Chapter 4

“I’m calling Julian. I’m telling him to come right now.”

They looked at me weakly, shaking their heads.

“Anya, after we’re gone, divorce Julian. Your father’s and my stocks, properties, funds, and cash are all for you. We’re sorry.”

I choked, shaking my head frantically:

“No, you didn’t do anything wrong to me. It’s my fault for not getting enough money, for delaying. It’s my fault.”

“Anya, don’t blame yourself. It has nothing to do with you. The kidnappers never intended for us to live.”

I kept calling Julian, his phone ringing endlessly, but no one picked up. I sent him a SnapChat message.

“Julian Hayes, Mom and Dad are badly hurt. Come back quickly.”

The message sank into the sea, met with silence.

I kept sending messages, kept calling…

Until they slowly closed their eyes, Julian remained out of reach.

The ambulance arrived, but there was no need for resuscitation.

I stood up, my vision swam, the world spinning.

I grabbed the car door frantically, and a hand steadied me.

I turned to see Detective Evans, the officer who came with me.

“Ms. Smith, the money wasn’t taken. The kidnapper who came for the money fell from a height during the arrest and is currently unconscious.”

“Please accept my condolences.”

None of us slept that night. Everyone returned to the precinct.

After I gave my statement, the forensics team collected evidence from Mr. and Mrs. Wallace’s bodies.

There was more than one kidnapper, but only one had been caught.

Given the heinous nature of the crime, the atmosphere at the precinct was tense. They were determined to apprehend all the culprits.

After the police finished collecting evidence, I contacted the funeral home.

Julian still hadn’t returned my calls or messages. I sent notifications to his family and friends.

But I didn't notify Mr. Harrison again.

He learned the news from others and called me in a rage.

“Anya, aren’t you going too far? Even if you and Julian aren’t getting along, your in-laws treated you well. Is this how you honor your elders? How could you joke about their lives and deaths?”

I waited for him to finish his tirade before slowly speaking:

“I’m at the precinct. I just finished my statement and arranged for the funeral home. If you don’t believe me, you don’t have to attend the funeral. I didn’t intend to notify you anyway.”

A moment of silence on the other end, then he said in a low voice:

“You say you’re at the precinct? Let a police officer talk to me!”

Just as I was about to hand the phone to Detective Evans, I heard a police officer’s voice from the other end:

“Mr. Harrison? This is Riverside Precinct. We need your cooperation in a case!”

When Mr. Harrison was brought to the precinct, I was still there.

He lunged at me when he saw me:

“Anya Smith! Why didn’t you say anything? Why didn’t you say you weren’t acting? You killed my brother and sister-in-law, you murderer!”

I looked at him coldly, and said faintly:

“I did tell you. I even asked you for money. It was Julian Hayes who told you not to believe me. Julian Hayes killed his parents, and you were his accomplice!”

His face went pale, his lips trembling as he brushed past me.

I turned to watch his retreating back, raising my voice:

“Uncle, when I called you, the officers working on the case were all right here, listening.”

He didn't turn back, but I saw his regret.

Detective Evans was still beside me. I turned to her.

“You can go back to work. I’ll just wait for the funeral home staff.”

She shook her head slightly, apology in her eyes:

“I’ll wait with you.”

While waiting for the funeral home staff, I called my lawyer.

“Mr. Davis, please draft a divorce agreement for me. I’m divorcing Julian Hayes.”