Chapter 15

Even though his face didn't match my memory of that night, his eyes were unmistakable. I'd recognize them anywhere, even reduced to ashes. He was a master of disguise. That night, he'd loomed tall, perhaps six foot one, but now he was hunched, his visible skin aged to the point of making him appear an old man. The man who had ended my life stood here, at the art exhibit, sending a chill down my spine, the memory of my final moments flooding me with raw fear.

He had been brutal, silently approaching and stabbing me with a precision and indifference suggesting countless repetitions. I had always treated people kindly; I couldn't imagine having enemies who would want me dead. Was he this good at concealing his identity because he was a professional killer? But why appear here if he'd already killed me? Was someone else his target?

My first instinct was to flee, but then it struck me—I was already dead. What was there to fear?

Chase casually patted his shoulder, avoiding eye contact, and tossed off a careless, "It's nothing." Meanwhile, the man's gaze remained locked on me, cold and relentless, mirroring the stare that haunted me before my death. No emotion, no mercy, only ice.

Even in death, his presence froze me. Could he see me?

Just as the thought formed, I heard Chase murmur, "Derek."

I snapped back to reality, realizing the man's eyes weren't on me, but on Derek, seated in a wheelchair. My tension eased.

Derek, drawn in by Chase's voice, turned toward the man, who began walking towards him. Remembering his merciless nature, unease washed over me. Was this killer planning more victims? Instinctively, I moved to shield Derek.

But the man passed Derek without incident. Jack wheeled Derek closer to Chase, and the look Derek gave Chase seemed to unsettle him.

"From what I hear, Amanda has been missing since the wedding, and yet here you are, enjoying an art gallery?"

I hadn't expected concern for my disappearance to come from someone outside my family or romantic circle. "Amanda's not a kid anymore. She can go wherever she wants. She's always been headstrong. She'll be back when she's ready," Chase replied, his nonchalant tone contrasting sharply with Derek's serious demeanor.

"What if Amanda is actually in danger?" Derek pressed.

Chase's composure faltered briefly, but Nicole interjected, "Derek, nothing's happened to my sister. She's flown to Cloudville."

Chase turned to her. "What did you say?"

"Chase, I just heard today from relatives in Cloudville that a month ago, she asked them to find her a place to stay."

Yes, I had often spoken of my love for Cloudville, its flower-lined paths, lush green hills, and snow-capped peaks. I dreamed of living there.

A fortnight ago, I booked a flight to Cloudville for the day after the wedding. I planned to expose Chase and Nicole's scandalous affair at the wedding, knowing it would severely strain our families' relationships. After exacting my revenge, I intended to leave.

Nicole continued, "I checked, and she did book a flight to Cloudville for the 15th."