Chapter 5

"Claire still isn’t answering her phone?"

In the hospital room, Evelyn Snow’s pale face grew even more ashen. Her eyes reddened, and tears spilled over as she looked at Lucas Ryan, her voice trembling.

“Lucas, in the five years you were married to her… did you really never feel anything for her? Not even once?”

Her voice cracked as she continued, her emotions unraveling.

“Is she really missing, or are you lying to me? Was this all a trick because… you never actually wanted to marry me? Because you never forgave me for leaving you back then?”

By the time she finished, Evelyn burst into heart-wrenching sobs.

I stood by the window, quietly leaning against the frame, watching them. My emotions had oddly settled over the past few days. I wasn’t even angry anymore. I had expected this.

I guessed Lucas would pull her into his arms, soothing her like he always did.

And sure enough, a second later, he frowned, stood, and wrapped the trembling Evelyn in a comforting embrace.

See? I guessed right.

“Claire agreed to the divorce,” he said calmly, patting Evelyn’s back as if to reassure her. “I don’t know why she suddenly disappeared, but don’t worry. I’ll go through with the divorce.”

“And then I’ll marry you.”

Just as those words left his mouth, hurried footsteps echoed down the hallway.

Before Lucas could react, two uniformed police officers walked into the room.

Lucas froze, his brow furrowing in confusion. “Officers, is there a problem?”

Before the police could respond, the door burst open again.

Mason stumbled in, panting heavily, his face pale as he stammered, “Dr. Ryan… C-Claire… Claire is dead.”