My Family Killed Me and My Wife Avenged Me

My brother tried to kill me.

The moment my mom stepped forward to help him, I gave up fighting.

Later, he had plastic surgery to look exactly like me, and sat in my bedroom, waiting for my wife to return.

My parents hoped he and my wife would live happily ever after, enjoying all the wealth and glory.

I just laughed, because they had no idea how terrifying the woman before them truly was.

Today was Seraphina's day to return home.

She'd been overseas for over two months, and I'd been dead for a week.

My brother, Julian Smith, stood up nervously as Seraphina walked through the door.

"Seraphina, have you had dinner yet? I asked the kitchen to prepare your favorite creamy pumpkin soup."

This was supposed to be their first meeting.

But Seraphina didn't notice that her husband had been swapped.

Julian had really outdone himself, getting surgery to look exactly like me, from head to toe.

Seraphina handed her suitcase to the butler, Carlsen, and rubbed her temples. "Alright, a little bit would be nice."

Julian forced a natural smile, meticulously mimicking my every expression and gesture from the stolen videos.

He followed Seraphina into the dining room. "Martha, serve the soup to Seraphina."

Seraphina paused at his words, glancing back at Julian.

We had a butler and maids, but I usually preferred to do many things myself.

After all, I was just lounging around at home.

Even after living in this city for nearly two years, I still wasn't used to casually bossing people around.

Before marrying Seraphina, I'd always lived in our small hometown.

The one who was originally supposed to marry Seraphina was Julian.

Our two families used to be old acquaintances, and Seraphina's family was once a prominent name in the local business circles.

Both grandfathers, seeing a grandson and granddaughter of suitable age, had arranged a marriage.

Twenty years ago, after both elders passed away, Seraphina's family fell victim to corporate machinations.

Seraphina's father brought up the engagement again, hoping the Smith family would offer a helping hand.

But my father, Richard, had already been swayed by several other business groups. He decided to seize the opportunity to acquire Seraphina's family's assets, completely disregarding their past friendship.

Seraphina's family went bankrupt, Seraphina's father died from depression, and Seraphina's mother, with her daughter and the old butler, moved far overseas.

Two years ago, Seraphina returned with the Ascendant Group, an unstoppable force from abroad, striking a heavy blow to several major local business empires.

Not a single person who had kicked Seraphina's family while they were down or participated in their downfall managed to escape.

They were either buried under crippling debt with no hope of recovery, or facing irrefutable evidence that sent them straight to prison. Financial ruin was the norm.

People in the business world whispered privately that it was a good thing she'd returned to a society governed by law; they had long heard whispers of Seraphina's methods in regions with looser regulations overseas.

When the Smith Corporation was on the verge of bankruptcy, my father, Richard, remembered the old engagement.

Julian, terrified of Seraphina's revenge, threw a huge tantrum at home, forcing me to return from our hometown to take his place in the marriage.

Businesspeople often have a touch of superstition, and my dad was especially prone to it.

On the day Julian was born, my dad smoothly sealed a major contract that elevated the Smith Corporation to new heights.

On the day I was born, a newly acquired project of his was exposed for severe issues, shrinking the Smith Corporation's assets by nearly half.

He firmly believed Julian brought him good fortune, while I cursed him.

If my grandfather hadn't fought with his last breath to protect me, I probably wouldn't have survived back then.

So, he publicly announced that I was frail and sent me abroad for treatment.

But in reality, I was dumped in the countryside, where they found a lonely old man, Grandpa Charles, to raise me.

Grandpa Charles, who raised me, felt sorry for me and took good care of me, but I still died in the prime of my youth.

Julian snapped out of it, softening his voice. "I've been a bit dizzy these past couple of days; I was afraid I'd spill the soup."

Seraphina watched him intently for a few moments.

Julian's Adam's apple bobbed. I saw a flicker of panic in his eyes.

Ha, how ironic.

That night, when he plunged the knife into me, he struck swiftly and viciously, as if terrified I wouldn't die.

Julian, guilt-ridden, quickly changed his tone. "I'll go to the kitchen and get it for you."

Seraphina turned away and walked into the dining room. "No need. If you're not feeling well, get some extra rest."

I froze. In the two years we'd lived together, I'd never heard her say such a thing to me. Now that I was dead, I finally heard these rare words.

It was strange, though. My constitution wasn't particularly strong, but aside from when I first moved into Seraphina's home, I rarely fell ill for a whole year.

Having shared a bed for two years, I gathered my courage and floated close to her ear, calling her name.

I wanted her to go to the Smith family and bring my body out.

After Grandpa Charles passed away, there was no one left in the world for me to care about.

Even though I died with resentment, I also felt exhausted by life.

The freezer was too cold. My body always ran cold anyway, and I just wanted to find a sunny spot to rest.

Besides, when I died, I heard them discussing how to dispose of my body, to get rid of it later.

Just hearing it made me scared. If I didn't have a whole body, I might as well have completely vanished in the first place.

Even cremation would be better; at least it would preserve my last shred of dignity.

Unfortunately, she showed no reaction. She even picked up her spoon and began to drink the soup. "I hear you've been out quite a lot recently?"

My eyes lit up at the question.

Besides the Smith family, I didn't know anyone else in this city.

On my wedding day, my parents had told me that if I didn't want Grandpa Charles to be left uncared for, I had to do my best to please Seraphina. As long as the Smith Corporation was stable, Grandpa Charles's life would never be disrupted. They also said that a son who left home was like spilled water; I shouldn't bother coming back often.

So, after I entered Seraphina's house, apart from occasional walks or trips to the grocery store, I hardly interacted with the outside world. No wonder Seraphina found it odd.

Julian obediently replied, "The temperature has been fluctuating a lot lately, morning and evening. My parents haven't been feeling too well, so I went back to check on them."

Mentioning my parents, I was reminded of the scene when he tried to kill me.

I struggled fiercely to defend myself.

My mom, Eleanor, worried I might hurt Julian, rushed forward with my dad, Richard, and restrained me.

In that moment, all strength suddenly left my body, and I let the sharp blade fall.

Seraphina saw this but said nothing, only remarking blandly, "Staying at home can be stifling. It's good to get out."

I felt a little disheartened.

How could Seraphina, such a cautious and suspicious person, not notice anything amiss?

And she even said things she had never said to me.

On our wedding day, my parents had smiled ingratiatingly at Seraphina.

They told Seraphina that my presence in her family was meant to atone for the Smith family's sins. She could vent her anger however she pleased; I would endure any beating or scolding without complaint, and the Smith family would never interfere.

Seraphina didn't actually treat me as a punching bag, but she didn't seem very keen on socializing.

So, apart from our private moments, we didn't interact much.

After finishing the soup, they both returned to the bedroom.

Julian watched Seraphina, who had finished washing up, and sat on the bed, looking expectant.

Seraphina moved closer to him.

Her phone rang.

She hung up and began changing her clothes.

I wasn't surprised; she was probably heading to the office to deal with an urgent matter.

A flicker of annoyance crossed Julian's face, but he instantly replaced it with a gentle expression as Seraphina turned her head.

"Your cologne is too strong. You were fine the way you were before."

Julian watched Seraphina turn and leave, then paused, quickly lifting his wrist and neck to sniff.

He found he couldn't smell anything at all.

Julian quickly called Martha, the butler, into the bedroom.

"Martha, can you smell any cologne or other scents on me?"

Martha leaned close to Julian's neck and wrist, sniffing. "I don't smell anything particular, sir. Just a fresh scent of shampoo on your hair."

Julian frowned, pacing the room a few steps, then asked, "When you used to take care of him, what did he smell like?"

Martha thought for a moment. "He didn't have any particular smell, I think. He wasn't very particular about personal care products; he rarely used the things in the bathroom cabinet. He always seemed very clean, with hardly any scent."

Martha was someone my mother, Eleanor, had arranged to join Seraphina's household six months ago. Eleanor claimed I didn't know how to 'manage a marriage,' and Martha, supposedly skilled in handling domestic affairs, was there to 'assist' me.

The shift in the Smith family's attitude toward me had given me a fleeting, unrealistic hope.

Even though Martha never truly helped me after she arrived.

It still allowed me to hold onto a glimmer of fantasy about family affection.

But later I learned that the moment Martha appeared before me, it was the first step in the Smith family's plan to have Julian replace me.

Martha's arrival at Seraphina's house was purely to observe my daily habits and secretly film videos for Julian to mimic me.

Hearing Martha's subtle jab at me, Julian's lips curved into a smile. "Not only was he born poor, but he was also destined for a short life."

A hint of confusion crossed Martha's face. "Short-lived?"

Julian's smile faltered, and he quickly rattled off the rehearsed story. "His health was always poor. That old man who raised him kept saying he needed to take him to see a doctor, always finding ways to get more money from my parents."

"Always asking for money! And that boy, so timid and always doing everything himself, made it inconvenient for me to even order the servants around."

I angrily rushed forward, but it was useless; I just passed right through his body.

The Smith family only provided a meager allowance for the first few years; after that, there was nothing. Grandpa Charles raised me through his own frugality.

They only remembered me when they needed someone to take the fall.

Martha began to offer Julian advice. "Perhaps you could try using the shampoo from the master bathroom more often? It might be that the brand you used to prefer had a longer-lasting scent, and the smell hasn't completely dissipated."

"Leo isn't particular about such things; he just used whatever the house purchased. Naturally, he wouldn't pay attention to these details like you do."

Julian pressed his lips together, grumbling impatiently, "I use it every day! How can there still be a residue? Fine, I'll wash my hair again later."

Julian dismissed Martha, then made a phone call.

"Madame Celeste, you've got Leo's spirit confined, right?"

I floated close to the phone, hearing the reply.

"Rest assured, I've suppressed him with a binding ritual; he won't even have a chance to cross over to the other side!"

A binding ritual, huh? I couldn't help but roll my eyes, floating around the room. I still didn't know why I was tethered to Julian, but would a real medium be so obsequious? Her tone sounded more like she was terrified of losing a client.

Seraphina didn't return for a few days.

Julian waited until eight in the evening.

Looking at the table full of dishes that I loved, I felt a pang of nostalgia.

To say Seraphina and I had nothing in common wouldn't be accurate.

When it came to food, our preferences were surprisingly similar.

Julian only ate some salad and a bit of roasted chicken before putting down his knife and fork.

He was always very strict about his physique, and his appetite was probably only half of mine.

He was not only particular about ingredients but also strictly controlled his dinner to be before six o'clock.

Grandpa Charles said health was most important, but also to eat enough, so I never deliberately dieted.

The chef's vanilla-roasted lamb chops were divine! Just looking at them made my mouth water. Julian had no idea what he was missing.

Seraphina also stopped eating, looking at Julian.

"Not to your taste?"

Julian offered a gentle smile. "I haven't had much appetite lately."

Seraphina looked at him, and after a long moment, said, "Carlsen told me that while I was away, your appetite was much better than before. So, I come back, and suddenly you can't eat?"

Julian looked at Seraphina's expressionless face, shaking his head repeatedly. "My appetite hasn't been good for days. Maybe it's the hot weather, I just don't feel like eating."

Seraphina lowered her gaze, then said after a moment, "Dizzy and no appetite? I'll take you to the hospital for a check-up tomorrow."

Julian instinctively wanted to refuse but finally agreed with a smile.

I knew he thought that as long as it wasn't a check for plastic surgery traces, he had nothing to fear.

After all, only the three of them knew I was gone.