Chapter 43
Claude’s hands shook as he gathered the scattered papers off the floor and flipped through them page by page. Every detail confirmed it was Claire, and the words hit him like a punch, making him scatter the documents in a panic.
“I don’t believe it. I need to see Claire’s body with my own eyes.” He whipped out his phone, dialing again and again. “Claire, answer the phone p>
But I didn’t answer. How could I? He sent countless messages, but I remained silent. I wouldn’t be gone if he had been there when I desperately needed his help.
I felt so hopeless. The world was a dark place, everything falling apart around me. I clung to a sliver of hope, only to have it eroded, until finally, in a blaze, feeling the flames yet unable to open my eyes or move to escape. I left this world with my child in that inferno. ‘Claude, I’m dead.’ I cried.
He stumbled out of the house, even putting on one shoe wrong, rushing to meet his childhood friends who thought his distress was because of Kate’s disappearance.
“Claude, Kate will be okay. We’re looking for her, too p>
Claude shook off their comforting hands. “She’s dead p>
His use of “she” made everyone assume he meant Kate, their faces showing shock and sorrow.
“Kate p>
“How could this p>
“Our sweet Kate, who could have done this p>
Leading the way, Claude retorted, “Claire, I told you not to die. How dare you p>
The friends, who were mourning, sighed in relief when hearing it was Claire who was dead. They grabbed Claude, saying, “Claude, Claire was nothing but trouble. It’s her own doing if she’s dead p>
It was bizarre how the favored ones always received sympathy. Even in death, they said I had it coming.
Claude remained silent, got into his car, and drove straight to the police station, leaving his friends with no choice but to follow.
At the station, Claude was more frantic than ever, shouting, “Mr. Collins, where’s Claire’s body p>
This side of him was so different from the meticulous person I
remembered. Was he afraid mol
death would somehow affect his precious Kate?
With a cold gaze, Ronald looked past Claude to his friends. “And you are p>
Claude stayed silent, but his friends quickly said, “He’s her husband, unfortunately. But Claire was indeed Claude’s wife p>
Another friend interrupted with a smirk, “Claude, think of this. If Claire is gone, you and Kate can be together openly p>
Ronald had seen enough, throwing evidence of Kate’s involvement in Claire’s disappearance in front of them. “Kate is suspected of hiring someone to kidnap Claire. She’s currently wanted.”
The friends were in disbelief, looking between the evidence and Claude.
Claude asked, “Where’s Claire p>
Ronald replied, “Complete the paperwork as her husband, and I’ll take you to her body p>
Claude’s signature was shaky, and his reaction seemed almost detached.
After signing, he tried to proceed, but Ronald stopped him, “We’ve tried contacting the person who
previously claimed Claire’s finger, but they’ve disappeared. The
wnyelme
address and phone number left were fake p>
It meant the finger was mine, and Claude had not even recognized it.
He didn’t even realize the wedding ring didn’t fit.