Chapter 1

When the cops called, I was in the kitchen preparing beef stew, my husband's favorite dish.

"Am I speaking with Mrs. Sterling? This is the police. We need you to come to Southmount Memorial Park right now to identify the body of your husband, Mr. Kenneth Sterling."

Kenneth's body? My mind went blank. The spatula slipped from my hand and clattered against the floorboards.

"What… What did you just say? My husband? That's impossible. Are you sure you've got the right person? He was perfectly fine when he left home this morning!"

The voice on the other end remained calm. "I'm sorry for your loss. Please come over as soon as possible to confirm his identity."

I hung up on him and fumbled through my contacts with trembling fingers. I dialed Kenneth's number repeatedly, only to be met with a busy tone every time.

It felt as though an invisible hand had clamped around my heart. My fingertips turned ice-cold. "Pick up! Please pick up…"

After the fourth attempt, I hung up. Panting heavily, I grabbed my keys and coat and rushed out the door.

I flagged down the first cab I saw and forced out, "Take me to Southmount Memorial Park."

The driver took one look at me and floored the gas pedal.

Tears welled up in my eyes, but I tilted my head back to keep them at bay.

Half an hour later, we arrived at our destination. As if snapping out of a trance, I threw the car door open and sprinted over.

An officer greeted me with a grave expression. "You must be Mrs. Sterling. Our preliminary assessment suggests sudden cardiac arrest."

He led me toward a grove of pine trees. From a distance, I spotted a figure leaning back against a tree.

Kenneth's eyes were closed, and his expression was serene. There was even the faintest hint of a gentle smile on his lips.

It was him. The last shred of hope in my heart shattered.

I stumbled toward him and threw my arms around him, wailing, "Kenneth!"

My wrist bumped against something hard. I froze for a split second before reaching into his pocket.

To my surprise, I pulled out a bottle of his emergency heart medication from his pocket. He had his life-saving medicine with him.

My heart felt as though it were being torn apart. Excruciating pain shot through my body in a heartbeat.

I sobbed hysterically, pounding his shoulders like a madwoman. "Why didn't you take your emergency medication? You fool!"

The officers exchanged a glance. Moments later, an older officer broke the silence.

"Based on our initial findings, the deceased most likely died from a sudden medical episode. At his age, seeing a photo of a loved one may have caused him considerable emotional distress, triggering a recurrence of his preexisting condition. He may not have had time to take his medication."

That explanation was bulletproof.

I held back tears and turned away, trying to pull myself together. However, my gaze inadvertently landed on a familiar face on the tombstone.

The woman was none other than Roxana Clark, Kenneth's ex-wife.

I went rigid.

The officers beside me didn't notice my unusual reaction. "The lady in the photo is so young. Is she your daughter? My condolences. Please take care of your health during this difficult time..."

Right after saying that, he handed me the belongings they had collected. "By the way, these are Kenneth's personal effects. Please keep them."