Chapter 2

Months ago, I received a crucial piece of intelligence. A major drug operation was active in Oakhaven, so I went undercover to gather evidence. After a month in hiding, I finally secured the vital information we needed.

The officer assigned to extract me was my husband's teammate, the youngest cop in Major Crimes. But he sacrificed himself to cover my escape, dying in the ensuing firefight. By the time backup arrived, they found nothing but his dismembered remains.

Looking at his former teammate's shattered body, my husband pointed at me in a blind rage.

"Do you realize he was only twenty-one? He died saving you because of your reckless actions! Elena Vance, do you even have a heart?" Marcus screamed. "Why couldn't it have been you?"

I lay quietly on the stretcher in the ambulance as tears slid from the corners of my eyes. All I could think was the exact same thing: *Why couldn't it have been me?*

Why did I let him come? I knew the risks, yet I had still agreed. I remembered what Julian had said before the operation. He had stood under a tree in his uniform, his eyes shining with earnestness.

"Elena, please let me come! I promise I won't get in the way!"

I had asked him then, "Why are you so determined? Aren't you afraid to die?"

The young man had flashed a brilliant smile and answered without hesitation. "Scared? Hell yes. Everyone's scared. But someone has to do it. My dad used to say, 'Don't pretend you don't see the tragedy. That's true cowardice.' I don't want to be a coward. I want to avenge my dad, and I want them to pay."

Later, I learned that Julian's father had been an undercover narcotics officer who died in the line of duty over a decade ago. Julian grew up, inherited his father's badge number, and became a cop himself. Back at the station, he was always tailing Marcus and me. Since he had no family, I used to invite him over for holiday meals. Julian loved my homemade pasta, always saying it tasted like home.

Because of that, on the day Julian was buried, I made a batch of pasta and took it to the cemetery.

The entire Major Crimes Unit was there, including my husband. When Marcus saw the container in my hands, he stepped forward and coldly blocked my path.

"Elena Vance, how dare you show your face here? Have you forgotten who got him killed?"

My heart ached fiercely as tears rolled down my cheeks. I held out the container with trembling hands. "I just... wanted to bring him something. Julian loved my pasta. Please, just let me go in."

Instead of stepping aside, Marcus flew into a rage. He grabbed my wrist in a vice-like grip, his eyes filled with absolute disgust.

"Playing the good Samaritan now? It's too late! You killed Julian. Get out of his life if you have any shame left," he snarled. "Don't you dare dirty his path to the afterlife!"

I fell to the ground, clutching my stomach as an excruciating pain ripped through me.

"Honey, my stomach hurts so badly. Please take me to the hospital... I can't get a cab out here." I grabbed Marcus's sleeve, desperate and begging.

He shook me off without a second thought. "Telling lies to make me forgive you? You think I'll fall for that? Elena Vance, if you want to die, do it somewhere else. Stay out of my sight forever!"

A few nearby colleagues stepped forward, instinctively wanting to help me up.

"No one helps her!" Marcus barked. "Let's see how long she keeps up this act!"

Though they clearly wanted to intervene, it was a domestic dispute, and Marcus had given a direct order. Reluctantly, they backed off.

Soon, the service ended, and everyone left. I was completely abandoned in the empty cemetery. With no cell service, I dragged myself for miles in pure agony until I finally found a signal and called my best friend, Clara.

She rushed over that night and managed to get me into an ambulance. Sitting beside me, she held my hand, her voice choked with emotion.

"Did Marcus really leave you out there? What kind of man is he?!"

I lay there pale and trembling. But far worse than the physical pain was the absolute heartbreak of his betrayal.