Chapter 3

As soon as the words fell, a loud crash sounded from Evelyn's room.

Her expression changed and she threatened me, saying, "Janessa, don't try anything funny! When Johnny comes back, he won't let you off!"

Just like last night, I pretended not to hear a word.

Evelyn shot me a fierce glare and slammed the door shut.

The sounds of arguing in the room reached my ears.

I heard that the household registration was canceled, and Johnny finally lost his composure.

But there was no way I'd let him find me.

He disappeared for three months; it would be reasonable if I vanished for a few days.

I took the suitcase I had packed in advance and asked Amelie to book a seven-day hotel for me using her ID card.

This week, I spent my time either preparing funeral supplies or staying holed up in the hotel.

When Amelie came to see me, she looked truly delighted by my misfortune.

She said, "I heard someone's been going crazy looking for you, nearly turning all of Honio City upside down."

I glanced at the missing person notice on TV and curled my lips. "So what if he turns it upside down? If I don't want him to find me, he can't. Back then, he said he'd only show up once I'd gone crazy searching for him. What's got him so impatient now?"

"Serves them right. I really can't understand why there are such beasts in this world!"

Her scolding grew more intense, so I quickly stopped her. "Stop arguing. Today is my husband's funeral. We should be mourning."

Saying that, I took out my makeup bag and covered my flushed cheeks with cosmetics, transforming myself into someone who looked deeply heartbroken.

After confirming with my friend that this look did make me appear worn out, the two of us headed to the funeral together.

On the way, I handed the flash drive containing the video showing Johnny was still alive to Amelie and told her to play it following my instructions.

Only after finishing this did I send the funeral location to everyone.

The first to arrive was Bently. He got out of his car in a black suit, walked up briskly, and took a white silk flower from me, attaching it to his sleeve before solemnly offering his condolences.

Soon after came a group of relatives and friends who didn't know the truth.

Their grief was genuine, which made my heart ache.

Johnny, you faked your disappearance and broke so many hearts.

You must return everything little by little today.

Then his so-called friends arrived.

Their expressions grew darker one after another, and their hands trembled a bit as they took the artificial flowers from me.

Finally, one of them pulled me aside.

"Janessa! Stop this now! Johnny isn't dead at all! He's been desperately searching for you these days! Haven't you seen the missing person announcement on TV?"

I blinked and forced out tears with difficulty.

I said, "Don't comfort me; that missing person notice was posted by Evelyn.

"The dead can't come back to life. I won't keep hoping that he's still alive."

He wanted to say something more, but I quickly signaled Amelie, who hurriedly pulled him down to sit.

Seeing that almost everyone had arrived, I stepped onto the stage to adjust the microphone.

"Thank you all for coming to my late husband's funeral despite your busy schedules..."

Before I could finish, a piercing scream interrupted me.

"Janessa! Are you out of your mind? I told you Johnny isn't dead!"

Evelyn stood at the doorway, glaring fiercely at me.

"Are you really his wife? Johnny's been missing for three months. You haven't confirmed his death, and you're holding his funeral! I won't allow it!"

I looked behind her, but there was no sign of Johnny.

Even now, Johnny refused to come out on his own.

I looked down at Evelyn and said coldly, "You won't allow it? What gives you the right? As you said, I'm his wife."

Evelyn widened her eyes, tears welling up in them. "How can you be so heartless? Johnny loves you with all his heart, and you declare he's dead so easily!

"What if he's not dead?"

My eyes fell on the marks still visible on her neck, and I smiled. "Even if he's alive, why should I waste my effort on a man who cheated on me?"

After saying this, I asked someone to take Evelyn aside and continued to host the funeral.

Just as I was about to speak, a thin, disheveled person appeared at the doorway.

Standing under the archway, he choked up and called out, "Honey, I'm not dead. I'm back."

Johnny ran toward me, pulled me into his arms, and called my name in a trembling voice.

"Janessa, you have no idea how much I missed you."

"I fell while skiing that day and fractured several bones. Luckily, a kind person took me to the hospital, and it took three months of recovery before I could see you.

"I'm not dead. See, I'm perfectly fine!"