Tears flowed uncontrollably down my cheeks.
At this moment, I was filled with regret. Regret for ever meeting Charles Anderson, for everything that unfolded, and most painfully, for the argument with my dad just before I died.
I had been in a relationship with Charles for years, yet he wouldn’t commit to marrying me.
My dad advised me to break up with him, but instead, I argued passionately against it.
They never meant to hurt me; it was I who brought about my own suffering.
Watching my parents, bent over and leaning on each other for support as they walked away, shattered my heart.
I despised Charles, I despised David, and most of all, I despised myself.
Charles closed the door, frowned, and after a moment’s thought, tried calling me.
The call went unanswered, so he left a voicemail.
“Grace, can you stop this nonsense? Your parents are worried sick about you. What’s wrong with you?”
After hanging up, he quickly headed to the police station and bumped into Ethan Parker.
Ethan mentioned that the officers keeping an eye on David’s house reported he hadn’t returned yet.
Charles shook his head. “Something’s not right with this guy. If he has nothing to hide, why hasn’t he come home?”
Ethan agreed. “Exactly, which is why we’ve listed David as a prime suspect and launched a citywide search.”
Sighing, Charles asked Ethan, “Has anyone else reported a missing daughter?”
Ethan shook his head. “A few families have been contacted, but they all confirmed it’s not their daughter.”
Charles frowned. “We need to catch David first. Once we have him, the truth will surface.”
Just then, a police officer rushed in. “An elderly couple has reported that the deceased resembles their daughter. Should we bring them in for identification?”
Ethan nodded. “Bring them in.”
Five minutes later, my parents arrived, escorted by a female officer.
Charles was momentarily stunned upon seeing them, then expressed his frustration. “What are you doing here? Can you not disrupt the police investigation?”
“Once I solve this case, I’ll bring your daughter back.”
My mom shook her head, tears streaming down her face. “Charles, don’t you know about the bond between a mother and her child?”
“My heart aches. Something must have happened to my daughter.”
I was crying, devastated but helpless.
At that moment, I wished the truth would remain hidden, so my parents could hold onto hope forever.
Unable to turn them away, Charles let them in.
He couldn’t believe the person in the morgue was me. After all, he had conducted the autopsy himself. He just thought I was hiding, throwing a tantrum.
When my mom saw the body on the table, she fainted.
My dad, trembling, stepped forward and held my hand. “This is my daughter. I’d know her anywhere.”
Hearing this, Charles dropped his cigarette on the floor.
Surrounded by several officers at the morgue entrance, he pushed through in desperation.
“What did you say? Who is this?”
His hand trembled as he looked at my body, disbelief etched across his face.
My dad ignored him, just gazing at me. “Daughter, how did this happen to you?”
Several officers, unable to bear the scene, escorted my parents out.
I wanted to follow them, but I could only stay by Charles’s side.
Charles’s hand shook, his eyes red as he looked at me.
“Grace? Are you Grace?”
“No, they must be mistaken. This can’t be Grace.”
“Grace wouldn’t die so young; no, no!”
He mumbled to himself, shaking his head.
I once wondered if Charles would regret my death, but seeing this?
All I felt was a deep-seated disgust.
