The investigation into the explosion concluded that a woman had stolen confidential business secrets while her boyfriend was in a coma following a car accident. When the man's mother discovered what she was up to and tried to stop her, the woman killed her boyfriend's mother, caused an explosion, and fled.

Only one set of remains was found at the scene—Jane.

I don't know how the authorities had come to that conclusion. All I knew was that my remains were treated like garbage and disposed of without a care.

Money could turn black to white. It could also turn a dead person into a fleeing murderer.

My femur was polished into round beads and strung into a bracelet. It was then given to Evan as a gift to celebrate his survival and new life.

He accepted the gift and inspected it closely. He then complained about Peter being stingy, saying that he could've done better and gotten him something of better quality.

After that, he asked, "Where are Corinne and my mom?"

With reddened eyes, Cecilia told him this absurd story.

Of course, Evan didn't believe it. But everything was laid down in black and white, leaving no room for dispute.

He smashed everything in the hospital room, including that bracelet, which he threw to the ground with all his might.

Human bones were hard, so the bracelet didn't break.

Peter picked it up and said, "Evan, Cece and I will always stand by you."

Evan used every means to find me. My mom, after being rescued, was in a coma for a long time. When she woke up, she was weak and mentally unstable. The former university professor had become a madwoman in everyone's eyes.

If that incident hadn't happened, Evan and I would've been married soon. But now, his fiancée was someone else.

Cecilia looked radiant and beautiful. She pouted and grumbled, "You're so late, Evan. Peter has already helped me try on several dresses."

Evan apologized repeatedly.

Peter's gaze fell on the bracelet on Evan's wrist. He smirked and said, "I remember you complaining about the quality of that bracelet, but you haven't taken it off in three years. It's grown on you, huh?"

Evan smiled, touching the beads absentmindedly. "After all, it's a gift from you and Cece. It carries a special meaning."

I smiled bitterly to myself. Indeed, it certainly carried a special meaning.

Peter seemed pleased with Evan's response, while a hint of disgust flashed in Cecilia's eyes.

Still, her tone remained gentle as she said, "Evan, why don't you throw it away? I can get you a new one to symbolize our love."

Evan shook his head and looked down at the smooth beads. "It brings me peace."

Peter laughed, patting him on the shoulder. "Glad you like it."

As soon as they sat down, Evan's assistant, Aaron Carroll, called. "Mr. Lane, we've located the owner of the pasta restaurant that Ms. Peele used to visit. He still remembers her."

Evan's expression shifted slightly, and he quickly made an excuse to leave.

The shop owner, Leo Stanton, remembered me vividly.

He recounted, "That young lady always came here carrying lots of bags. She said her fiancé had been in a car accident and needed her care. She stayed by his side every moment. I even asked her what she'd do if he never woke up or suffered some serious health complications. She told me she didn't care and would marry him no matter what."

Evan was taken aback upon hearing what Leo said. He pressed on, "And then?"

"Then I had to go back to my hometown for some family issues," Leo replied.

He paused for a bit and added, "There was a guy who kept bothering her back then. At first, he seemed to like her, but then it got creepy. He'd grab and yank her forcefully. He even hit her sometimes. I couldn't stand it and stepped in a few times."

"Do you remember what he looked like?" Evan asked.

"I have a vague memory of him," Leo said, trying to remember the man's face.

As he tried to remember him, his gaze landed on Evan's phone wallpaper. He pointed at it and exclaimed, "That's the guy! Do you know him?"

The wallpaper was a photo of Evan with Cecilia and Peter.

Leo was pointing at Peter's smiling face.

Peter had indeed harassed me before. It wasn't out of affection but of malicious desire. He wanted everything Evan had; if he couldn't get it, he'd take it by force. If he couldn't make it his, then he'd destroy it.

That was how despicable and deceitful Peter was, yet he was a master at hiding it.

Evan, how could you keep being fooled by him?

This time, I thought he'd believe their lies again. But to my surprise, he went to confront Peter.

After a few rounds of drinks, everyone was a bit tipsy. Evan suddenly asked, "Peter, are we good friends?"

Peter laughed and responded, "Of course, what kind of question is that?"

Evan went on, "I spoke with someone who knew Corinne today. They told me that while I was in a coma, you harassed her and even hit her. Did you two have some kind of conflict?"

He wasn't smiling as he stared at Peter intently. "Why?"

Peter's expression remained unchanged. However, Cecilia quickly chimed in, "Why else? To argue with her, obviously! You were still in the hospital back then, and she didn't even care.

"Instead, she went off with other men. Peter tried to talk some sense into her. If we'd known she was so shameless, we wouldn't have been so nice to her. We could've prevented Mrs. Lane's death if we'd realized that sooner."

As the conversation shifted to Jane, a brief silence came over them.

Peter slowly added, "I want nothing but to keep my distance from such a toxic woman. You listen to people too easily. Don't be fooled. For all we know, she could be hiding nearby and spying on you. I bet that person you met was in cahoots with Corinne. Maybe she paid him to say that."

Cecilia agreed, "She's been missing for three years and doesn't even care about her mom. And suddenly, these baseless rumors pop up. She probably heard about our engagement and wants to drive a wedge between us. Don't let her get to you, Evan."

Evan looked at Cecilia for a moment and let out a self-deprecating laugh. "You're right. She'd do anything and abandoned her mother for three years. How could I have fallen for such a worthless lie? If she dares show her face, I won't let her off. I'll make sure she pays dearly for her sins."

As Evan said that, he clenched the bracelet in his hand, causing the beads to creak in his grip.

I saw Peter's lips curling up into a very pleased smile.

After three years, I'd moved past my initial anger and pain. Now, all I wanted was for Evan to keep hating me. As long as he hated me, he wouldn't give up on searching for me. And as long as he didn't give up, he might someday uncover the truth.

But, Evan, could you at least be kinder to my mom?

Cecilia loved grandiose gestures. Their engagement party was grand, and people from all around the city attended. Halfway through the event, my mom somehow showed up, looking disheveled and ghastly thin. Her presence drew whispers from the crowd.

She ignored the murmurs and gossip completely. When she saw the people on the stage, her hollow gaze turned to one of terror and then to rage.

Suddenly, she pointed at the stage and shouted, "You killed my daughter! I saw it all. It was you! You're all evil people! I'll kill you all to avenge my daughter!"

My mom tried to charge the stage, but security held her back as she yelled her head off.

Cecilia's face contorted in anger. "Why are you all just standing there? Get this crazy woman out of here! Throw her out!"

As the guards dragged my mom away, Evan stopped them. He looked down at my mom with a cold gaze and demanded, "Explain yourself. Who killed your daughter?"

"It was you guys!" my mom shouted and spat at Evan. "Stop pretending! You're all in it together! You all killed Cori!"

Evan didn't flinch. Instead, he pressed on, "How did you find this place? Has Corinne come back? Did she tell you to say this? Answer me!"

My mom glared at him. "Not only did you kill my daughter, but you also—"

"Shut up! Corinne was the murderer!" Cecilia shouted, stepping forward to slap my mom across the face. She went on a barrage. "She's the reason Evan ended up like this, and you have the nerve to show up and cause trouble! You and your daughter are disgusting!"

Cecilia's slap was very harsh. My mom's face became red and swollen immediately. She thrashed around even more frantically.

Her eyes were bloodshot as she screamed, "You monster! You murderer! You killed my daughter—I'll make you pay with your life!"

Startled by her deranged expression, Cecilia took a few steps back. She then angrily raised her hand to strike again.

I rushed forward, shouting at Evan, asking if he was blind. How could he just stand there and let Cecilia hit my mom like that?

Just as Cecilia was about to land another slap, a hand passed right through me and caught her wrist firmly.

"Are you going to let her run her mouth and slander me like this, Evan?" Cecilia questioned, exasperated.

"I'll handle it," Evan said calmly, signaling for Aaron. "Have her taken back home, and don't let her out without my permission."

He then turned to Cecilia, and his expression softened a bit. "Don't let a madwoman ruin our big night. Let's carry on."

Reluctantly, Cecilia agreed. She glared daggers at my mom as she was escorted away.

From the beginning till the end, Peter stood to the side and watched the scene unfold like a spectator at some absurd play.

Afterward, Evan went to change his clothes. When he came back, he managed to cheer up the sulking Cecilia before taking her hand and leading her back to the stage.

Once upon a time, he'd held my hand like that and proudly announced our wedding date. Now, there was a different woman by his side.

I covered my ears, not wanting to hear those empty promises of eternal love.

As Evan finished speaking and was about to step down from the stage, someone in the crowd suddenly called out, "Mr. Lane, may I take a look at that bracelet on your wrist?"

The question was abrupt and out of nowhere. It made Evan's brows crease.

Cecilia's face paled as she snapped, "Who are you, and why are you stirring up trouble here?"

A man stepped forward. His name was Felix Nichols, and he was a well-known jewelry appraiser who had recently gone viral online.

Felix ignored Cecilia and the murmurs from the audience. He walked up to the stage and examined the bracelet closely. The frown on his forehead deepened with each passing second.

"Didn't you hear what I said? Get off the stage!" Cecilia shouted, trying to push him away.

However, Felix suddenly announced loudly, "Mr. Lane, this bracelet is not made of buffalo bone—it's made of human bone!"

The moment he said it, the entire hall fell silent. Then, whispers erupted all around the venue seconds later as people's gazes shifted.

The color drained from Cecilia's face as she quickly snatched the bracelet back from Felix's hands. She chastised, "What nonsense are you spouting? This is clearly buffalo bone! Who told you to say this? Was it Corinne?"

Felix looked taken aback. "I'm a professional, okay? Don't falsely accuse me. I've been studying this bracelet for a while now; something about it seemed off, even from a distance. I can tell the difference between buffalo bone and human bone."

"Say one more word, and I'll sue you for slander!" Cecilia warned sharply. She hurriedly added, "You call yourself an appraiser? You're just a fraud trying to scam people!"

"I'm just stating my opinion. You will be held responsible for slandering me," Felix replied firmly, pointing to the camera on his chest. "I've recorded the entire exchange. I wouldn't risk my reputation over this. If you don't believe me, get an expert to examine the bracelet."

"Someone get him out of here! And take his camera!" Cecilia shouted frantically.

Just as the security guards approached, Evan snapped out of his daze and raised a hand to stop them. His voice shook slightly as he asked for confirmation. "Say it again. What bone did you say this is?"

"It's human bone! I am positive it is human bone!" Felix shouted, struggling against the guards. He warned, "Mr. Lane, it is illegal to own human bones. Most people can't tell the difference, so I know you've definitely been deceived. The one who did this is malicious and despicable!"

The banquet hall was filled with murmurs again as Evan stared down at the bracelet. His hand was trembling as he asked Cecilia in a barely audible voice, "Whose bone is this?"

"Evan, don't listen to his nonsense! This is buffalo bone. Why would we do something illegal? He's just a fraud. Don't believe what he said!" Cecilia answered in a flustered manner.

Her face was pale as she scanned the crowd, as if looking for a way out. In the next moment, she called out, "Peter, come here! You helped make this bracelet. Are you just going to stand and let him slander us?"

Peter strolled over leisurely and cast a cold glance at Felix. "You can just run your mouth and say anything you like. What proof do you have that it is human bone?"

"If you don't believe me, have it tested!" Felix countered.

Peter stared at him intently and said, "How do we know you aren't up to something? You're spreading lies without proof. How bold of you! Did Corinne put you up to this?

"First, her crazy mother shows up to cause a scene, and now this. What's next? Is she trying to ruin Evan and Cece's engagement? Does she think Evan's still as gullible as before?"

He raised his voice and continued, "Corinne has already done Evan so much harm, and she still won't leave him alone. Does she want to ruin him completely?

"And you—I've seen your videos. You'll do anything for clicks, and it is all for money. You have no sense of decency!"

Felix tried to defend himself but was swiftly dragged out by security. The guests all exchanged uneasy glances.

Oblivious to his surroundings, Evan kept his gaze fixed on the bracelet he'd worn for three years. His hand was still trembling.

Peter patted him on the shoulder and asked with a laugh, "What's wrong? You don't actually believe him, do you? Corinne must've heard about your engagement and came back. She's trying to ruin things for you and Cece.

"She left her mom high and dry for three years, but now she's using her to sow discord for her own sake. She's heartless!

"Don't let this ruin you and Cece's engagement party. I'll find Corinne and bring her to your mother's grave to beg for forgiveness."

The only trace of me left after that night was those twelve beads polished from my femur. The world no longer had any trace of me. Even the last photo left was torn to pieces.

If Peter wanted to find me, he'd have to go to hell to do it.

The engagement party ended abruptly as Evan lost interest. He answered a call and quickly excused himself, still gripping the bracelet tightly.

When the driver asked him where he would like to go, he stared at the beads for a long moment before replying in a somewhat shaky voice, "Find me an antique appraisal center."

The result confirmed that the beads were indeed human bone.

And the bone used to make the bracelet—without a doubt—was mine.