Chapter 4

Natalie's POV

On the fourth day, Adrian accompanied Melissa for a checkup.

The location was a high-end private hospital inside Lincoln Group's headquarters.

I knew this place well.

When I was alive, I'd disguised myself and snuck in several times to investigate the Lincoln family's dirty secrets. Security here was tighter than the police station, with cameras and patrol guards everywhere.

Adrian dressed very formally today, following behind Melissa like a dutiful kept man.

He bossed around the doctors and nurses.

"Be gentle, didn't you see Miss Lincoln frowning?"

"This water's too cold. Get hot water."

The doctors were submissive, their eyes showing contempt-they probably all knew he was a gold digger who'd sold out his wife to move up.

Adrian didn't care at all. He even seemed to enjoy this borrowed authority.

Melissa went in for a "maintenance" treatment.

This was a very mysterious procedure, only for VIP clients, conducted in a special ward on the top floor.

I floated in after them.

The room contained only one bed, surrounded by precision instruments.

Melissa lay on the bed. Several doctors in sterile suits wheeled in a small cart.

On the cart sat several vials of red liquid.

Was that blood?

The color was brighter than normal blood, with an eerie, vivid redness.

The doctors skillfully injected Melissa.

As the liquid entered her veins, Melissa let out a satisfied sigh. The skin on her face seemed to instantly become more radiant, her whole body relaxing.

I drifted closer.

A strange smell entered my nose.

Not the smell of disinfectant.

It was a... sweet, cloying smell mixed with a faint metallic scent.

This smell was so familiar.

I remembered.

I'd smelled it at the funeral home.

It was that high-grade embalming fluid smell-used for corpse beautification to prevent decay and preserve the appearance of the living.

Why would a living person smell like this?

And it was coming from that red liquid.

I felt a chill run through me.

What exactly was this stuff?

Just then, Adrian walked in.

"Done yet?" he asked.

The doctor quickly blocked the empty syringes.

"Almost, Mr. Bennett. This is a sterile area, you..."

"I'm her fiancé. What can't I see?"

Adrian strode over, casually pulling out a pack of gum from his pocket, tossing two pieces in his mouth.

"Melissa, how do you feel?"

Melissa opened her eyes, her gaze hazy.

"Wonderful. Adrian, this is good stuff. You should get these injections too."

"Sure, as long as it keeps me young, I'll pay any price."

Adrian smiled, his hand resting on the cabinet by the bed.

No one noticed that in the instant he turned, he stuck his chewed gum under a hidden spot beneath the cabinet.

Inside that gum was a black chip no bigger than a fingernail.

A listening device.

My eyes widened.

That was the newest micro-surveillance device, rare even in police departments.

Adrian... what was he doing?

Hadn't he been suspended? Hadn't he married into the Lincoln family for money?

Why would he plant a bug where Melissa was getting her treatment?

When the doctors wheeled the cart out, they nearly bumped the cabinet.

"Be careful." Adrian steadied the cabinet.

"Sorry, Mr. Bennett."

The doctor hurried away in panic.

Only Adrian and Melissa, who hadn't yet recovered, remained in the room.

Adrian looked at Melissa's glowing face, and something like disgust seemed to flash in his eyes-almost imperceptible.

"Smells nice."

He leaned close to Melissa and sniffed.

"Really?" Melissa laughed coquettishly. "That's the smell of money."

Adrian smiled.

"Yeah, smells like... embalming fluid."

He said it very softly. Even I had to strain to hear it.

Melissa didn't catch it. "What did you say?"

"I said, it's an intoxicating smell."

Adrian straightened and walked to the window, hands in his pockets.

I floated beside him, looking at his reflection in the glass.

His eyes were cold as ice.

In that moment, my hatred wavered slightly.

What exactly was he trying to do?

If he'd really sold himself to the Lincoln family, why plant a listening device?

Could it be...

No.

I couldn't trust him so easily.

Maybe he was just digging up dirt on them to get a bigger cut later.

After all, he was greedy now. Lustful. He even stabbed my brother.

Who knew what kind of game he was playing.