chapter 3

Julian didn’t want to listen. He didn’t give me a chance to explain. He just slammed the door and left.

He probably thought I was messing with him again.

“Edward, do you want to lose your job?

“If I ever find out you and Clara teamed up to trick me, I’ll take both of you down.”

Julian said it with total confidence, convinced I’d set him up with the butler’s help.

Edward went quiet immediately. He didn’t dare say another word.

Emily, standing nearby, saw how little Julian cared about me. She smiled faintly.

Just after he hung up, Julian’s phone rang again.

He glanced at the screen. It was the private investigator I had hired.

Looks like there was finally an update on the incident—when Emily accused me of pushing her into the river.

Julian stared at the unknown number, hesitated for a few seconds, then picked up.

“Mr. Stone, we’ve recovered the original footage from the day Ms. Ward fell into the water.

“Ms. Reed, our client, has been confirmed deceased. You were listed as her emergency contact, so we’re forwarding all related materials to you.”

Those words—“confirmed deceased”—hit him like a blow to the head.

His hand slipped, and he nearly dropped the phone. A second later, he steadied himself and snapped back to anger.

“Still trying to fool me? What now, did you hire actors?

“You really think I’ll fall for that?”

The person on the other end must’ve figured he was in shock.

They didn’t argue. They simply sent the footage to his phone and hung up.

I hovered silently beside him, my heart colder than ever.

The truth was right in front of him. He still wouldn’t believe it.

Was it guilt? Was he afraid?

Afraid to face the truth. Afraid he’d wronged me.

Or maybe he was just afraid the sweet and gentle Emily wasn’t so sweet after all.

I remembered that day so clearly. Emily had begged me to go with her to the water park. Then someone bumped into me. She fell into the water.

She pointed at me and claimed I pushed her. Julian believed her on the spot.

I knew he wouldn’t listen, so I secretly hired a PI to clear my name.

But I was too late. I couldn’t save myself.

Emily saw the video on his phone. Her face went pale.

When Julian bent down to pick it up, she grabbed her chest and collapsed.

“Julian, my heart… it hurts.”

His hand froze in midair, right before tapping the screen.

He was smart. Of course he knew she was faking.

But when he saw her like that, he just sighed.

“Emily, please don’t do this again.

“Let’s go apologize to Clara. She’s always been soft. She’ll forgive us.”

He slipped the phone into his pocket and helped Emily off the floor.

I clenched my jaw, shaking with anger.

I’m already dead. Who needs your apology?

Julian took her hand, ready to leave.

“Let’s go find something nice for Clara. She’ll be happy when she sees it.”

Emily smiled, but there was a flicker of disgust in her eyes.

Just before they walked out, the phone rang again.

“She admitted she was wrong?”

The words slipped out of Julian’s mouth before he could stop them. Then he pressed his lips together, realizing what he’d said.

I stood nearby, watching, feeling like the world’s biggest fool.

I used to be so pathetic. Always the first to apologize. Always the one to make peace.

Julian got used to that.

Edward hesitated, then forced himself to speak, “Mr. Stone, you should come back. The police need you to…

“Identify Mrs. Stone’s body.”

Julian’s smile froze. Panic crept into his eyes. He snapped back, his tone cold and defensive.

“Edward, how many times do I have to say it? Don’t joke about things like that.

“Is your memory failing? Are you senile now?”

On the other end, Edward was flustered. He seemed to be speaking to someone beside him.

Then a calm, official voice came through the line.

“Mr. Stone, this is Officer Harris with the LAPD. I’m calling to inform you that your wife, Clara Reed, has been found deceased. We need you to come in as soon as possible to assist with the investigation.”

“What did you say?”

Julian stumbled back, nearly falling.

Then he jumped to his feet, bolted into the garage, and sped off toward the airport.

Emily didn’t even get a chance to get in the car. He left her standing there without a second glance.

I watched everything unfold, detached and cold.

If he had sent someone—just one person—to check on me at the river, I would still be alive.

What was the point of pretending to care now?