Morning arrived beneath a sky still heavy with rain. The news had spread across the country overnight. Every television station carried the same headline:

Billionaire CEO Anthony Smith Mourns Wife After Tragic Police Accident.

Outside Smith Global Headquarters, reporters had gathered long before sunrise. Camera flashes lit up the entrance every few seconds. No one noticed the black luxury SUV gliding silently through the gates.

The moment Anthony Smith stepped out, microphones were thrust towards him.

"Mr. Smith!"

"Is it true your wife has died?"

"Do you have a statement?"

"Did you know she was being transferred?"

Anthony didn't answer immediately, his suit was black, his tie was black, even the dark circles beneath his eyes looked convincing.

For several long seconds, he simply stood there, staring at the ground. When he finally spoke, his voice was barely above a whisper.

"I've lost everything."

A reporter wiped tears from her eyes, another lowered his camera.

Anthony looked broken. No... He looked destroyed.

"I know many people believe terrible things about my wife." His voice cracked. "But Annabel wasn't a monster." He paused, struggling to continue. "She was sick."

The crowd fell completely silent.

Anthony closed his eyes. "I tried to help her." He swallowed hard. "I prayed she'd get better."

Another pause.

"I never imagined I'd lose her like this." His shoulders trembled.

"I only ask one thing."

He slowly looked into the sea of cameras.

"Please..."

"Let my wife rest in peace."

The silence that followed was deafening. Not a single reporter asked another question.

By the time Anthony disappeared inside the building, half the journalists outside were openly crying.

Every major news outlet carried the same story within the hour.

A Husband's Heartbreak.

Anthony Smith Breaks Silence.

CEO Loses Wife in Tragic Accident.

Across the city, people left flowers outside the gates of Smith Manor. They left candles, letters, photographs, some prayed, some cried, others condemned the police for transporting Annabel during such dangerous weather.

The internet exploded with sympathy for Anthony, no one questioned his story, no one questioned why the world's youngest billionaire had survived one night...

Only to lose his wife the next.

...

Meanwhile...

Inside a quiet office at the police station... The detective stood alone. The television mounted on the wall replayed Anthony's interview for the fifth time.

He watched without blinking; every pause, every tear, every carefully chosen word. Then he reached for the remote and switched the television off.

The room became silent.

A soft knock interrupted his thoughts.

"Sir?"

A young officer stepped inside.

"Come in."

"The case file..."

He hesitated. "What about it?"

"The Commissioner has ordered us to close everything relating to last night's transport accident."

The detective frowned. "So soon?"

"Yes, sir." The young officer shifted uneasily. "They said there'll be an internal review, but... we're not to discuss the case with anyone."

The detective nodded slowly. "I understand."

The officer turned to leave, then stopped.

"Sir..."

"Yes?"

"There was something else."

"What is it?"

"The body recovered from Smith Manor..."

The detective looked up.

"What about it?"

The young officer lowered his voice.

"I don't think I saw the pathologist sign for it."

For the first time that morning... The detective's expression changed, only slightly, only for a heartbeat... Then it disappeared.

"You're mistaken."

"...Am I?"

The detective held his gaze. "Go home, Officer."

The younger man hesitated.

"Get some rest."

"...Yes, sir."

The office door closed. The detective remained standing in complete silence.

Outside the window...

Rain began falling once again.