Swamp Murder

Swamp Murder. 41

Zhan's pov

I still can't believe how I ended up here. Just days ago, I was filled with excitement, stepping onto new soil with my husband and family, ready to start fresh. The air smelled different, crisper, promising. The thought of exploring new places, building a home, and making memories filled me with warmth.

I had imagined lazy mornings with Wang, waking up to sunlight streaming through our bedroom window. I pictured Mia running through the house, her laughter bouncing off the walls, Ji Li, and Grandma finally relaxing without worry. It was supposed to be perfect a new beginning, a dream turned reality.

But instead of unpacking and celebrating, I found myself here, in a cold, sterile police station, the weight of injustice pressing down on me. The joy of relocation now felt distant, replaced by a gnawing dread.

The sound of metal clanking against metal pulled me from my thoughts. I looked up as the officer unlocked my cell door, his face expressionless.

"Someone's here to see you," he said, stepping aside.

My heart leaped. Wang. It had to be him. He must have found a way to get me out. I quickly stood, smoothing down my shirt as I prepared to see the one person who could bring me comfort in this nightmare.

But the moment I stepped forward, my breath hitched. It wasn't Wang.

Standing just outside the cell was his mother, her sharp gaze scanning me from head to toe. Beside her stood a man in a crisp suit, his presence screaming authority. A lawyer, I suppose.

Disappointment crashed into me like a wave, but I masked it quickly. I squared my shoulders, swallowed the lump forming in my throat and forced myself to stay calm. "Where's Wang?" I asked, my voice strained with worry.

His mother sighed, her stern expression softening for a brief moment. "Good evening to you too Zhan. He's in the hospital," she said.

My heart stopped. "What?" My voice cracked.

"He fainted," she continued. "They refused to let him see you, and his body just... gave out. He's exhausted, hasn't eaten, hasn't slept."

The words slammed into me like a truck. My chest tightened, and a sharp pain stabbed at my heart. Wang. My Wang. He was suffering because of me. I wanted to scream, to punch something, to break down completely, but I clenched my fists, forcing back the tears that burned my eyes.

We are supposed to protect each other, to keep each other safe. And yet here I was, locked in a cell while he collapsed from stress and heartbreak. The thought of him lying weak in a hospital bed shattered me.

"Come with us," his mother said, her voice gentler than before. "Let's talk in private."

I barely registered myself nodding as I followed them. The officer led us to a small office, far from the cold, suffocating walls of my cell.

Wang's mother gestured for me to sit, and to my surprise, she reached out, squeezing my hand lightly. There was no accusation in her eyes, no blame just quiet concern.

"Tell me everything," she said, her tone motherly yet firm. "Don't leave anything out."

I hesitated for only a second before exhaling shakily. Wang had told me not to talk to anyone, not to trust easily. But here she was, sitting across from me, her gaze warm yet firm, nothing like the woman who once despised me.

"This is Lawyer Fengmian," she said gently. "He is our family lawyer, and he is here to help you."

I blinked, my mind struggling to catch up. Help me?