My brother Michael was in a terrible car accident on his way to meet me for drinks. His body was never found. When my wife Sophia heard the news, she slapped me hard across the face. Gripping my neck, she screamed in anguish, “I married you, but you still couldn’t leave him alone! Why? Why couldn’t it have been you who died instead!” Years later, I was working late one night when a serial killer started stalking me. As I held my breath, desperately trying not to be discovered, Sophia’s sudden phone call shattered the silence. She immediately launched into a tirade: “It’s so late, why aren’t you home yet? Are you dead somewhere? Or are you planning to get someone else killed?” I had no chance to respond before the killer’s knife plunged into my body. Later, I was dismembered, my bones dissolved in acid and scattered across the wilderness. When Sophia was called in to examine the remains, she didn’t even recognize me. It wasn’t until Michael returned with his new girlfriend, eight years his junior, that Sophia finally realized those scattered remains were mine. She collapsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably. But it was all too late. 0
Sophia, a forensic pathologist, was urgently called back to the police station late one night. “Sophia, this murder case is extremely brutal,” said the gruff man speaking. I recognized him as Chief Zhang from the police department. “The victim was killed and their remains scattered across the city. We’ve only found partial remains so far. We need you to try to identify the victim from the bones.” Sophia nodded solemnly and opened the body bag. As soon as it was unzipped, a strong smell of decay filled the examination room. Inside were fragments of human bones. My bones. Seeing this, Chief Zhang frowned and cursed, “That bastard! Not only did he kill him, he dissolved the flesh too!” He clenched his jaw, clearly struggling to contain his anger. Sophia calmly nodded and began sorting through the bag. She didn’t recognize me. I suppose I can’t blame her – I was barely more than a pile of bones at that point. Still, I couldn’t help but wonder how she would react if she knew those were my bones. Would she cry? Or laugh? Probably the latter. After all, she hated me to my very core. All because of my dead brother Michael, who had once been the love of her life. Chief Zhang patted her shoulder. “I’ll leave you to it then, Sophia.” Soon, my bones were laid out on the examination table. Looking at my shattered remains, Sophia’s eyes reddened. “This bastard! Not only are the bones in pieces, even the flesh was dissolved!” After three years, this was the first time she had shed tears over me. As time passed, a skeletal framework gradually took shape. Chief Zhang pushed his glasses up his nose and said gravely, “I’m over 50 years old, but this is the first time I’ve seen such a cruel method of murder.” Sophia placed the final bone, her voice filled with righteous anger: “Indeed! This method is absolutely vicious! We must bring the killer to justice and give the victim justice!” As she spoke, she unconsciously clenched her fists. Sophia took a deep breath to calm herself before continuing: “Not only that, I’ve discovered something else.” “The victim’s flesh was dissolved while they were still alive, until they lost consciousness. Only then did the killer slowly dismember the bones.” “Based on the wear on the bones, I can determine that…the victim was still alive when the killer began dismembering them.” “I’ve also estimated the bone age – the victim was likely around 28 years old.” “Most of the victim’s bones are here now, only the left hand is still missing.” Chief Zhang inhaled sharply. Despite his years of experience, he couldn’t help but widen his eyes in shock. Gritting his teeth, he shouted, “That fucking animal! I’ll skin him alive when we catch him!” Then he noticed something about the skull. There was a small indentation. It was an old injury I had sustained years ago. He made a small sound of surprise. “Sophia, doesn’t this skull look familiar? Like Jack’s?” To my surprise, Sophia scoffed at his words. “Ha, if only it really was him. That would be great.” Chief Zhang pressed his lips together, seemingly at a loss for words. Sophia continued her tirade: “That beast deserves to die for killing his own brother!” Hearing those words, my heart felt like it was being stabbed by thousands of knives. Even the acid that had dissolved my flesh couldn’t compare to a fraction of this pain. I had hoped that, given our years of marriage, she might speak a little more kindly of me. But no. Instead, she wished for my death every single day. “Sophia, you were married after all…” Chief Zhang started to speak, trying to defend me. Sophia’s eyes widened as she shouted angrily: “Married? What good is being married?” “If he hadn’t insisted on going drinking with his brother, how could Michael have died in that car accident?” “If it weren’t for him, how could our happy family have lost someone!” 0
Seeing Sophia so adamant, Chief Zhang didn’t argue further. I knew Michael’s death had always been Sophia’s deepest wound. Because Michael had been the love of her life. Michael knew he didn’t love her, so he rejected her advances. That’s how I got the chance to pursue her. But after Michael died, everything changed. Sophia cursed me as a murderer, the one who killed Michael. She demanded I give my life in exchange for his! She slapped me over and over, until my mouth was bleeding and teeth were falling out, but it still wasn’t enough to satisfy her rage. “Tell me! Why wasn’t it you who died instead of Michael?!” Sophia gripped my throat tightly, like a vicious monster. “You won’t speak? If you don’t, I’ll kill you myself!” Yes, I wondered the same thing. Why was it Michael who died, and not me? If it had been me, I wouldn’t have had to endure all this suffering! Chief Zhang sighed heavily. “Sophia, don’t be like this. Michael is gone, Jack needs to stay safe and well.” Sophia clenched her fists, saying coldly, “If he were gone too, that would be justice served!” Chief Zhang shook his head and turned to leave. The woman I once loved more than anything now wished for my death. To say it didn’t hurt would be a lie. Just then, Sophia’s assistant walked in. He was holding a scrap of paper, stained with blood and mud. On it, barely legible, were the words: “Peach Blossom Gardens Purchase Contract” So I had been clutching that contract tightly when I died. I remembered – it was for the house I had bought to please her. A 3000 square foot beachfront condo. $300,000 down payment, $8000 monthly mortgage payments for 30 years. I had used up all my savings, just to see her smile. But she had only nodded and said dismissively, “This is what you owe me!” Sophia merely glanced at it and said flatly, “Mm, put it in an evidence bag.” Didn’t she recognize that Peach Blossom Gardens was the home I had bought for her? When we first got married, I was broke. Sophia’s biggest dream was to live in a beachfront home of our own. So I worked day and night at the company, putting in overtime, all to make her dream come true. “Thank you, honey. We’ll have our own home someday!” she would say tenderly whenever I worked late. But after Michael died, everything changed. The woman who once loved me became the one who hated me most. I watched helplessly as that contract was sealed away in an evidence bag, my heart aching. Oh Sophia, you missed your best chance to recognize me. After finishing up in the lab, she leaned back in her chair to rest. She frowned as she checked her phone, finding no messages from me. It irritated her. After all, before this, I would send her dozens of caring messages every day. Even though her only response was usually a curt “Mm.” She gripped her phone, scrolling up through our chat history. Finally stopping at my last desperate plea for help. “Sophia, save me!” Sophia’s face twisted in disgust as she spat on the ground. “Jack is such a liar! First he gets his brother killed, and now he dares to send this kind of message to trick me!” She scowled as she blocked and deleted my contact. But Sophia, don’t you know that once you delete me, you can never add me back? 0
A commotion outside caught everyone’s attention. “I need to file a report! I need to file a report!” Hearing the voice, Sophia got up and went out. I looked closer – it was my coworker Emily! Pretty and kind-hearted, always helpful to everyone. She looked very distraught, hands on her hips as she caught her breath. “What’s going on?” Chief Zhang handed her a glass of water. “Officer, my coworker Jack has gone missing!” Emily exclaimed. “He’s usually at the office by 6 AM, but today he wasn’t there even at 10. He’s not answering calls or messages either!” “He’s such a diligent worker, he would never skip work without a reason. Something must have happened!” She rambled on anxiously. Seeing how worried she was made my nose tingle with emotion. She was the first person to be so concerned about my disappearance. Thank you, Emily. To my surprise, Sophia became enraged hearing Emily’s words. “Who are you to Jack? How do you know him so well?!” Emily was taken aback. “Jack is just my coworker…” Sophia glared at her, breathing heavily as she shouted, “Coworker? More like his mistress, I bet!” “Whether he shows up to work or not is none of your business! He’s MY husband, what right do you have to interfere?” Emily’s face turned red from the verbal assault. “You…you’ve misunderstood!” Sophia waved her hand dismissively, telling Emily to leave. “Let me tell you, Jack isn’t missing. He’s just hiding to upset me. If you file another false report, I won’t be so nice!” Emily was forced out. As the door closed, I saw her eyes glistening with tears. I wanted to run after her, but there seemed to be an invisible wall in front of me. I tried to follow, but was bounced back. I tried again, only to be repelled once more. Emily wasn’t my mistress at all – she was the kindest, most considerate girl in the office! She would bring me stomach medicine when I had digestive issues. She would teach me unreservedly when I got stuck on a project. To me, she would always be that warmhearted girl! I followed Sophia as she hailed a cab after work. The destination was a cemetery on the outskirts of town. Sophia was holding a large bouquet of chrysanthemums. “Michael, I’ve come to see you,” she said to a gravestone. It was Michael’s cenotaph. After Michael’s fatal accident years ago, his body was never found. Sophia had broken down, gathering scraps of his clothing from the scene and insisting on burying them in the cemetery. From that day on, my good days were over. Every month on this day, Sophia would drag me here to repent. “Now, go repent to Michael!” she would command coldly. If I showed the slightest reluctance, she would take her scalpel and cut a gash in my arm. So I had to wear long sleeves year-round to hide the scars. I remember one time, there was a fierce windstorm. As bad luck would have it, my stomach condition flared up too. Sharp pains stabbed through my abdomen as large beads of cold sweat formed on my forehead. But she was relentless, still forcing me to the cemetery. The rain had washed debris and thorny branches down the hillside. Seeing the state of things, I hesitated. “Sophia, can I not kneel today?” I asked timidly, fighting through the pain. Sophia angrily knocked the umbrella from my hand, yelling: “This is nothing! You want to run away already? Don’t forget, you owe Michael your life, you murderer!” I stood there helplessly, letting the heavy raindrops pelt my face. “Sophia, I’m not feeling well today…just this once, please?” I begged, dropping to my knees. 0
But she just silently took out a scalpel from her bag. “Do you think you have any right to negotiate? Don’t make me get nasty.” Before I could react, she kicked the back of my knees hard. “Thud!” I collapsed to the ground. Instantly, rocks and thorns dug into my knees. It was an excruciating, searing pain. My stomach churned violently, the agony almost unbearable. I tried to slowly stand up, fighting through the pain. Sophia coldly pressed the scalpel against the crook of my arm. “You know the consequences of trying to bargain, don’t you?” An icy chill ran deep into my bones. Without blinking, Sophia slashed my arm over and over. New wounds overlapped old scars, a horrifying sight. Gritting her teeth, she drove the scalpel deep into my flesh. “Click…click…” I could even feel the blade scraping against bone. “Ahh!” I bit down hard, trying to stifle my cries. One cut. Two cuts. Carving into living flesh and bone – it was nothing short of torture. Finally, I passed out in the cemetery. But Sophia just left. She didn’t look back. Blood loss and hypothermia caused me to go into shock on the ground. As I lost consciousness, all I saw was her retreating back. And her cold warning: “Since you want to play dead for sympathy, just stay here then! Better if you actually die!” Resolute and merciless. It reminded me of when we first got together. Sophia had been gentle and sweet, often cuddling up to me. Back then, I thought I must be the luckiest man in the world. But I was wrong. The woman I had cherished now wanted me dead! I wanted her love too. I wanted the sweet, normal marriage other couples had. But I didn’t deserve it. I was just the sinner who got his brother killed. I would never deserve love in this lifetime. Just when I thought I was going to die, the old cemetery caretaker found me. Seeing my condition, his eyes filled with sympathy. “Oh dear, what happened to you, young man?” “Does it hurt?” At the hospital, he grasped my hand. “Son, should I call the police for you?” I shook my head. “Thank you for your kindness, sir. But this is my own sin to bear.” In the end, I dragged my battered body out of the hospital. Because I knew I still had to work overtime, still had to buy Sophia her dream beachfront home. As soon as I walked in the door at home, Sophia kicked me hard. Blood rushed to her head as she waved a phone in my face. “You bastard, are you trying to humiliate me?!” She clenched her jaw, looking ready to eat me alive. “Now you’ve even gone to the police? I’m telling you, it’s useless no matter how many reports you file. Everyone at the station is on my side.” “As long as I don’t kill you myself, no one can touch me!” Another kick landed, making me feel like my internal organs had been scrambled. I curled up on the floor, unable to move. Sophia, I don’t want to humiliate you. I just want you to love me… One kick wasn’t enough to satisfy her rage. So she started aiming for my head instead. “You killed Michael, and now you’re trying to ruin me too?” “I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you!” That’s how the dent in my skull was formed. Even as she kicked me until my head was cracked and bleeding, I never blamed her one bit. Sometimes I would even fantasize that once she got her anger out, things would get better. But I died. I died the day I signed that home purchase contract. The happy little family that was supposed to be ours would never exist now. “Mom, Dad, today is the anniversary of your passing.” Hearing Sophia’s voice snapped me back to the present. She had already walked around to the other side of the cemetery, standing before two gravestones. Only then did I remember – today was also my parents’ death anniversary. She laid down the paper money and chrysanthemums. “A few years ago, Jack killed Michael – his own brother!” “He’s a monster! He destroyed our whole family!” She clenched her fists, face contorted with anger. But now I’m dead too. Shouldn’t that count as a life for a life? “Long time no see, sister-in-law.” Michael’s familiar voice came from behind. Sophia turned around in disbelief. “Is that…is that really you, Michael?” Michael nodded. Next to him stood a young woman with a delicate face. The paper money scattered from Sophia’s hands as she stepped forward, wanting to confirm it was really him. “It really is Michael! You’re back!” Michael uncomfortably took a step back. “Yes, I’m back.” “I came to pay respects to Mom and Dad on their death anniversary.” By now Sophia had lost all composure, moving to embrace him. Large tears rolled down her face as she broke down sobbing. “You’re back…I thought you were dead…oh god…” The young woman finally stepped forward to intervene. “It’s been a while, sister-in-law! I’m Michael’s wife, Rose.” Hearing this, Sophia froze in place. “You’re…Michael’s wife?” She couldn’t understand why Michael had returned with a wife. The atmosphere instantly became tense. Michael finally sensed the awkwardness and changed the subject: “Where’s Jack? Why isn’t he here for Mom and Dad’s death anniversary?” 04 At the mention of me, Sophia’s expression changed back to one of utter disgust. “Him? Who knows where he’s off fooling around now!” Michael nodded, not asking any further. But I’m not off fooling around – I’m right here beside you! Sophia shifted the topic back to Michael. “But weren’t you in a car accident years ago?” Michael sheepishly scratched his head. “That was actually just a ruse for me to disappear.” “Back then, I owed money to some loan sharks and was being hunted down by enemies. I had no choice but to fake my death.” Hearing this, I felt my blood run cold. A sense of helpless anguish welled up in my chest. All those years of kneeling and repenting in the dirt. The searing pain of the scalpel cutting to the bone. The endless self-loathing and guilt. All of it had been for nothing. A cruel joke. Sophia was stunned. Perhaps she was realizing she had wronged me all this time? But it was far too late now. I was already dead! In an instant, her demeanor changed to one of warmth and care. “I’m just glad you’re back safe. It’s wonderful to have the family reunited.” This gentle, caring side of her was something I hadn’t experienced in years. Michael nodded. Suddenly, as if remembering something, Sophia grabbed Michael’s hand excitedly. “You must be missing home-cooked food after being gone so long. Let me make you both a welcome home dinner!” “Sounds great!” Home-cooked food? I had long forgotten what home tasted like. The three of them returned home together. Not one of them remembered my existence. It was as if I had never existed at all. Soon the table was laden with dishes. It was all seafood. All Michael’s favorite foods. Sophia had remembered his tastes perfectly. But she had forgotten that I was deathly allergic to seafood. Three place settings were laid out. “Hey, where’s Jack? Why isn’t he back yet?” Michael asked her. Only then did Sophia finally remember me. She took out her phone, intending to call me. But she had long since deleted all my contact information. “Michael, why don’t you try calling? I just got a new phone and haven’t saved his number yet.” Michael’s expression was hesitant, but he complied. He called several times, but there was no answer. “That’s strange…” Michael frowned. Rose suddenly spoke up: “You don’t think something might have happened to your brother, do you?” Hearing this, Sophia exploded like an angry shrew: “That kind of man? It’s normal for him to disappear for days at a time!” That kind of man? What kind of man am I? The kind who worked tirelessly to support our family? Or the kind who silently endured her abuse? Now that Michael was safely back, she still refused to let me go! Looking at this woman before me, I felt like I no longer knew her at all. Michael’s brows furrowed as he suddenly demanded: “Are you saying Jack has been missing for 3-4 days already?!” Sophia was startled by his outburst. “Y-yes…what’s wrong?” Michael glared at her fiercely before grabbing his keys and rushing out the door. But his retreating figure looked panicked. A few hours later, Michael returned empty-handed. In just those few hours, he seemed to have aged years. “Jack…Jack is missing!” “How can that be?!” Rose jumped up from the couch. She steadied Michael, saying seriously: “We need to file a police report! We have to find Jack!” But Sophia just got up to pour Michael a glass of water. “Oh, it’s fine!” “Jack hates coming home. He’s either at the office or probably at that Emily girl’s place.” She spoke of Emily with utter contempt. Michael and Rose insisted on calling the police, leaving Sophia ignored on the sidelines. Only then did I realize that blood ties run deeper than romantic love. “Jack is just playing games. Why waste police resources?” Sophia said awkwardly. Even though Michael had returned safe and sound, Sophia still hated me. I didn’t understand why anymore. Was it just habit? Or had she never truly loved me at all? Just as Michael was hanging up from calling the police, Sophia’s phone rang. “Ms. Liang, we’ve found the victim’s left hand.” “The hand hasn’t fully decomposed yet. We’ve been able to mostly confirm the victim’s identity based on the remains…” It was her young assistant calling. Sophia absently fiddled with her hand as she replied, “Mm, go on.” “Ms. Liang, you should prepare yourself.” The call was on speakerphone, so Michael and Rose looked over. Sophia also seemed to sense the gravity of the situation. She raised her head, her expression somber. “It’s alright, just tell me.” 0
The person on the other end gathered their courage. “The victim’s true identity…is your husband, Jack.” In an instant, Sophia looked like she had been struck by lightning. “Wait…how is that possible?” Michael collapsed to his knees, covering his face as he broke down: “Jack…is dead?” Sophia, as if refusing to believe it, continued questioning. “How can that be? Are you joking? How could it possibly be Jack?” The voice on the phone sighed. “There’s no mistake.” “He had May 10th tattooed on his left hand. Everyone knows that’s your birthday.” Hearing this, the phone slipped from Sophia’s hand and clattered to the floor. That tattoo – I had gotten it on her 24th birthday. It covered my entire hand, quite eye-catching. Sophia had been teased about it plenty of times. “I don’t believe it! Couldn’t this be some kind of mistake?” She still refused to accept it. But what good would disbelief do now? I was already dead! The person on the phone quietly offered condolences before hurriedly hanging up. Sophia suddenly stood up, intending to rush out. She had barely taken a few steps before stumbling and falling. “How could it be Jack? There must be some mistake!” She muttered to herself. Soon, they all arrived at the police station. And there were my remains, laid out on the examination table. My entire body had been reduced to bleached bones, with only the left hand retaining some flesh. The faded tattoo was barely discernible. Michael collapsed by the table, wailing: “This…this really is Jack!” I watched as Sophia shook her head in disbelief, stumbling backwards. “No…this can’t be!”
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