Chapter 142

The river murmured softly, the breeze playing with my hair and dress as I stood barefoot on blood-stained ground. I was in the same place, yet felt nothing—no pain, no cold.

I stared at the man kneeling before me, his eyes red with anguish, a mixture of torment and regret. He looked as if he truly loved me. Yet, he'd told me to wait until they found my body before reporting my disappearance. He and my sister had betrayed me on my wedding night, ignoring me, wishing I would simply vanish.

What kind of person says such things and believes they'll emerge as a tragic hero? I lifted his chin and slapped him. He felt nothing, only the cold breeze passing by.

My chances of survival seemed nonexistent. Ann had seen me being taken away in a car before she died. By then, I was likely exsanguinated, a mere lifeless corpse.

Chase shouted my name at the river, his emotions overwhelming him until he fainted. He hadn't eaten or slept for days, so his collapse was unsurprising.

After he collapsed, I overheard the worried coroner say, “It’s been over a month. If there were a body, we would have found it by now. There are no clues; her body was likely disposed of thoroughly. This won't be easy.”

“It doesn’t matter. We have to keep looking! Start with where Ann worked. Justice will prevail.”

Chase was taken to the hospital. Within days, he was a shadow of his former self, visibly thinner. Davin rushed in, his heart aching at the sight of his son.

Davin stayed by Chase’s side until he woke. He struggled to open his eyes, scanning the room. I had appeared to him in his weaker moments before, but now, though visible, he didn't react. His gaze finally settled on the IV bag.

“Chase, how could you let this happen?” Davin asked, his voice filled with sorrow.

Chase’s voice was weak and raspy. “Dad, Amanda’s dead.” His tone was calm, yet tears trickled down, soaking into the pillow.

Davin’s expression was stern. “I heard. They’re still investigating. Maybe there’s hope.”

“Hope?” Chase let out a bitter laugh. “I saw the blood by the river. How could she be alive?” His voice choked as he struck his head. “Dad, I should’ve died instead! I failed her…”

His thrashing caused blood to backflow into the IV line, turning the clear tube red.

“Chase, calm down. Don’t move!”

In desperation, Chase pulled out the IV, blood splattering the white sheets. “Dad, Amanda was stabbed. She bled so much, she must be dead. And I’ve done nothing!” In a frenzy, he jumped out of bed. “She’s dead, and I’m alive? She must be so scared alone. I should be the one dead, not her.” Ignoring Davin’s attempts to stop him, Chase pushed past with unexpected force.

Davin, clutching his injured side, muttered, “Has he lost his mind? Stop him!” Luckily, this was the Reyes family’s private hospital, and the guards sprang into action at Davin’s shout.

Chase had reached the rooftop. As the sun set, the cold wind played with a floral bedsheet left out to dry. The temperature had dropped significantly.

I followed him slowly, wondering if his death would allow him to see me. Could this be my revenge?

The wind lifted his thin hospital gown, exposing his waist.

Chapter 4

A guard called out, “Sir, please calm down.”

The rooftop was secured against jumps; climbing it without a ladder was impossible. A guard tackled Chase before he could climb, his shoes flying off.

“Sir, I’m sorry.”

Three guards restrained Chase, binding his hands. Tears of frustration fell as he looked up defiantly. “Let me go!”

Nicole’s voice echoed from afar, “You wanna die? Don’t ruin my sister’s next life with your death.”