A Shot to the Heart

The clock ticked away and struck right at midnight.I stared at the sky-blue cake that was melting on the table. The only candle on it had burned out.That marked the end of my lonely 25th birthday. I slowly made my way to the table and stared at the forgotten cake. Finally, I dug a piece of it with my index finger and stuffed it into my mouth."Happy birthday," I whispered to myself.After that, I dumped the entire cake into the trashcan without hesitation.Owen Mancini finally came home late after midnight. I watched him enter from the hallway. I said, "You're home."He cast an indifferent look at me before frowning disapprovingly. "Don't you have anything better to do aside from drinking?"I swirled the wine in my glass and let out a soft chuckle. "Drinking is a pretty serious matter."I staggered over to him. "Alcohol is great. Come on. Have a sip too…" I pushed the glass to his lips and looked at him with glazed eyes. "Come on. Try it!"Owen squinted at me and shook my ha

"Marcie's always on my back. It's freaking annoying!" Sonya, who was beside Owen, seemed to have heard him talking to himself.Looking surly, she wrapped her arms around his thin waist. In a tender voice, she coaxed him, "Owen, you have gotten a divorce. No one will tell you what to do now. So, forget those promises of not drinking and getting home early.""Am I divorced?" Eyes closed, he chuckled. "Right. Marcie and I are divorced…"I watched his happy expression, thinking, "I've loved him for many years, but I never received his affection in return."He staggered around the room and mindlessly took a glass of wine someone handed him. He swigged the contents. Drops of the liquid streamed down from his lips to his neck.Sonya bit her lip at Owen's sensual and seductive presence."Alright now." She interfered at the right time, intercepting the alcohol that others had extended to Owen. "We'll call it a night. Owen's drunk. I'll take him with me to get some rest."With that, she

But Owen did not find me at the police station.He found a grief-stricken Bianca standing with a few policemen. Brows furrowed, he approached her.She gave him a cold look. Then, she informed the policeman next to her, "That's Marcie's husband. He can sign the papers."Her eyes were swollen as though from crying, and her voice was hoarse.He snapped impatiently, "What exactly are you guys up to?"One of the policemen patted him on the shoulder, comforting him, "My condolences."Owen's pupils wavered in confusion.The policeman offered, "I'll show you Marcie Sawyer's body. Please confirm her identity for me."Owen followed along.I was curious about Owen's reaction when he saw my body. Would he feel sad, even just a little bit?I wandered behind them until we reached a room with a bed in the middle. A body lay in the bed, covered entirely with a white cloth."The body has been here for two days. The wounds are starting to rot, and the pattern of livor mortis has shown up due

The maid rubbed her eyes, her shock deepening. "Sir, what are you hugging?"Mr. Mancini frowned slightly, his eyes filled with displeasure. "Marcie is right here, can't you see?"After saying that, he looked back to his side, paused for a moment, and began to mumble to himself, "Hmm, I know. I don't blame her. It's just that she didn't even see you when you're standing right here."Apart from his occasional puzzling behavior, life seemed to go on as usual. He often gave everyone the impression that his wife was still alive.He was very kind to this imaginary wife. He became more and more accommodating to Mrs. Mancini, such as asking the chef to prepare her favorite dishes and replacing the couch in the living room with one in her favorite color.With every action, he expressed his longing for his late wife.Sonya, upon learning of Mr. Mancini's current state, barged into the villa to look for him.He didn't speak when he saw Sonya. He simply placed the dessert in his hand to his