“Every body that comes to the crematorium goes through your and my hands. Have you ever seen Adeline’s body? Just because someone says she’s dead doesn’t make it true.”
Gideon, losing patience, covered his face and reminded Asher, “Remember the body from that night? The one you said looked familiar?”
Asher fell into thought, and Gideon dropped another heavy bomb.
“Back then, you said your sister–in–law was at home, so I thought it was a coincidence. But after the cremation, they found that peace amulet.”
“Every time your sister–in–law visited, she wore that amulet, saying it was to keep you safe. Everyone at our workplace knew…”
Asher fell silent, lost in thought. Gideon said, “My condolences, brother,” then left the room, leaving Asher alone.
He slid down against the door, still muttering, “Impossible, impossible…”
Asher was lost in thought when Gideon suddenly dropped another bombshell.
“You mentioned your sister–in–law was at home, so I assumed it was just a coincidence. But after the cremation, they found that peace
amulet.”
“Every time she visited, she brought that amulet, claiming it was for your safety. Everyone in our workplace knows…”
Asher fell silent, deep in contemplation. Gideon offered his condolences and left the room, leaving Asher alone.
09
He slid down to the floor, leaning against the door, whispering, “Impossible, impossible…”
But his voice cracked, and he buried his head in his knees. I could hear Asher’s stifled sobs.
When he locked me in the freezer, he should have known this would happen. Now, who is he trying to fool with this display of emotions?
Late remorse is meaningless, especially when it’s just empty gestures!
Asher quickly regained his composure. He wiped his tears, straightened himself, and returned to his authoritative self as Professor Asher.
When be opened the door, all the employees turned to look at him. Unfazed. Asher calmly said “Take me to são my wi£a ”
<
After marrying Asher, I often brought him meals here. Over time, the people here got to know me well and were genuinely saddened by my death. Seeing Asher pull himself together made them happy.
Asher was led to a storage cabinet. “Professor Asher, you didn’t take the ashes delivered that day, so I temporarily stored Adeline here.”
The colleague speaking was the one who delivered the ashes that day. He had eaten a lot of my food and spoke more familiarly than others.
Asher nodded, took the key, and then asked, “Where was Adeline’s body retrieved from?”
The person who brought me back was momentarily stunned, then handed over my records to him. As Asher flipped through them, his fingertips turned white from gripping too hard.
A moment later, he abruptly closed the file and left the crematorium with my ashes.
The car raced home, and Asher’s hands shook as he fumbled with the keys, struggling several times to fit them in.
He opened the door calmly, sat on the sofa, and when Cora tried to snuggle up to him, he pushed her away and stared intently at her, asking, “Was Adeline really with you that day?”
Cora, unaware of what had happened, feigned ignorance and nodded, “Yes, Adeline was with me the whole time. Why? Did something happen?”
Her body tensed as she spoke, her nails digging into her skin, and it looked painful.
But this time, Asher didn’t believe her.
10
Asher angrily threw the records from the crematorium in front of Cora, his expression turning dark. “Cora, I’ve considered every possibility. I suspected it was the crematorium’s mistake, but I never doubted you would lie to me!”
“Why!”
“Why did I trust you so much, only for you to deceive me repeatedly?”
Asher shouted in his agitation, his veins bulging, scaring Cora into a flinch.
Yet it seemed he only blamed Cora for lying and didn’t intend to pursue her for desecrating my body. I lowered my eyes in self–mockery; I shouldn’t have hoped for anything from him.
I thought he would at least question Cora for me, but he didn’t, not even mentioning me.
Just when I thought revenge was impossible, Asher spoke again, asking Cora, “How did Adeline die? She was perfectly fine when I left.”
After being yelled at all night and unable to find a reason to refute, Cora finally had something to say.
She sat on the sofa, arms crossed, looking up at Asher. “You have the nerve to ask how she died? Who was it that locked her in the freezer without care for days?”
