And for the sake of exposing the traitor in the police force, I, Adam, single-handedly charged onto the drug lord’s speedboat and detonated the explosives. But Mark, the captain I respected most, told the media I was a traitor. My badge number was permanently blacklisted, and my parents were scorned and shunned by our neighbors. My beloved girlfriend, Chloe, fell into Mark’s arms. They didn’t know. It was Mark who personally cut off my backup and falsely reported my defection to command. I was blasted into the icy Mississippi River by friendly fire, leaving no trace of my body. Three years later. During dock dredging, deep within the sunken speedboat’s cockpit, the salvage team discovered a voice recorder. The pen was tightly wedged by the wreckage, its casing melted and deformed. Inside, was the last call recording between Mark and me. Mark, Chloe. The abyss has watched, and now I’m here to collect. The salvage boat pulled my body from the river. Three years. My restless spirit had haunted these waters for three whole years. Mr. Davis, an old officer nearby, spat in disgust. “Traitor! If he hadn’t betrayed us back then, those three brothers of ours wouldn’t have died!” My soul vibrated wildly in the wind. Traitor? Me? I chose to take the drug lord down with me precisely to expose the traitor! On the outskirts of the crowd, a familiar figure pierced my eyes. Chloe, my girlfriend in life, was also there. The man beside her was Mark. The captain I once respected most was now her husband, the youngest deputy chief at the station. Mark solicitously adjusted Chloe’s shawl, his voice doting: “It’s windy by the river, let’s go.” Chloe hummed in agreement, her gaze falling on my hand bones. “There seems to be something stuck in the bone fragments?” Chloe’s pupils contracted slightly. But Mark spoke first, subtly stepping in front of Chloe: “Just a pile of junk, let’s get rid of it all.” Then, he actually tried to snap my finger bone directly. But my bone had fused with the object; it wouldn’t break. A ruthless glint flashed in Mark’s eyes. He was about to call for tools to force it open, when Officer Miller, standing nearby, instinctively spoke up: “This… this looks like evidence. By regulation, we can’t…” Mark’s gaze cut him like a knife, and Officer Miller immediately fell silent. “Just dispose of this trash. Remember, don’t breathe a word of this outside.” “Yes, sir!” Mark scoffed, then wrapped an arm around Chloe and left. I watched their retreating figures, hatred surging. My soul uncontrollably followed them, drifting into the home I’d envisioned countless times in my dreams. The moment I entered, my soul cried out in agony. In the entryway hung Mark and Chloe’s wedding photo, a stunning pair. It ripped my soul apart. And this place? I’d used all my savings for the down payment, a home I promised Chloe. We once sat on the floor here, dreaming of the future. She said we’d hang our silliest photos together in the entryway. Now, the faces in the picture had changed. Mark poured two glasses of red wine: “Don’t think about it. A traitor who got what he deserved isn’t worth your trouble.” Chloe took the glass and walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window: “I just never thought that after three years, that boat would be salvaged.” Her voice was soft, devoid of emotion. Mark hugged her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder: “If it hadn’t been for Adam’s savings, we wouldn’t have settled into this place so quickly. Come to think of it, we should thank him.” My savings? The money I died for became their startup fund for a new life? I saw Chloe’s body visibly stiffen, but she didn’t push Mark away. She just drained her glass of red wine, her voice still emotionless: “What’s there to mention about a traitor?” “What? You still can’t forget him?” Mark’s tone carried a hint of a test. Chloe smiled, turning and embracing Mark, “I just hate him. He betrayed all of us, and he betrayed me.” “Luckily, I still have you.”
Chloe was the first to speak: “Tomorrow, let’s go to the property office.” “The property office?” Mark sounded confused. “To take Adam’s name off the deed and put yours on it.” Chloe’s voice was calm, “This house should have been partly yours a long time ago.” A flash of wild joy appeared in Mark’s eyes, but he quickly hid it. He feigned concern, grasping Chloe’s hand: “Chloe, are you feeling unwell after seeing that boat today? Don’t force yourself.” “Force myself?” Chloe pulled her hand away, a cold laugh escaping her, “I just think a dead traitor’s name doesn’t belong on my home’s deed.” She turned, looking directly into Mark’s eyes: “Or are you saying… you don’t want to?” Mark immediately pulled her into a hug, his voice betraying uncontrollable excitement: “How could I! I just… I just feared you might still be thinking of him.” Chloe leaned against his chest, her muffled voice coming through: “I just hate him. I hate myself for being so blind. Mark, don’t ever bring him up again. I just want to live a good life with you.” “Then let’s go handle the paperwork tomorrow.” Mark gently kissed her forehead, “From now on, this will be our real home.” Hearing that, my soul trembled uncontrollably. This house didn’t just drain my savings; my parents also put in their life’s retirement money. Now, not only do they have to bear the pain of losing a son and the stigma of being “the traitor’s family,” but they will also be completely stripped of the only property their son left behind. Mark, Chloe. You’re not just crushing my hopes, you’re destroying my parents’ last shred of life! My memory flashed back to the spring four years ago, I knelt on one knee, holding a diamond ring. “Chloe, marry me.” She cried as she nodded, “Adam, I do.” We embraced in this house. She said she wanted to hang our wedding photos on this wall. I said yes, we’d take the most beautiful ones. Mark. He was once the brother I respected most. Once, during a drug bust, an out-of-control truck careened towards him. I instinctively pushed him out of the way. Three ribs were broken, and my lung was punctured. Mark held me, his face streaked with tears and snot. “You idiot! Why would you shield me?!” “Because you’re my brother.” I coughed up blood, smiling at him. From then on, I carried a scar that would never fade. Every time Chloe saw it, her heart would ache, and tears would well up. “Does it hurt?” “No, it’s worth it for a brother.” Later, he began to appear frequently in Chloe’s and my life. “This is perfume I had someone bring from abroad. Smell it, see if you like it.” “You must be bored alone at home. I’ll take you to an art exhibition.” “Adam’s not the romantic type. I’ve prepared a surprise for you on his behalf.” Chloe mentioned it to me more than once. “Adam, isn’t he a little *too* good to me? So good it feels… excessive.” “He keeps giving me such expensive gifts. How am I supposed to repay him?” “He always says he’ll take care of me when you’re not around. I think it’s weird.” Each time, I laughed it off for him. “Chloe, he’s just grateful I saved him, he wants to thank you, you know.” “He treats us like his younger siblings, there’s no other meaning.” “We’re brothers. He would never betray me.” Chloe frowned: “But I always feel…” “No buts,” I cut her off. “You women are just too suspicious. Mark is my brother; how could he ever hurt me?” Looking back now, I was the biggest fool on earth. All his care was a prelude to today. Every warm greeting, every thoughtful gift, every gentle gaze, they were all slowly eroding Chloe’s heart. And I, the idiot, couldn’t see it. My most trusted brother stabbed me in the back. Mark, you played your part perfectly.
My memory snapped back to that storm on the Mississippi River three years ago. Three hours before the operation, the witness sent the final intelligence. “The drug lord ‘Ghost Hand’ is bringing heavy firepower this time, and he seems to know we have an operation tonight!” The witness nervously rubbed his hands, his face drenched in sweat. “He also said there’s someone from your team on his side. Be careful!” I looked towards the command vehicle not far away. Mark was gesturing at a map with several high-ranking officials. Noticing my gaze, Mark walked over and clapped me on the chest, “Adam, how are your preparations? Don’t be nervous. This operation is foolproof; we’ve set up a dragnet.” He spoke with certainty, looking completely relaxed. “Mark,” I whispered, “The situation has changed. The witness says Ghost Hand knows about our operation tonight. There’s a traitor in our team!” Mark’s face changed, then quickly regained composure: “Adam, don’t get flustered. How can we trust a single witness? We need to trust command’s judgment. There’s no traitor!” I looked at his complex expression, mistaking it for concern, and secretly made a vow. If there really was a traitor, I would expose him and honor the brothers who were betrayed and sacrificed. Three hours later, the operation began. “All units, attention! Target has entered the designated waters. Prepare to close the net!” Police speedboats swarmed from all directions, gunfire and flashes of light tearing through the Mississippi River night sky. In the fierce battle, “Ghost Hand,” the drug lord’s leader, tried to escape on a speedboat. I couldn’t wait! I looked at Mark, and switched on the voice recorder clipped to my uniform: “Chloe, if I die, live for me, please forget me. I love you.” After saying that, I turned and charged towards the cockpit. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Mark standing at the bow of the command ship. I thought he would provide cover for me. Just then, Mark’s clear voice came through the communicator. “Command, Adam has betrayed us! He’s stolen the contraband and is trying to escape with the drug lord via Channel B! He’s attacking us!” “Received. All units, attention. Target Adam. You are clear to fire!” The reply from command made me fully understand. Mark was lying. He was deliberately framing me as a traitor. “Boom—!” The collision of the two boats triggered a violent explosion. The world collapsed before my eyes; flames and river water engulfed me. In my last moments before being submerged, I finally understood. This wasn’t a sacrifice; this was a premeditated murder.
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