20/01/2026
๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐ง'๐ญ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ค ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ - ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐ฅ ๐ ๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐
Chapter 1
I ran into a serial killer on my way to my twin sisterโs birthday party.
As the police captainโs wife, I protected my husband Calvin McMullenโs whereabouts until my very last breath.
He ignored my call for help.
Told everyone I was โbeing dramatic.โ
While I was tortured to death, however, Calvin was celebrating my sisterโs birthday.
That night, the darkness had settled in, and someone mentioned I was afraid of the dark.
Calvin just scoffed, โIโm the police captain, and sheโs my wife. She should face her fears and get here on her own.โ
But Calvin, I died. I couldnโt make it.
***
At 7 p.m., in the Platinum Hotel, San Francisco.
The banquet hall buzzed with clinking glasses and lively chatter. Calvin checked his watch, his expression hardening.
โTen more minutes. If Whitney still hasnโt shown up, weโll start without her.
A close friend spoke up, โCalvin, I remember Whitneyโs afraid of the dark, right? Shouldnโt you pick her up?โ
He frowned. โWhy would I? Iโm the police captain, and sheโs my wife. She should face her fears and get here on her own.โ
The indifference on his face cut through me like a blade.
He had no idea I was already thereโstanding beside him, my body covered in gashes and blood, exactly as I looked when I died.
I gazed at him and whispered, my voice light as a breeze, โCalvin, I canโt make it.โ
An hour earlier, I had been stabbed dozens of times, my heart carved out.
My last thought before everything went dark wasโwould Calvin feel relieved when he knew that I was dead?
He married me only because Iโd lost hearing in my left ear while saving him. It was never about love.
My twin sister, Georgia Lawrence, was the one he wanted.
And this party was for her.
Soon, the clock struck eight.
Calvin set down his glass and looked at Georgia.
Without hesitation, he said, โGia, time to cut the cake.โ
Watching him walk side by side with Georgia toward the cake, I felt a lump in my throat.
But my soul instinctively drifted after him.
Just as they sliced into the cake, Calvinโs phone rang.
An urgent voice came through.
โCaptain McMullen, we found body parts in a trash can next to Shop No. 96 on Maple Road!โ
My heart lurched.
That spot was only a block away.
Calvinโs face turned cold and stern. โOn my way.โ
Watching him leave in a hurry, I followed him out.
Minutes later, he ducked under the police tape.
A black garbage bag sat on the ground, still oozing blood.
Calvin put on a mask and gloves, stepped over, and opened it.
After just a glance, he turned his head away.
An intern nearby stumbled back and retched uncontrollably.
Floating above them, I felt ice spread through my veins.
I knew without a doubtโit was me in that bag.
The forensic investigator lowered his eyes, as if pained by what he saw.
โTime of death was within the last two hours, but there are no identifiable features.
โCaptain, the M.O. matches the recent serial dismemberment cases. We may need to request a joint investigation.โ
Calvin put the bag away and walked out.
โGet the remains back to the station. This case is too appalling. We have to solve it before thereโs another victim.โ
He got into the car with his team, their faces grim.
Someone broke the silence. โCaptain, how was Mrs. McMullenโs birthday party today?โ
Resting his head on his hand, Calvin replied casually, โShe didnโt show up. Gia was there.โ
Another voice chimed in, โMrs. McMullen is kind of delicate. You might want to smooth things over. โ
Calvinโs expression darkened.
โAs the family of a police officer, she doesnโt have the luxury of being delicate.โ
The indifference in his eyes stabbed what was left of my heart.
The car fell quiet.
Someone else changed the subject. โCaptain, the killer seems to target women in their twenties. You should warn your family.โ
The words snapped me back. I watched as Calvin pulled out his phone after a momentโs thought.
Then he clicked a contact and dialed without hesitation.
โGia, donโt go anywhere after the party. Iโll take you home.โ
I looked at him, disappointment swelling like a tide.
โSo, Calvin,โ I whispered, โin your heart, only Georgia is your family, right?โ
Soon, the car pulled up at the station. Calvin strode into his office, others following.
Within ten minutes, someone hurried in.
โCaptain McMullen, we found something belonging to the victim while processing the remains.โ
When I saw what was in the transparent evidence bag, my heart raced.
It was the starlight bracelet I wore every day!
Chapter 2
The silver gleam stung my eyes.
It was a gift from Calvin on our first wedding anniversary.
I hadnโt expected him to remember, but he came home that day.
He placed the bag in my hand and said naturally, โHappy anniversary.โ
The gentleness in his eyes that day stayed with me, clear even now.
I couldnโt help but look at him.
Faced with such an obvious clue, how would he react?
He stared at the bracelet intently, frowning.
โThe profile says this killer is too careful to leave something this obvious behind.
โLook into the target demographic and customer records for this bracelet. Leave no stone
This book had been added on your bookshelff. unturned.โ
The officers moved into action.
I stood there as they passed through my spirit, almost scattering me into nothing.
Calvin didnโt recognize the bracelet?
I had never taken it off from the day he gave it to me.
I was even clutching it when the killer cut out my heart.
Now the harsh truth hit meโwhat I treasured meant nothing to him.
Suddenly, I wanted to cry, but a spirit had no tears.
Calvin stayed in his office, reviewing files from the serial murder case.
Photo after photo, each more brutal than the last. The fury in his eyes grew.
Near midnight, a call from Georgia cut through the haze of smoke in the office.
The ringtone snapped Calvin back. He pinched the bridge of his nose and answered,
I heard Georgia clearly. โCal, how much longer will you be?โ
Calvinโs gaze turned cold at once.
Because of his job, it was normal for him to work through the night.
Heโd made it clear to me-โWhen Iโm working, donโt call or text no matter what.โ
Just as I thought heโd snap at her or tell her to go home alone, his gentle voice rang out.
โIโm sorry. I lost track of time going over the files. Iโll be right there.โ
Watching him leave without hesitation, I felt an overwhelming heartacheโthat was, if I still had a heart.
So, it was never about not wanting to be disturbed.
It was because I was Whitney, not Georgia, the woman he loved.
In a daze, I followed him back to the banquet hall.
It was still brightly lit, the This book had been added on your bookshelf. looking harmless and pitiful.
โCal, finally!โ
She beamed when she saw him and threw herself into his arms.
He steadied her, then gently pushed her back. โHave you been drinking?โ
His caring tone, his gentle words, the way his hand reached out and withdrewโit all made me tremble.
Iโd studied behavioral psychology once just to have something to talk about with him.
That was how I knew his behavior meant he was holding back his feelings for her.
Right then, even the air tasted bitter.
Georgia was stunned by his reaction. She looked up, tears in her eyes.
โCal, donโt you want me anymore? Or have you fallen for Whitney?
โIf it werenโt for her, I wouldโve been your wife long ago! I wonโt allow you to love her!โ
Our parents had always been at odds, and both Georgia and I grew up with our own scars.
I was autistic, and she had bipolar disorder.
And the child who demanded attention usually got itโour parents always focused more on her than me.
Now she tugged at her hair tightly, drawing Calvinโs attention.
โWhitney took that note. Otherwise, she never wouldโve been there to shield you from the gas explosion!
โIf I had been there that day, I wouldnโt have let you get hurt either!โ
Calvin pulled her into his arms, his eyes full of distress.
โCalm down, Gia. Stop hurting yourself!โ
The sight of them holding each other made my spirit ache.
Calvin had never been that anxious over me.
Georgia slumped against him, crying bitterly, โCal, you promised youโd divorce her. You canโt go back on your word.โ
I looked straight at Calvin.
A complicated emotion flashed in his eyes.
Then he said, โI wonโt.โ
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