The last time I disappeared, it was during the camping trip with Mark's friends.Emma had suggested we pick wild berries together, just us girls. "Let's bond," she'd said with that sweet smile of hers.When we were alone deep in the woods, far from the others, she suddenly pushed me toward the river.I couldn't swim. She knew that. Mark had mentioned it at dinner once, and I'd seen the gleam in her eyes.The water was freezing. Dark. I thrashed desperately, my lungs burning.Somehow, I managed to drag myself to shore, my ankle twisted in the struggle.I limped back to the campsite, soaking wet and shivering, only to find everyone gone.They'd packed up and left without me.When I finally made it home hours later, Mark was waiting with rage in his eyes."Where have you been?" he demanded. "Emma said you stormed off alone. Always causing trouble, always making scenes!"I couldn't defend myself. Could only watch Emma's secret, triumphant smile.Sarah helped me treat my injured ankle later
Mark's face drained of color as he struggled to maintain composure. "It must be a coincidence. Alice is probably somewhere laughing at us right now.""Ma'am, are you in league with my wife? Playing games with the police is a serious offense."Suddenly, his phone rang. He answered with trembling hands. "Lab results?"The forensic tech's voice was urgent. "Detective, we have the DNA results for the victim."The senior detective, eyes glistening, touched Mark's shoulder. "Head back to the station. We'll handle things here."But Mark seemed not to hear, his gloved hand touching the dried blood on the floor. "How much pain was she in?"Some of the younger officers had started crying quietly.Mark stumbled back to his car, looking lost.Watching his dazed expression, my heart twisted painfully.From our wedding day until my death, he'd never once called me "love" or "dear" - terms he used freely with Emma.At the station, the lab tech handed him the report with pitying eyes."I'm sorry, Dete
Mark staggered into the morgue, his colleague's supportive grip the only thing keeping him upright. His face had gone ashen, matching the cold walls around him.Looking at my mutilated body, a low growl escaped his throat. It was the sound of a man whose world had just shattered.I watched him curiously. Why did he seem so pained?Shouldn't my death be what he had secretly wished for? After all, I was the obstacle between him and his precious Emma.His hand traced the long scar on my back - the one I got pushing him out of that car's path. His fingers trembled."Alice," his voice cracked, thick with tears. "How did it end up like this?""When we first got married, you were so gentle, so loving. Remember how you used to make me soup when my stomach acted up? You swore you'd always take care of me, and I... I promised to cherish you."He wiped roughly at his eyes, his badge catching the harsh morgue lights."What changed? Was it Emma? Was it me?" His tears fell onto my cold skin. "Did I
In the hospital corridor, nurses whispered among themselves, their voices carrying through the sterile air."Did you hear about Detective Martin's ex-wife? The one they found in the abandoned building?""I heard she was killed by some man she was having an affair with. Can you imagine?""Detective Martin must be devastated. Thank goodness he has Emma to comfort him.""Such a sweet woman, still getting her kidney treatments despite all this drama."Emma sat in her hospital bed, basking in the sympathy. Her smile grew brighter with each concerned glance, each pitying word.She adjusted her IV line with practiced care, playing the perfect patient.She was reveling in her victory, celebrating my death while pretending to mourn it.Then several police officers suddenly appeared in the corridor, their footsteps echoing as they walked toward Emma's room. Her perfect smile froze on her face.The head nurse tried to stop them. "This is a patient care area—""Step aside," one officer ordered, sh
My body was discovered in an abandoned building.The construction worker vomited as he dialed emergency services.Mark rushed from Emma's kidney treatment to the crime scene.The forensic expert frowned, gesturing for them to put on masks.My husband Mark was the city's most renowned detective. He'd solved countless murder cases, yet even he faltered when he saw this corpse.The summer heat had done its work. The body was bloated, the face beaten beyond recognition - a mass of flesh and blood where features should have been.The injuries were extensive. The head barely hung onto the neck by a strip of skin.The stench of decomposition filled the air.Mark closed his eyes briefly, took a deep breath, and pulled on his gloves to begin the preliminary examination.I watched nervously as he removed the blood-stained necklace from my neck.Two rings hung from the chain - our wedding rings that I had handcrafted for us with love.I remembered how proud I'd been, presenting them to Mark. Days
After the briefing at the police station, the officers' faces grew grave as they listened to the autopsy report."The victim suffered extensive torture before death," the medical examiner explained, clicking through graphic photos on the screen. "Multiple broken bones, systematic abuse."Due to the horrific state of my body, facial recognition was impossible.The abandoned building wasn't the primary crime scene, which significantly complicated the investigation.Mark stood at the front of the room, his jaw clenched tight."Canvas the entire area," he ordered his team. "Check every security camera within a five-mile radius. Someone must have seen something.""Please perform another detailed autopsy," Mark told his colleague. "Check for any new findings, and rush the DNA analysis to the lab. I want to know who she is."With those instructions, he hurried out with his team.My husband showed more concern for this anonymous corpse than he ever had for me.I remembered last month, when I h
In the hospital corridor, nurses whispered among themselves, their voices carrying through the sterile air."Did you hear about Detective Martin's ex-wife? The one they found in the abandoned building?""I heard she was killed by some man she was having an affair with. Can you imagine?""Detective Martin must be devastated. Thank goodness he has Emma to comfort him.""Such a sweet woman, still getting her kidney treatments despite all this drama."Emma sat in her hospital bed, basking in the sympathy. Her smile grew brighter with each concerned glance, each pitying word.She adjusted her IV line with practiced care, playing the perfect patient.She was reveling in her victory, celebrating my death while pretending to mourn it.Then several police officers suddenly appeared in the corridor, their footsteps echoing as they walked toward Emma's room. Her perfect smile froze on her face.The head nurse tried to stop them. "This is a patient care area—""Step aside," one officer ordered, sh
Mark staggered into the morgue, his colleague's supportive grip the only thing keeping him upright. His face had gone ashen, matching the cold walls around him.Looking at my mutilated body, a low growl escaped his throat. It was the sound of a man whose world had just shattered.I watched him curiously. Why did he seem so pained?Shouldn't my death be what he had secretly wished for? After all, I was the obstacle between him and his precious Emma.His hand traced the long scar on my back - the one I got pushing him out of that car's path. His fingers trembled."Alice," his voice cracked, thick with tears. "How did it end up like this?""When we first got married, you were so gentle, so loving. Remember how you used to make me soup when my stomach acted up? You swore you'd always take care of me, and I... I promised to cherish you."He wiped roughly at his eyes, his badge catching the harsh morgue lights."What changed? Was it Emma? Was it me?" His tears fell onto my cold skin. "Did I
Mark's face drained of color as he struggled to maintain composure. "It must be a coincidence. Alice is probably somewhere laughing at us right now.""Ma'am, are you in league with my wife? Playing games with the police is a serious offense."Suddenly, his phone rang. He answered with trembling hands. "Lab results?"The forensic tech's voice was urgent. "Detective, we have the DNA results for the victim."The senior detective, eyes glistening, touched Mark's shoulder. "Head back to the station. We'll handle things here."But Mark seemed not to hear, his gloved hand touching the dried blood on the floor. "How much pain was she in?"Some of the younger officers had started crying quietly.Mark stumbled back to his car, looking lost.Watching his dazed expression, my heart twisted painfully.From our wedding day until my death, he'd never once called me "love" or "dear" - terms he used freely with Emma.At the station, the lab tech handed him the report with pitying eyes."I'm sorry, Dete
The last time I disappeared, it was during the camping trip with Mark's friends.Emma had suggested we pick wild berries together, just us girls. "Let's bond," she'd said with that sweet smile of hers.When we were alone deep in the woods, far from the others, she suddenly pushed me toward the river.I couldn't swim. She knew that. Mark had mentioned it at dinner once, and I'd seen the gleam in her eyes.The water was freezing. Dark. I thrashed desperately, my lungs burning.Somehow, I managed to drag myself to shore, my ankle twisted in the struggle.I limped back to the campsite, soaking wet and shivering, only to find everyone gone.They'd packed up and left without me.When I finally made it home hours later, Mark was waiting with rage in his eyes."Where have you been?" he demanded. "Emma said you stormed off alone. Always causing trouble, always making scenes!"I couldn't defend myself. Could only watch Emma's secret, triumphant smile.Sarah helped me treat my injured ankle later
After sweetly assuring Emma he'd be there tomorrow, Mark received another call - this time from Sarah, my best friend."Mark, have you been able to reach Alice? She has an ultrasound scheduled for tomorrow morning," Sarah's worried voice came through the phone.Sarah was the only one who had stood by me after I married Mark. She had been his friend first, but she saw through his facade.The only warmth I'd felt in my marriage came from Sarah's friendship.Mark paused for a moment, then sneered, "Ultrasound? What ultrasound?"Sarah's voice turned incredulous. "The pregnancy checkup. It's been scheduled for weeks. Don't tell me you forgot...""I've been trying to call her for days," Sarah continued. "She's not answering my calls, and she hasn't replied to any of my messages. I'm getting worried."Mark paused for a moment, then sneered, "Worried? About what? Another one of her lies?"Sarah's voice turned incredulous. "She's your wife, Mark. She could be pregnant with your child. Don't you
After the briefing at the police station, the officers' faces grew grave as they listened to the autopsy report."The victim suffered extensive torture before death," the medical examiner explained, clicking through graphic photos on the screen. "Multiple broken bones, systematic abuse."Due to the horrific state of my body, facial recognition was impossible.The abandoned building wasn't the primary crime scene, which significantly complicated the investigation.Mark stood at the front of the room, his jaw clenched tight."Canvas the entire area," he ordered his team. "Check every security camera within a five-mile radius. Someone must have seen something.""Please perform another detailed autopsy," Mark told his colleague. "Check for any new findings, and rush the DNA analysis to the lab. I want to know who she is."With those instructions, he hurried out with his team.My husband showed more concern for this anonymous corpse than he ever had for me.I remembered last month, when I h
My body was discovered in an abandoned building.The construction worker vomited as he dialed emergency services.Mark rushed from Emma's kidney treatment to the crime scene.The forensic expert frowned, gesturing for them to put on masks.My husband Mark was the city's most renowned detective. He'd solved countless murder cases, yet even he faltered when he saw this corpse.The summer heat had done its work. The body was bloated, the face beaten beyond recognition - a mass of flesh and blood where features should have been.The injuries were extensive. The head barely hung onto the neck by a strip of skin.The stench of decomposition filled the air.Mark closed his eyes briefly, took a deep breath, and pulled on his gloves to begin the preliminary examination.I watched nervously as he removed the blood-stained necklace from my neck.Two rings hung from the chain - our wedding rings that I had handcrafted for us with love.I remembered how proud I'd been, presenting them to Mark. Days