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Those few lines were like a dagger, plunging deep into Julian Sterling’s soul. He didn’t
know why his heart ached so fiercely, as if it were about to crack open. He kept mumbling, “I don’t believe it, it’s impossible.”
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“This must be a dream Anya created.”
“This is all a trick.”
11:31 Sun, 6 Jul AMO.
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Anya had actually come up with a way to make him believe she was innocent.
What a cunning plot. If he actually believed this lie, he’d be led by the nose by Anya again. This time he lost all his money; what would be next? Maybe even his life.
But a voice in his heart kept telling him. Even if he had to die for Anya, he would be willing.
He forcefully suppressed this weak thought and continued to search the house. Anya was leaving him; she would definitely take her luggage and money.
He needed to find out what Anya had stolen.
But when he pulled open the closet, his knees buckled, and he dropped to the floor. None of Anya’s clothes were missing. Instead, there was an additional stick of incense.
He had seen that incense twice before. Every time Anya wanted to create a dream, she would take it out and light it. But now this stick of incense was here.
Didn’t that mean everything that happened today was real? Anya’s mother was dead.
Anya wanted him to eat a bowl of remembrance rice, but not only did he not eat it, he went off to fool around with Chloe…
And what was up with Anya? If it wasn’t a dream, why did Anya’s body vanish in front of him? This just wasn’t real.
He didn’t want to think about anything now, or rather, he didn’t dare to. He just wanted to know where Anya was.
Julian picked up his phone, ready to have someone investigate Anya’s whereabouts.
Just then, his secretary called. He answered, and the trembling voice on the other end said,
“Mr. Sterling, the police just contacted us. They said Mrs. Sterling was killed by kidnappers!”
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Julian’s mind buzzed. The world before his eyes twisted. He questioned in disbelief. “Do you know what you’re saying?”
“Anya came home yesterday. She’s not dead. She’s fine, she even played the piano for us at the party.“”
“You say she’s dead?! Were all of us seeing ghosts?”
The secretary’s voice grew more frantic. “Mr. Sterling, what are you talking about? There was no party yesterday, and Mrs. Sterling couldn’t have been there.”
The phone clattered to the floor. Julian’s head throbbed as if it had been split by an axe. But those memories of Anya became increasingly clear.
He could even recall how many times Anya had shown sadness or disappointment in that short day. How many times hope and pleading had appeared in her eyes.
But then, before that last bowl of remembrance rice, all emotion vanished from Anya’s
eyes.
She sat there like a dummy, like a statue, like a thin piece of paper. As if a gentle breath
from him would make her shatter.
Julian bit his lip so hard, his mouth filled with the taste of blood. He drove to the police
station.
In the forensics lab, he saw a body covered with a white sheet. All DNA tests said it was
Anya, but he didn’t dare lift the sheet. He asked the police.
“How did she die?”
The police officer’s eyes held a hint of sadness. “According to the coroner’s report, the deceased, Anya, died by suicide.”
Julian scoffed, “How could she be so weak, taking her own life over such a minor thing?”
A young, hot–headed officer, new to the force, heard Julian’s words and sharply retorted. “A minor thing?”
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“Mr. Sterling, I understand you were married to Ms. Anya.”
“Then may I ask, do you consider it a minor thing that the kidnappers chopped off ten of
your wife’s fingers while she was alive?”
“Do you consider it a minor thing that the kidnappers shattered two of your wife’s
kneecaps?”
“Or do you consider it a minor thing that the kidnappers hung your wife upside down in water, causing severe fluid accumulation in both her lungs?”
Julian grabbed the young officer’s collar. “What are you saying?”
“I don’t believe it, you’re spouting nonsense. Do you believe I’ll sue you?”
But he had no strength left and was quickly pulled away by a few other officers. The old
detective had seen many people like Julian.
They always refused to accept the truth. They tried to protect themselves by shouting
accusations or threats, as if that could make everything disappear.
But facts were facts. He had to tell Julian the truth.
“What he said has evidence. If you need it, we can show you the autopsy report.”
“Mr. Sterling, there’s another matter we need your cooperation on.”
“The kidnappers stated that ten days ago, they asked you for ransom, but you only saved
Ms. Chloe Harper and did not care for the deceased, Anya. Is this true?”
Julian couldn’t catch his breath. He crashed to the floor. It felt like his soul was ripped from his body.
Standing from an omniscient perspective, he saw how utterly vile he had been, uttering those soul–crushing words to Anya.
Fifty thousand dollars for him was just the cost of an overseas trip. When he had the chance to buy Anya’s life, he gave it up.
