CHAPTER 2: THE WOMAN WHO WASN'T DEAD
Chaos erupted.
Several guests ran for the doors.
Others stood frozen in shock.
Inside the damaged casket, Olivia Bennett slowly opened her eyes.
Weak.
Confused.
But alive.
The paramedics stationed outside the funeral immediately rushed in.
Within minutes they lifted her onto a stretcher.
Doctors would later discover a catastrophic mistake.
Olivia had suffered an extremely rare medical condition that slowed her breathing and heartbeat to nearly undetectable levels.
The local coroner had declared her dead.
And nobody questioned it.
Nobody except Clara.
Hours later, at the hospital, Olivia finally regained full consciousness.
The first person she asked for wasn't her husband.
It wasn't her parents.
It was Clara.
When the sisters were finally alone, Olivia reached for her hand.
"You said you lied."
Clara immediately broke down.
Months earlier, Olivia had come to her terrified.
She believed someone was stealing money from the family business.
She suspected Ethan.
But Clara convinced her she was imagining things.
"You told me I was paranoid," Olivia whispered.
"I know."
Tears rolled down Clara's face.
"I'm sorry."
Olivia squeezed her hand.
Then quietly asked a question.
"Where's Ethan?"
May you like
The room fell silent.
Because nobody had seen him since the funeral.
