Chapter 5

Natalie's POV

That evening, Melissa brought Adrian to a private dinner party.

Everyone present was a "business partner" of the Lincoln family.

Partners-really just a pack of wolves in human skin. That smuggler Mr. Wallace, and that underground casino owner Mr. Reed, both had been on wanted lists.

Adrian fit right in among them.

He lit cigarettes for this one, poured drinks for that one, calling everyone "bro" with such warmth.

Who would have thought that half a month ago, he'd been the detective captain who wanted nothing more than to throw all these people in jail.

After several rounds of drinks, the conversation turned to women.

Melissa was drunk, leaning on Adrian, pointing at his nose and bragging to everyone.

"You all said he used to be a hard case, that's just because no one knew the right approach. Look at him now-doesn't he obediently play my dog?"

Everyone laughed.

Mr. Wallace teased, "Adrian, I heard your ex-wife just died a few days ago. You got together with Miss Lincoln this quickly?"

Adrian held his wine glass, a standard fake smile on his face.

"You're joking, Mr. Wallace. People climb up, water flows down. Besides, how can a dead woman compare to a living one?"

"Well said!"

Melissa seemed excited. She sat up straight, looking at Adrian through drunken eyes.

"Tell them about the night that bitch died."

I floated in midair, my body going rigid.

That night.

It was the nightmare I could never forget in this life... no, even as a ghost.

"That night..." Adrian swirled his wine glass, his tone as casual as discussing the weather.

"That night she had a heart attack, right there in the bedroom. I was in the living room."

"She pounded on the door, begging for help. Even through the door, you could hear it crystal clear."

Melissa laughed viciously. "So why didn't you go in and save her?"

Adrian took a sip of wine.

"I was busy picking out a gift for you then. How could I be bothered with her?"

Roaring laughter filled the room.

"Damn, Adrian! Your wife was dying in there and you were out here picking gifts for Melissa!"

Melissa laughed until tears came, slapping Adrian's face. "Adrian, I love this ruthless streak in you."

I stared hard at Adrian's face.

I wanted to find a trace of guilt on his face, a hint of reluctance.

Even a flash of pain would do.

But there was nothing.

He laughed with those people, laughed until crow's feet appeared at the corners of his eyes.

"Her life, how could it compare to Melissa's smile?" he said.

I felt a chill rise from my feet straight to the top of my head.

Even as a ghost, I felt that heart-wrenching pain.

That night, I desperately pounded on the door inside, my fingernails breaking.

I'd called out, "Adrian, save me... the medicine... the medicine's outside..."

I heard his footsteps outside the door.

He stood right there.

I could even see his slippers through the crack under the door.

I thought he'd rush in.

But he didn't.

He just stood there. Stood there for a full ten minutes.

Until I had no strength left. Until my heart stopped beating.

He stood just one door away, listening to me die bit by bit.

So that's what he was doing then-picking out gifts for Melissa.

"Adrian! I'm going to kill you!"

I screamed and lunged at him, hands wrapping around his throat.

I wanted to strangle this heartless man, this murderer.

But my hands passed through his neck.

He felt nothing, still laughing, still clinking glasses with the person next to him.

Suddenly, Adrian's expression changed.

He set down his glass and covered his mouth.

"Sorry, had too much to drink. I need to use the restroom."

He stood up and walked away quickly, his steps somewhat unsteady.

I followed.

As soon as he entered the bathroom, he rushed into a stall and vomited into the toilet.

Vomited violently, almost bringing up bile.

He buried his head in the toilet, his body shaking violently.

I stood beside him, watching coldly.

Serves you right.

Getting your karma, aren't you?

After a long time, he finally stopped.He pressed the flush button and slumped to the floor, leaning against the partition and gasping for breath.

He closed his eyes. A tear slid down from the corner.

I froze.

A tear?

He was crying?

Just then, the scene before my eyes suddenly flickered.

Like a memory playback.

I saw the night I died again.

But this time the perspective wasn't from inside the bedroom-it was from the living room.

I saw Adrian standing at the bedroom door, his hand gripping the doorknob.

His whole body was trembling, veins bulging on the back of his hand, almost crushing the doorknob.

In his other hand he clutched his phone tightly.

The phone screen was lit, showing a call interface.

No sound, but I saw a picture message on his phone.

It was Kyle.

Kyle was tied to a chair, mouth gagged with cloth, a gun pressed to his temple.

And from the bedroom came my weak cries for help.

Adrian's face was twisted in agony.

He tried to open the door. His hand moved slightly, then something seemed to come through the phone.

His whole body went rigid.

He stood there in that extreme torment, turning himself into a statue.

One second, two seconds... ten minutes.

Until there was no more sound from the bedroom.

He slowly slid down to sit on the floor, burying his head in his knees, letting out a suppressed whimper.

Like a severely wounded beast that didn't dare cry out.

The vision disappeared.

I returned to reality.

In the bathroom, Adrian wiped the tears from his eyes and stood up, walking to the sink to rinse his mouth.

He looked at himself in the mirror, forcing out a smile uglier than crying.

"Adrian, you're doing great."

He said to himself in the mirror.

"Just hold on a little longer."

I floated behind him, looking at that pale, bloodless face in the mirror.

What I just saw... was it real?

Kyle had been kidnapped that night?

Kyle's life traded for mine?

If he'd saved me, Kyle would have died?

My mind was in chaos.

If that was true, then what he'd said at dinner just now...

"Her life, how could it compare to your smile?"

Was it to make Melissa believe him?

Was it for the mission?

I wasn't sure.

Maybe I was just making excuses for him.

But that tear...it burned hot enough to make my soul tremble.