His Wife’s Silence

When they performed the caesarean section, my husband was buying a gift for his first love.

When he hung up my desperate call, he said, What new game are you playing? Get lost! Dont even look for me if you die!

Seven days later, he was embroiled in the horrific case of a dismembered pregnant woman. To identify the victim and find the killer, he worked tirelessly, barely sleeping.

But eventually, the clues began to point, step by step, to me.

His most hated wife.

After the killer dismembered me, they audaciously dumped my remains into the police station's sewer system. Officers, clad in thick hazmat suits, spent a full day and night sifting through the foul-smelling sewage before recovering all the pieces. It took several forensic pathologists three days and nights to painstakingly piece my body back together, just barely forming a recognizable human shape. But my left ear was missing.

The police suspected this was a deliberate act of revenge by a criminal. My husband, Detective Captain Asher Rodriguez, was the youngest captain on the homicide squad, with countless complex cases solved under his belt. When his team first saw my remains, several officers were overcome with nausea, retching uncontrollably. Ashers brows were deeply furrowed, his face ashen, battling the intense disgust.

The forensic team handed them the reports and began detailing my condition. Based on the autopsy results, the victim is female, between 22 and 25 years old. Cause of death was exsanguination.

The victim had restraint marks on her wrists and ankles, multiple contusions across her body, and her head was repeatedly struck with a blunt object, resulting in a shattered and severely deformed skull.

Additionally, the victim was pregnant and endured inhumane torture before her death.

Officer Rodriguez slammed his hand on the table with a loud smack. Theyre worse than animals! The other officers echoed his outrage.

Such a brutal method of killing, its most likely a revenge killing!

What kind of hatred could drive someone to be so vicious to a pregnant woman!

The killer is too arrogant! Dumping the body in the sewer beneath the police station is a clear provocation to law enforcement!

My husband, Asher, stared intently at the report. Its them.

The officers faces instantly grew grim. Theya massive international crime syndicate, a huge shadow looming over the minds of every officer. Countless colleagues had fallen each year because of them. But thanks to a decade of relentless effort by law enforcement, this transnational crime group had been entirely dismantled three months prior. Therefore, this case was highly likely the work of a few remaining members, committed for revenge and as a deliberate challenge to the police.

Just then, an officer walked in, carrying a shoebox-sized container. Captain Rodriguez, its another one from your wife.

Hearing my name, my husbands face contorted with annoyance. From now on, anything she sends, dont give it to me. Just throw it out.

Officer Rodriguez sighed, patting his shoulder. Still cant let it go after all this time? Your fathers death it wasnt Emmas fault she was a victim too As he spoke, he took the box, opened it for Asher, revealing a transparent jar inside.

Upon seeing its contents, everyone gasped in horror. Ashers hand loosened, and the jar clattered to the floor.

It was a miniature doll. Even after hitting the ground, its pose remained unchanged; it even bounced slightly.

The forensic pathologist carefully placed the doll into an evidence bag. With just a glance, he concluded, Its fake.

Another one of her tricks to get my attention. Shes completely insane! My husbands single sentence condemned me.

But this wasn't something I had sent.

Perhaps the officers also felt that sending such a doll was too much, as they all fell silent. Officer Rodriguez sighed, Emma doesnt seem like the type to play such a joke. Could there be some misunderstanding? You havent been home in a while; why dont you go check on her?

Hmph! Whats there to misunderstand? Sending something like this is just her way of threatening me, trying to make me lose the baby! My husband sneered. That kind of woman, full of lies, will even invent a child to get off the hook!

Even if she really was pregnant, theres no way Id let her keep it. A woman like her doesnt deserve it!

The sight of her disgusts me! Id rather focus on the victim, find more clues, identify her, and solve this case quickly.

I floated in the air, transparent tears streaming down my face. So in his heart, I wasnt worthy of bearing his child. Who was, then? His first love ex-girlfriend?

Perhaps thinking of when I had told him I was pregnant, Asher disgustedly tossed the doll into a nearby trash can. Then he pulled out his phone, unblocked me, and spoke in a chillingly cold voice. Threatening me with a child will only make me think youre lower than dirt!

Give up. Even if you die, I wouldnt spare you a glance!

But I am dead And I wasn't lying That dismembered body, its me

My husband and the detectives gathered around a whiteboard covered with photos of my body, alongside their analyses and theories. Key points were circled.

The victims DNA hasnt matched anyone, indicating she has no criminal record.

There are no missing pregnant women in recent reports who match the victims age and height.

An officer remarked, bewildered, How could a pregnant woman go missing for so long without any family looking for her? Does she not have family?

Asher twirled his pen, circling the word child on the whiteboard. If we cant identify the victim, finding the missing child for a DNA comparison might lead us to the father, which could then identify the victim.

I crouched by the trash can, desperately trying to pick up that fake doll, but my translucent hand passed right through it, unable to touch it. The clue youre looking for right now is inside this fake doll But youve thrown it in the trash

Then, he wrote Dismemberment Scene and circled it prominently. There was very little blood in the sewer, clearly just a dumping ground. Killers typically dismember bodies in places they are familiar with or consider safe and private. Most even return to the crime scene. If the dismemberment site could be found, the case would have a major breakthrough.

Next, he circled left ear and added a question mark beside it. We searched the entire sewer system, but couldnt find the victims left ear or any remaining body parts.

This means the killer didnt dump those parts here.

But why dispose of them separately? This particular part likely has a distinguishing mark that could identify the victim.

Asher paused in his analysis, his brows slightly furrowed, staring at the words left ear. I unconsciously touched my own left ear. On my left earlobe, there was a burn scar. It was from the first time I cooked for Asher; scalding oil had splattered onto my ear, forming a blister and leaving a scar. Asher was very apologetic and applied ointment for me every day. So, he knew perfectly well about the mark on my left ear.

The killer tortured the victim for several days before cruelly murdering her. There must be a grudge with the victim, or her family.

Revenge An officer suddenly looked at Asher. Captain Rodriguez, could the killer be a criminal we arrested, holding a grudge against us, and thats why they tortured the victim and dumped her in our sewer, to provoke us

No, that doesnt quite fit. None of our officers family members are pregnant and how could someone go missing without it being reported? Ashers eyebrow twitched, as if something had occurred to him. But then he shook his head, as if dismissing his own thought.

Asher, in that moment, did you remember? I once told you I was pregnant. But you only thought I was jealous of your first love, lying about pregnancy just to manipulate you Alas, you missed that clue again If you asked which police officer those criminals hated most, Asher Rodriguez would definitely be number one. If he hadnt been so cold to me, if hed just gone home, he would surely have found the clues I left for him.

He paused, then immediately plunged back into work, dividing the officers into several teams, each with assigned tasks. One team would conduct interviews, checking for any missing pregnant women. Another team would search for the primary crime scene and any remaining body parts. A third team would visit hospitals, as a pregnant woman like the victim would most likely have prenatal records. In addition, an expert was specifically brought in to reconstruct my skull. The expert could, based on principles of human anatomy and the characteristics of my facial bones, age, and soft tissue data from my body, sculpt my skin and hair onto a plastic model. Once my skull was reconstructed, it could be matched with ID records through the public security system, directly confirming my identity. However, this skull reconstruction would take some time.

Asher rubbed his temples, his face etched with fatigue. Buzz, buzz, buzz. He pulled out his phone. Seeing the caller ID, a gentle smile appeared on his face.

Elara, Im so scared

Where are you now? Okay, dont move. Lock your windows. If youre scared, turn on all the lights and wait for me to get back!

He hung up, checked the time. It was almost 10 PM. Everyone, head home and get some rest. Well discuss anything else tomorrow.

My heart instantly shattered. Asher was a workaholic; he often disappeared for days on a case, and I never dared to disturb him. But now, a single call from her was enough to make him drop everything and rush back to her In your heart, I could never compare to her

I floated along, following Asher to a house. It was a residence he owned before we married. Its ironic, I only learned after I died that the house he said he had rented out was actually occupied by her.

Elara Rodriguez, Ashers first love ex-girlfriend. She was the hostage he rescued from criminals three months ago. And in those three months he spent away from home, he must have been living with her here, right? My heart started to ache again at the thought.

Elara suffered from post-traumatic stress. He was afraid the criminals would seek revenge and find this hostage rescued by the police. He was even more afraid his beloved Elara would be harmed. So, he, usually so calm and collected, sped home, pushed open the door, his voice trembling.

Elara?

Elara was curled up in the corner of the sofa. Hearing Ashers voice, she darted into his arms like a startled rabbit, clinging to him tightly. Ashers body stiffened slightly, then he wrapped his arms around her, gently stroking her soft hair, comforting her in a low, tender voice. Its alright, dont be scared, Im here

Elara cried, tears streaming down her face, Where were you? I was so scared without you

Asher gently explained, The dismemberment case, the autopsy results came out today. Its been a bit hectic.

Elaras eyes flickered, and she pulled away from his embrace. Oh? Did you find any clues?

Yes, the victim was a pregnant woman. It seems to be a revenge killing. Her identity hasnt been confirmed yet; there are no leads.

A pregnant woman how truly pathetic She spoke with feigned sorrow, but her eyes glinted with hidden triumph. Her hypocritical demeanor made me want to vomit! She was clearly trying to glean details about the case!

Asher, who had always been tight-lipped about cases when dealing with me, was completely unguarded with Elara. Was this the difference between love and not loving? Because he loved her, she was the first love he once yearned for but couldnt have, so in front of her, all his principles vanished.

He seemed eager to share with Elara. The killer brutally dismembered the victim, so we suspect its a remaining member from three months ago, deliberately provoking the police.

Elara gasped, seemingly terrified. Thats too horrifying Did you find out who it was?

Not yet, Asher said, looking very worried. Its highly likely to be remnants of the crime syndicate. Im afraid the killer knows youre still alive and might target you.

Dont go out recently. If anything unusual happens, call me anytime.

Elara nodded obediently. She softly changed the subject. Asher, you come here to be with me every day. Wont she be unhappy? After all, shes your wife. Didnt she say she was pregnant

At the mention of me, Ashers face instantly chilled. His expression softened again when he looked at Elara, as if afraid of frightening her. Why bring her up? If it werent for her, my father wouldnt have He frowned. You should rest now, its getting late.

Elara said, But Im scared

Dont be. Ill stay with you until you fall asleep, then Ill leave.

I floated in mid-air, watching my husband guard Elaras bedside, gently coaxing her to sleep, with a tenderness I had never seen directed at me. They looked so perfect together. I had always been an outsider But Asher, the person youre now cherishing is a demon