Chapter 21
The argument in the office went on for a long time, until Ethan desperately called the police. He’d been lying to others for so long that he’d started believing his own lies, crying into the phone: “I want to report a murder–someone killed my wife!”
The responding officer happened to be from the same precinct and arrived quickly. One of them was the same cop who’d been called to his house earlier that evening, and he looked confused: “Mr. Thompson, wasn’t your wife perfectly fine at home? How could she have been murdered three days ago?”
The question was direct and crucial, drawing the attention of everyone present, including the hospital administrator. They all wondered how Ethan had ended up with two wives.
Ethan’s mind slowly cleared, and he finally realized how despicable his behavior had been–keeping his wife while fooling around on the side. His voice dropped: “The one at home isn’t my wife, just a nanny. And she’s been fired.”
“I see.” The officer nodded thoughtfully. “Now we need to clarify something–were you divorced from your wife in the hospital?”
Both officers had witnessed the spectacle Tiffany’s parents had made and felt nothing but contempt for Ethan’s behavior.
Ethan’s face alternated between red and white with discomfort as he awkwardly touched his nose: “That’s my private business and has nothing to do with the case. I called you here to report a crime–I want you to find the real killer who injected my wife with sedatives!”
He was completely lost in his delusion of being a devoted husband. Even the next morning when the police called him to come to the station, he was still driven by thoughts of avenging Claire.
Until the nurse appeared before him.
The moment Ethan saw the “murderer,” he lunged forward without a word and grabbed her throat, fully intending to strangle her as revenge for Claire. Fortunately, the police were prepared and restrained him just as he made contact.
The nurse had expected this reaction and didn’t back down, pointing at him accusingly: “Officers, I’m here to both confess and file a report. I’m reporting this man for murdering his wife! Yes, I injected Claire with sedatives, but the dosage came from him–he’s the real killer!”
“If I’d known Claire’s condition was so poor that she couldn’t handle inject–able sedatives, I never would have given her the drug. No matter how much I needed the money, I wouldn’t risk my career…”
As she spoke, she produced the bank card Ethan had given her and surveillance footage she’d deliberately saved, both pieces. of evidence proving her claims were true.
The police immediately seized on the evidence she provided and began investigating her financial records and verifying the surveillance footage.
Ethan never expected that the nurse he’d bribed would turn on him like this. He finally couldn’t suppress his breakdown any longer, swaying and collapsing to the floor, taking the urn he’d been clutching with him.
Pale gray ashes scattered instantly across the floor, mixing with cheap ceramic shards–an indescribably desolate sight.
Having lost Claire once already, Ethan couldn’t bear to lose even these final remains of her.
He frantically bent down to gather the ashes, trying desperately to hold onto what was left of her, but a sharp–eyed officer noticed something wrong.
Chapter 21
“Wait!” The cop stepped forward quickly, stopping Ethan’s movements while asking suspiciously: “How old was your wife? Did she have any dental problems when she was alive?”
Ethan gripped a handful of ashes that kept slipping through his fingers, glaring at everyone with hostility: “What the hell are you getting at?!”
The officer had to point to the ashes scattered among the ceramic fragments: “Crematorium temperatures aren’t high enough to completely destroy all bone matter. This tooth is proof–I used to be a detective and I’m familiar with human remains. This tooth couldn’t possibly belong to a young person. It doesn’t match your wife’s age.”
Chapter 22
