Chapter 1

Two years ago, I was the most talented researcher at the Disease Control Agency.

While I was studying virus samples with undeciphered genetic codes, my husband Ethan Carter's true love, Sophia Williams, burned me alive.

She had splashed alcohol across the shattered virus samples, the glass vials she'd broken in the struggle. Pressing a rag soaked in diethyl ether against my face, she waited until my consciousness faded. Then, she set the lab ablaze, reducing everything to ashes.

When the staff arrived with the firemen, she had sobbed through her story—claiming I was a foreign agent who had stolen virus samples.

A month later, a strange and highly contagious disease began spreading through the city, leaving death and suffering in its wake.

Ethan publicly severed all ties with me before getting together with his true love.

I became the city's pariah, condemned as a foreign spy by everyone.

This continued until three bold high schoolers breached the long-sealed lab. There, they discovered my corpse, burned beyond recognition.

When the rescue workers carried my corpse outside, everyone at the scene took in a sharp breath.

I could barely believe that it was me.

The blackened corpse was contorted in a fighting stance. The corpse was bloated from decay, and years of abandonment and vaporized experimental drugs further corroded the already unsightly corpse.

The foul stench of the severely decayed corpse was impossible to endure. Some members of the staff threw up on the spot and fled the scene with reddened eyes.

My corpse was placed on the autopsy table, and I finally came to my senses when Ethan and his assistant entered the room.

I couldn't believe that he would show up here.

For a moment, I felt a little embarrassed.

"Have you gone over the basic details?" Ethan asked.

The forensic pathologist had a grave look on his face as he gestured over my corpse, pointing out several spots to Ethan.

He explained, "We found some carbon residue in the trachea, which means that the victim was burned alive.

"However, there weren't any signs of struggling when they were alive. They might have ingested some hallucinogens, but due to the huge gap in the timeline, we couldn't identify the exact hallucinogens involved."

Ethan frowned a little. Then, he gestured for his assistant to take note of the details.

"Did they end their own life? Is it possible?" he asked.

The forensic pathologist shook his head. With a scalpel, he pried open the charred scalp to show Ethan something. "The victim had previously suffered a severe blow to their skull. It was strong enough to crack the thick bone and cause significant bleeding in the brain.

"We believe the victim was drugged, then struck on the head with a blunt object. While the victim was struggling, the killer set them on fire to destroy the evidence."

Realizing the severity of the situation, Ethan immediately sent someone to investigate whether any lab arson cases had been reported in the past two years.

The results came back negative.

Back then, when Sophia had set the lab ablaze, officials had sealed off the area to prevent further accidents. If it weren't for the three bold high schoolers, my corpse would have remained undiscovered.

"Let's focus on the corpse first. We'll extract the DNA and run it through the database for a match," Ethan instructed.

As the forensic pathologist began to prepare my remains, he accidentally discovered a hidden pink diamond beneath my corpse.

I felt my heart shudder. It was the pink diamond ring Sophia had dropped in her panic back then. The ring had melted in the flames, but the pink diamond remained, its brilliance undimmed.

I was certain that Ethan could recognize the pink diamond. After all, the ring was a birthday gift from him to Sophia.

However, Ethan just waved his hand dismissively and told the forensic pathologist to put the pink diamond into an evidence bag. Then, he picked up a call on his phone, which had been ringing non-stop.

"Hello, Soph. I'm working. Can you wait a bit?" His gentle expression was a stark contrast to his stern behavior when he used to tell me that we should be professional at work.

What could I say? Ever since the beginning, he had always given Sophia special treatment.

Ethan instructed his assistant on how to handle the subsequent matters, and then he left the autopsy room.

As soon as he went out, he quickly returned to the call, which hadn't ended yet. "Yes, they found a body at the location from back then. Of all places… What bad luck! It's okay. Don't worry. We don't want to frighten the baby in your belly. I'm heading home right now."