When I wasn’t filming, I’d sneak into the law
school to attend his lectures. His sharp
demeanor captivated me.
Now, I only felt a dull ache.
“What’s this?”
He frowned, taking the tape.
The workers exchanged glances. “Mr.
Reynolds, we found it under Ms. Smith’s urn.”
“Just throw it away, it’s a waste of my time.”
One worker stopped him, his voice indignant.
“Mr. Reynolds, you should see this…”
Daniel’s brow furrowed.. “Don’t waste my
time!”
The office TV showed static. Then, the dirty
warehouse floor, masked men, and… me.
“Daniel, please, help me…”
Daniel recoiled.
He stared at the screen, his expression
incredulous.
I saw the reflection in his eyes–the violated
woman was me, not Katie.
I closed my eyes.
My past humiliation was finally revealed to
him.
“Impossible!” Daniel almost shouted. “This
video is fake!”
The workers jumped. “Mr. Reynolds, but it
looks so real…
“”
Daniel ignored them, rewinding the tape,
watching it at double speed.
“Pause!” he commanded, “Zoom in here.”
Daniel examined the screen, searching for any
sign of forgery—
Editing, lighting, sound…
His expression worsened with each check.
The footage was seamless, with no editing
marks.
<
The reflections in my eyes matched the
warehouse perfectly, ruling out Al face-
swapping.
“This… this is impossible.” Daniel stepped
back, “It was Katie… Katie’s arm was
slashed, she was so pitiful in the hospital,
Kaylee Smith was the mastermind!”
Daniel took a deep breath, forcing himself to
calm down.
“I’ll take this tape.” His voice regained its authority. “Don’t tell anyone, especially my
wife. Understand?”
The workers nodded.
I followed Daniel to his car.
He sat, not starting the engine, rubbing the
tape.
“Why…” he murmured, “If you were innocent,
why didn’t you say anything?”
Even with this irrefutable evidence, he still
doubted the video’s authenticity.
く
I scoffed inwardly.
“I said it countless times, but you never
believed me…‘
“”
Daniel never believed me once.
Then, he made a call.
“Colin, I need you to analyze something.”
We returned home.
Katie was arranging flowers. She smiled at
Daniel.
“Daniel, you’re back. It’s Dad’s birthday, I
booked a banquet hall at the Peninsula Hotel,
let’s go together.”
She stopped, looking at the bag in his hand.
“Where were you? You look awful.”
“Nothing, work.”
Daniel avoided her gaze, putting the bag in
his study.
“Is that recent death penalty case stressing
you?”
“Yeah.” Daniel agreed, “The evidence is
<
complex.”
“You’re the best criminal lawyer, Kaylee’s
lawyer almost got her acquitted, you stood up
for me, these small cases won’t bother you.”
Daniel forced a smile. “Let’s go see Mom and
Dad.‘
Before leaving, his gaze drifted to the study,
his eyes flickering.
The car stopped at the Peninsula Hotel.
Daniel used smoking as an excuse, letting
Katie go upstairs first.
A woman in a red dress came out of the
hotel.
She stopped when she saw Daniel.
“Daniel?” The woman’s voice rose. “Daniel,
it’s really you.‘
“”
Daniel frowned, not recognizing her.
“I’m Susan,” she sneered. “Kaylee Smith’s
friend.”
<
I drifted to Susan, wanting to hug her.
She was the only one who came to my
funeral.
She arranged for my urn to be buried in South
Mountain Cemetery. Giving me a final resting place.
Susan was my best friend. I felt so sorry for
her.
She wanted me to live, but I couldn’t even
manage that.
Daniel’s memory returned.
He’d seen Susan in court.
Susan had tried to testify for me, but Daniel
dismissed her testimony, saying their close
relationship made it unreliable.
“Ms. Miller,” Daniel maintained his
professional composure, “You don’t need to
be hostile. I simply followed the law.
“Law?” Susan’s laughter was sharp. “Your
‘law‘ meant Kaylee was beaten to death in
Г
prison? She died so tragically, and where
were you then?”
Her voice grew louder, drawing attention. “Do you know how horribly she died? Do you know she was trying to clear her name till the
end? You know nothing. So don’t act like a
righteous man!”
Daniel was stunned. He had no answer.
He didn’t follow up on my case after the
verdict.
He didn’t even blink when he heard of my
death.
“Leave.” Susan pushed him away, looking at
him with disgust. “Today’s Kaylee’s memorial.
She loved the Peninsula Hotel’s rosé cakes.
Oh, you probably didn’t even know that.”
Daniel was stunned, speechless. He truly
knew nothing.
“The videotape, I still haven’t found it.”
Susan’s voice was somber, “Kaylee, am I too
Г
useless?”
Daniel’s phone rang. It was Colin from the
lab.
The shrill ringtone echoed in the silent
cemetery.
Susan turned, seeing Daniel.
Her expression turned angry. “Daniel, what do
you want?!”
Daniel’s voice was urgent. “The tape, the
tape about Kaylee’s attack?”
