Chapter 4Dead Wife, Lost Dog, and Her Return

On the afternoon of the seventh day, Casey came to find me, asking me to meet her at a members-only cafe.

In the VIP room, she sat on the leather couch across from me, her eyes filled with disbelief when she saw how pale I was.

She parted her lips, seemingly wanting to say something. "Zach…"

I ignored her, flipping through the menu. When I reached the last page, I scoffed.

"Ms. Hill, a cup of coffee here costs 100 dollars. Seven years ago, you would have had to hand out flyers for seven days just to afford that."

The blood drained from Casey's face.

She looked at me with pain and struggle in her eyes. She grabbed my hand abruptly and said, "Zach, don't talk to me like that. I know you hate me. I was cold to you that day at the alley. But I had my reasons! Just hear me out, okay?"

I stared at her silently, waiting for an answer.

She dared not look me in the eye. Averting her gaze, she spun a ridiculous tale.

She said she was the only daughter of the Hill family and that she had pretended to be ordinary to prevent anyone from coveting her inheritance.

The past five years had been a test for me. She would marry me if I cleared her debts.

And that man, Micah York, was only her childhood friend, with nothing more to their relationship. He was a divorcee, and she was only helping him.

The more I listened, the more ridiculous I found it. I burst out laughing, doubling over.

"Zach? Why are you laughing? Don't scare me!" Casey panicked, standing to pull me up.

I was still laughing when I felt a sharp cramp in my stomach. The familiar, excruciating pain washed all over me again, harsher than before.

I covered my mouth but couldn't stop the torrent of blood from gushing out through my fingers. It splattered across the white table cloth and stained her expensive designer clothes.

Finally, I stopped laughing.

Casey stood rooted in her spot. She looked at the blood on her clothes, then at me, a look of horror in her eyes. My mouth was full of blood, and I was on the verge of collapsing.

"Zach! Zach, what's wrong? Why are you coughing blood?" She rushed over to hold me, her voice trembling.

Just then, her phone on the table rang. Upon glancing at the caller ID, she immediately picked it up.

Micah's frantic voice rang out. "Casey! Where are you? Jenna's missing! She said she was going to buy ice cream, and then she just disappeared! I'm scared. Come back and help me find her, please…"

Casey stiffened. She looked at me, bleeding out in her arms, while listening to Micah's heartbroken cries over the phone.

Slowly, she let go of her arms around me and dialed 911 in a matter-of-fact manner.

Avoiding my gaze, she stammered, "Zach, wait here for the ambulance. The doctors will be here soon. Jenna's missing. Micah can't handle it alone. I have to go… I swear, I'll be with you at the hospital once I find her. Just wait for me!"

Having said that, she didn't stay for a second longer and frantically ran out of the room as if I were some kind of monster.

I no longer had any strength to call out to her.

My vision darkened, and the voices around me were getting fainter.

I slowly closed my eyes, allowing the endless darkness to consume me.