Chapter 9

A young officer picked up a blood-soaked sheet of paper from the corner. "Mr. Cooper! This looks like—" Ethan snatched it from him. It was a copy of a hospital diagnosis report. Severe cardiac damage. Life expectancy was less than three years. The date was a month ago. Iris had known all along. She knew she might only have three years left, yet she still clung to the hope that she could use that time to recover, put on a wedding gown, and walk up to him. The paper crumpled in his fist. His fingers trembled as he smoothed it out again. Between the creases, the words "become his most beautiful bride" were smeared beyond recognition by blood. Police lights flashed, and voices filled the air outside the plant. The world kept revolving, and justice was served. Meanwhile, he stood beside the blood she had left behind, realizing for the first time that some things, once broken, could never be put back together. It was raining cats and dogs. He lowered his head and pressed the bloodstaine