Chapter 5

Patricia, Chase's stepmother, had a daughter with Davin before they adopted Nicole. Three years after Mrs. Reyes passed away, Davin married Patricia, and he warmed up to me. Mrs. Reyes's early death left a void in their lives. The moment Nicole saw Patricia, she sweetly called out, "Dad, Mom," like a perfect little angel.

Davin glared at Chase, furious. "How dare you disgrace the Reyes name!"

Yesterday, just as Chase and I were about to exchange rings at our wedding, Nicole called, saying her heart was hurting. Without hesitation, Chase dashed off, leaving me to become the town's laughingstock.

Nicole quickly knelt before Davin. "Dad, it's all my fault. I thought my heart condition was acting up, so I called Chase. I never meant for this mess. Please don't blame Chase."

Patricia hugged Nicole. "Nicole's heart problems started when her sister pushed her into the water years ago. Besides, the in-laws haven't complained, so why are you upset? Nicole, sweetheart, get up. The floor's chilly."

Scenes like this had become commonplace over the past couple of years. Every time Nicole and I had a conflict, Davin sided with her, leaving me to bear the brunt of it alone.

Chase glanced around, not seeing Amanda. "Dad, where's Amanda?" he asked.

"You dare mention her? You left her at the altar and subjected her to public scorn! She calmed the guests, said she was getting changed, and never came back. She preserved the Reyes family's dignity while you trampled on hers!"

Chase's expression changed. "She didn't come back? Then where did she go? She sent me her location last night!"

He pulled out his phone, his fingers turning pale. "The police called today, saying they found Amanda's wedding dress in the Ruby River…"

How ironic. I chuckled. So now he realizes I'm gone?

"Where did she go? How would I know? You didn't think about her when you ran off, did you? Who are you trying to fool now?"

"Dad, I need to leave."

"Chase, I'll come with you."

Watching his slightly panicked expression, I found it ridiculous. Is it too late to panic now?

At the police station, Chase got straight to the point. "Officer, what exactly happened?"

"Mr. Reyes, this morning, a wedding dress was found floating in the river. A jogger mistook it for a body and called it in. We retrieved it and identified it as your wife's wedding dress…"

Nicole interrupted. "Besides the dress, was anything else found?"

"Nothing," the officer replied, glancing at Nicole.

"Maybe my sister tossed her dress in the river out of spite? Officer, my sister often plays these games. We don't have time for this."

Nicole spoke casually, but Officer Robert frowned. "And who might you be?"

"I'm Amanda's younger sister. Ever since we were kids, she's been cunning. She even tried to drown me when I was five. When I finally made it home, she'd constantly frame me. She loves playing the martyr to gain sympathy."

Listening to her lies, I desperately wanted to explain, "It wasn't me! I never did that!" I must have explained countless times, but everyone saw Nicole as the victim and my words as excuses.

I thought Officer Robert would be fooled, too, but his expression remained steady.

"We found traces of blood on the wedding dress, matching Amanda Kennedy's DNA. Plus, there were two holes in the dress, suggesting stab wounds. If Ms. Kennedy was wearing this dress, she would have been stabbed in the abdomen and back."

"We suspect Ms. Kennedy might have been murdered."

Chase went pale, his hand shaking, spilling water from his cup.

Chapter 6