Chapter 10

His assistant rushed in, exclaiming, “Mr. Reyes, I’ve assembled hundreds of top-notch divers and thousands of sailors to search the area downstream from the incident, but there’s still no sign of your wife.”

Chase leaned back in his chair, a smug grin spreading across his face. He let out a sigh of relief. “What did I tell you? She’s always been good at putting on a show. Call everyone back. There’s no point in searching anymore.”

The assistant looked uneasy. “Even if Mrs. Reyes didn’t… you know… she’s still missing. What if something’s happened…?”

“She’s probably sulking somewhere, throwing a fit. Let her be. She’ll come back once she’s calmed down.”

After hanging up, Chase stared at a photograph of himself and Amanda on his desk. It was taken when Amanda was seventeen, right after a tennis match, sunlight streaming down, her smile radiant. A hint of nostalgia flickered in his eyes. How ironic. Could he really miss the old him? Is this the same person who snuffed out my happiness?

“Hey, Chase!” Nicole’s voice broke the silence as she locked the door and settled onto his lap.

Chase tried to push her away. “Nicole, cut it out!”

“But you wanted me so many times last night,” Nicole teased, pressing her chest against his arm, her breath warm against his ear. “This is where Amanda used to sit. Doesn’t that make it even more thrilling?”

This shameless intruder was even trying to taint my last untouched sanctuary.

“Get out! Both of you, just get out!” I screamed, but they acted as if they couldn’t hear me. Chase’s eyes showed no desire, only a hint of wariness.

“Nicole, last night was just a one-time thing.”

“Don’t worry, Chase, I won’t say a word. You’ve got nothing to lose. I just miss you,” she said, placing his hand on her chest. “Feel how fast my heart’s racing?”

But unlike last night, Chase pushed her away. “I’ve got things to take care of. I’m out of here.”

As he left, I was drawn along with him, like a shadow. Before we exited, I glanced back at Nicole’s expression—it was darker than any nightmare.

She whispered, “Too bad she can’t come back now, huh?”

Her voice was barely audible to Chase, but I caught her words. My death was definitely linked to Nicole! She was the reason I was gone.

I desperately wanted to confront her, to make her pay, but I couldn’t stray more than a few meters from Chase. All I could do was watch her repulsive face fade into the distance.

Chase started the car. I sat in the passenger seat, watching the scenery blur past, trying to piece it all together. Could Nicole have hired someone to kill me?

No, the killer’s eyes, though masked, seemed familiar. I’d seen them before.

After I died, my consciousness was pulled away, and before I could identify him, I found myself tethered to Chase.

The killer had dumped my wedding dress in the water. But where was my body?

If all they wanted was to kill me, why not dispose of the dress with me?

If it was about money, that dress was worth a fortune. Even if it couldn’t be sold outright, the diamonds could have been fenced on the black market.

The police report showed that the dress was intact, except for the cuts. What secrets was Nicole hiding?