain from her still-healing injuries, Lexi lunged forward. The metal slammed into her back, and hot blood streamed down her spine. Just then, a sharp, commanding voice rang out from behind. "What do you think you are doing?"