Dissected By My Fiancé

While my fianc was proposing to his dream girl, my bodyDdead for three yearsDwas finally discovered.

I had been dismembered, my remains rendered unrecognizable.

Not even my closest friends or family could identify me.

And neither could he.

Everyone who saw my remains was sickened to their core.

What kind of malice could drive a person to commit such atrocities?

The perpetrator had even discarded the unborn life I carried within me.

My fianc, consumed by a performative sense of duty, picked up the scalpel. He meant to dissect me to find the truth.

Suddenly, his eyes grew bloodshot.

The truth oh, the truth!

I laughed, but he he lost his mind.

"Do you guys know?

Today, Detective Caleb booked half the ballroom just to propose to his sweetheart!

He truly is the rising star of the forensics department.

I stood in the long-lost sunlight, staring at the man before me, feeling completely detached.

Caleb looked sharp, dressed in a designer suit, escorting Vanessa to the stage like a fairytale prince and princess.

He had always been good at keeping up appearances; otherwise, Vanessa wouldn't have gone to such deranged lengths for him.

His academy classmates were cheering below, chanting for them to kiss.

Caleb's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, but he didn't object. Instead, he gave in and pecked Vanessa on the cheek.

The atmosphere turned electric. Vanessa huddled in his arms, her face flushed with shy delight.

This scene was meant to be mine.

But alas, I was already dead.

On stage, the heat was rising.

Two sparkling rings were exchanged.

Then, a frantic ringtone shattered the harmony.

It was Captain Miller. His voice was breathless. "Caleb, I am so sorry to interrupt, but we just found a gruesome crime scene. We need you please, come back."

"Caleb, what happened?" Vanessa asked, masking her annoyance with a pout.

Caleb's face turned icy. He patted her shoulder, his mind clearly shifting gears. "There is an emergency at the precinct. I have to go."

Vanessa grabbed his sleeve, desperate to keep him there. "Do you really have to go? We invited so many people! What am I supposed to do?"

Caleb sighed, his expression pained. "I am sorry, Vanessa. You promised you would support my career."

Vanessa was not pleased. "There are so many people at the station. Does it have to be you? Do you even know what day it is?"

Caleb tore off his boutonniere, his voice firm. "Vanessa, I am a forensic expert. I have to be accountable for the deceased."

"I will be back soon."

With that, he walked away.

He abandoned his guests and his fiance without looking back.

Vanessa began to cry, tears streaming down her face.

And I, a ghost, watched the circus from the void.

Just like the time he had abandoned me in front of everyone to cater to Vanessa's whims.

For once, Caleb finally put his duty above her.

It was just a pity that I was already dead.

Caleb and I grew up in the same neighborhood. After our parents passed away in the line of duty, we were separated.

I moved in with my grandmother, and we lost contact for years.

It wasn't until college that we reconnected. I was studying forensics, and he was at the police academy nearby.

He told me he recognized me the moment he saw me.

Fate brought us together, and our shared history made us inseparable.

Soon, he confessed his feelings.

Back then, Caleb was the campus idolDcool, handsome, and sought after by everyone.

I fell for it hook, line, and sinker.

But then, Vanessa appeared.

She was unlike anyone else; wealthy, manipulative, and a master at playing the victim.

Worst of all, she set her sights on my boyfriend.

The first sign of trouble was a group hangout.

The moment we met, she showed open hostility, dropping snide, passive-aggressive remarks.

I didn't take the bait, and I fired back until she had nothing left to say.

The dinner was suffocatingly tense.

I didn't want to cause a scene, but afterward, Caleb dismissed it all. "Vanessa is just young and spoiled. Why do you have to be so difficult with her?"

He thought I was overthinking it.

I was furious. My own boyfriend was siding with her.

That night, we had our first major fight, and it took three months to reconcile.

Later, we fought over her countless times, nearly breaking up several times.

Things only improved when she left the country.

I snapped back to reality; Caleb had reached the morgue.

He saw the room, hesitated for a second, then walked in with a composed face.

There she wasDmy unrecognizable body.

My colleagues were arguing over the cause of death. "Multiple stab wounds and signs of trauma. Preliminary evidence points to torture. We have to wait for the lab reports."

Someone cursed under their breath. "What kind of monster would do this? Dissecting a victim after such crueltyDthey are an animal."

Caleb sat in the corner in silence. He had always been the quiet type, so no one thought twice about it.

Then, someone gestured to him. "Hey, Caleb, you learned so much from Elena. Since she is gone, come take a look."

Yes, he was my prize student.

I had been a cop, but I loved teaching him the nuances of forensic investigation.

I never imagined it would lead to this moment.

We had been working in the city for two years. Growing up without a family, I craved a home of my own.

After six years together, I asked him to marry me, but he refused.

He claimed his career wasn't stable enough to give me the life I deserved.

I didn't care about that.

But Vanessa had returned from abroad. She used some leverage to join Caleb's unit.

As they grew closer, I panicked and pushed for marriage even harder.

Caleb just grew irritable, dismissing my concerns as jealousy.

"Elena, can you stop with the paranoia? It is just work."

"Do you have to keep me on a leash for you to be satisfied?"

"Do you just want to see me fail so I cannot get promoted?"

I never expected him to think so little of me.

He didn't know I had turned down a promotion in the state office just to stay here with him.

I thought building a home and loving my career was enough.

But Caleb was obsessed with his rank.

To protect his pride, I stopped talking about work.

Yet, the fights about Vanessa never stopped.

Over and over, Caleb compared me to her.

I was exhausted.

I truly wanted to know, if he loved the damsel-in-distress type like Vanessa, why had he chased me so hard back then?

My memories were interrupted by Caleb's voice.

He sounded annoyed at the mention of my name. "She has been gone for five years without a word. Why even bring her up?"

He looked ready to snap, so the others went quiet.

But Silas, who had always been my friend, snapped. He grabbed Caleb by the collar. "What the hell are you talking about? You were together for five years. You know who Elena is. You are supposed to be her boyfriend!"

See? Even a regular friend cared more about me than he did.

Caleb's expression was icy. "Our business is none of your concern."

Silas wouldn't let go, and the others had to intervene.

"Caleb, it has been five years! Do you really not worry about her? If something happened to her, you will regret it for the rest of your life!"

Captain Miller tried to mediate. "Guys, calm down. It is just a misunderstanding."

"Even if you have moved on, look into her disappearance. Five years is long enough to bury any grudge."

Caleb remained silent.

Seeing him so stubborn, the Captain sighed and turned back to the case.

"These remains were found on a construction site. A shovel hit something, and this nightmare was unearthed."

"The perpetrator is skilled with a blade. Check the remains and see if you find any clues."

Caleb walked to the table, put on his gloves, and carefully examined every piece of my body.

Suddenly, a phone call broke the silence.

A panicked voice screamed through the speaker: "Caleb, you need to come! Vanessa collapsed!"

Caleb panicked, looking at his colleagues. "Vanessa is in trouble. I have to go."

Silas exploded. "Caleb, are you still a cop? Do you remember your duty to the dead?"

"Elena would have cursed you out for this."

Caleb shouted back, guilt-ridden. "Vanessa is my fiance now. I cannot abandon her."

"Elena was your girlfriend too! Why don't you care about her?"

"Get this straightDshe was the one who was stubborn and ran off five years ago!" Caleb screamed, his eyes bloodshot.

I was baffled. Why was he so convinced my disappearance was just me being dramatic?

Silas's eyes turned red. He stared at Caleb. "Did you ever think that one day, you would be the one dissecting her body?"

Caleb snapped. He shoved Silas away and roared, "What the hell are you talking about? Are you wishing her dead?"

Caleb left after all.

I followed him to the hospital.

Vanessa lay on the bed, thin and fragile, playing the victim perfectly.

Caleb fell for it every time. He tucked her in, carefully wiping her dry lips.

Vanessa seemed to be having a nightmare, murmuring, "Don't leave me."

She looked so fragile, like she would shatter at a touchDthe polar opposite of the strong, independent woman I was.

Caleb used to tell me not to be so headstrong, to be more like a woman.

I guessed this was his ideal type.

Caleb softened, leaning in to kiss her forehead.

But Vanessa woke up, throwing her arms around his neck. The kiss landed on the corner of his mouth instead.

They kissed with a desperate, lingering intensity.

It was excruciating to watch.

How could it not hurt? We had lived together for six years; he was the closest person to me in the world.

I closed my eyes, trying to block out the sounds, but they cut deep into my soul.

Their breathing grew heavy.

Caleb broke the kiss, gasping. "You are sick, don't play around."

He settled her back down. "Vanessa, what is wrong?"

Vanessa said nothing, instead covering her stomach with a blissful smile, looking up at him. "Caleb, I am pregnant."

Caleb's first reaction wasn't joy, but shock. "What did you say?"

"I said I am carrying our baby. You are going to be a father."

Caleb couldn't process it. "That is impossible. We used precautions."

Vanessa clutched his shirt, tears welling up. "Caleb, do you remember? That night at the hotel"

Caleb didn't answer. He paced back and forth, his hands trembling.

A draft blew through the window, catching a loose red thread on his wrist.

It was the luck charm my grandmother had bought for us.

Caleb froze, remembering where it came from.

He lunged to grab the thread, but Vanessa threw herself into his arms.

He shoved her aside, not caring that she hit the nightstand.

It was too late. The thread flew out the window, just like our love.

Vanessa glared at him with pure hatred. "Caleb, after all these years, are you still thinking about Elena?"

Caleb closed his eyes and breathed out, his voice devoid of emotion. "No."

The denial stung.

Vanessa didn't believe him. "If not, why do you still keep her things?"

"Why am I not good enough? I am your fiance now!"

Vanessa went on, "She has been gone for five years. She probably moved on and married some other man."

Caleb couldn't take it anymore. He roared, "Shut up!"

Vanessa was stunned.

Caleb realized he had lost his cool. He massaged his temples. "Sorry. I need some air."

He left her there, ignoring her pleas.

He didn't leave the building; he ran downstairs, dropping to his knees on the grass, searching for the thread.

He found it, but it was muddy and ruined beyond repair.

Even so, he wore it on his wrist with agonizing care.

I didn't get it. Caleb, you are about to marry someone elseDwhy are you still clinging to my memory?

Caleb didn't go home; he went to the cemetery.

He hadn't visited my parents' graves since I died.

He drank heavily in front of his own parents' headstones, then stumbled over to mine.

The grave was covered in flowersDfresh, with morning dew still on them.

He knelt down. "Uncle, Auntie, I am sorry. I failed to be with Elena."

He grumbled to himself, "Elena, I am not mad anymore. Why didn't you just come back and apologize? Why did you need to date other men just to spite me?"

His voice choked up. "Now it is over. Vanessa is pregnant. We are really finished."

I had no idea what he was talking about. I had been dead for five years! What boyfriends?

Suddenly, he froze, staring at a bunch of carnations.

They were vibrant and carefully selected.

But I hated carnations.

On Mother's Day, I had brought a bouquet of them to the hospital, only to find my parents had already passed away.

Caleb knew that.

He stood up, muttering in disbelief. "No this is impossible. Why would there be flowers here if Elena isn't the one sending them?"

It hit me. I had no family left. Who would be visiting my grave?

Someone was creating the illusion that I was still alive.

No wonder Caleb never suspected I was dead.

Caleb frantically pulled out his phone.

He checked my social media profile.

The last photo was from a week agoDa vacation on some tropical island.

It showed the backs of a couple, holding hands.

"Enjoying the summer breeze with you. You watch the scenery, I watch you."

My blood ran cold. I didn't recognize that man!

But the woman in the frame it looked like me!

Caleb scrolled through the mystery account. Every page filled him with more dread.

For three years, the updates never stopped, detailing my fake daily life.

Who was pretending to be me?

A name flashed in my mind: Li Mengran.

The last person I saw before I died.

Had she been using this account to weave a fake reality for three years?

Why would she do this?

Shouldn't she have wanted Caleb to forget about me?

I wanted to tell him the truth, but my hand passed right through him.

We were in different worlds now.

Caleb scrolled through the photos and videos. He finally found a clue in a recent clip.

In it, the "me" was smiling, and the camera zoomed in on my collarbone.

The caption read: "After the storm, we have each other. Day one of loving you."

I felt nauseated. My personality was too reserved for such melodramatic posts.

Caleb seemed to realize it too. He replayed the video, pausing it, zooming in.

On my real collarbone, there was a tiny red mole. He used to kiss it with such devotion.

In this video, that mole was missing.

Panic surged in his eyes.

His phone slipped from his hand, the screen shattering.

The man who had always been cold as ice was now shaking, his breathing ragged.

He scrambled to pick up the phone, but it slipped again.

He knelt there, broken, calling the station.

The phone connected. Caleb's voice was weak. "Silas don't touch the remains. I am coming back."