Jalen paused, the pen in his hand hovering mid-air, as a thought crossed his mind. He glanced at Captain Leon, their eyes meeting, and without exchanging another word, they both came to the same conclusion.

In unison, they murmured, "It seems like it's them."

Half a year ago, Jalen and Captain Leon had worked together to take down a notorious gang involved in organized crime. The gang had been ruthless—killing, stealing, and spreading fear wherever they went. Though they had crippled the operation, it seemed now that not all of the members had been caught. There might have been some who slipped through the net back then.

A wave of unease swept through the room as officers exchanged tense glances. The possibility weighed heavily on everyone’s mind. Could this be the work of the same criminals they thought they’d eradicated? Was this their way of sending a message?

Captain Leon, his face dark and serious, surveyed the room before speaking in a grave tone. "Listen up. We can’t afford to take this lightly. These criminals have come back, and this time, they’re making it personal. They’re challenging us, and I have no doubt they’re after revenge. Be on high alert. Watch yourselves, and most importantly, protect your families. They won’t hesitate to strike where it hurts."

Just then, a young police officer approached Jalen, holding a small package in his hands, looking slightly confused. "Forensic Doctor Reed, there's a package for you."

The room went still, the air thick with tension. Everyone’s heart seemed to jump into their throat as they watched the officer hand over the package. Captain Leon, glancing at the label, spotted my name written on it and immediately let out a relieved sigh.

"Siara!" he chuckled lightly, breaking the silence. "I was worried for a second. It looks like she misses you, Jalen. You’ve been stuck here for days—she’s probably just trying to reach out. You should head home soon and spend some time with her. If you don’t really want the divorce, maybe you can patch things up. She’s taken the first step, so give her a chance to make peace."

But Jalen's face darkened the moment his eyes landed on my name. His lips pressed into a thin line, tension rippling through his rigid posture. Though he tried to keep his anger under control, it was clear he was on the verge of losing it.

"She's the one who doesn’t want the divorce," he said, his voice cold and hard. Without hesitation, Jalen hurled the package to the ground, the sound echoing in the quiet room. "Anything with her name on it belongs in the trash."

As the package lay discarded, the door to the station opened, and in walked Jara. Her long black hair cascaded down her back, and she moved with a graceful elegance in a white dress, carrying a lunch box. The atmosphere shifted again, as if her arrival was both anticipated and carefully timed.

As soon as Jalen saw Jara approaching, the anger that had marked his features melted away, replaced by a warmth and tenderness that was almost palpable. His eyes softened, and he greeted her with a genuine smile. "Jara, what are you doing here in this heat?"

Jara responded with a gentle smile of her own. "I heard you’ve been working hard on the case lately, so I brought you some heat-reducing soup and a few snacks. I’ll share some with your colleagues as well."

Her presence was like a soothing breeze, easing the tension that had been building. Jalen’s demeanor transformed before everyone’s eyes; he became a different person altogether, his gentleness toward Jara revealing a side of him that I had never seen before.

The scene struck me deeply. Jara seemed to be an insurmountable barrier between Jalen and me. Despite his assurances, Jalen’s affection for Jara was evident, and it only highlighted the emotional distance between us.

Jalen had always insisted, albeit impatiently at times, that his relationship with Jara was purely familial. He had lost his mother at a young age, and it was this sister, though not biologically related, who had been his steadfast support. Jara called him "brother," and he felt a profound sense of duty to her. This bond, this connection that seemed so natural and significant to him, was a chasm I struggled to bridge.

Despite Jalen's insistence that his relationship with Jara was purely familial, I couldn’t ignore the way Jara looked at him. Her gaze held an intensity that went beyond sibling affection; it was the kind of look that spoke of deeper feelings, of admiration and longing that she couldn’t entirely conceal.

Jara’s eyes fell on the package on the ground, and she shot a reproachful look at Jalen. “Brother, why did you throw your sister-in-law’s package on the floor? If she finds out, she’s going to make a scene.”

Team Ross hesitated, wanting to say something, but decided against it. Jara, her expression darkening, picked up the utility knife and sliced through the package. As she opened it, a horrifying sight was revealed: a grimy pendant doll covered in a sticky, foul-smelling liquid that resembled blood. Jara’s scream of terror filled the room, drawing the immediate attention of Jalen and Captain Leon, their eyes widening in shock as they took in the grisly scene.

Without a word, Jalen snatched the box and threw it into the trash can with a forceful shove. His arms wrapped around the trembling Jara, his face a mask of anger and concern. His brows were furrowed deeply, and there was a smoldering fury in his eyes that seemed on the verge of exploding.

Captain Leon, silent and grim, kept his lips tightly pressed together, unable to find the right words. Jara, sobbing, looked up at Jalen with tear-filled eyes. “Brother, don’t worry about me. You need to go back and be with your sister-in-law. She must be feeling jealous of how kind you are to me and is probably upset.”

Jalen’s expression softened with distress as he comforted Jara. “Jara, don’t be scared. If she tries to hurt you again, I’ll file for divorce and make sure she’s held accountable.”

Captain Leon, desperate to mediate, interjected quickly. “Jalen, Siara might have just been playing a cruel prank. She probably wants your attention. You should go home and talk things through with her.”

My tears streamed down uncontrollably. Jalen, don’t you remember? This pendant doll was a gift from you, and there’s a hidden camera inside it. If you just turn it on and review the footage, you’ll see that what I’ve said is the truth. I’m already gone!

Jalen’s face contorted with sneer and contempt as he spat out, “A woman as vicious as Siara doesn’t deserve to be my wife. She couldn’t even stand Jara’s presence. I saw her with my own eyes—she pushed Jara down the stairs just because Jara’s hand couldn’t hold the scalpel properly. Being a doctor has always been Jara’s dream.”

Jalen continued, his voice dripping with disdain. "After everything, she still tried to deceive me with a fake list. Even if she were truly pregnant, I would have made her abort it. With a mother like her—vicious and selfish—the child’s future is doomed."

He shook his head, his frustration palpable. "The fake pregnancy and meal delivery charades won’t work on me. Now she’s resorting to sending these revolting things. She’s a psychopath."

The venom in his words was like a dagger to my heart. How could he hate me so profoundly? The depth of his disdain was more than I could bear. The love and hope I once clung to seemed to dissolve under the weight of his hatred.

It became painfully clear that Jalen had always believed the pregnancy test list I sent him was a fabrication, a desperate attempt to manipulate him into coming home. He was convinced that I had orchestrated the entire situation to get his attention and have him by my side.

The truth was far different. I hadn't faked the pregnancy test, nor had I staged any elaborate schemes. The package that was sent in my name was not sent by me. I had no part in its contents or the disturbing messages it carried.

Jara’s accident, too, was beyond my control. I had no involvement in what happened to her. Yet, the shadow of blame and suspicion fell upon me, and I found myself unjustly accused and hated for things I never did. The chasm between us had grown so wide, and the misunderstandings so deep, that it felt almost insurmountable.

That day at the hospital was a turning point I never anticipated. When I ran into Jara, her reaction to the news of my pregnancy was far from the joy I expected. Instead of happiness, she was consumed by jealousy and resentment. She immediately tried to coerce me into having an abortion, but I stood my ground and refused to comply.

Our confrontation escalated quickly. As we struggled, Jalen arrived just in time to witness Jara falling down the stairs, injuring her hand in the process. His reaction was swift and fierce—he cradled Jara and glared at me with an intensity that was both terrifying and heartbreaking.

"Pray that Jara is okay," he warned me coldly. The threat hanging in the air was clear, even if he didn’t finish his sentence. The venom in his words cut deep, leaving me feeling both wounded and powerless.

Despite my attempts to explain, Jalen’s anger was implacable. I showed him the pregnancy report, but he glanced at it dismissively before tearing it into shreds. His eyes, filled with a toxic mixture of rage and contempt, told me everything I needed to know about his feelings toward me.

“Jara may never hold a scalpel again because of you. Why didn’t you fall down the stairs instead?” His words stung with bitter resentment. No matter how much I tried to explain, his mind was made up. His hatred for me was solidified, fueled entirely by Jara's skewed narrative.

After taking Jara home, Jalen returned to the police station with renewed focus, burying himself in work as if trying to escape the turmoil at home.

Captain Leon and the senior criminal investigators worked tirelessly through the night, sifting through files in hopes of finding any leads on similar murder methods. Their efforts, however, yielded no significant results, and the light of hope in their eyes dimmed with each passing hour.

Frustrated, Captain Leon scratched his head and muttered, "We’ve gone through the old files and checked recent missing persons reports, but there’s still nothing. Given that the victim was a young, pregnant woman, it’s baffling that no one has come forward to report her missing after all this time."

A female police officer, her voice tinged with bitterness, added, "His wife is pregnant and missing, and the husband doesn’t even seem to know or care. What a disgraceful scumbag."

Jalen, overhearing the remark, sneezed suddenly, as if the words struck him like a physical blow.

A bitter smile crossed my face as I listened from where I stood. The female officer’s words rang true, serving as a harsh reflection of the situation. If anyone could express the disdain that was directed at Jalen and the whole mess, it was her.

"The main issue is that the body parts are still incomplete, and we have no idea when the remaining parts will surface. Plus, the surveillance footage didn't capture the suspect's face. How are we supposed to investigate this?" Captain Leon voiced his frustration.

Jalen, in a moment of clarity, suggested, "The deceased was pregnant. Her husband must have accompanied her to the prenatal checkup. We should check the hospital's prenatal records."

Captain Leon's eyes widened in realization. He slapped his thigh with renewed determination. "Jalen, you’re right. Team One will go with me to investigate the prenatal checkup records at the hospital. Team Two will follow up on the list of pregnant women from the hospital to see if any are missing."

He turned to Jalen, his tone filled with concern, "Are you sure Siara was lying about her pregnancy? Has she reached out to you recently? You haven’t been home in months. Maybe you should go back and check on her."

Jalen’s face darkened, his irritation palpable. "She’s a liar. If she were really pregnant, wouldn’t I know about it?"

He scoffed, "On Jara’s birthday, she sent me some irrelevant numbers. She’s been trying to win favor through deceit."

The anger within me flared uncontrollably. I wanted to lash out, but the rage was choking me. My fingers clenched into fists, trembling as I fought to keep my composure. I had made it clear to him about my pregnancy, but he refused to believe me. The deep sense of betrayal and hurt was overwhelming.

He even went so far as to tear up my pregnancy test report. Desperate to prove the truth, I begged the hospital doctor to call him. Yet, he only accused me of staging the situation, hiring actors to deceive him, and treating him as a fool. No matter what I did, it seemed to be wrong in his eyes.

Captain Leon watched Jalen leaving and muttered softly, “You will regret this one day.”

Jalen, visibly agitated, lit a cigarette and toggled his phone on and off. The screen displayed the last message I sent him—three simple numbers: 115.

As he stared at those numbers, memories of the past flooded back. When we first started dating, he had asked me, "Siara, you mentioned that Morse code is known by everyone, including criminals. What if you, as my family, are in danger?"

"I want us to have a code," he said. "1 means help, 0 means safety, 5 means me. If you ever need help, just send me this code. No matter where you are, I, Jalen, will protect you for life..."

This was the only distress signal I had left. Yet now, as he looked at the message with cold indifference, it felt like my last lifeline was being cut off. Maybe he had forgotten. Forgotten the oaths and promises he once made. The person who vowed to protect me for a lifetime now seemed to want me gone.

The night was late, and Jalen dragged his weary body back home. On the sofa, Jara lay curled up like a kitten. He couldn't help but smile softly at the sight. Gently, he reached out to cover her with a blanket, but the movement stirred her awake.

She blinked up at him, her eyes misty with sleep, and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck. "Brother, you're back. I was so scared," she murmured.

Jalen embraced her without hesitation, his voice low and reassuring. "Don't worry, I'll always protect you."

After a pause, he asked cautiously, "Jara, has Siara reached out to you lately?"

"Yes! She wished me a happy birthday a few days ago," Jara replied, glancing at Jalen. I let out a small sigh of relief, even though I couldn’t help but think it was ridiculous how easily she believed Jara.

In reality, I never sent any message.

Jara's voice grew softer. "Brother, how about I call her? Maybe it will make you feel better."

For the first time, Jalen didn’t stop her. He remained quiet, and that silence was all the approval she needed.

Jara looked at him, her hand shaking slightly as she held the phone. Her fingers tightened around it, turning pale, but she forced a smile on her face.

"Hello, sister-in-law, where are you? My brother and I are worried about you. Hello? Sister-in-law…?"

Jara put down the phone with a small, bitter smile and turned to Jalen, looking hurt.

"Brother, I think she really hates me. She hung up as soon as she heard my voice," she said quietly. "But... it was really noisy in the background, like maybe she was at a bar? Or maybe I just heard it wrong..."

I almost laughed out of frustration. Jara, you should’ve been an actress. How could I answer your call when I’m already dead?

And yet, here’s Jalen—believing his precious sister’s lies all over again.

Jalen couldn’t stand seeing his sister upset, so he grabbed his phone and called. A message played: “The number you dialed is turned off.” His face turned red with anger, and he muttered, "Siara, you’d better stay gone. When you come back, I’m divorcing you."

Jara’s eyes briefly lit up with happiness, but she hid it well.

Just then, Jalen’s phone rang. Captain Leon’s voice was urgent. “Jalen, get to the crime scene now. Someone reported finding something suspicious in a dirty ditch. We think it’s linked to the dismemberment case.”