"Ta-da! Do you know what this is, Michael?" Shirley jogged into the kitchen and came back out with a small pot in her hands.Of course, Michael could figure out what it was, but he played along and asked smilingly, "What is it? It smells nice.""It's bone broth! I made it especially for you!" Removing the lid, Shirley said with a concerned expression, "You've been working overtime these days, so it must be tough on your health. You should have some bone broth for extra nourishment.""I'm sorry, Shirley. I should've spent more time with you." Michael accepted the bowl of broth Shirley handed to him, looking quite touched.Shirley propped her chin up on her hand. "It's okay, Michael. Come on, try it."Michael nodded.Just then, the doorbell rang.Shirley frowned a little.Setting down the bowl, Michael said, "You must be tired from all the shopping. Rest here. I'll get the door.""Sorry to intrude, Dr. Summers." The person at the door was wearing an undershirt and baggy pants. H
The delivery guy handed a box the size of a notebook to Michael. "Here's a package for you. Please sign your name here.""Did you buy something for me, Shirley?" After accepting the package, Michael walked into the house with the package in hand.A look of suspicion flashed across Shirley's eyes. But in a split second, she smiled sweetly and said, "No. I was actually thinking of getting you something with my scholarship money, but I'm still deciding.""You should save that money for your future wedding. Don't waste it on me," Michael replied.It was only then that Michael checked the sender's name.The package was from me.Michael's expression instantly turned cold. He opened the door and tossed the package out right away.I hovered nearby, watching. My heart ached as if it had thousands of needles running through it. I felt as if dying wasn't such a bad thing after all.Michael returned to the table.Shirley looked curious. "Why did you throw it away, Michael?""It's just ru
No one would be bothering Michael now.Shirley had an anxious look on her face as she called out to him. "Michael, did something really happen to Ruth?""So what if it did? She's a monster. Does she not deserve a bad ending?" Michael patted Shirley's hand. "It's getting late. You should go to bed. I'll clean up the table.""No. You've been working yourself to the bone, Michael. I can take care of these things." Shirley quickly carried the pot to the kitchen. Her expression instantly turned cold and twisted, and she seemed to be thinking of something.Still, Michael was deeply touched by her actions.Just then, knocks sounded on the door once again. However, the knocks were arrhythmic and slow. They sounded quite creepy.Shirley immediately exited the kitchen with an oddly wary look in her eyes."Don't bother. I'll get the door! That monster! I can't believe she's bringing her stupid pranks here!" Michael was on his way to his bedroom, but he turned and walked toward the door.
Time seemed to have come to a standstill.Michael turned toward Shirley in bewilderment. "How can it be…?""I didn't do it, Michael." With tears in her eyes, Shirley shook her head violently. "I swear. Please believe me, Michael."Charles shouted, "We have conclusive evidence. No amount of pretending will get you anywhere!"However, when Michael saw Shirley's helpless demeanor, he quickly dismissed his suspicions. Turning around, he pulled her into his arms and comforted her. "I believe you. Don't worry…"Just then, a small scalpel sliced into Michael's chest."Damn it!" When Charles saw Michael's figure wavering, his expression shifted as he hastily took out his gun. "Don't do anything stupid, Shirley!"Michael's face was filled with disbelief. "W-Why?""Because I love you, Michael." Shirley quickly removed the scalpel from Michael's chest. Then, she held it against his neck as her vicious smile contorted. "I was the one who fell for you first, but Elena got to you before I di
"I'm even surprised you noticed her tooth problem. Do you know why?" With that, Charles flung a pile of reports at Michael. "She was overworked for a whole year, so she developed immunity issues despite her young age. She had leukemia!"Michael whipped his head up as tears streamed down his face. "W-What did you just say?""But she didn't want to seek treatment at all," Charles continued, "Your distrust and indifference gave her more despair than terminal illness ever could."Charles looked at Michael in disdain. Then, he tossed a package at the latter. "Do you know what's inside? It contains a property deed with your name on it, along with all her savings! She might have given up on seeking treatment, but she was still worried about her jerk of a brother!"But you threw it away! You don't deserve any of her kindness!"As Charles shouted, Michael stood up with a numb expression on his face.The next moment, he closed his eyes and lost consciousness.He remained unconscious for
My elder brother, Michael Summers, had always wished that I could just die."You're just a cold-blooded monster, Ruth! Elena cared so much about you, but you heartlessly locked her out so that she would be stabbed in your stead! Don't you feel ashamed to be alive?"Five years ago, Michael's fiancée, Elena Brooks, had died because of me.Five years later, my burnt corpse lay quietly on Michael's autopsy table.Michael's wish finally came true.However, he lost his mind when he learned that I was the one who had died.…The burnt corpse on the autopsy table was in a distorted posture."Sorry, Dr. Summers," Charles Johnson, the captain of the police force, said apologetically, "I understand that you can finally get off work early and have dinner with Ruth today, but…""I don't want to hear that monster's name ever again." Michael glared at Charles with a hint of disdain in his cold gaze.I hovered in the air above them. There was a bitter smile on my lips. After Elena's tragic d
"The victim has deep periodontal pockets. They might have had tooth problems," Michael observed.Turning to look at Charles, Michael recovered his calm and said, "If there are no missing person reports, we can go through the treatment records at various dental clinics. We may be able to identify the victim that way."I smiled bitterly.Charles nodded in silence. After turning around, he kicked the door so hard that half of it was broken off. He barked, "Get here, all of you! No one gets to go home until we've found the culprit!"Out of habit and respect for the dead, Michael gently placed the head above the torso. Then, he bowed his head, saying, "Don't worry. I promise I'll bring justice to you."I felt a dull pain in my heart.Would Michael still behave like that if he had known that the corpse was mine?Just then, his phone rang. It was a WhatsApp voice call.Michael glanced at the profile picture and the contact name "Dave (Seafood Seller)" on the screen. He frowned a littl
I honestly had no idea why the door was locked after Elena had shoved me into the bathroom, nor did I understand why the door wouldn't open, no matter what I did.It had happened all too suddenly, and I had dropped my phone outside.Even now, I could still hear Elena's terrified screams in my ears.I had cried and shouted so much that my throat bled, and in the end, I had fainted from exhaustion.When I had woken up, the interrogating police officers had told me that the door was locked from the inside. Michael had almost strangled me to death right then and there.And now, I was indeed burned, albeit not to ashes. Still, if they figured out my identity, Michael would probably feel a little happier.Anyway, right now, solving the case was more important to him.Charles calmed down a little. "Sorry, I've spoken out of turn. You've been quite busy these days, so hurry home and get some rest."Ignoring him, Michael turned and went downstairs.Just then, his phone rang again. Mich