When he finished, Asher examined my face closely. After a moment, he turned to Gideon, “Doesn’t this face look familiar to you?”
Gideon glanced over and exclaimed, “You know, it does look a bit like…”
He stopped mid–sentence, staring at Asher, “Don’t get mad, but it looks a bit like… like your wife.”
3:14 PM
<
03
After he spoke, he watched Asher intently, but Asher just frowned and stood up.
“Must be a coincidence. Adeline’s worthless. Who would go to such lengths to kill her?”
Gideon couldn’t respond, so he agreed, “It must be a coincidence. Your wife hardly ever leaves the house. How could anything happen to her?”
They covered my body with a white cloth and called for it to be taken for cremation.
Perhaps the resemblance disturbed Asher. After my body left, he followed shortly after.
Several times, his car almost hit the guardrail.
Eventually, he pulled over and called Cora.
“Cora, Adeline… she’s at home, right?”
Cora pretended to be jealous, huffing, “Why do you always ask about Adeline? You afraid I’ll eat her or something?”
As Asher anxiously explained, she laughed, “I’m just teasing. Adeline’s your wife. You’re supposed to care about her. Why would I be jealous?”
“Don’t worry, she was with me just now. She’s probably out shopping.”
Cora lied effortlessly. Trusting her completely, Asher was reassured. After a few sweet words, he hung up and headed to the mall.
Watching him walk, I recalled wanting that unique ring before our wedding. Asher berated me in public.
“It’s just a gimmick meant to fool idiots like you.”
The salesperson’s expression was unpleasant, and I felt humiliated under their gazes, like a cold splash of water on a chilly spring day.
That was my first hint that I might just be a substitute for Cora. Asher didn’t love me.
But I loved him from the moment he stood in front of me. So I swallowed my pride, smoothed things over, and bought a simple wedding band.
Why was he here now?
Was he finally feeling guilty after my death? Trying to make amends this way?
I followed Asher to the store. Maybe it left a strong impression, because the clerk remembered him.
“Mr. Asher, are you picking a gift for your wife?”
04
Asher didn’t deny it. But when the clerk showed him the latest styles, he suddenly said, “I want that ring you can only buy once.”
The clerk seemed genuinely happy for me. She handed Asher that ring and said, “Your wife wanted this last time. She’ll be thrilled to receive
it.”
“By the way, Mr. Asher, we can engrave the ring. Would you like that?”
My heart pounded. Though Asher caused my death, I had loved him for so long. I needed to know if he had even the slightest affection for me, just a tiny bit.
“Engrave Cola.”
When Asher’s words came, my heart shattered completely.
The clerk thought it was my initials and cheerfully went to engrave it. Asher waited with an indifferent expression.
But I was truly dead. My body and heart were gone.
déo Acher unak
ᄃ
3:14 PM
<
Yet for some reason, I was still bound to Asher, unable to leave.
How cruel of fate, to have me killed by them, then watch their love unfold even in death.
Is this my punishment for being blind and giving my heart to the wrong person?
As soon as Asher spoke, my heart, which had been anxiously suspended, shattered into pieces.
The shop assistant mistakenly thought it was my name and eagerly went to have it engraved. Meanwhile, Asher waited with a detached demeanor.
I was the only one truly gone–my life ended, and my spirit crushed.
Yet, inexplicably, I remained bound to Asher, unable to leave.
How cruel the universe is, to let me be harmed by them, and even in death, force me to witness their affection.
Is this my punishment for misplacing my trust and heart in the wrong person?
