Seven years after my death, the person who murdered me was finally arrested and imprisoned. The killer, a notorious crime boss, showed no change in expression during the live court proceedings as he listened to the verdict. As the officer finished reading the list of victims, his hoarse voice cut in slowly: “One’s missing. The one I killed when I first started, the one who died the most brutally.” “Amend the verdict for me, and I’ll tell you who’s missing.” A chilling silence fell over the courtroom, broken only by the judge’s stern refusal: “Your crimes are heinous. You have no right to negotiate.” The crime boss waved his hand, confidently looking at the lead detective among the officers, Ryan Donovan. “Cassie Sterling. Detective Donovan, do you know her? Don’t you want to know where she died?” In the dead silence, Ryan endured everyone’s stares, speaking each word distinctly: “The person you’re referring to, she did exist. But Cassie Sterling isn’t dead. She’s not an officer anymore, but a fugitive who disappeared seven years ago.”
To make everyone believe him, the crime boss confessed the entire torture process in court. How he and his accomplices had knocked me unconscious and assaulted me. How they had pulled out my fingernails and teeth, coercing me for information about police informants. “She screamed terribly, but she refused to say anything. Out of — sympathy — I killed her, then personally disposed of the body.” As he calmly narrated, countless people held their breath, hearts constricting. Only Ryan’s eyes burned with fury, his body rigid and straight. “Keep acting. People like you, have compassion for cops? Ha.” The crime boss asked for a cigarette. “I’ve killed so many people over the years – those who betrayed me, those who stole business on the street, those who owed me money… I’ve never regretted it. She was the only one I ever felt guilty about.” But Ryan merely sneered. He suddenly stood up, his voice ringing out clearly: “I don’t believe a single word you’re saying.” The crime boss shook his head helplessly. “The time, the events, the participants — I’ve revealed everything I can. No need to lie to you. Anyway… now, only I know where she’s buried. Whether you want to give me leniency in my sentencing in exchange for information on her body, that’s up to you.” His superiors called for a recess, intending to pull him back for further interrogation. The public also demanded the police fully investigate. Only Ryan vehemently opposed it. He stormed into his superior’s office, pounding the desk. His superior lost his temper, too, sternly ordering him to personally lead the excavation at the site the drug trafficker described. The police cruiser roared to life. The accelerator was floored. Watching the rage barely suppressed on his face, my heart was consumed by a sense of helplessness. He probably genuinely believed I had willingly fallen from grace back then. For money, I had betrayed my ideals, and I had betrayed him. And now, I was supposedly disrupting the new life he and Selene Vance had just begun. But he didn’t know. I, the “old me,” was abandoned in the damp, cold underground. Suffering for seven years.
Seven years, and he seemed to have changed so little. His face was firm and righteous, his physique lean and tall. Only, he spoke less, his emotions buried deeper. The silent flash of red and blue police lights cut through the mountain road, stopping at a desolate field overgrown with withered grass. It was the dead of winter, the ground frozen solid. A shovel strike only left a white mark on the surface. He took command of the scene. “First, soften the ground with fire. The wind is strong; extend the downwind isolation zone by another five meters.” Selene Vance emerged from the volunteer team, unlatching a thermos. “Drink some hot water, Ryan. You’ve completely shredded your voice.” Ryan took a sip, asking softly: “Why are you here?” “It’s crowded and chaotic here; you should go home soon.” Selene rested her head on his shoulder, her voice filled with worry. “I watched the trial.” “Do you think… it could be true?” Ryan scoffed dismissively, but didn’t answer. He simply ran his fingers through the woman’s long hair, smoothing it from top to end, then curling a strand around his finger. Just like he used to comfort me. Back then, both our fathers were detectives. They worked together, went on missions together, and ultimately died in the line of duty together. During the wake, I clung to him, seeing him as my only support. He held me just as tightly, his hand smoothing my hair from the top of my head to the ends, then curling a strand around his finger. From that moment, we became inseparable. Later, we both got into the police academy, inheriting our fathers’ badge numbers. We were partners with shared ideals, and lovers completely devoted to each other. Before we got married, my mother laughed through her tears: “You scoundrel, you stole my daughter’s heart.” Ryan possessively pulled me into his embrace. “Not at all, Auntie. You just gained a son.” “Don’t worry, I promise I’ll never let Cassie suffer an ounce of injustice in her life.” And he kept his word. If I wanted to reopen an old case, he would pull several all-nighters to organize the case files. If I encountered armed criminals during a patrol, he would selflessly shield me with his body. I couldn’t eat spicy food, and the man who couldn’t live without it hadn’t touched a single chili pepper for years after we got married. Back then, we both believed there was no bond stronger than that of partners and comrades. Who could have known? This relationship ultimately crumbled because of a woman rescued from a drug den. I observed Selene Vance’s alluring face. It was hard to imagine that in just a few short years, she had transformed from a seductive streetwalker into a charming, sophisticated woman. Perhaps a woman’s tears were the ultimate weapon against a man’s steely heart. After Selene was rescued, she would often call Ryan late at night. Crying about not being able to find a good job, crying about how everyone discriminated against her for having been a prostitute and a drug addict. Ryan’s heart was softened by her tears. Pity and compassion sprouted like spring grass, growing uncontrollably. He brought her home, subsidizing her entirely with his salary, under the guise of “cleaning fees.” All household expenses fell on me, and we lived from paycheck to paycheck. Several times I tried to fire Selene, but he always insisted: “Cassie, Selene is very fragile and has suffered too much. We have to help her.” But over Ryan’s shoulder, I clearly saw her eyes filled with defiance, directed at me. I was furious. I grabbed her hair and dragged her out the door. She clutched her aching scalp, her tear-filled eyes seeming to hold back a thousand words. And Ryan, the man who had once sworn to protect me with his life—my lover, my partner. He didn’t hesitate to raise his hand against me. I was slapped to the ground. He, meanwhile, cupped Selene’s face, gently wiping away the tear streaks from her eyes with his thumb. “Don’t cry. I told you, no one will ever bully you again.” Then, he looked down and coldly reprimanded me: “When are you going to change your arrogant nature?” “Selene is also a victim. Are you worthy of the badge you wear by treating her like this?” But in this betrayed relationship, weren’t he and Selene colluding to “abuse” me? A thousand words clogged my chest in that instant. Ultimately, I just quietly packed my bags and moved into the police dormitory. Aside from work-related interactions, I didn’t speak another word to him. I actually knew that he and Selene had never had any physical relationship. I just couldn’t swallow it. He had given the tenderness and pampering that once belonged to me to another woman. Yet, all the responsibilities of our marriage were left for me to bear. We remained in this stalemate for a long time. Every day, I thought, maybe tomorrow we’ll make up. But the next day, the words died on my lips, replaced by a fresh wave of resentment. Sadly, fate had other plans, arriving sooner than any tomorrow. I never waited for him to come back to me. Instead, I unexpectedly discovered. Selene Vance had an undisclosed connection with the criminal organization we had been investigating for so long.
A sudden surge of activity interrupted my memories. The crowd suddenly erupted. “They dug it out!” “Careful, give them a hand!” Ryan was stunned, blurting out: “Impossible!” “You just wanted to see me disheveled and covered in sweat, right? There can’t actually be bones…” His voice was low, like he was talking to himself. Selene, biting her lip, looked worried. “Ryan, do you think… Cassie wouldn’t have killed someone, would she?” “She always had a fiery temper; she’s capable of anything when pushed too far…” Ryan’s lips instantly tightened, his muscles tensing. He strode into the crowd. “I’ll go take a look over there.” I hovered over the remaining fragments of bone, the cold wind whistling through the gaps, making me scoff. This was the true meaning of “bone-chilling cold.” He brushed the dirt from the fragments. Through his gloves, I could feel the warmth of his fingertips. My spirit trembled. Suddenly, I really didn’t want him to see me like this. If I could, I would rather him remember me. Forever the strong, headstrong, and vibrant girl. But now, I could only silently look up at the man I once loved. Lingering over the faint warmth of his fingertips as they grazed my remains. The coroner collected the bones, and the crowd gradually dispersed. Ryan remained alone in the spot. Until the faint morning light, when he suddenly pulled out his phone, frantically dialing a number. “Beep — beep —” “The number you have dialed is not in service. Please check the number and try again.” The wind in the desolate field was cold, turning his nose red. A few choked sobs were broken by the harsh wind. “Cassie, this isn’t real…” “This is a prank, right?” A pair of arms wrapped around his neck, the woman’s breath warm against his ear. Selene’s voice trembled: “Ryan.” “Do you… still have feelings for her…” Ryan’s body gave a sudden jolt. A silence heavy with unspoken emotions. He placed his hand over the woman’s lower abdomen, sighing softly. “It’s all in the past.” “Now, I only have you and the baby.” Selene’s arms tightened around him, and she sobbed softly. “Ryan, I’m so afraid you’ll leave—” “I’ve given you everything. Please, don’t betray me.” Seven years had smoothed out my temper. Now, I could calmly appreciate her performance. This woman was born with two faces. Always vulnerable and pitiful with Ryan; but full of resentment and defiance towards me. Sometimes I truly wondered, did we have a blood feud? Why did she hate me so much! It wasn’t until my dying moments that I finally understood. Yes, we did. Her father had died by my father’s and Ryan’s father’s gunshots while resisting arrest with a firearm. Stripped of protection, she quickly became a “shared plaything” of the gang. “Do you know what I hated most about you?” She squatted in front of me, her voice sinister. “We both lost our fathers, so why did you live so easily?” “Your classmates and neighbors cared for you even more than before, and no uncles or older men ever reached into your underwear.” “I’m smarter than you, prettier than you, and I understand people’s hearts better. But why did Ryan still love you more?!” I suddenly understood. It turned out both love and hate wound equally. Selene Vance had originally planned to avenge her father’s death on Ryan and me. But unexpectedly, she fell in love with Ryan. Thus, her hatred for me intensified.
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