The Shadow from His Past

Following my instructions, my mom erected a gravestone for both me and my child.The problem was that she did not have the right to claim my body. I had signed a trial agreement during my life that after the experiment failed, my remains would be returned to the lab for sample analysis. Only after the analysis could I finally rest in peace.Thus, my soul drifted alongside my corpse to the lab. Chandler was the person responsible for the sample analysis.“The sample showed excessive drug use. We need to compare it with the advanced database,” he said, his brow furrowing slightly. “The body is almost entirely decayed. We should check whether there was improper use of the experimental drug. “This is unusual…even with a failed trial, it shouldn’t be this severe.”His assistant, Ben Fallon nodded and began taking notes, but Chandler did a double take as he steadied himself against the computer. “She… was pregnant during the trial?” he asked softly.“Yes! You’re right! The t

Chandler froze.He took a deep breath to suppress his anger."Do you both have to make such a scene?" he asked coldly.“Creating chaos at home is one thing, but what are you playing at bringing two coffins here? Are you trying to intimidate me at my workplace?” My mom sneered. “Don’t you understand why there are two coffins?“Besides Mariah, there’s also your child—” “Enough!” Pauline interrupted as she grabbed Chandler’s hand, playing the peacemaker. “Let it go, Chandler. Don’t be angry. Mrs. Corey doesn’t understand what happened. She’s just protecting her daughter.”She lowered her gaze to the scattered cake on the ground, her eyes slightly red.“I just feel sorry for the cake. It took so long to make it…”Chandler furrowed his brow. “What a waste of a perfectly good cake! You should ask Mariah to make another one. “She usually enjoys baking these things, right? She should make a cake for Pauline’s birthday.”Pauline shamelessly added, “Didn’t you say that Mariah’s c

My mom had been rushed into the emergency room. The doctor furrowed his brow as he addressed Chandler. “Are you family? The patient's condition is critical. We will do our utmost to save her, but you need to sign these consent forms first.”Chandler hesitated but eventually signed the document. He then sent me another voice message: [Where on earth have you been? Don’t you know your mom is dying?]Pauline tried to soothe him. “Maybe Mariah has something important to handle. Let’s not disturb her.”But Chandler ignored her and kept trying to reach me. I, however, remained unresponsive.With no other option, he called the hospital's reception. “Could you please connect me to Mariah Corey in Room 1032?”The duty nurse looked taken aback. “Miss Mariah Corey? She… has already passed away…”Chandler froze in disbelief. “How is that possible?”He refused to accept that I was truly gone, even doubting the accuracy of the phone number he had dialed. Without wasting a moment, he

My mom lay quietly on the hospital bed, the lingering purple and blue bruises from last night still visible around her neck. At the sight of her, I couldn't help but float over and gently tried to embrace her shoulders.“You’re so silly, Mom. You have a life ahead of you. Why can’t you live it properly?”When my mom noticed Chandler, her fists tightened into balls, and she cast him a look filled with hatred. “What are you doing here?” she demanded, then coughed heavily.Chandler stood in the doorway, and for the first time, he seemed cautious and uncertain. He looked pale and utterly exhausted. “Mother… when did Mariah..?”My mom burst into laughter at his words. “Chandler, oh, Chandler, do you finally believe that Mariah is dead?”“Do you still remember how I begged you that day?” My mom exerted every ounce of strength she had to sit up and glare at him. “I pleaded with you, saying Mariah was dying and wanted to see you one last time, to say a few words to you and what di

The primary team for the development of the experimental drug was led by Pauline, and nearly all related data was stored in her lab. Entering her lab was technically against the rules, but Chandler ignored the risks and went in anyway.He stayed there the entire night.He and Ben had pulled out every neatly organized document, scattering papers across the floor. One cold, unfeeling number after another flooded Chandler’s mind, and slowly, a dreadful truth took shape before him."There were no issues with the drug."Ben looked at him in confusion. "The records here show that the drug underwent every proper protocol before advancing to the final phase of clinical trials. “All previous data comparisons confirmed it as safe. So why did Mariah experience such severe side effects?”"Could it be that she had some unusual constitution?"While Ben mulled it over, Chandler was hit by sudden clarity.He nodded to himself. "Yes, there was nothing wrong with it.""So—" Ben began."