Chapter 2: The Wrong Man

The cemetery fell into complete silence.

Ava stared at Damien, certain she had misheard him.

“What did you say?”

Damien’s gaze shifted to the coffin before returning to her.

“The medical examiner called a few minutes ago. They’ve requested that the coffin be taken back to the hospital immediately.”

Victoria frowned.

“That doesn’t answer her question.”

Damien took a slow breath.

“They’ve found inconsistencies in the identification report.”

Ava’s pulse quickened.

“Inconsistencies?”

“The body recovered from the crash was severely burned. The identification was made using personal belongings found near the wreckage and preliminary records.”

“And?”

“They’re no longer convinced those records belong to Ethan.”

The words landed like a blow to Ava’s chest.

Her knees threatened to give way.

“No…” she whispered.

“You’ve already buried him.”

“I know.”

“So you’re telling me…” Ava struggled to keep her voice steady, “…that there’s a chance my husband isn’t dead?”

Damien didn’t answer immediately.

“I don’t know.”

It wasn’t the answer she wanted.

It was somehow worse.

The funeral staff exchanged uneasy glances as the hearse was called back to the graveside.

The priest stood frozen, clutching his Bible.

One of the cemetery workers looked genuinely frightened.

“I’ve worked here for twenty-three years,” he muttered.

“I’ve never seen a funeral stopped after the burial ceremony.”

Neither had Ava.

Nothing about today felt real anymore.

She watched as the coffin was carefully lifted from above the grave and returned to the hearse.

Only an hour ago, she had believed she was saying goodbye forever.

Now she wasn’t even sure whose funeral she had attended.

“Mrs. Cross.”

Ava looked up.

A police officer approached her with a sympathetic expression.

“I’m Detective Noah Brooks.”

He handed her his card.

“We’ll need you at the hospital.”

“Why?”

“There are a few questions regarding Mr. Cross’s identification.”

Victoria stepped beside Ava.

“I’m coming too.”

The detective looked between the two women.

“I’m sorry… and you are?”

Victoria hesitated.

Then she quietly replied,

“I’m Ethan’s wife.”

Ava closed her eyes.

The sentence still hurt.

The detective frowned.

“I’m afraid Mrs. Cross is already standing beside me.”

Neither woman spoke.

Finally, Damien cleared his throat.

“It’s… complicated.”

The detective looked thoroughly confused.

“I can see that.”

The drive to St. Mary’s Medical Center felt endless.

Rain battered the windows of the black SUV as Ava sat in the back seat beside Victoria.

Neither woman spoke.

There was nothing left to say.

Ava stared out the window.

She remembered the first time she’d met Ethan.

She had spilled coffee all over his white shirt inside a crowded café.

Instead of getting angry, he’d laughed.

“I was looking for an excuse to buy a new one.”

She had fallen in love with that smile.

With his patience.

With the way he always made impossible situations seem simple.

Now every memory felt poisoned.

Had he been lying from the very beginning?

Or had someone else destroyed the life they built together?

Victoria broke the silence.

“Can I ask you something?”

Ava nodded without looking at her.

“When was the last time you saw him?”

“Five days ago.”

Victoria looked surprised.

“So was I.”

Ava slowly turned toward her.

“What?”

“He told me he had an emergency meeting overseas.”

Ava felt her stomach twist.

“He told me the same thing.”

For the first time, both women realized something terrifying.

Neither of them had actually been with Ethan before the crash.

The SUV stopped outside the hospital.

Damien led them through a private entrance and into a conference room.

Inside waited three people.

The detective.

A woman in a white lab coat.

And an older man in an expensive navy suit.

The woman introduced herself first.

“I’m Dr. Evelyn Carter, Chief Medical Examiner.”

She looked uncomfortable.

“I owe all of you an apology.”

Ava folded her arms.

“I’d rather have answers.”

Dr. Carter nodded.

“During a routine review, one of my forensic technicians discovered discrepancies between the dental records we received and the remains recovered from the crash.”

“So whose body is it?” Victoria asked.

“We don’t know.”

Silence.

“We’re conducting DNA testing immediately.”

“How long?” Ava asked.

“Twenty-four to forty-eight hours.”

“That’s too long.”

“I’m afraid that’s the fastest possible.”

The older man finally spoke.

“I’m Richard Hale.”

Victoria’s face immediately hardened.

Her father.

He looked at her briefly before turning to Ava.

“This situation must remain confidential.”

Ava stared at him.

“My husband may be alive…”

“And you’re worried about confidentiality?”

Richard adjusted his cufflinks.

“If the media learns that Cross Holdings buried the wrong man, the company’s stock will collapse overnight.”

Ava couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

“My husband’s life is more important than your stock price.”

Richard’s expression didn’t change.

“I sincerely hope Mr. Cross is alive.”

Hope.

That word echoed through Ava’s mind.

Alive.

Could Ethan really still be out there?

If he was…

Why hadn’t he come home?

Just then, the conference room door burst open.

A young nurse rushed inside, visibly out of breath.

“Dr. Carter!”

“What is it?”

“We’ve just received a patient from a private clinic.”

“So?”

The nurse looked around the room before speaking.

“He regained consciousness a few minutes ago.”

Nobody understood why she looked terrified.

Then she added,

“The first name he asked for was…”

She looked directly at Ava.

“…Mrs. Ava Cross.”

Ava’s heart slammed against her ribs.

“Who is he?”

The nurse swallowed hard.

“He refuses to tell us his name.”

She hesitated.

“But…”

“He keeps insisting…”

“…that Ethan Cross is coming for him.”