A Ten-Year Dream, All in Vain

He couldn’t help but smile wryly, then picked up the wedding dress and headed straight to the police station.

He knew that the only reason I would neglect everything, including the wedding, was if I had been called in to help with a body reconstruction.

After all, every time I reconstructed a body, it helped confirm the deceased’s identity and bring justice to the wronged.

“Mr. Genevan, you’re just in time! We were about to contact you. Your mother’s whereabouts have been discovered. Regretfully, she has been found murdered.”

His mother had been missing for half a month. He thought it was the reason why I hadn’t come home and even missed the wedding. I must’ve been with his mother, waiting for him.

Mike forced himself to suppress the grief of losing his mother and asked the officers to take him to find me. “Karen and my mom were close. She… she’s okay, right?”

But the officer looked at him in surprise. “Miss Spears finished her reconstruction work yesterday and left. She even said she was getting married today and would bring you good news!”

The unease in Mike’s heart grew like a wild vine, tightening around his chest. With trembling hands, he pulled out his phone and dialed my number again.

Still, no answer.

He completely panicked and immediately requested the police’s help to find my whereabouts.

With the police conducting a rapid investigation, they tracked my phone to an underground fight club.

Could that be the reason I ran away from the wedding? Had I found out I had cheated and was hiding from him out of guilt?

Mike’s face turned deathly pale in an instant.

***

Once again, I was hauled into the underground fighting ring.

"Per the sponsor’s special request, we’re changing the game tonight."

“Anyone here can tattoo any part of her body!”

The host emphasized the words “any part,” and the crowd erupted in wild cheers.

A sharp blade etched cut after cut into my skin, marking me with pain and humiliation.

I glanced at the clock on the wall. Surrounded by the stench of blood, I finally closed my eyes in despair.

Suddenly, the main door slammed open with a thunderous kick.

“Everyone, stop!”

The familiar voice made my whole body shudder. I struggled to lift my head and saw Mike storm in with a group behind him.