Chapter 7
656words
What made my stomach turn was Angelica's message to Maxwell.
"The poison's in place. Six months from now, she'll die of liver cancer, and nobody will suspect us."
So that was how it had happened.
In my previous life, I had thrown myself completely into married life with him. Every day, all I cared about was keeping him happy and living a good life. I never imagined the man sleeping beside me had been plotting to murder me all along.
Angelica was pregnant, so the police allowed her to stay at home while waiting for further notice.
Maxwell got dragged into the interrogation room. Even with the evidence staring him in the face, he kept denying everything.
"Officer, I have a business trip coming up. This is all a mistake. I barely know Angelica, and she's just some crazy woman who won't leave me alone."
He looked genuinely panicked. If I hadn't known the truth, watching him through that one-way glass might have actually convinced me.
Luke said, "Come clean now, Maxwell. Tell us everything, and we can apply for leniency on your behalf. Otherwise…"
"Officer, I swear I had no idea about any of this," Maxwell said urgently.
Luke sighed and pulled up a video on the screen in front of Maxwell.
"Angelica, you're the only one who really loves me. I'm so close now. Do exactly what I said, and after tonight, we'll go abroad. You can relax and live like the rich wife you deserve to be."
The composed look on Maxwell's face vanished in no time. His mouth went stiff, and the corner of his lips wouldn't lift.
"This is fake!" he shouted.
He suddenly exploded, and all that polished charm was gone instantly. His perfectly styled hair fell into his eyes as he thrashed against the restraints.
"Someone doctored that video! Officer, I've been framed," he shouted, struggling frantically.
The officers kept warning him. When he nearly flipped the table, two police officers grabbed him and pinned him back into the chair.
"The video's authentic. We've already verified it. We're confirming the details with you now, and within 24 hours, you'll be in court. You'd better prepare yourself."
Maxwell went limp, and the light in his eyes dimmed. Then he suddenly looked in my direction behind the glass and mouthed something to me, "If I could have killed you before, I could do it again. You deserve to die."
Then, the officers hauled him away.
His words sent me back to how I'd died tragically in my previous life. I was convinced he must have been reborn as well.
On the way home, Zachary insisted on walking with me.
"So? Do you feel good about taking down a major scumbag?" he asked, squinting and smiling.
"It's like a huge weight has finally been lifted off my shoulders," I said lightly, though Maxwell's threat still made me feel uneasy.
It started raining suddenly, and Zachary took off his jacket to hold it over both our heads.
"Let's take shelter inside a shop and wait for the rain to stop," I said.
The drizzle turned into a downpour within seconds. I could barely see three feet ahead. We reached an intersection, and a black sedan suddenly lost control and swerved straight toward me.
Zachary shoved me out of the way just in time. He was thrown several meters, landing hard on the street.
"Zachary!" I screamed and crawled toward him on my hands and knees. My fingers shook so badly I could barely unlock my phone to dial 911.
"There's been an accident at an intersection 200 yards from Northbridge Police Station..."
I held Zachary as he drifted into unconsciousness. Looking up at the car that hit him, I saw Angelica behind the wheel. Her smile was terrifying, and she seemed like a madwoman.
