Chapter 1

I decided to pay the Warner family a visit.

Lydia Baldwin's son, Jeremy Warner, opened the door for me. He was all smiles as he said, "You're here, Dr. Simmons. Please come in. I'll prepare some coffee for you."

Just then, Lydia grabbed my sleeve tightly and pointed at Jeremy's leg. "Look at the way he walks! There's clearly something wrong with his leg! My son used to be part of the track and field team. His legs have always been in great condition!"

I looked at Jeremy.

As Lydia said, Jeremy had a slight limp when he walked, as if he had injured his leg in the past.

Lydia's husband, Dean Warner, walked into the room. His face was lined with wrinkles. He frowned and said, "Stop it, Lydia. You know that Jeremy hurt his leg badly during the car accident last year. Did you forget again?"

He shot a helpless look at me before continuing, "Forget it. She's getting more senile in her old age. She keeps misremembering things. Don't take her words to heart."

Lydia looked at Dean warily. She was about to say something when Jeremy emerged from the kitchen.

Jeremy's words were laced with fatigue and helplessness when he asked, "What nonsense did you tell Dr. Simmons this time, Mom? The police would have conducted an investigation if I weren't your son. They also would have thrown me in jail by now."

Jeremy's words seemed to extinguish Lydia's anger.

I looked at Dean and asked, "Mr. Dean, did your family have a good relationship with each other before Mrs. Warner fell sick?"

Dean nodded vigorously. A longing look glimmered in his eyes when he said, "Everyone knew that Lydia and I used to be a loving couple before she fell ill. We were married for 50 years. Look at our wedding rings. They're made of gold.

"Lydia also personally took charge of Jeremy's wedding preparations. We were so happy at the time."

I looked at the ring that Dean was wearing. I could tell with a single glance that it had a vintage design. It was likely that he had worn it for a long time since there were obvious signs of wear and tear.

"Does she suspect her daughter-in-law of being an impostor?"

Dean shook his head. "No. She only thinks of Jeremy and me as monsters. But if we really are monsters, there's no way that Francesca won't notice. Lydia's just acting like a madwoman because she's getting old."

Lydia suddenly became emotional upon hearing Dean's words.

"Don't listen to him, Dr. Simmons! These two monsters definitely stole my husband's and son's identities! They're pretending to be them so they can stay by my side and gobble me up one day!

"I'm not sick at all, but they keep telling you that I'm senile and insane! They're obviously trying to kill me! You have to save me, Dr. Simmons!" she exclaimed emotionally, her chest heaving.

Jeremy and Dean stepped forward at the same time, reaching out to support her.

"Don't touch me!" Lydia shrieked.

Her eyes were full of fear and disdain when she knocked their hands away. "Stay away from me, you monsters!"

I immediately comforted Lydia, sweeping my gaze across Dean's and Jeremy's helpless and exhausted faces.

It seemed that I had dropped by at the wrong time. I sent Lydia back to her room before ending my house visit.