Chapter 1143 Unheeded Emergency Calls

The Metro Emergency Dispatch Center was hosting its live broadcast for the annual Dispatcher of the Year award.

The host turned to Luke, asking for the secret behind his flawless eight-year record of zero dispatch errors.

Facing the cameras, Luke spoke with calm, absolute composure.

"Maintaining absolute rationality. I never let personal emotions compromise emergency resources."

The host seized the opportunity to follow up. "Have you ever encountered any absurd calls where people tried to maliciously block the emergency channel?"

Luke’s eyes instantly turned cold.

"Three nights ago, during that torrential storm, my ex-girlfriend wanted to stop my upcoming engagement."

"She pretended her car was trapped under a flooded overpass and called the dispatch line 143 times, trying to block our emergency channel."

"I blacklisted her number on the spot."

The comment section erupted with praise for his unwavering dedication to duty.

But just as the host was about to transition, the guest caller, forensic pathologist Audrey, broke onto the broadcast with bloodshot eyes.

"Luke, Grace is dead!"

"Three nights ago, during that storm, she drowned inside her car after struggling for six hours."

"And when we found her, her hand was still clutching her phone, showing those 143 blocked calls to you!"

The feed cut to static immediately, and the internet erupted.

…

"Audrey, has your professional ethics as a medical examiner gone out the window just to help Grace force me into a marriage?"

Though the live stream had been cut, the reporters and media in the studio remained.

Dozens of cameras were aimed squarely at Luke.

He did not look panicked at all. He just looked coldly at the screen.

"Tell Grace that this desperate cry for attention is pathetic."

"Tomorrow is my engagement party with Melanie. Even if she paid you to pull off this fake-death stunt, I won't spare her a second glance."

Audrey, on the other end of the screen, was trembling violently.

She held up an evidence bag containing a bloated, water-damaged phone.

"Luke, do you honestly think this is a joke? Her body is lying right here on the autopsy table at the county morgue."

"You are listed as her emergency contact. Do you even have the guts to come down here and identify her?"

I hovered near the ceiling of the studio, watching this play out in silence.

Luke and I grew up together. He was the only bright spot in my otherwise miserable life.

We only drifted apart when he went abroad to study medicine, while I stayed behind to scrape by.

But eight years ago, when my parents passed away from illness, leaving me utterly alone and helpless, he appeared like a savior.

He took charge of everything, making sure the funeral went smoothly.

Ever since that day, Luke had been my designated emergency contact.

"Nice props," Luke sneered. "Grace is so desperate to win me back that she'd actually write a script cursing herself to death."

"Doctor, making false reports to the police is a crime. For the sake of our past, I won't file a complaint."

"But tell her to stop making an absolute fool of herself."

Across the screen, Audrey's tears fell freely.

"Luke, you are a monster!"

"When Grace died, her fingernails were torn to pieces. There was blood smeared all over the inside of the car windows."

"While you were busy dispatching an ambulance to rescue Melanie's spoiled little dog, did you once think about Grace suffocating in the rising tide?"

Luke's brow finally furrows.

The harsh words seemed to pierce his armor, making him uncomfortable.

"Enough! A coward like Grace would never have the guts to die."

"If she is actually dead, I'll buy her a headstone myself and throw her a mock funeral tomorrow!"

With that, he tore the power cord of the monitor from the wall.

The screen went black. The reporters in the studio looked at one another, none of them daring to speak.

His assistant, Carter, ran over, wiping cold sweat from his forehead.

"Luke, the social media backlash is getting out of hand. Everyone is asking if Grace actually died."

Luke let out a cold laugh.

"Put out a statement. Say it is just a cheap stunt by an obsessive ex."

"Grace cares too much about her pride. Once the internet starts ripping her apart, she will crawl back and apologize."

Hearing his absolute certainty, I felt as though I never truly knew him.

Years ago, when I nicked my finger while cutting vegetables, he would panic and run to the pharmacy in the middle of the night for bandages.

He would hold my hand, his eyes red with worry as he blew gently on the cut.

"Grace, from now on, I do the cooking. I can't bear to see you get even a scratch."

That was the Luke from six years ago.

The Luke of today believed my death was nothing but a clumsy act to ruin his engagement.

Carter hesitated.

"But Luke... the police department actually called earlier. They need you to sign the release forms..."

Luke stopped in his tracks.

"I said, it's just one of Grace's games."

"Ignore it. Let her play dead in the morgue for as long as she wants."

He strode out of the TV station, his posture tall, proud, and entirely unbothered.

I floated behind him, drifting out into the open air.

The sun outside was blindingly bright. I instinctively raised a hand to shield my eyes.

But I felt no warmth. I guess the dead don't have to worry about sunburns.

I watched him slide into the back of his sleek, black Mercedes-Maybach, feeling a sudden wave of detachment.

The passenger seat of this car used to be mine.

But then Melanie complained that my scent lingered on the upholstery, so he had the entire interior refitted.

Luke pinched the bridge of his nose, looking tired.

His phone rang. It was Melanie. Instantly, his harsh expression melted into a gentle, soothing tone.

"Melanie, what's wrong?"

A whimpering, tearful voice came through the speaker.

"Luke... Coco's paw is hurting again. He won't stop crying, and I'm so scared."