Chapter 5
Chris kept his word.
He worked with the police on the investigation into my death.
The autopsy results were finalized swiftly, determining my cause of death as a fatal fall from height.
My death had nothing to do with Chris.
DNA and facial recognition tests confirmed who I really was.
The police never told Chris, and he made it clear he didn't care who the victim was.
As for the cause of my fatal fall—whether it was suicide or foul play—the police had reached no final conclusion.
After I died, my memories got all hazy.
No matter how hard I tried to remember, I couldn't even recall what made me fall to my death.
The day after the results were released, my grandmother finally regained her lucidity.
She was deeply distressed, but still went to Chris's place to apologize face-to-face, admitting she'd falsely accused him.
Chris replied with sheer disgust and sarcasm, "I have already gathered evidence, contacted the police, and filed a formal lawsuit.
"The police are already en route to take you into custody.
"Isn't it a little too late to change your story now?"
My grandma looked completely lost, fumbling for words as she tried to explain, "I really wasn't thinking straight recently.
"Sorry for causing you so much trouble..."
Chris cut her off coldly. "Save it for the cops and jail."
My grandma looked desperate and terrified. "I can't go to jail. I still have to handle Natalie's funeral."
Chris finally lost all patience. He waved his hand, telling the housekeeper to kick my grandma out of the front yard.
The police arrived quickly and handcuffed my grandma.
I was nearly losing my mind. I rushed up to Chris, frantically clutching at his sleeve.
I pleaded with him to spare my grandma, but he just stood there, cold and unmoved.
All I could do was chase after the police car, powerless as I watched them lock my grandma up in the detention center.
My grandma, already in her eighties, got thrown in with a bunch of young people, all dressed in the same standard-issue detention jumpsuits.
She curled up in a corner, shaking all over, completely lost and powerless.
The two officers escorted her inside, then walked out.
Outside, one of the cops let out a heavy sigh.
"Her granddaughter dead, and now she's behind bars... What a cruel twist of fate."
"She really must've been out of it that night," the first cop sighed.
The other officer shook his head, sounding helpless. "There's nothing we can do.
"We did the psychological evaluation, but there weren't any signs of mental illness.
"And Mr. Grant is still adamant about pressing charges..."
As they walked away, they started talking about my case again.
"The forensic lab has been processing the male DNA recovered from the internal swabs for days now. We should have the suspect's identity confirmed soon."
"Once that's done, maybe we'll finally uncover the killer."
It hit me like a punch to the gut.
All those memories I'd lost—why I died, how it happened—suddenly flooded back into my mind.
It was like a tidal wave, crashing over me all at once.