Chapter 3
† 288 Vouchers
The shouting inside the room reached my ears.
John must’ve heard his identity record was canceled-he finally snapped.
But there was no way I was letting him find me.
He disappeared for three months. A few days of my vanishing wasn’t too much to ask.
I grabbed my pre-packed suitcase and asked my best friend to book a hotel under her ID, seven days.
I spent those days either buying funeral supplies or hiding in that hotel.
When my best friend came to visit, she looked gleeful.
“Word is someone’s gone mad looking for you. About to tear all of Los Angeles apart.”
I glanced at the missing person ad on TV and smirked. “So what if he does? If I don’t want to be found, he won’t find me. Didn’t he say back then he’d only show up after I’d lost my mind searching? What, can’t hold back now?”
“Serves him right! I swear, what kind of monster even does that?”
She kept cursing, getting more worked up. I quickly stopped her. “Don’t. Today’s my husband’s funeral. I should be grieving.”
I pulled out my makeup bag, covered my flushed skin with foundation, and painted on a look of grief.
After confirming with her that I looked convincingly wrecked, we headed to the venue together.
On the way, I handed her a USB with the video proof that John was alive. I told her when to play it-she’d follow my signal.
Only after everything was in place did I send out the funeral location to everyone.
Harvey arrived first, dressed in a black suit. He walked straight up to me, took the ribbon, and pinned it on his chest, murmuring a solemn, “My condolences.”
Next came a stream of clueless relatives and friends.
Their grief was real. My heart ached just watching.
“John, you faked your disappearance. Do you know how many people you hurt?
“Today, you’ll pay for it-bit by bit,” I said inwardly.
Then came his so-called buddies.
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Chapter 3
288 Vouchers
Each one looked worse than the last. Their hands were shaking as they took the ribbons from me.
Finally, one of them pulled me aside.
“Wennie! You have to stop this! John’s not dead! He’s been losing his mind looking for you! Haven’t you seen the missing person ads on TV?”
I blinked slowly and forced out two tears.
“Don’t comfort me. I know-Nancy posted that missing person ad.
“The dead don’t come back. I’m done hoping he’s alive.”
He tried to say something else, but I shot my best friend a look. She quickly pulled him to a seat
Once the place was full, I stepped up to the mic.
“Thank you all for coming to my late husband’s funeral…”
Before I could finish, a scream cut through the air.
“Wennie! Are you insane? I told you John isn’t dead!”
Nancy stood at the entrance, eyes sharp and hateful.
“Are you even really his wife? He’s only been missing for three months! No body, no nothing-and you’re holding a funeral? I won’t allow it!”
I looked behind her. No sign of John.
Even now, he wouldn’t show himself.
I looked down at her, voice cold. “You won’t allow it? Who are you to say that? You said it yourself-I’m his wife.”
Her eyes widened, tears welling up. “How can you be so cruel? John loved you so much, and you just declared him dead like it’s nothing?
“What if he’s still alive?”
My eyes dropped to the marks still visible on her neck. I smiled and said, “Even if he is, a cheating man isn’t worth my time.”
With that, I had someone pull her aside and resume the funeral.
Just as I opened my mouth to speak, a disheveled, thin man appeared at the door.
He choked out, “I’m not dead, honey. I’m back.”
