The icy grip of the morgue sent a shudder coursing through Quinn''s body, her breath hitching as the reality of Valerie''s demise in a fire set in.


    The haunting imagery of what the once vibrant Valerie must now resemble pervaded her thoughts, refusing to recede.


    Upon reaching the entrance, Quinn''s gaze swept over the room, identifying several familiar faces. Among them was the grieving husband, Valerie''s spouse.


    A woman''s wails echoed the loudest, her tear-streaked face buried in the husband''s shoulder. This was Valerie''s biological mother, who had hastened back from another state upon receiving the dreadful news.


    The remaining faces belonged to Valerie''s inws, their distress palpable. Their sorrow was not solely due to their daughter-inw''s untimely passing, but also the loss of their two grandchildren.


    Adjacent to Valerie''s body, two smaller figuresy shrouded in white sheets, the outlines of their tiny forms discernible beneath the stark fabric.No sooner had Wayne stepped inside than the grief-stricken woman lunged at him, her hands iling in a frenzy of despair.


    "You bastard, Wayne! Return my daughter to me! How could you what kind of father fails to protect his own child?!"Taken aback by his ex-wife''s outburst, Wayne pushed her away, his voiceced with annoyance, "Enough!"


    The woman stumbled, saved from a fall only by her daughter''s husband''s timely intervention. Her eyes, wide with disbelief, filled with fresh tears.


    "Wayne! Your daughter is dead, and you still shove me? Are you involved in her death?""You murderer, worse than an animal, not even sparing your own child..."With veins pulsating on his forehead, Wayne red at her.


    "Silence! I mourn Valerie too, but I won''t tolerate your baseless usations!""Do you believe causing a scene here will bring her back to life?"


    The husband, in an attempt to diffuse the escting tension, interjected, "Mom, please, maintain yourposure. The true nature of this tragedy is still unknown, and the real culprit is likely reveling in our misery from some hidden corner.""We shouldn''t grant the enemy the satisfaction of witnessing our suffering."


    His words brought a fleeting moment of tranquility to the distraught mother, but the image of her daughter''s gruesome death soon reignited her sobs.Too agitated to further engage with his ex-wife, Wayne approached the covered bodies, his courage wavering at the prospect of unveiling them.


    The woman''s voice dripped with icy sarcasm, "What''s the matter, Wayne? Can''t bear to look at your own daughter? Your cowardice makes itughable to think you can apprehend the murderer!"Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Stung by her taunt, Wayne gritted his teeth and yanked back the white sheet.


    The sight of the lifeless bodies sent a wave of nausea through Quinn, causing her to spin around and seek sce in Alexander''s embrace, unable to stomach the sight. Alexander''s arms enveloped her, his gentle pats on her back offeringfort, his gaze fixed on the charred remains.


    The body was a horrific sight, burnt beyond recognition, resembling the ckened crust of a disastrously cooked pork roast.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Wayne''s stomach roiled, his gag reflex threatening to betray him, but he managed to maintain hisposure.


    The woman, confronted with the ghastly state of her daughter, broke down, her sobs uncontroble, teetering on the brink of fainting in her overwhelming grief.Evan averted his gaze, unable to bear the horrific transformation of his wife, his life partner.


    His face, although devoid of tears, was a canvas of deep-seated agony.After silently observing for a moment, Alexander gently guided Quinn away from the distressing scene. Shivering uncontrobly, whether from the biting cold or the enveloping fear, Quinn felt theforting warmth of Alexander''s palm against her icy fingers.


    Once ensconced in the car, Alexander cranked up the heater to its maximum, but Quinn remained huddled, her arms wrapped tight around herself, her body shaking violently. His hand, long and slender, tenderly caressed her cheek as he softly reassured her, "Don''t be afraid. Remember their torment of you."


    His words startled Quinn, causing her to turn towards him. Hisposure remained unbroken, but the shadows cast by the streaming streetlights revealed a chilling indifference in his eyes."Feels like justice, doesn''t it?" he murmured.The coldness in his voice was all-epassing, seeping into her pores, intensifying her tremors.