Chapter 19 288 Vouchers Chapter 19 Alexander received the forensic examiner's call at that moment. He urgently prepared to lead them toward the small room holding Sophie's body. But Olivia blocked his path. "Alexander, I need to speak with you." Without suspicion, Alexander immediately turned to the examiners: "You go ahead first-" "No!" Olivia's shout cut him off. "If she undergoes an autopsy, she can't reach the afterlife. Even knowing that, would you still do it? Alexander." Alexander sensed something amiss, as if Olivia had been deliberately steering him. "The abbot shared quite a lot with you." As he spoke, Alexander noticed Olivia's face visibly pale. His unease deepened. He shoved her aside and broke into a desperate run. Baffled examiners followed. Rounding the corner, Alexander saw flames engulfing the small room. Thin tendrils of smoke curled from the win- dow. The abbot stood directly in his path. "Move!" Enraged, Alexander pushed the abbot aside and kicked the door open. A hulking man inside was fueling the fire, lighter in hand. Alexander lunged forward, kicking both man and lighter to the ground. Beside them, Sophie's body lay wrapped in burning cloth. Flames climbed higher, threatening to sear her skin. Alexander hauled her from the fire. Flames licked his hands, but he gritted his teeth, carrying her outside before lay- ing her down. Only then did he notice his injured hand. In mere seconds, the fire had scorched a layer of skin. The blistered flesh hissed and sizzled, emitting an acrid, burnt smell. 0.0% 12:40 Chapter 19 288 Vouchers "Ah!" Delayed pain made Alexander cry out. Thankfully, an examiner scooped water from a nearby artificial pond and doused his hand. The cool water extinguished the flames, bringing relief. Ignoring his injury, Alexander dropped to his knees and cra- dled Sophie. "Sophie, are you hurt?" But Sophie, being a corpse, couldn't answer. Alexander frantically examined her, his anxiety mingled with bitter remorse: "Again... Again it's my fault!" "I'm sorry." Floating nearby, Sophie sighed as she watched Alexander's red, blistered hands. A gentle breeze stirred. The abbot suddenly looked up, his gaze fixed precisely where Sophie hovered. He murmured to himself: "It truly is." Alexander, seething with anger, lifted his head toward the abbot, his voice icy: "Abbot. Explain this." Trembling, the abbot closed his eyes and recounted events. With each word, Alexander's expression darkened further. "That female devotee uncovered every detail about everyone in this Buddhist temple. We stand here fearless of death, but our families... they are innocent." "Though built on lies, the outcome isn't entirely bleak. Cremation by fire consumes the body-it was never meant to remain." After saying this, the abbot glanced toward where Sophie floated in the air and added: "There's no deception in the Prayer for the Deceased either." "Olivia!" Alexander snapped like a lit fuse, his brows knitted in fury. The name tore from his lips laced with venom. Just then, his phone rang. "Boss, Ms. Lee set the fire at the villa." 49.9% 12:40