Chapter 2

The noise outside continued, the media crowding around the killer, Dennis Black.

"Whose body is it really? Why did you kill her so cruelly? Did you have a vendetta against her?"

"I told you, it's that forensic expert's daughter, your assistant's fiancée. Someone paid me a million to kill her. For every bone I shattered, I got an extra ten thousand, so I shattered every single bone in her body."

Dennis licked his lips, smiling at the camera.

I shivered. I'd never forget that face. Two years ago, he ruined me. Two years later, he killed me.

"How did I do?"

"Excellent."

I saw Ashley mouth those words, then cover her belly and walk towards the corpse.

"Ashley, you're easily scared. Maybe you shouldn't look."

Liam pulled Ashley's arm, looking worried.

"I'm fine, Liam. You and Mom are both forensic experts. I've seen plenty since I was little. It won't scare me."

After saying that, she walked closer to the corpse, examining it carefully.

"All her bones shattered?"

"Yes, a brutal death. I can't imagine the hatred or grudge involved."

Liam sighed regretfully, shaking his head.

"The victim is likely a young woman, aged between twenty-three and twenty-five. The body fluids found were Dennis Black's. It's been confirmed."

My stomach churned. Thinking of that night, I felt like I died all over again.

Ashley chuckled softly.

"The body probably hasn't been claimed because it's missing its head, right? I think we should post nude photos of the body online. Anyone who recognizes it will naturally come forward."

A chill ran down my spine. I shook my head.

"No... no... Liam, Mom, I beg you, don't do that."

I was already dead. I didn't want to be humiliated any further.

"Ashley, you're so smart! You're truly your mother's daughter."

Mom suddenly understood, showering Ashley with compliments.

I wanted to scream, to tell everyone that I was the one who died, to beg them not to strip away my last shred of dignity.

But no one could hear me.

My body was posted online, drawing mostly mockery.

"Gotta say, that body is truly beautiful. I bet she had a pretty face too."

"I really wish I could see what the owner of this body looked like. Such a shame to die like this."

"Thinking about a corpse? You guys must be desperate."

Ashley admired the body for a while before leaving. Liam and Mom escorted her to the door.

"Ashley, once this case is done, we'll come home and spend time with you."

Ashley nodded with a smile, then got into the car.

I heard her say quietly, full of sarcasm,

"Chloe Vance, I put your body right in front of them like this, and they still won't figure out where you went. Too bad you kept screaming their names that night. How laughable."

"Now, everything you had is mine. I won."

I trembled uncontrollably, feeling utterly disgusted.

Ashley Reed was the orphan I had begged Mom to bring home from the orphanage.

When I met her at age ten, she was much smaller and thinner than other kids her age, sitting silently under a tree. I saw her strangle a cat.

I screamed, terrified, wanting to hide, but then I saw her looking at me with pitiful, deer-like eyes.

"Does everyone fear me?"

Hiding behind the tree, I hesitated, then walked up to her and said,

"I'm not afraid of you, but you hurt the little cat."

"Its leg was broken, and other cats bullied it. I just put it out of its misery."

Ashley assessed me, then said ingratiatingly,

"I saw you today. You're Dr. Vance's daughter. A lot of kids went to play with you when you came."

"Why didn't you go?"

"The director told me not to get close to you."

My heart softened, an indescribable feeling.

That day, I begged Mom to adopt Ashley and brought her home.

But that was the mistake of my life.

I shouldn't have wished to save someone whose heart was inherently dark.