A week later, the door to the Song Family Manor was knocked on again. When Sophia Huang opened it and saw Captain Lane standing there once more, a flicker of irritation crossed her beautiful face.
"You again? We made it very clear—we're done with cases. No more involvement..."
But the moment the door swung wider, she froze.
The face staring back at her was haggard beyond recognition.
In his hands, he cradled a neatly folded police uniform and cap.
Most telling of all: the gleaming gold badge had been removed from the hat.
"Captain... what is this?"
Sophia suddenly understood. Without another word, she ushered him inside.
That badge was the symbol of a police officer's lifelong duty—to protect and serve. In the department, there was an unspoken rule: as long as the badge stayed pinned to the cap, the officer carried that responsibility forever.
If the badge ever came off the hat, there were only two possibilities.
One: the officer had betrayed everything the badge stood for and no longer deserved to wear it.
Two: the officer was dead.
At that moment, Alex Song—lounging in his recliner with a newspaper—shot to his feet. A chill of foreboding hit him like ice water. He took one look at Lane's heavy steps and trembling frame, and before a single word was spoken, Alex was shaking like a leaf.
"Lily... she's gone."
[Today's explosive update—unlock three chapters for just $1! An enraged Alex Song is about to get serious!]
"Lily Hopper? No way. She's so young. Just last week she was..."
Sophia couldn't believe her ears. But what came next hit even harder.
Lily had been Captain Lane's daughter.
To avoid any appearance of favoritism, Lane had never acknowledged their relationship at work. He never gave her special treatment—in fact, he was the strictest, most demanding supervisor she had.
He'd never shown her softness, always telling himself: Once she's fully grown, once I retire, then I can finally be the gentle father she deserves.
But now... that chance was gone forever.
The thought shattered him. Tears streamed down his face uncontrollably.
"It's my fault. I never should have let her become a cop. I..."
This tough, unbreakable detective captain—the man who'd stared down killers without flinching—collapsed into sobs.
Alex clutched his chest and staggered back three steps. Brilliant as he was, he'd already pieced it together.
Back in the garden that day, he'd deliberately dropped hints about the investigation while watering the plants—knowing Lane might miss them, but hoping the sharp, intuitive young officer would catch on.
And she had.
"No... it's me. I got her killed."
Guilt crashed over Alex like a tidal wave. He couldn't even look at the uniform in Lane's arms.
Lane wiped his face roughly and pulled out a small sticky note, pressing it into Alex's hand.
Scrawled in Lily's handwriting:
"Dad, I'm going after the truth. If I don't come back, please ask Brother Alex to avenge me."
Even as he fought to hold himself together, Lane's tears broke free again.
"I'm not a good father. She died, and only then did I find this note stuck to the fridge at home."
"All my life I've done right by the badge, by justice, by everyone... except her."
"Detective Song... I'm begging you. Please..."
Before he could finish, Lane dropped to his knees with a heavy thud, clutching the uniform to his chest.
For the first time in a life dedicated to justice, this proud man was using personal emotion to plead—because this was his beloved daughter.
He could no longer give her the gentle retirement years he'd promised. So he would give everything to avenge her.
"Captain!"
Sophia—whom Lane had mentored from rookie to chief—couldn't bear to see him like this. She rushed forward with Alex to help him up.
But Lane refused to rise. He'd thrown away his pride, didn't care if it looked like emotional blackmail or shamelessness.
As long as Alex agreed to come out of retirement and bring Lily's killer to justice, Lane was ready to die right there if needed.
Alex finally understood the depth of Lane's resolve. His hand trembled as he pulled it back, turned away, and drew a long, shaky breath.
Images flooded his mind: that bright, shy girl from their first meeting in the garden—radiant, blushing under the sunlight.
Now all that remained was a single lonely badge.
This wasn't how her story was supposed to end...
But he'd made a promise to someone: no office, no official role, stay safe and hidden. Breaking it would come at a cost he couldn't pay.
Suddenly, the blood-red room flashed in his vision—rows of mutilated corpses, nightmare whispers—threatening to drag him under.
In that split-second near-collapse, a pair of gentle hands steadied him. A familiar voice spoke softly:
"Honey... whatever you decide, I'm with you."
He turned. Sophia's radiant face smiled at him—unwavering support.
Her unconditional love tipped the scales in his heart just a little more.
Alex wrestled with himself, veins bulging on the backs of his hands as he fought the inner storm. He still couldn't bring himself to nod.
Sophia didn't want to pressure him. She gently helped Lane to his feet.
Lane's voice cracked, retreating strategically:
"I pushed too hard. But Lily's biggest wish—her one dream—was to hear you give a lecture on human autopsy. To see those legendary forensic techniques up close. She graduated, joined the force... and then you retired."
"So... could you at least do that much? Give her one final lesson—as a way to honor her wish? That shouldn't break any rules, right?"
From begging Alex to come out of retirement, to asking him to investigate, to now settling for just one autopsy demonstration—Lane was methodically prying at Alex's resolve.
A long silence stretched. Lane's eyes had gone dead, hope drained away.
Then Alex turned sharply. Sunlight poured over him like armor, transforming the quiet gardener into a warrior stepping out of darkness.
"Alright. Lily's body... I'll examine it myself."
In that instant, the flower-tender's gaze burned with seven parts cold, lethal fury.