Chapter 4

"Sarah! Listen to yourself! Chloe lost her father when she was little; she's already suffered enough! Instead of falling into despair, she became even more ambitious, and you constantly tear her down! Are you even human?!"

Aunt Carol screamed, tears streaming down her face. "I'm telling you, you'd better pray the victim in this case isn't Chloe! Otherwise, you'll have nowhere to run from your regret!"

My heart skipped a beat. Had Aunt Carol discovered something?

But looking at her expression, she didn't seem to know the truth. It was more like she was deliberately trying to provoke Mom.

Sure enough, Mom's face instantly changed.

"Impossible! Don't I know my own daughter?! The body in there absolutely cannot be Chloe!"

Aunt Carol gritted her teeth. "If it really is Chloe, don't even think about claiming her body! You never cared for her anyway. She'll go back to the Miller family!"

Mom also raised her voice in retaliation. "Fine! Take her! Do you think I care?! I've been sick of that jinx for years!"

Aunt Carol was trembling with rage. "You heartless Sarah! If you don't want Chloe, I do! Such a sensible child, she suffered so much by your side! You cold-blooded monster! I'm truly ashamed of you!"

My soul hovered in mid-air, lost and helpless.

I knew Aunt Carol was always good to me.

After Dad died, Mom rarely paid attention to me. Beyond making sure I was fed, she didn't care about anything else.

I still remember my first set of bras, my first feminine hygiene products—they were all from Aunt Carol.

I wanted to study hard to prepare for a career in law enforcement, but Mom didn't support me. In the end, it was Aunt Carol who secretly encouraged me.

From daily necessities like food and clothing to study materials, smartphones, tablets, and computers, Aunt Carol almost always paid for them out of her own pocket.

To Aunt Carol, I was practically her own daughter.

Aunt Carol, now fuming as she walked out of the police station, sent me a trembling text message.

I floated over, peering at it.

'Chloe, it's not safe outside right now. No matter how angry you are with your mom, you have to come home! If you don't want to come home, come to Aunt Carol's. I'll support you going to college and help you with tuition! We don't need your mom. My place will always be your home, sweetie, be good.'

I blinked, feeling a surge of emotion.

Aunt Carol had also lost her only brother that rainy night years ago.

Yet, she didn't hate me like Mom did. Instead, she poured all the love she had for her brother onto me.

I'm sorry, Carol. I'm afraid I'm destined to disappoint you.

Perhaps because my body was still in the police station, I could only follow Aunt Carol for a short distance before I couldn't go any further, watching her leave.

When I floated back into the police station, I found Mom slumped in a chair.

Officer Ben saw her and couldn't help but advise, "Dr. Smith, you've been working for twenty hours. You should really go home and rest!"

Mom shook her head. "No, I'm just… I can't let this case go… I'll rest here for a bit, then go back and look for more clues on the body."

"Oh… alright."

I watched Mom's swaying body, marveling at her dedication while also wishing she would get some proper rest.

…

"The DNA results are in!"

A shout echoed, and everyone in the police station was instantly re-energized!

Even I couldn't help but feel a pang of anxiety!

Mom, who had been staying at the police station for two nights, rushed to the records room.

"The database? Have we checked it? Have we identified the victim?"

"Still comparing. It's taking a while, don't rush!"

Everyone crowded around the computer, nervously watching the progress bar crawl forward.

75%… 88%… 95%… 100%!

Everyone held their breath, waiting for the final result.