Three years after my death, Evan Lane still refused to let go of me.Today was also the third anniversary of his mother's death—Jane Coney had coincidentally died on this day too. He came to my house again and looked around the empty room. He then shouted at my mom, "Where is Corinne? Is she back?"My mom, Jemima Brooking, flinched and hid her hands behind her back. She shook her head in confusion and mumbled pitifully, "I don't know. Please just leave me alone.""Leave you alone?" Evan asked through gritted teeth.He reached out and grabbed her arm. A stale, cold half of a hardened bun fell from her withered hand to the ground. Evan crushed it mercilessly under his foot and accused, "If it weren't for you egging her on, she wouldn't have run away. Stop pretending to be all innocent and pitiful!""Cori didn't run away!" My mom defended me.Tears rolled down her cheeks as she whispered, "She couldn't come home. She can't come back.""Three years, and she didn't even come and
The investigation into the explosion concluded that a woman had stolen confidential business secrets while her boyfriend was in a coma following a car accident. When the man's mother discovered what she was up to and tried to stop her, the woman killed her boyfriend's mother, caused an explosion, and fled.Only one set of remains was found at the scene—Jane.I don't know how the authorities had come to that conclusion. All I knew was that my remains were treated like garbage and disposed of without a care.Money could turn black to white. It could also turn a dead person into a fleeing murderer.My femur was polished into round beads and strung into a bracelet. It was then given to Evan as a gift to celebrate his survival and new life.He accepted the gift and inspected it closely. He then complained about Peter being stingy, saying that he could've done better and gotten him something of better quality.After that, he asked, "Where are Corinne and my mom?"With reddened eyes, C
Peter had indeed harassed me before. It wasn't out of affection but of malicious desire. He wanted everything Evan had; if he couldn't get it, he'd take it by force. If he couldn't make it his, then he'd destroy it.That was how despicable and deceitful Peter was, yet he was a master at hiding it. Evan, how could you keep being fooled by him?This time, I thought he'd believe their lies again. But to my surprise, he went to confront Peter.After a few rounds of drinks, everyone was a bit tipsy. Evan suddenly asked, "Peter, are we good friends?"Peter laughed and responded, "Of course, what kind of question is that?"Evan went on, "I spoke with someone who knew Corinne today. They told me that while I was in a coma, you harassed her and even hit her. Did you two have some kind of conflict?"He wasn't smiling as he stared at Peter intently. "Why?"Peter's expression remained unchanged. However, Cecilia quickly chimed in, "Why else? To argue with her, obviously! You were still in
The moment he said it, the entire hall fell silent. Then, whispers erupted all around the venue seconds later as people's gazes shifted.The color drained from Cecilia's face as she quickly snatched the bracelet back from Felix's hands. She chastised, "What nonsense are you spouting? This is clearly buffalo bone! Who told you to say this? Was it Corinne?"Felix looked taken aback. "I'm a professional, okay? Don't falsely accuse me. I've been studying this bracelet for a while now; something about it seemed off, even from a distance. I can tell the difference between buffalo bone and human bone.""Say one more word, and I'll sue you for slander!" Cecilia warned sharply. She hurriedly added, "You call yourself an appraiser? You're just a fraud trying to scam people!""I'm just stating my opinion. You will be held responsible for slandering me," Felix replied firmly, pointing to the camera on his chest. "I've recorded the entire exchange. I wouldn't risk my reputation over this. If yo
After learning the truth, Evan stared at the bracelet for half a day. He wanted to speak, but nothing came out of his mouth except for unintelligible noises.He seemed to have lost his ability to speak.Suddenly, he bent over and started to barf when Felix spoke, perhaps disgusted at the thought of how Cecilia and Peter gave him the bracelet, or maybe because he had kept the bracelet by his side for three years.The driver tried to help Evan, only to be pushed away. Tears slid down Evan's cheeks. He grasped the bracelet so tightly that the veins on the back of his hand bulged.After puking, he collapsed onto the floor in exhaustion and trembled from head to toe.I stood quietly at the side and watched as he vacantly stared at the bracelet that had now developed a jade-like quality.He did not respond to the driver. Finally, a phone call jolted him out of the trance. He picked it up."Evan, when are you coming back?" Cecilia sounded as gentle as usual. "I'm at Peter's studio, wai
When Evan got home, he ransacked the entire place like he had been possessed. He searched high and low, sweeping many items onto the floor.At first, I wondered what he was looking for. Finally, he fished out an item from behind the bed with much difficulty. I realized he had been looking for a photo of me.Unfortunately, he had torn all my photos into pieces. Even the sole remaining photo of me was the remnants of a torn photograph. Half of my face beamed brightly in the stained photo.After he stared at the photo for a while, he tried to rub off the stain while crying, but he could not remove it. In the end, he grabbed his hair and cried hysterically."I was a blind piece of shit. I was wrong. Corinne, I'm sorry. I'm sorry." His heartbreaking wails conveyed despair.I tried to tell him it wasn't his fault at all. I just wanted him to take good care of my mom and protect her from Cecilia and Peter. After my dad's early death, Mom was my only family in this world.Evan carefully
Cecilia fell onto the floor in disbelief after being slapped hard on the face. "How dare you slap me, you bitch!"In retaliation, she charged at the woman. Aaron could not pull her back.Amid the chaos, Evan knocked hard on his office door and yelled, "Cecilia Rachlin, what are you trying to do?""Did you not see that? She tried to hit me!" Breaking down, Cecilia shrieked, "Who is she, Evan? Why did she walk out of your office? What were you guys doing in there?"Evan furrowed his brows with a hint of disgust. He replied coldly, "She is my guest. Don't be ridiculous.""Am I being ridiculous now?" Tears rolled down Cecilia's cheeks as she pointed at the woman. "As your fiancée, do I not have the right to question your relationship with another woman?"Evan let out a cold laugh. "Are you my fiancée, now? Whatever. Let's call off the engagement."Cecilia froze on the spot. Evan returned to his office, but not before tossing something in her way.He said to her, "I will release a p
Evan gave Cecilia a push. He snarked, "What are you doing here?""I'm here to see you, Evan. Please do not fall for the lies of that bitch!" Teary-eyed, she looked disheveled and pitiful. "She is only after your money. Evan, I'm the only one who truly loves you. I will do anything for you.""Get lost!" Evan mustered all his energy to push Cecilia away. "I will repeat this one last time—the engagement is off. You and I are done.""But why?" She screeched, "I loved you so much and sacrificed for you over the years. Did I wrong you? Why are you doing this to me?"With a scowl, she pointed in a random direction. "Is it because of that woman from earlier today? Hah, you must have fallen in love with her! Is that right? Tell me, how is she better than me?""Shut up!" Triggered, Evan angrily grabbed her by the neck.He hissed viciously, "Do I need to list down the repulsive things you did?"Cecilia looked stunned. Her face paled and turned ashen. Her words were caught in her throat. No
Evan learned from Aaron that Cecilia had not been seen after she dropped by Peter's studio, but Aaron overheard her screams and wondered if something had happened to her.After some thinking, Evan called the police and explained the situation. He added, "Peter Hoffman will come to my place soon, and he will ramble about the case from three years ago. As Corinne Peele's family, I have a right to the truth. Please do not set him off; a madman like him will go to any lengths."The police quickly dispatched a team to surround Peter's studio. Before they could make a move, they saw him leaving the studio with a cardboard box and humming a tune.Although it was dark outside, they could see the blood stains on the box.The police had decided to hold back and tail his car. Meanwhile, some of the police members found a headless female corpse buried in the mess of the studio; blood had soaked into the floors. They searched for the head, but a fruitless search made them confirm that the murde
When Peter called Evan again, he was unable to reach him. He angrily threw his phone onto the floor and smashed everything around him.He seethed, thinking, "That dumbfuck! Did he think I would covet Cecilia Rachlin? How ridiculously stupid!"But Peter was no match for Evan, who had the wealth to play the expensive long game. Evan could make his life hell if they turned enemies—all because of his net worth.But Peter was indignant. Evan, not the sharpest tool in the shed, had everything he wanted. On the other hand, Peter was always second to Evan despite all his efforts.Peter's crazed look terrified his employees. His assistant fearfully asked him, "Mr. Hoffman, do you need help?""What can you do for me?" Peter bellowed at the poor guy. "Evan's assistant will do anything for him, but what about you? You're a loser. Get lost, all of you!"Out of control, Peter smashed everything in the studio. It wasn't until everyone was gone that he collapsed onto the floor.He laughed at hi
Evan gave Cecilia a push. He snarked, "What are you doing here?""I'm here to see you, Evan. Please do not fall for the lies of that bitch!" Teary-eyed, she looked disheveled and pitiful. "She is only after your money. Evan, I'm the only one who truly loves you. I will do anything for you.""Get lost!" Evan mustered all his energy to push Cecilia away. "I will repeat this one last time—the engagement is off. You and I are done.""But why?" She screeched, "I loved you so much and sacrificed for you over the years. Did I wrong you? Why are you doing this to me?"With a scowl, she pointed in a random direction. "Is it because of that woman from earlier today? Hah, you must have fallen in love with her! Is that right? Tell me, how is she better than me?""Shut up!" Triggered, Evan angrily grabbed her by the neck.He hissed viciously, "Do I need to list down the repulsive things you did?"Cecilia looked stunned. Her face paled and turned ashen. Her words were caught in her throat. No
Cecilia fell onto the floor in disbelief after being slapped hard on the face. "How dare you slap me, you bitch!"In retaliation, she charged at the woman. Aaron could not pull her back.Amid the chaos, Evan knocked hard on his office door and yelled, "Cecilia Rachlin, what are you trying to do?""Did you not see that? She tried to hit me!" Breaking down, Cecilia shrieked, "Who is she, Evan? Why did she walk out of your office? What were you guys doing in there?"Evan furrowed his brows with a hint of disgust. He replied coldly, "She is my guest. Don't be ridiculous.""Am I being ridiculous now?" Tears rolled down Cecilia's cheeks as she pointed at the woman. "As your fiancée, do I not have the right to question your relationship with another woman?"Evan let out a cold laugh. "Are you my fiancée, now? Whatever. Let's call off the engagement."Cecilia froze on the spot. Evan returned to his office, but not before tossing something in her way.He said to her, "I will release a p
When Evan got home, he ransacked the entire place like he had been possessed. He searched high and low, sweeping many items onto the floor.At first, I wondered what he was looking for. Finally, he fished out an item from behind the bed with much difficulty. I realized he had been looking for a photo of me.Unfortunately, he had torn all my photos into pieces. Even the sole remaining photo of me was the remnants of a torn photograph. Half of my face beamed brightly in the stained photo.After he stared at the photo for a while, he tried to rub off the stain while crying, but he could not remove it. In the end, he grabbed his hair and cried hysterically."I was a blind piece of shit. I was wrong. Corinne, I'm sorry. I'm sorry." His heartbreaking wails conveyed despair.I tried to tell him it wasn't his fault at all. I just wanted him to take good care of my mom and protect her from Cecilia and Peter. After my dad's early death, Mom was my only family in this world.Evan carefully
After learning the truth, Evan stared at the bracelet for half a day. He wanted to speak, but nothing came out of his mouth except for unintelligible noises.He seemed to have lost his ability to speak.Suddenly, he bent over and started to barf when Felix spoke, perhaps disgusted at the thought of how Cecilia and Peter gave him the bracelet, or maybe because he had kept the bracelet by his side for three years.The driver tried to help Evan, only to be pushed away. Tears slid down Evan's cheeks. He grasped the bracelet so tightly that the veins on the back of his hand bulged.After puking, he collapsed onto the floor in exhaustion and trembled from head to toe.I stood quietly at the side and watched as he vacantly stared at the bracelet that had now developed a jade-like quality.He did not respond to the driver. Finally, a phone call jolted him out of the trance. He picked it up."Evan, when are you coming back?" Cecilia sounded as gentle as usual. "I'm at Peter's studio, wai
The moment he said it, the entire hall fell silent. Then, whispers erupted all around the venue seconds later as people's gazes shifted.The color drained from Cecilia's face as she quickly snatched the bracelet back from Felix's hands. She chastised, "What nonsense are you spouting? This is clearly buffalo bone! Who told you to say this? Was it Corinne?"Felix looked taken aback. "I'm a professional, okay? Don't falsely accuse me. I've been studying this bracelet for a while now; something about it seemed off, even from a distance. I can tell the difference between buffalo bone and human bone.""Say one more word, and I'll sue you for slander!" Cecilia warned sharply. She hurriedly added, "You call yourself an appraiser? You're just a fraud trying to scam people!""I'm just stating my opinion. You will be held responsible for slandering me," Felix replied firmly, pointing to the camera on his chest. "I've recorded the entire exchange. I wouldn't risk my reputation over this. If yo
Peter had indeed harassed me before. It wasn't out of affection but of malicious desire. He wanted everything Evan had; if he couldn't get it, he'd take it by force. If he couldn't make it his, then he'd destroy it.That was how despicable and deceitful Peter was, yet he was a master at hiding it. Evan, how could you keep being fooled by him?This time, I thought he'd believe their lies again. But to my surprise, he went to confront Peter.After a few rounds of drinks, everyone was a bit tipsy. Evan suddenly asked, "Peter, are we good friends?"Peter laughed and responded, "Of course, what kind of question is that?"Evan went on, "I spoke with someone who knew Corinne today. They told me that while I was in a coma, you harassed her and even hit her. Did you two have some kind of conflict?"He wasn't smiling as he stared at Peter intently. "Why?"Peter's expression remained unchanged. However, Cecilia quickly chimed in, "Why else? To argue with her, obviously! You were still in
The investigation into the explosion concluded that a woman had stolen confidential business secrets while her boyfriend was in a coma following a car accident. When the man's mother discovered what she was up to and tried to stop her, the woman killed her boyfriend's mother, caused an explosion, and fled.Only one set of remains was found at the scene—Jane.I don't know how the authorities had come to that conclusion. All I knew was that my remains were treated like garbage and disposed of without a care.Money could turn black to white. It could also turn a dead person into a fleeing murderer.My femur was polished into round beads and strung into a bracelet. It was then given to Evan as a gift to celebrate his survival and new life.He accepted the gift and inspected it closely. He then complained about Peter being stingy, saying that he could've done better and gotten him something of better quality.After that, he asked, "Where are Corinne and my mom?"With reddened eyes, C