Chapter 1
The day before I married Carter,
I drank tea spiked with apple juice, my whole body broke out in sores and I was rushed to the hospital.
Before I left, Carter said he would wait for me to return, but secretly married Sarah behind my back.
He said he would send whoever hurt me to hell,
But I remember only Carter knew about my apple juice allergy.
————————
1
Five years later, my son was kidnapped. When he was found, he had been beaten beyond recognition, barely resembling a human anymore.
During the autopsy of my son, I discovered a distinctive plum blossom-shaped mark.
I recognized it instantly - the serrated hunting knife 32, the only one of its kind in the world.
It was the knife I had specially made for Carter's birthday, and this blade...
Had become the fatal strike that pierced my son's body.
Swallowing my anguish, I turned and made a phone call.
"77, requesting to rejoin the team."
"I'll take care of everything here."
"I implore the organization to help me locate the serrated hunting knife 32."
"Understood."
Hanging up the phone, I looked at my son on the autopsy table, now unrecognizable. If it weren't for the birthmark on his chest, I would have struggled to accept this reality.
The son who was once so full of life in front of me had now become a lifeless corpse.
Looking at the wounds on his body, he must have endured at least five hours of torture.
The fatal blow was the wound that pierced his chest.
The knife's unique plum blossom-shaped wound pattern, upon closer examination, was identified as the serrated hunting knife 32 - the only one of its kind in the world, which I had personally designed.
I had only ever given it to Carter on our engagement day.
Yet this knife had become the weapon that took my son's life.As tears welled up involuntarily in my eyes, I clenched my fists, determined to uncover the truth.
...
It was nearly eight o'clock when I left the autopsy table. Carter messaged me saying he wouldn't be coming home due to a meeting.
Yet, as I covered for my supervisor at the clinic, I spotted his car parked out front.
Carter walked out leisurely, cradling a little boy in his arms while holding Sarah's hand, looking every bit like a family of three.
The little boy swung on Carter's arm, shockingly calling him "Daddy."
"Daddy, Melody's birthday is coming up soon. Melody wants the same as last year."
"How about a thousand toy airplanes?"
Carter looked at the boy and said, "Okay," followed by a gentle smile.
My heart sank. This tender demeanor was something he had never bestowed upon my child, Ethan.
Carter's usual attitude towards Ethan was cold and indifferent.
Every year on Ethan's birthday, he'd find various excuses not to show up.
A thousand toy airplanes seemed extravagant, while my Ethan couldn't even hope for a simple "Happy Birthday."
Sarah affectionately called out to Carter, "Asher, we're so lucky to have you.""Are you there?"
Carter gently caressed Sarah's face. "To repay our debt, it's all worth it."
This tender moment was interrupted by my uninvited presence.
When Carter saw me getting out of the car, his hand hesitated for a moment before quickly pulling away.
"Why are you here?!"
The little boy beside him asked curiously, "Dad, who is this lady?"
Sarah quickly pulled the child behind her. "Sister-in-law, the child doesn't understand."
"He's just playing around." Her face showed apology, but her eyes were full of smugness.
I looked at them coldly, remaining silent.
The child, startled by being yanked, suddenly burst into tears. Carter immediately crouched down to comfort him.
Then he stood up. "Dr. Carlisle, what are you doing? You're scaring the child."
"Stay away from the kid. Isn't it unlucky to be around dead people all day?"
"Hurry up and apologize to the child."
My heart sank. Carter had always supported my work as a forensic pathologist, but now he found me unlucky.
When did his admiration for me turn into disgust?
I didn't want to think about it further and just walked past them to go inside.Carter, fuming with anger, called out to me from behind. "You!"