Three Days with Mom's Body

Then let her die. His voice is a jagged shard of ice. He doesn't even look up from his phone when I beg him to save her.

He doesn't know the truth. Mom isn't just sick. She is a Player sent by the System, and her missionto make Beckett fall in love with herhas failed.

The penalty isn't death. It is total erasure.

Mom hears his rejection. She doesn't scream. She doesn't cry. She simply kneels and pulls me into her arms, her embrace soft, warm, and resigned.

"It's okay, baby," she whispers.

And then, she does it. She fades away.

But the heartless billionaire who wished her dead? When he sees her empty eyes, he doesn't celebrate.

He shatters.

Chapter 1

Mom slept for a long time. Too long. It was time for preschool, but she wouldn't wake up.

I touched her arm. Cold. Hard.

Not like Mom at all. She was always warm. Soft.

"Mommy, I'm hungry." I shook her, hard.

Her eyes stayed closed.

This wasn't right. Usually, if I even made a tiny noise, she'd be awake in a second, pulling me into a hug, whispering sweet things.

But now? She was gone. Deep in a sleep I couldn't reach.

I pulled the blanket up. Tucked her in. Just like she did for me. Then I climbed off the bed and grabbed her phone to call Dad.

He hadn't been home in days.

Carol, our neighbor, said his "White Moonlight"his first lovegot divorced last month and came back. She said he didn't want us anymore.

Carol also said Mom looked just like her. That Dad only married Mom because she was a copy. A replacement.

I didn't know what a White Moonlight was, so I asked Mom.

She got really quiet. Then she said, "It's the one that got away, Aria. The past that never really leaves."

I didn't get it. Not really.

But I decided I didn't like the moon anymore. It stole my daddy.

Mom put a passcode on her phone so I wouldn't watch YouTube, so I couldn't call him myself. I held the phone up to her face, waiting for it to unlock.

Nothing.

The screen stayed black.

"Siri," I begged the phone. "I promise I won't watch cartoons. Just open. Please. I need to call Daddy."

Siri ignored me.

I ran next door to knock on Carol's door, but no one answered.

Defeated, I climbed back into bed and lay next to Mom, just watching her.

She was so pretty. Even sleeping, she looked like a fairy princess from TV.

Dad used to watch her sleep, too. I remember. He'd scoop her up from my bed and carry her to their room. He'd bite her neck. Playful. Like a puppy. Mom was scared of dogs, but she never pushed him away.

The next morning, she'd always wake up late, rushing around the kitchen to make pancakes for us, her hair a mess.

Grown-ups think kids forget. But I remember.

I remember that even when she was rushing, her eyes were smiling.

Dad never smiled. He'd just sit there, scrolling on his phone, eat his breakfast, and then drive me to school on his way to the office.

The teachers at preschool loved when he dropped me off. I heard them whispering. They said he was the hottest dad. Tall, rich, handsome like a movie star.

They said his coldness made him mysterious. That if he were just a little nicer, he'd be perfect.

They were wrong. Landon's dad was the best.

Landon's dad carried him on his shoulders every single morning. That was cool.

My dad just lifted me out of the car seat and set me on the sidewalk. "Go on," he'd say.

I pulled the photo out of Mom's stiff hand. We took it at the art gallery a few days ago.

Dad didn't want to go. He had work. But Mom grabbed his sleeve. "Just one more picture, Beckett. Please. For Aria to have when she grows up. Otherwise otherwise it's just too sad."

I saw tears in her eyes, but she didn't let them fall.

He finally said yes.

In the photo, Mom is holding me. I'm wearing my Elsa dress. She's leaning her head gently on Dad's shoulder.

He didn't push her away. He just stood there, letting her lean.

I'm the only one smiling.

Last night, Mom held me and looked at this picture for a long time. She kissed my cheek. "I wish I was enough," she whispered. "Aria. Be brave. Strong. Fearless."

I giggled and rolled around in her arms. "Okay! I'll be super brave!"

She smiled, but her face was wet.

She cried a lot lately. More than me.

Later, as I was drifting off, I heard her begging someone. Her voice was broken. Desperate.

"It's not time yet why are you here? Just let me make one call let me arrange things for my daughter she's only three please"

Chapter 2

I didn't know who she was begging. The apartment was empty. Just us.

But my eyelids were heavy, like lead weights. I couldn't keep them open.

When I woke up, Mom was lying right next to me. The duvet had slipped off. Her skin was ice cold.

I wrapped my small hands around hers, trying to rub some warmth back into them.

It didn't work. She stayed cold.

A while later, her phone buzzed.

I scrambled to answer it, but the screen went black before I could slide the button.

Battery dead.

I plugged it in, staring at the screen, willing it to light up again. But it stayed dark. No one called back.

My stomach growled. A sharp, twisting knot of hunger.

I dragged my little step-stool to the fridge. I grabbed a bag of bagels. But I wanted the milk on the top shelf.

I reached. Stretched.

Crash.

The stool wobbled and tipped. I hit the floor hard.

"Mommy! It hurts!" I sobbed, clutching my knee. I waited for the sound of her running footsteps.

Silence.

She didn't wake up.

And Mom hated when I got hurt. She was always the first one there.

I cried until I was exhausted, curling up on the floor next to the bed. I drifted off again.

Then, I heard it. Dad's voice.

Not a dream. He was actually here.

I snapped my eyes open. Beep. Beep. Beep. The sound of the front door code being punched in. The lock clicked.

But he didn't come in. He stayed in the hallway. His voice drifted through the open door, low and incredibly gentle.

"The preschool called, said Aria didn't show up I'm just checking in Babe, don't panic. You just had surgery, you need to rest Ask the doctor if it hurts I'll be there soon."

He was on the phone.

He sounded so soft. So caring.

He never used that voice with us. With Mom and me, he was flat. Cold. A stranger living in our house.

"Daddy!" I scrambled off the floor and ran into the living room.

Beckett looked down at me, his brow furrowing in annoyance. "Why aren't you dressed? Where's Violet?"

I stopped dead, afraid to get closer. I pointed to the bedroom. "Mommy is sleeping."

He didn't even look toward the room. He just raised his voice, shouting at the closed door.

"Violet! Three days. House, cars, the works. Just sign the damn papers. It's better for everyone."

Thud.

A noise from the bedroom. Something fell.

"Mommy?" I turned and ran back, thinking she was finally awake.

It was just the phone. I hadn't put it on the nightstand properly, and it slid off.

I ran back to the living room to tell Dad.

Gone.

The elevator numbers were already counting down.

I stood on my tiptoes, desperate to hit the button, to chase him, to tell him Mom wouldn't wake up no matter how hard I shook her.

But Mom had a rule. Absolute rule. Aria never takes the elevator alone.

Once, I played hide-and-seek and went down to the garage by myself. Mom looked for me for an hour. When she found me, she was shaking, tears streaming down her face.

I couldn't make her cry again.

So I went back to the bedroom and lay down beside her.

I hated when she cried. She always tried to hide it, turning her face away so I wouldn't see.

I liked her smile.

I ate the dry bagel. Drank some water.

Still hungry. And Mom was still asleep.

She must be sick. When I'm sick, I sleep a lot too. But Mom gives me medicine, and then I get better.

I found the bottle of syrup she gave me for my fever last month.

I climbed up next to her. "Mommy, open up. Medicine time."

She wouldn't open her mouth. Her jaw was locked tight.

It took me a long time, prying at her lips with my sticky fingers, until I finally managed to pour some in.

Exhausted again, I snuggled into her cold side and fell asleep.

When I woke up, the sun was starting to set. School was out.

I stood on the balcony, peering through the railing. Down below, I saw Landon.

He was riding on his dad's shoulders, laughing. His dad was holding hands with his mom, who looked a little rounder than usual.

Landon told me his mom wasn't fat. She was pregnant. He was going to have a baby brother or sister soon.

I wanted a baby brother or sister. Then we could play LEGOs together. We could go to school together.

I remembered when Carol came over last week.

"Aria is three, Violet," Carol had said, leaning forward on the sofa. "You and Beckett need to have another one. The Jiang family empire needs an heir, and Beckett is a prime target. Women are lining up. You need to secure your position."

Mom shook her head. "A child isn't a leash, Carol. A baby can't hold a marriage together. Besides he's busy."

Carol laughed, a sharp, knowing sound. "Busy? Please. I saw his car in the parking garage last month. Windows were completely fogged up. You two were definitely busy."

"Carol!" Mom's face turned bright red. She quickly covered my ears. "Aria is right here."

"Relax, she doesn't understand."

I didn't. After Carol left, I pestered Mom for an hour. Were you and Daddy eating snacks in the car? Is that why the windows were foggy?

Mom just looked at me, her eyes sad. "Aria do you want a brother or sister?"

I nodded so hard my head hurt. "Yes! I want one! Can I have one tomorrow?"

Mom stroked my cheek, her fingers trembling slightly.

"That would be good," she whispered, mostly to herself. "If you had a sibling at least you wouldn't be all alone."

Chapter 3

Mom told me once she grew up all alone. An orphan. She was terrified of being lonely.

She said in her world, she was sick. Dying.

But a god called "The System" sent her here. The deal was simple: Make Dad fall in love with her. If she did, she could stay. Healthy. Alive. With us forever.

"Does Daddy love you?" I asked her.

She didn't answer. I don't think she knew.

That night, she cooked a feast. She tucked me in before Dad got home.

But the sound of the front door woke me. I wanted to tell him. You have to love her. Please. So we can be together.

I cracked the door. Just a sliver.

Mom was wearing her red dress. She looked breathtaking. She was pouring him a drink.

Beckett shoved her away.

"What? Trying the same old tricks?"

His voice was pure venom.

Mom froze. I shrank back, scared.

She set the bottle down, her hands shaking. "I I don't know what you mean."

He laughed. A cold, cruel sound. "Five years ago. That bar. You think I believe it was a coincidence?"

He stepped closer, looming over her. "You knew exactly what I needed. You played me. You targeted me."

Mom didn't defend herself. She just looked down, like a child in trouble.

"I hate being used," he spat. "We're done. I want a divorce. Tomorrow. You get the house, the cars, full custody of Aria. Plus a payout that'll keep you set for life."

Divorce.

Mila at school had divorced parents. She lived with her dad and cried because she never saw her mom.

Tears spilled down Mom's cheeks. Heavy. Silent. Like pearls falling.

Dad didn't care. "Stop crying. Isn't this what you wanted? You schemed to marry me for the money. Now you have it."

"No," she whispered, shaking her head. "No, Beckett. It wasn't I didn't want the money. Even if you had nothing I just wanted to be with you."

He didn't believe her. He turned and walked out.

Mom stood there for a long time. Alone.

The silence in the room was louder than his shouting.

"You forgot," she whispered to the empty room. "You were the one who held me. You begged me not to leave."

"You said you loved me. You said it over and over."

"That was the first time anyone ever loved me."

"Mommy, I love you," I whispered, pressing my face to hers. "I love you so, so much."

Her eyes stayed closed. She didn't answer.

I kissed her cheek. She usually loved my kisses. She called me her angel. Her treasure.

Then I smelled it.

A strange, sour smell coming from her skin.

I hated it. Mom always smelled like vanilla and fresh rain. Never like this.

I ran to the bathroom, grabbed her body wash, and rubbed it on her arms. It smelled nice for a second, but the bad smell came back. Stronger.

"Mommy, wake up!" I started to cry.

Outside, thunder cracked. Rain lashed against the windows.

I was terrified of storms. I wanted to hide under the duvet.

But Mom said I had to be brave.

I crawled out of bed. I needed Dad. I had to tell him Mom took her medicine but wouldn't wake up. That she was really, really sick.

I grabbed the phone.

Black screen.

I couldn't find the buttons. It was plugged in. Why wasn't it working?

Dad will call, I told myself. He hears the thunder too.

He used to come into my room during storms. He'd sit with us.

"You're a little mouse," he'd tease.

"I am not a mouse!" I'd stomp my foot.

"What are you then?"

"I'm your baby!"

He'd smile then. A real smile. Mom would smile too.

He was handsome when he smiled. Better than Landon's dad.

But he didn't smile often.

I waited. The thunder stopped. The rain stopped.

The phone never rang.

Morning came. I gave Mom more syrup.

Ding-dong.

Someone was at the door.

Dad?

No. Dad used the code. He never rang the bell.

Bad guys.

Mom said never open the door to strangers. It's dangerous.

Chapter 4

"Who is it?" I asked, pressing my ear against the cold wood.

"Aria, it's me. Auntie Paige."

Panic spiked in my chest. I threw my whole weight against the door. "You can't come in! Go away!"

Auntie Paige. She was worse than the monsters under my bed.

She looked like Mom. A little. But sharp. Mean.

She came over a few days ago. The morning after Dad left.

Mom opened the door, and there she was. Paige.

She scanned Mom from head to toe. A smirk played on her lips. "You really are a cheap copy of me, aren't you?"

Mom turned pale. A color I'd never seen on her before.

I didn't think they looked alike. Mom's eyes were soft. Kind. Even Landon said my mom was the prettiest.

I'd know my mom anywhere.

Paige walked into our house like she owned it. She sat on our sofa.

Mom tried to send me to my room, but I clung to her leg. I wasn't leaving her.

"If my son Maverick acted like this," Paige sneered, "I'd discipline him."

Mom pulled me into her lap. "She's a child seeking comfort, not acting out. And no one touches my daughter."

Paige laughed. "If you don't teach her, the world will."

"My daughter's future is none of your business." Mom's voice was shaking, but it was sharp. Angry.

"It is my business," Paige shot back. "Beckett asked for a divorce. That means half his assets are mine now."

Mom took a sip of tea. Slow. Deliberate. "Then don't forget. Every cent he has right now? Half of that is mine."

Paige stood up, furious. She stormed to the door. "You're just a placeholder, Violet. You're squatting in a nest that was built for me."

Mom didn't flinch. "If you hadn't abandoned him when he was broke to marry someone else, there wouldn't have been an empty nest for me to fill."

That day, Mom looked like a superhero. Like Wonder Woman.

But the second Paige left, Mom locked herself in the bathroom.

I heard her crying. Talking to the air.

"I'll be erased."

"Wiped. Gone. I'll never see her again."

"I shouldn't have been greedy," she sobbed. "I shouldn't have wanted a child. I shouldn't have brought her into this pain."

I was terrified. I grabbed the phone and called Dad. I told him Mom said she was going to die.

"Is she right there?" Dad asked, his voice flat. "Did she coach you to say that?"

"No I just wanted to tell you"

"Then let her die."

The line went dead.

"Daddy, you're a villain!" I screamed at the phone, tears hot on my face