After Died for Justice, He Lost Himself

Chapter 7

Two days later, I received another call from Uncle William.

He said Jennifer hadn't made it in the end. She was gone.

That girl who'd failed her undercover mission and been thrown to a pack of feral dogs by Zack was only 24.

Uncle William urged me not to show up no matter what.

But I couldn't stop myself. I disguised myself and snuck into the cemetery.

Even so, I only dared to stand far off and watch.

The area in front of the tombstone was crowded with people I used to know: Uncle William, Deputy Captain Jones, Nathan, my senior... They were all in uniform, saluting the tombstone one after another before bowing their heads in silent mourning.

A light rain began to fall.

Everything was shrouded in a grievous, somber atmosphere. I couldn't help wondering if they would mourn me like this too when I died.

Suddenly, a voice sounded behind me. "Luna Ziegler?"

I froze, turning around to meet Michael's eyes.

I hadn't expected him to come too. I tried to leave, but he grabbed my wrist. "What are you doing here? Come to admire your fiancé's handiwork?"

I opened my mouth, but no words would come out.

I could only yank my hand away from him forcefully. "Think whatever you want."

I'd walked two steps when something crossed my mind, and I stopped again. "Oh right, act like you never knew me from now on. My fiancé will get jealous."

A flicker of disgust rose in Michael's eyes. "Don't worry. I'm getting my travel documents sorted tomorrow, and I'll never bother you again."

My fingertips went stiff. Watching his receding back, I let the smile fade from my face, leaving only an unspeakable bitterness in my heart.

It's for the best.

Michael was always meant to have a brighter future.

I looked away and turned to leave in the other direction.

In the blink of an eye, the next day arrived.

Early in the morning, Zack sent a stylist and makeup artist to get me ready.

The wedding dress was simple yet luxurious. There wasn't a single spot on the whole dress where I could hide a weapon.

The wedding was set to start at 11. It was 10:30 now.

I knew that from the moment I stepped out the door until backup arrived, I would be fighting alone, my life or death up to fate.

"Ms. Ziegler, we should go now. Mr. Stephens is already waiting for you at the church."

I nodded and walked out.

Soon, the car arrived at the old church halfway up the mountain.

The terrain here is rugged, making the location a logistical fortress. The moment I learned that Zack had chosen this place for the wedding, I asked Uncle William to work out an encirclement plan immediately.

I had no idea where Uncle William and my colleagues were at that moment.

I got out of the car. Zack, dressed in a suit, was waiting for me at the church entrance.

"You look very handsome today." I pulled at the corners of my mouth with all my might, trying to make my smile look less stiff.

He walked over, took my hand, and led me onto the red carpet.

I scanned the guest seats on both sides. Every single face in the crowd belonged on a most-wanted registry.

Beneath their tailored jackets, I could track the unmistakable prints of concealed firearms that I knew all too well.

I clenched my fists, telling myself to stay calm.

When we reached the priest, Zack gestured for the ceremony to begin.

The priest raised the Bible. "Mr. Stephens, do you take Ms. Ziegler beside you as your lawful wife and stay by her side until old age, never leaving each other, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health?"

Zack did not answer. He looked at me with a smile. "Luna, will you live and die with me?"

In that moment, I remembered the oath I had once sworn under the national flag.

Loyal to the country, loyal to the people.

I flipped my hand over and seized Zack's wrist. "Zack Stephens, do you remember the names Logan Ziegler and Charles Ziegler?"

Zack looked confused.

I smiled and hugged him tightly. "They are my father and my elder brother. You killed both of them!"

Suddenly, a commotion broke out outside.

One of his men burst in. "We're surrounded!"

Everything clicked for Zack. He grinned grimly. "Well, look at that... another rat in the house."

The church doors were flung open, and countless police officers rushed in.

"Freeze! Put your hands up!"

Before the words finished, there was a loud "Bang!"

Zack pulled the trigger.

*****

When Michael rushed back to the hospital from the embassy, the whole hospital was in complete chaos.

He stopped a hurrying nurse. "What's going on?"

"The police were on a mission and had a massive shootout with a criminal gang. A lot of people died at the scene!" the nurse spoke quickly.

"Dr. Jacobs, please prepare for surgery right away. There is an organ donor on the list of injured people from this incident. She just lost life support, and her organs are a match for another officer. We need to perform the organ transplant surgery immediately!"

The nurse handed Michael a voluntary organ donation form.

At the same time, she pointed to an emergency stretcher being wheeled over from behind. "That's the donor over there."

Michael took the form and strode directly toward the operating room. "Alright. Prepare for surgery."

The nurse pushed the emergency stretcher first, brushing past Michael.

The very moment they passed each other, a gust of wind from the main entrance lifted a corner of the sheet covering the stretcher.

A pale hand slipped out from beneath the canvas from under the white cloth.

A familiar red pendant fell to the floor, just as Michael stepped right over it.

The next second, the TV in the hospital corridor started broadcasting an announcement.

A black-and-white photograph appeared on the screen—

"The arrest operation, Thunderbolt, has now concluded. Police undercover Luna Ziegler was fatally shot during the operation.

"As she has no surviving immediate family, her photograph will be permanently included in the police honor roll."

"Upon investigation, the deceased Logan Ziegler and Charles Ziegler, father and son, were distinguished undercover officers with the police force who made decisive contributions to solving the case before their heroic sacrifice."

"We hereby solemnly clear their names, reinstate all their honors, and hold them up as permanent examples for all to follow!"