Gone but Never Guilty

Two years into their marriage, Aria walked out on her husband Jaxson and their newborn daughter Lily, and never looked back. Jaxson rebuilt his life: he became a renowned forensic pathologist, raised Lily, and married Seraphina, the woman who stood by him through his hardest years. At his celebration, guests mock Aria's name, and six-year-old Lily declares she knows only her new mom. Jaxson coldly forbids anyone from speaking that cursed name on his happy day.

What no one knows is that Aria is dead. Her spirit drifts unseen among them, watching Lily run into Seraphina's arms, unable to touch her daughter or be heard. When her brother Caleb begs Jaxson to reconstruct a savagely damaged body, Jaxson refuses, sneering that taking Aria's case would be a double celebration.

Then Jaxson sees the corpse for himself and takes the case. As he works, the measurements match Aria's, and on the dead woman's finger he finds the wedding ring he once saved so long to buy. He dials her old number, and it connects.