Seeing that my brother was in such a bad state, Captain Lewis forced him to put down the case and take a day off.

As soon as my brother got in the car, he sent a message to Freya Scott, telling her not to open the door for strangers.

"I'll be home soon. Look in the fridge and find something to eat first."

I was close to him, close enough to hear the trembling fear in his voice.

Sadness and bitterness rose uncontrollably in my heart.

My brother kept hitting the gas pedal all the way because Freya didn't reply to his message immediately.

But when he reached the last intersection, my brother suddenly changed direction.

I finally couldn't control my emotions when I saw my brother step into a dessert shop.

He hesitated at the door for only two seconds before resolutely walking in.

He went straight to the pastry area, grabbed a chocolate cake, paid, and left.

After getting in the car, he opened his phone and still didn't see any reply. A hint of urgency flashed in his eyes.

The next second, he sent a voice message to Freya,

"I bought your favorite Chocolate cake. Please don't be mad at me. The reason I left your graduation ceremony that day was because there was a sudden case at the bureau."

His tone carried coaxing and gentle affection, a side of him I had never seen before.

He regarded the cake with my name on it as a scourge.

But in order to please his Freya, he could give up his principles.

I will never forget my tenth birthday. Not knowing about my dad's death, I cried and demanded a birthday cake from my brother.

His eyes turned red with hatred, and he shouted at me, a kid,

"Get lost! Don't ever mention the word 'cake' to me again! I will never step into those shops again!"

"Molly, why wasn't it you who died today? Why wasn't it you?! Just die! I can get as many cakes as you want, as long as I can get back my dad..."

I was so frightened by him that I trembled all over and didn't even dare to shed tears.

Every birthday since then, his curses echoed in my ears like a spell.

Tears streamed down my face, and my brother hurried home, took the keys, and opened the door.

Freya came out of the kitchen with a smile on her face, holding a dessert she had baked.

There was a light in her eyes when she saw my brother.

"Harry? What are you doing back? I haven't finished making this yet!"

The scent of cream filled every inch of the living room, and I couldn't stop trembling.

My fear of her had become a physiological response ingrained in my bones.

But my brother only frowned for a moment, and his gaze fell on the baking tray in her hands. He rushed towards her like an arrow.

"These things are too hot. They can pose great danger to you. Don't make these alone at home. If you want desserts, just send me a message, and I'll bring them back for you."

As he spoke, he presented the pastries he had just bought to Freya as if they were treasures.

I bit my teeth so hard that they almost broke.

"Why is he acting like a different person in front of Freya?

He even let her bake desserts in my parents' house and trample on my self-esteem." I wondered.

Although he spoke blaming words, his tone was full of concern and worry.

"Why didn't you reply to my messages? I thought you were mad at me for leaving early on your graduation ceremony."

"Why would I be? It must have been a major case for you. So, I won't be so ignorant to be mad at you."

Looking at Freya's charming smile, my brother felt relieved and said, "I almost forgot. You're not Molly."

Freya handed the dessert she had just baked to my brother, but this time, he didn't seem to take the dessert as a taboo.

He took a bite of the cake and didn't forget to compliment Freya.

Just as my brother finished eating a piece of bread, Captain Lewis called.

"You'd better come over. There's a package for you at the bureau with Molly's name on it and a birthday card wishing her a happy birthday."

Ever since my body was found in delivery boxes, all packages at the police station had to be opened in the presence of the task force.

As soon as my brother heard my name, his face turned cold, and he retorted sternly,

"Don't mention Molly to me. From the day we got the case until now, I haven't received any news from her. Now, she's sending me a package. Is it her ashes?"

A bitter smile appeared on my face.

"It's not ashes. It's the only clue I left behind." I said silently.

I never expected that my brother's hatred for me would make him disregard this case.

Captain Lewis remained silent for a while before speaking, "To avoid breaking the rules, I'll open it for you first."

My brother hung up the phone directly, not wanting to hear any news about me.

But before he could finish another bite of cake, Captain Lewis' phone call came again.

Losing patience, my brother answered the call and put it on speakerphone.

Freya looked pleased, her eyes filled with disdainful laughter.

"It's a birthday cake."

Captain Lewis' words instantly made my brother slam the table.

"Are you kidding me? What the hell is wrong with Molly? I've already scolded her but she still sent it to the police station! I'm going to ask her what she means by this!"

Captain Lewis hurriedly spoke, "I smashed the cake. Inside was a severed finger. I'm not sure if it's the missing one from the body. It's best if you come back and take a look."

The seriousness in his tone forced my brother to take it seriously.

After hanging up the phone, Freya asked my brother concernedly, "Is there any progress on the case?"

But this time, my brother didn't reply; he just kept dialing my number.

However, all he heard was a busy tone repeated over and over again.

At the same time, Captain Lewis sent my brother a message.

The photo showed the severed finger in the cake, with two knife marks carved on it.

The angle was the same as it was eight years ago.

My brother's face turned pale instantly, and his lips trembled.

He rushed to the door and picked up the key.

Before leaving, he turned around and reminded Freya, "I'll be gone for a few days. Don't leave the house! Stay at home and wait for me!"

He locked the door and didn't see Freya, who was sitting on the sofa, wearing a cold and sneering face.

On his way to the bureau, the department responsible for forensic examination called, and my brother abruptly stopped in the middle of the road.

"The identity of the deceased has been confirmed!"