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527words2026-01-26 09:09

Two years after my sister's death,her husband still thought she was playing hard to get.
When Emily was dying,she wanted to see Nathan one last time.
His cold voice came through the phone.

"Tonight's Vanessa's big debut.Nothing's more important than that."
In just two years,he'd turned Vanessa Lane into a international star.
Meanwhile,the jasmine flowers I planted at Emily's grave had bloomed season after season.
I perfume out of those jasmines.
The perfume carried Emily's scent.
Nathan Brooks,smelling it,became convinced that Emily wasn't dead.

His gaze on me grew increasingly intense.
I sneered.
H was finally bright for once.
Because I was Emily.

...
Nathan attended his company's new perfume launch with his brand ambassador,Vanessa Lane.
When the screen displayed the product details,the magnified bottle stunned everyone.
A reporter read the text aloud.
"Dedicated to the memory of the late Miss Emily Harper?Mr.Brooks,when did your wife pass away?"
Through the live stream,I saw Nathan's face twisting with anger.
He denied it on the spot.
Then he announced that the launch ends now,storming off with a scowl.
I glanced at Emily's phone,left with me,and counted down silently.
Sure enough,it rang.
The moment I answered,Nathan's hushed,accusing voice hit.
"How many stunts will you pull before you're done?Faking a disappearance didn't work,so now you're faking her death?"
"My sister died two years ago,"I cut him off,calm and deliberate.
Silence fell on his end of the phone.
I could almost hear his ragged breathing.
I added calmly,"She died on Vanessa's debut day."
"Stop it."
After a ten-second pause,Nathan said with his voice slightly trembling.
"Sarah,you're smarter than your sister.Don't play her games or go against me with her."
"Tell her I want to talk.Tonight,10 p.m.,I'll be home."
I scoffed."Why 10?"
He paused,then said,"It's Vanessa's two-year debut anniversary.I promised to celebrate with her—lots of events."
I laughed,then asked,"Hey,you still remember the way home?"
He sighed.
"Have you been brainwashed by your sister?You sound just like her."
He hung up abruptly.
I sneered.
Sound just like her?
Was it that obvious?
The launch was canceled,but Vanessa's celebration went full swing.
Online,rumors had it that Emily was about to divorce Nathan in order to make way for Vanessa.
Nathan faced reporters asking if he'd divorce.
This time,he didn't stay silent,frowning as he answered.
"I'm not divorced,and I won't be."
A reporter shot back quickly.
"But legally,a spouse's death dissolves the marriage automatically.Technically,you're already divorced.Why deny it?"
Before his words settled,Nathan,usually all graceful,grabbed the reporter by his collar in a rare flare of irritation.
"Say that again!"
In public,he restrained himself from violence but barked at his assistant to sue the reporter.
The reporter didn't flinch,shouting,"I don't get why you're clueless,but your wife,Emily Harper,is indeed dead!The jasmines on her grave are blooming!"
The venue's main screen flashed to a close-up of Emily's tombstone,live on air.
Across from it stood the reporter's colleague.
He pointed to the jasmines on the grave,explaining.
"Jasmine was Nathan Brooks' engagement gift to Emily Harper.Ironically,the perfume he custom-made for his muse,Vanessa Lane,uses jasmine too as its main ingredient."
"What was even more ironic was, that the perfume's designated perfumer was Emily Harper."
Within an hour,two headlines dominated the internet.
#MysteryOfEmilyHarper’sDeath
#NathanBrooksMissesVanessaLaneEventForTheFirstTime