Chapter 2 - The Funeral of a Woman Who Wasn't DeadThree days later, Victor stood beside my coffin.
Except the coffin was empty.
He didn't know that.
Nobody did.
The hospital had placed me under an emergency identity after Adrian requested maximum security.
Victor believed I was dead.
So did everyone else.
Except the doctors.
And Adrian.
And me.
I watched the funeral through a secure hospital livestream.
Victor stood beside Serena.
She wore black.
Her hand rested on his arm.
She looked devastated.
But I knew better.
Then Victor stepped toward the microphone.
His voice cracked perfectly.
“Elena was a difficult woman.”
I stared at the screen.
A nurse standing beside me looked horrified.
Victor continued.
“She was emotional. Difficult to live with.”
Serena lowered her head.
Victor sighed.
“But she was still my wife.”
I wanted to scream.
Then he said it.
“They both froze to death.”
The room went silent.
“That worthless woman got what she deserved.”
My fingers tightened around the blanket.
Adrian stood beside my bed.
His face was expressionless.
But his eyes were terrifying.
“That's enough,” he said.
He turned off the screen.
I stared at him.
“He hates me.”
“No.”
Adrian's voice was quiet.
“He's afraid of you.”
“I'm supposed to be dead.”
“Exactly.”
He placed a folder on my bed.
“Your husband filed the insurance claim twelve hours after reporting your death.”
I opened it.
My hands shook.
There was Victor's signature.
The claim amount.
Fifty million dollars.
Then I saw another document.
A transfer authorization.
Victor had already opened an account to receive the payout.
He had planned everything.
Adrian sat beside me.
“Elena, I need to ask you something.”
“What?”
“Do you want to expose him?”
I looked at the photograph from my mother's belongings.
Then I looked at the medical monitor.
My baby was still alive.
So was I.
“Yes.”
Adrian nodded.
“Then we'll do it properly.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means Victor won't know you're alive until we're ready.”
A strange calm settled over me.
For the first time since the mountain...
I smiled.
May you like
Victor thought he had buried me.
He had no idea I was watching him.
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