Chapter 1

On the third birthday of Julian’s son with his mistress, Serena, I finally located Chloe’s last leg bone.

They celebrated at the upscale steakhouse, Chloe’s favorite restaurant when she was alive.

Yet, none of them knew that Chloe’s heart, her corneal tissue, and her blood were all on their dinner table.

As a medium, I refused to believe Chloe was a drug dealer.

I vowed to hold a summoning ritual to uncover the truth of her death.

Julian, upon hearing my plans, flew into a rage. He ordered his men to beat me senseless.

“That bitch used my brother’s body to traffic drugs! How else are you going to defend her?!”

It wasn't until the largest drug trafficking cartel in Country D was completely dismantled,

And the evidence Chloe left behind was made public,

That Julian finally understood who she truly died for.

“Ashley, look at me. I’ve hidden a lot of evidence in…”

The woman in the video looked desperate and terrified, as if someone was chasing her.

The next second, she was dragged off-screen by an unseen force.

A chilling scream ripped through the air, mixing with the festive cheers from the party I was attending.

After ten agonizing seconds, the screen went black.

On a night meant for family reunions, my sister died alone in a foreign country.

She was quickly labeled a drug dealer.

And because I was at a Christmas party, I hadn’t even heard her last words clearly.

I stared at the skeletal remains before me, pieces I’d spent three years painstakingly recovering.

Gnawed by dogs, trampled by humans, charred by fire, and left to rot in sewer water.

A sharp, suffocating pain twisted in my chest.

“Julian, tell me the truth. Is it true that Chloe used Liam’s body to traffic drugs?”

Julian stiffened, hearing his brother’s name.

The next second, his eyes ignited with a furious rage.

“Are you done yet? My brother is dead! Are you not satisfied until his soul is tormented, too?!”

“You don’t mind mentioning that tramp? Well, it contaminates my ears!”

It suddenly hit me: today was Chloe’s death anniversary, and Liam’s too.

“I’m sorry. I just wanted to ask if I could go into Chloe’s old room, try to summon her spirit, and find out the truth of her unjust death…”

“Chloe called me on FaceTime before she died. I suspect she was framed…”

“Why don’t you just go to hell and ask her yourself?!”

Julian, consumed by fury, slammed the phone down.

Then, he forwarded the official police statement from back then, once again, right into my inbox.

*Following an official investigation, it was determined that the suspect, Chloe Brooks, was a member of a drug trafficking organization operating out of Country D. She was identified as using the bodies of deceased individuals, including Liam Si, to conceal and transport drugs, and died on September 16th during a transaction with another cartel.*

My heart clenched.

I hesitated.

But then, Samuel, my Master, sent me a photo of a bracelet.

That object carried a trace of dark energy, one of Chloe’s belongings.

If an item bore such energy, it meant its deceased owner died with a grievance.

I understood that much.

“Miss tonight, and you’ll have to wait until next year’s anniversary.”

Samuel’s words jolted me awake.

I gathered Chloe’s remains, grabbed my ritual tools, and rushed to the Si mansion.

“Ashley! Are you losing your mind?!”

“Ashley! You’ve really crossed the line!” Julian slapped me, then he and his bodyguards moved in. “Chloe was a deeply sinful drug dealer!”

“Five years ago, she used my brother’s body to traffic drugs. How can you possibly defend her?”

In the chaos, Chloe’s bones scattered across the floor. I quickly covered them with my body to shield them from being trampled.

“She wasn’t! My sister wasn’t!”

My voice was hoarse with tears as I painfully gathered the scattered bones.

“My family has served in federal law enforcement for three generations, fighting drug crime. Chloe lived a life on the run with Grandma Joyce as a child, always hiding, always on edge. She hated drug dealers more than anyone!”

“She couldn’t have trafficked drugs!”

It was precisely because of this family background that Chloe had been subjected to constant threats and harassment from abroad throughout her life, even having strangers show up at her door.

*Splash.*

A bucket of filthy garbage was dumped on me.

“Miss Brooks, please stay away from us, the victims’ family.”

“Open your eyes and see the truth!”

Serena pulled out a photo of a ghastly white face.

The corpse had been cut open down the middle, the frozen flesh unnaturally pale.

Its organs were gone, God knows where.