A Song of Ice and Fire
Chapter 1
My foster sister had me violated, and I went to my lawyer boyfriend, Daniel, for help, only to have him send me to prison.
Disgust was all over Daniel’s face when he looked at me.
“You did that to your sister? You’re a monster!”
I was sentenced to life imprisonment, and my foster sister framed me again inside, leading to my death.
He didn’t even blink when he heard of my death.
After death, my spirit lingered, refusing to leave Daniel.
I watched him marry her, saw his usually cold features soften for the first time.
“Katie, your foster sister hated you, wronged you. I’ll repay her tenfold for what she did.”
He put on her the ring that was meant for me.
And for her, he had my remains destroyed.
Finally, my heart turned to ashes, and I found the Grim Reaper.
“My obsession is gone. Let me fade away in seven days.”
The Grim Reaper agreed. My spirit would be collected in seven days.
During those seven days, I tormented myself watching Daniel’s happy life.
Today was Daniel and Katie’s anniversary.
They married after I died, three years ago now.
He prepared a candlelit dinner for Katie.
Her wavy hair fell onto her delicate collarbone, gleaming under the warm light.
Daniel was mesmerized.
“What’s wrong?” Katie’s lips curved upwards. “Something on my face?”
Daniel shook his head.
As he was about to speak, a familiar name appeared on the TV.
Then, a face strikingly similar to Katie’s appeared on the news.
“Three years ago, actress Kaylee Smith, convicted of assault, was recently re-interred at South Mountain Cemetery. The once-famous actress committed suicide in prison, a tragic end…”
Katie shuddered, her fork clattering onto her plate.
Her face went pale.
She screamed, her voice trembling, “Turn it off!”
Daniel frowned and switched off the TV.
He went to Katie, seeing her trembling, her nails digging into her palm.
“That dream again?”
He asked softly, putting his hand on her shoulder.
“She’s back, Daniel. I hear my sister’s cries every night. She wants revenge…” Katie breathed heavily, her voice choked with sobs, “But she’s the one who did wrong, she ruined me…”
Daniel was silent for a moment, then called someone.
“Director Lee, about Kaylee Smith’s grave at South Mountain Cemetery…” his voice was chillingly calm, “I need a favor.”
He hung up and hugged Katie.
“Don’t be afraid, I’ll have her ashes taken care of. She can’t bother us anymore.”
Katie looked up, tears ruining her makeup. But, unseen by Daniel, a fleeting smile touched her lips.
I floated above South Mountain Cemetery, watching two workers roughly open my urn.
It was a plain wooden urn, already decaying.
“This cheap thing? They say Kaylee Smith was rich, why didn’t she get a better urn?”
The urn opened; a gust of wind scattered the ashes.
Like smoke, my existence was erased.
A sharp pain pierced my soul as the ashes blew away.
Souls can feel pain, I realized.
I muttered, “Daniel, you even want to steal my last vestige of existence?”
My voice was lost in the wind.
For years, I watched Daniel’s career flourish, saw him give Katie the ring meant for me, saw my name become tabloid fodder.
Everyone called me a crazy killer.
Now, they wouldn’t even leave my ashes alone.
Suddenly, the workers found something.
A videotape… the nightmare I desperately tried to forget.
“This could be Kaylee Smith’s murder evidence! Let’s see!”
My soul screamed, “Don’t watch it! Don’t you dare!”
In the cemetery office, the workers played the tape.
Static flickered, then a horrifying scene appeared—
A young woman was held down by masked men on a dirty concrete floor, her clothes torn, her body covered in blood.
The men laughed, slashing her with knives.
Her screams pierced the office.
“Daniel, help me, please, help me…”
She called his name repeatedly.
The two workers went pale.
It wasn’t murder evidence; it was a horrific crime.
More shockingly, the woman was Kaylee Smith, the alleged killer.
An hour later, Daniel’s car pulled up.
He stepped out of his black Mercedes, impeccably dressed, as perfect as always.
I once loved him in a suit.
When I wasn’t filming, I’d sneak into the law school to attend his lectures. His sharp demeanor captivated me.
Now, I only felt a dull ache.
“What’s this?”
He frowned, taking the tape.
The workers exchanged glances. “Mr. Reynolds, we found it under Ms. Smith’s urn.”
“Just throw it away, it’s a waste of my time.”
One worker stopped him, his voice indignant.
“Mr. Reynolds, you should see this…”
Daniel’s brow furrowed. “Don’t waste my time!”
The office TV showed static. Then, the dirty warehouse floor, masked men, and… me.
“Daniel, please, help me…”
Daniel recoiled.
He stared at the screen, his expression incredulous.
I saw the reflection in his eyes—the violated woman was me, not Katie.
I closed my eyes.
My past humiliation was finally revealed to him.
“Impossible!” Daniel almost shouted. “This video is fake!”
The workers jumped. “Mr. Reynolds, but it looks so real…”
Daniel ignored them, rewinding the tape, watching it at double speed.
“Pause!” he commanded, “Zoom in here.”
Daniel examined the screen, searching for any sign of forgery—
Editing, lighting, sound…
His expression worsened with each check.
The footage was seamless, with no editing marks.
The reflections in my eyes matched the warehouse perfectly, ruling out AI face-swapping.
“This… this is impossible.” Daniel stepped back, “It was Katie… Katie’s arm was slashed, she was so pitiful in the hospital, Kaylee Smith was the mastermind!”
Daniel took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.
“I’ll take this tape.” His voice regained its authority. “Don’t tell anyone, especially my wife. Understand?”
The workers nodded.
I followed Daniel to his car.
He sat, not starting the engine, rubbing the tape.
“Why…” he murmured, “If you were innocent, why didn’t you say anything?”
Even with this irrefutable evidence, he still doubted the video’s authenticity.
I scoffed inwardly.
“I said it countless times, but you never believed me…”
Daniel never believed me once.
Then, he made a call.
“Colin, I need you to analyze something.”
We returned home.
Katie was arranging flowers. She smiled at Daniel.
“Daniel, you’re back. It’s Dad’s birthday, I booked a banquet hall at the Peninsula Hotel, let’s go together.”
She stopped, looking at the bag in his hand.
“Where were you? You look awful.”
“Nothing, work.”
Daniel avoided her gaze, putting the bag in his study.
“Is that recent death penalty case stressing you?”
“Yeah.” Daniel agreed, “The evidence is complex.”
“You’re the best criminal lawyer, Kaylee’s lawyer almost got her acquitted, you stood up for me, these small cases won’t bother you.”
Daniel forced a smile. “Let’s go see Mom and Dad.”
Before leaving, his gaze drifted to the study, his eyes flickering.
…
The car stopped at the Peninsula Hotel.
Daniel used smoking as an excuse, letting Katie go upstairs first.
A woman in a red dress came out of the hotel.
She stopped when she saw Daniel.
“Daniel?” The woman’s voice rose. “Daniel, it’s really you.”
Daniel frowned, not recognizing her.
“I’m Susan,” she sneered. “Kaylee Smith’s friend.”
I drifted to Susan, wanting to hug her.
She was the only one who came to my funeral.
She arranged for my urn to be buried in South Mountain Cemetery. Giving me a final resting place.
Susan was my best friend. I felt so sorry for her.
She wanted me to live, but I couldn’t even manage that.
Daniel’s memory returned.
He’d seen Susan in court.
Susan had tried to testify for me, but Daniel dismissed her testimony, saying their close relationship made it unreliable.
“Ms. Miller,” Daniel maintained his professional composure, “You don’t need to be hostile. I simply followed the law.”
“Law?” Susan’s laughter was sharp. “Your ‘law’ meant Kaylee was beaten to death in prison? She died so tragically, and where were you then?”
Her voice grew louder, drawing attention.
“Do you know how horribly she died? Do you know she was trying to clear her name till the end? You know nothing. So don’t act like a righteous man!”
Daniel was stunned. He had no answer.
He didn’t follow up on my case after the verdict.
He didn’t even blink when he heard of my death.
“Leave.” Susan pushed him away, looking at him with disgust. “Today’s Kaylee’s memorial. She loved the Peninsula Hotel’s rose cakes. Oh, you probably didn’t even know that.”
Daniel was stunned, speechless. He truly knew nothing.
“The videotape, I still haven’t found it.” Susan’s voice was somber, “Kaylee, am I too useless?”
Daniel’s phone rang. It was Colin from the lab.
The shrill ringtone echoed in the silent cemetery.
Susan turned, seeing Daniel.
Her expression turned angry. “Daniel, what do you want?!”
Daniel’s voice was urgent. “The tape, the tape about Kaylee’s attack?”
Susan’s face changed. “Didn’t you swear in court it was Katie? Did you see the tape?! I reported it many times, but the police found nothing… It’s the only evidence of Kaylee’s injuries!”
Daniel shuddered.
Susan pressed on. “Where did you see it, give it to me!”
Daniel was speechless.
His gaze fell on my tombstone—
He choked out three words.
“I’m sorry.” His eyes were red. “The tape was in Kaylee’s urn.”
Susan’s heart sank. She turned away from my grave. The grave was empty.
Susan laughed. Then she cried.
“Reduced to ashes… Kaylee, the man you loved most, reduced you to ashes…” Susan’s tears flowed, her voice near hysterical, “Daniel, how could you…”
Daniel’s eyes were red, repeating sorry.
Perhaps then, a hint of remorse touched his heart.
The phone rang again. Colin told him the truth.
