Chapter 2

Just two seconds later, Mark lowered his head defeatedly, looking very pitiful.

"If Caleb didn't want Mandy to attend Keith's parent-teacher meeting, he could've just said so. How could he make up such wretched lies about his own child?

"At worst, we'll just let the other classmates continue to mock Ketih for not having a mother in his life…"

Mark clutched his heart, as if it were giving him pain.

That was the final spark for Amanda's fury. She roared at Lara, "Tell Caleb that if he pulls another one of these dirty tricks, I'll divorce him! Look at the way he's behaving now!

"What happened to the guy who was once a distinguished graduate from the police academy? If he continues to throw a tantrum like this, he can get the hell out of my life!"

Without sparing Lara another glance, she took Keith's hand and supported Mark with her other hand before walking without hesitation.

I thought that since I was dead, I wouldn't feel much. But when I heard her mention the fact that I'd been a distinguished graduate of the police academy, I felt a little dazed still.

Many people had looked up to me back then. I had a bright future ahead of me.

But after falling in love with Amanda, I came to know of her ambition. I knew she didn't want to be bound to the house and forced to look after the family. To let Evan grow up in a loving home with at least one parent present, I volunteered to step back from my career.

I chose to support Amanda's career instead, and I even willingly gave her the credit I'd earned by risking my life. I watched her rise through the ranks, basking in the glory.

It was so foolish of me to lose myself for a woman like her.

At the kindergarten, Amanda proudly watched as Keith stood on the stage. Just then, she got a call from the hospital.

"Hello, is this Ms. Amanda Stone, mother of Evan Johnson? I'm calling to inform you that Evan is no longer in critical condition, but he needs his family to take care of him. Please come to the hospital immediately."

Frowning, Amanda dropped the call without saying a single word.

She didn't believe it. She didn't believe for a second that Evan had been hospitalized and that I was dead.

My heart burned with hatred as I watched her cold, indifferent face. I was so blind to think I had to sacrifice everything without reservation just because I loved someone.

I deserved to end up like this, but Evan was Amanda's son, too. How could she be this cruel toward him?

Amanda's phone rang again. This time, it was a call from Simon Thompson, a member of her team.

"Captain Stone," Simon said, his voice hoarse and solemn. "The medical examiner is… piecing together the last of Caleb's… scattered remains. His body will be cremated after this. Do you want to come over and see him one last time?"

Amanda snorted and replied mockingly, "If you're going to come up with a lie, can you at least make it sound more believable? He's just a desk jockey who hasn't set foot outside the police station for three years. He hasn't even cracked a single case worth mentioning.

"Even if he's dead, why would the medical examiner be brought in to deal with his body? He's not even worthy of that. And don't forget that he even tortures stray cats behind our backs. Scum like him would only be sullying the earth with his dead body!"

My soul shuddered.

Six months ago, I had caught Keith using a slingshot to blind a stray cat. He had even stomped on it. I stepped in to stop him, only to be shoved aside by Mark when he arrived. Mark then falsely accused me of abusing the cat.

Amanda didn't even bother investigating the matter. She blindly bought into Mark and Keith's claims, condemning me as guilty outright.

I even got an official reprimand at work because of that, and my chances of promotion had been completely destroyed.

Simon blew up after hearing what Amanda said.

"I won't let you disparage a fallen hero like that, Amanda! Caleb had already broken free from the kidnappers. He only ran back toward them with a grenade in his hand to save the child the kidnappers were using as a human shield! He died saving lives! How can you talk about him like that? Are you even human?"

Even so, Amanda didn't believe a single word he said. She yelled right back, "Have all of you lost your minds? How dare you try to jinx my husband and my child like that! I'm commanding you to return to the field support team at once! I don't want to see you on my team again!"

"Don't even bother transferring me. I'll submit the application to transfer out of your team myself. I don't want to work under a cold and ruthless monster like you either!" Simon roared before ending the call.

Amanda gripped her phone tightly, her chest heaving. For a moment, there was a flicker of panic in her eyes.