Chapter 2

I once told Jaxson that if he ever became a renowned forensic pathologist, I'd accompany him to interviews, and we'd be the dream team of the force. Now he'd made it, but the woman by his side was no longer me.

That day, Jaxson left the banquet blind drunk. On his way home, Caleb, my younger brother, blocked his car. The car window slowly lowered, and Jaxson gave him a hostile glare. Ever since I left, his hatred for me had extended to my brother.

Caleb's face was pale and drawn, and for the first time, he pleaded with Jaxson. "Jaxson, there's a body. Only you can reconstruct it."

"Don't you have forensic pathologists in your unit?"

"I don't trust them with it. Only your skills are up to the task."

Jaxson scoffed. "What kind of body would make Captain Mu personally come to me? Couldn't be Aria, could it?"

Caleb's fists clenched abruptly. He held back for a long time before revealing my identity. "I'm sorry, this is my private request. Name your price."

"Do I look like I'm hurting for cash?" Jaxson's voice was cold, as if he wasn't questioning my brother, but the failure he used to be years ago.

Caleb's fists trembled slightly. "What if... what if it is Aria?"

Jaxson paused. Then he sneered. "That would be a double celebration."

My brother's head snapped up, his eyes widening in disbelief. Jaxson's eyes were a little red from the alcohol, and he curved his lips into a smile. "Did she send you to find me? I hope you, the Mu family, stop messing with me from now on. My current wife and daughter and I are living well, and I don't want anyone to disturb us. Even if it is Aria, I won't take the case."

The driver started the car. Caleb frantically tried to stop them, but Jaxson had already raised the window and drove away without a backward glance. Caleb was left standing there alone, slamming his phone to the ground. I floated in the air, watching, wanting to tell him not to bother Jaxson for me. So many of my colleagues couldn't even retrieve their remains; I was lucky to even have a body, however disfigured. But I couldn't touch him, couldn't make a sound. I could only powerlessly watch my brother weep.