Chapter 4

Everyone held their breath.

"My subordinates cross-referenced recent case files and found that the method used in this murder is strikingly similar to several cold cases from the past three years in the southern regions. The killer specifically targets young women from prominent families, torturing, flaying, and dismembering them. It's incredibly brutal!"

"We suspect the killer may have moved to the capital."

Commissioner Hayes gasped, then urged Julian, "Julian, you're the city's most respected rising star. You're exactly the kind of target this killer goes after."

"You must keep a close eye on your sister!"

Julian nodded, his hand on Celeste's shoulder tightening.

"Thank you for the warning, Commissioner. I'll make sure to take good care of Celeste!"

Commissioner Hayes paused, a little embarrassed. "I was talking about Elara."

"She's living alone in a detached house now, making her particularly vulnerable..."

Julian's body stiffened.

But quickly, a look of impatience and annoyance returned to his face.

"Commissioner, you worry too much. A cold-blooded, heartless person like Elara has nine lives. I don't need to worry about her."

My heart ached with bitterness.

Julian, my life... it's over.

Commissioner Hayes still wanted to persuade him.

"Julian, it's been so many years. You should let it go."

"Elara is your own sister, after all..."

"My own sister?"

The words seemed to sting Julian. He cut off the Commissioner abruptly, his voice even colder.

"I, Julian Blackwood, have only one sister, and that's Celeste!"

"As for that murderer, she doesn't deserve the title!"

Julian, you've called me a murderer for so many years. Even in death, you won't believe me?

I truly didn't know what happened back then.

Why won't you forgive me?

But Julian couldn't hear me.

He scoffed mockingly, "She's practically indestructible. She fell into a freezing hole and didn't die. She caught the plague last year and still survived. This is just another one of her tantrums. What could possibly happen?"

"Who knows, if the killer met her, they might even lose a few years off their own life. It's what they call 'evil meeting its match'!"

No.

Julian, it's not like that.

I wanted to tell him that I also feel fear, and pain.

When I fell into the freezing hole, I begged a passing woodcutter to save me. When I caught the plague, I pestered old Mr. Jenkins next door for medicine.

Every time I miraculously survived, it wasn't because I was 'indestructible,' but because I wanted to stay with Julian a little longer.

I wanted to live long enough for him to forgive me.

But I never got that chance.

Celeste, at just the right moment, gently tugged Julian's sleeve, softly urging, "Julian, don't say such things about Elara. Commissioner Hayes has a point; perhaps you should go and look for her..."

Celeste always did this, pretending to be kind and urging Julian to be good to me.

But the moment Julian actually considered it, she'd suddenly feel unwell, conveniently keeping him by her side.

I had long seen through her true nature, but Julian, having formed his initial prejudice, always believed she was good and I was evil.

Whenever I tried to expose her, Julian would indiscriminately blame me.

This time was no exception. He shook his head disdainfully. "Celeste, you're just too kind."

"Her initial intention might very well be to exploit your kindness and make me go looking for her!"

Julian didn't want to talk about me anymore and raised a hand to silence everyone.

"Let's finish up quickly. Once we're done, I want to go back to the estate and spend a few days with Celeste, just to be safe."

With that, he turned back to the slab, diligently reconstructing the body parts, meticulously sketching every memory onto paper.