Chapter 1

After I caught Ethan cheating with my intern, Chloe, things went wild. In the heat of the moment, she fell and got seriously hurt.

Because of that accident, Chloe lost her ability to have children, and I was sent to prison for two years.

But Ethan’s torture didn't stop there.

The day I was released, he drove to the prison entrance, planning to drag me straight to Chloe to beg for her forgiveness.

Only, he never saw me. He only saw the other inmates walking out of the iron gates.

As the crowd thinned out, Ethan grew impatient. He grabbed a random woman by her arm and demanded, "Where is Elena?"

It had been nearly six months since anyone had uttered that name. The woman looked at him in shock.

"Elena?"

"She passed away from an illness six months ago."

Ethan didn't believe her.

His grip tightened, his voice dripping with sheer disdain.

"What did Elena pay you to make up this pathetic lie?"

The woman, already annoyed at being grabbed by a stranger, scoffed.

She violently shook off his hand. "You are freaking crazy."

She walked away, and Ethan didn't chase her.

He clearly didn't take her words to heart. He just sneered.

"Using death to hide from me? Pathetic. I will find you, Elena."

With that, Ethan got into his sports car.

The engine roared, and I found myself sitting in the passenger seat beside him—as a ghost.

As the streets outside became familiar, it hit me.

Ethan was heading to my apartment.

I let out a bitter, silent laugh.

When it came to me, Ethan had zero trust.

Two years ago, he refused to believe I was innocent. Now, he refused to believe I was dead.

But I was truly dead. I couldn't even defend myself anymore.

A sharp ringtone broke my train of thought.

Ethan picked up a FaceTime call. Chloe’s face popped up on the dashboard screen.

Before I died, she had been transferred to a branch office in another city.

Every time Ethan went to visit her, I was locked inside his villa.

It had been two years since I last saw her.

She no longer wore those cheap, faded clothes from when we first met.

Now, she was draped in Chanel and Cartier, her cheeks rosy.

Clearly, Ethan had been taking great care of her.

"My transfer is finally over, babe!" Chloe squealed through the screen. "No more long-distance!"

Ethan smiled warmly.

"You worked so hard these past six months. Let me take you out for a fancy dinner when you get back."

"What’s your flight number? Let me book the ticket for you."

Chloe looked like the happiest girl alive.

"No need, silly! You always treat me like a baby. Focus on driving, okay? I have a client meeting in a bit."

"Alright. Take care, and make sure you eat properly..."

Ethan’s voice was incredibly gentle. I used to hear that same voice years ago.

I thought I had numbed myself to this pain.

Yet, my ghostly eyes still welled up.

The car stopped outside my old apartment building.

Ethan jumped out of the car. Within two minutes, he was at the lobby.

By some twisted fate, he ran right into my sister, Lily, who was walking downstairs.

I hadn't seen Lily in six months. I stared at her, taking in every detail.

She no longer looked pale and exhausted like she did before my death. She wasn't crying her eyes out anymore.

Indeed, she was doing much better without me dragging her down.

When I was sick, Lily was the one who stayed by my side through the chemotherapy.

She watched me wither away and die.

Seeing Ethan now, the hatred in Lily’s eyes was blinding.

But remembering my dying wish—for her to live a life free of hatred—she tried to walk right past him.

But Ethan blocked her path.

"Where is Elena? How long is she going to hide?"

Lily ignored him, but then Ethan barked, "Tell her to get the hell out and apologize to Chloe!"

That was the breaking point. Lily snapped her head back, her body trembling with rage.

"How dare you even speak Elena's name? If you hadn't sent her to prison without a second thought, she wouldn't have died!"

"And besides, the only one who needs to apologize is you—the cheating bastard!"