“Show me,” Ethan demanded, gripping the coffin lid.
And the moment he opened it, everything changed.
❖ She Was Warm
The lid creaked open softly. Ethan leaned over, expecting the cold stiffness of death.
Instead, he felt something else.
Her skin wasn’t cold.
Not waxy.
Not lifeless.
Ava looked pale, but not dead.
Ethan touched her wrist with trembling fingers.
There was warmth.
A faint one—but undeniably there.
He gasped.
“Get a doctor! NOW!”
Chaos erupted.
Guests surged forward. Someone fainted.
A doctor attending the service rushed over, pressing two fingers beneath Ava’s jaw. His eyes widened.
“She has a pulse—weak, but present. We need to get her to a hospital immediately!”
Ethan staggered backward, clutching a pew for support.
Malik stood frozen, watching as paramedics stormed into the church and carefully lifted Ava onto a stretcher.
As they rushed her toward the ambulance, Ethan followed—but halfway there, he turned.
Malik was still standing near the coffin, bracing himself as if expecting to be arrested.
“You’re coming with me.”
Malik blinked.
“Sir… I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“That’s exactly why you’re coming.”
