Chapter 2

I couldn't help but get angry, clenching my fists.

"Didn't I warn you today? But no, you had to light all those fireworks. Now the house is burned, and people are dead. What good are those words now?"

Liam looked at me with tear-filled eyes, then crouched on the ground, crying even louder.

He put on such a display, it almost looked like I was bullying him.

Some townspeople couldn't stand it and stepped forward to defend him.

"Alright, people are dead now, what good is talking about it? Just say less and let it go."

"Exactly! No one else's house caught fire, only yours. At the end of the day, your family just had bad luck. Who can you blame for that?"

"Right, if you ask me, you should thank Liam. Your parents died early, didn't that just cut your future burden of caring for them in half?"

He spoke casually, arms crossed, and his words stunned me, instantly sending my anger soaring.

"Are you even human?"

"What do you mean, 'burden cut in half'? Step forward and explain yourself!"

I tugged at my sleeve, gritting my teeth, and took a step forward. I couldn't believe those words had come from a person's mouth.

I wanted nothing more than to tear that person's mouth apart right then.

Seeing my aggressive stance, she sheepishly took a step back.

Mayor Thompson quickly came forward to intervene, "Alright, alright, Alex, don't bother with him. That's just how he talks."

"Now, just focus on making arrangements for your parents. As for a place to stay, you can come to my place. I can't let you be homeless in town."

Liam, having composed himself, tugged at my sleeve and spoke softly.

"Alex, why don't you stay at my place? No matter what, this is my fault, so consider it my way of making it up to you. You can treat my home as your own, okay?"

"My parents can be your parents, alright?"

I stared at him silently, but his eyes darted away, unable to meet my gaze directly.

I'd found it strange today when he was setting off fireworks. Why so many? And quite a few of the handheld ones were pointed directly at my house.

My face was tense. I stared intently at him, trying to catch any hint of something off.

Seeing this, Mayor Thompson continued to play the peacemaker, but every word he said was in Liam's defense.

"Alright, Alex, let bygones be bygones. Don't hold this against Liam. He didn't mean for this to happen. If you don't forgive him, he'll feel terrible too."

"Let's just take your parents' bodies to the funeral home for cremation before dawn."

After speaking, he called for people to come and move the bodies.

I smiled, speaking each word slowly and clearly.

"But Mayor, my parents never came back for the holidays this year. These two bodies can't be my parents'."

"I think we should call the police and let them determine whose bodies these are."

Everyone's movements froze. Their faces showed disbelief.

Liam had the biggest reaction. He immediately stood up, pointing at the two bodies emotionally.

"Impossible! How can they not be your parents'?"

"They died in your house! Who else could they be but your parents?"

"At the end of the day, you're just saying this because you still want to call the police, aren't you?"

"Alex! Can't you be a little more sensible? Is your parents' death more important than our town getting this community award? Can you not see the bigger picture?"

The bigger picture?

I couldn't believe those words came from his mouth.

Even more unbelievable was that no one in the entire town objected. Instead, they looked at me with a hint of blame, as if I was making trouble.

A knot of anger lodged itself in my chest, neither rising nor falling.

Mayor Thompson frowned and stepped forward, his words laced with a warning.

"Alex, I know you're grieving the loss of your parents right now, but you can't make things difficult for us."

"If you make things difficult, who in town will help with your parents' funeral arrangements?"

"You're a man; do you have the ability to ensure they rest in peace?"

"This matter ends here. It's already light out; let's just bury your parents directly."

Saying this, he immediately called for a few men to move the bodies.

But it was the holiday season, and everyone felt it was a bad omen. No one wanted to be the first to move.

Liam pursed his lips and pushed me.

"Alex, what are you waiting for? Give these men some money! You know you have to pay for things to get done, right?"

"You've been working outside for years; how can you not understand how things work around here? I've stayed in this town, I know what I'm talking about."

"Everyone needs at least a thousand dollars, you know?"

He urged me while signaling to the men to show their payment app QR codes.

"Go on, pay up. After all, these are your parents' bodies. No matter what, you need to show respect."