Julian's POV
"I need to see her," I insisted, my voice strained with barely contained emotion. The revelation of Violet's death had shattered something inside me, but I clung desperately to denial.
Aurelia stood before me, her small frame rigid with defiance. The urn containing our daughter's ashes sat on the table between us, a devastating physical reminder of my failures.
"You've seen all that's left of her," she said, gesturing to the urn. "What more do you want?"
"Proof," I demanded, grasping at any possibility that this wasn't real. "I want to see medical records, death certificates."
A bitter smile twisted Aurelia's lips. "Now you care about her medical history? Where was this concern when she was alive and suffering?"
I ran a hand through my hair, frustration building. "I made mistakes. Terrible ones. But I need to understand what happened."
