Chapter 2

Jonathan called Charlotte and asked her to meet him at his office.

I was fuming. My funeral wasn't even over yet, and those two were already getting cozy in his office.

Rage rushed to my head, and I stormed after Charlotte.

For three years, I poured all my savings into Jonathan's career, always by his side, devoted and dependent, clinging to him like a vine and happily cooking for him.

But he betrayed me. I was disgusted when I burst into that hotel room and saw him half-naked in bed with Charlotte.

Thinking back, I shouldn't have rushed home to grab my stuff.

If I'd slapped Jonathan right then and there, maybe I would've missed that car driven by a drunk.

Charlotte walked into Jonathan's company like she'd been there a hundred times.

Jonathan sat at his desk.

I charged at him, throwing punches and kicks, even though my ghostly body just went right through him. I just needed to let off some steam.

Jonathan heard someone come in but didn't bother to look up. He just stared blankly at a spot on his desk.

I glanced over.

It was a picture of us together.

I snorted and said, "Jonathan, drop the act."

But the next second, Jonathan said to Charlotte, "Charlotte, this ends now. I've already hurt Stella enough. I can't keep making the same mistake."

Charlotte couldn't help but burst out laughing, like she'd just heard the funniest thing in the world.

She scoffed, "Jonathan, cut the crap. If you really loved Stella, you wouldn't have gotten involved with me in the first place.

"If you were actually a decent guy, you wouldn't have strayed at all.

"Now that she's gone, you suddenly realize you messed up? Who are you putting on this act for?"

Jonathan's head snapped up.

He asked, "What did you say? Who died?"

Charlotte said, "Stella is dead. If you hadn't cheated on her, she wouldn't have stormed out in the middle of the night.

"If she hadn't run out, she never would've run into that damn drunk driver."

Charlotte stepped up to Jonathan's desk, leaned in, and said, "You killed her. She'll never forgive you."

Then, she muttered under her breath, sounding frustrated, "She won't forgive me either.

"I was such an idiot. I shouldn't have pushed her away from you like that."

Her eyes were brimming with tears, and her hands were trembling.

"Jonathan, this isn't over. All of you are going to pay for this," she said.

With that, Charlotte slammed the door behind her and stormed out.

Jonathan went from total disbelief to beating himself up with regret.

He grabbed our photo with a shaking hand, clutching it to his chest, while his other hand gripped his hair so hard it looked painful, he was completely losing it, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Stella, I'm sorry. It's all my fault," he sobbed.

We'd known each other for eight years, and I'd never seen him break down like this.

I pressed my hand to my chest, surprised to feel a faint stir of emotion.

After three years together, I wanted to believe his tears were genuinely shed for me.

However, he had made a mistake. Regardless of the reasons or regrets they might have, Jonathan and Charlotte betrayed me.

I'd never forgive them.

After Charlotte left, she went back to my family, which I loathed more than anything.

It had been four years since I last set foot in that place after breaking things off with the Price family.

I figured my parents would be thrilled to see Charlotte walk through the door.

After all, they always said Charlotte was their most outstanding daughter. If it wasn't for the fact that we shared blood, they never would've picked me up from the orphanage.

During the years I lived with the Price family, I hardly ever saw them smile at me.

But whenever they were with Charlotte, they were gentle, kind, warm, and caring. They never treated me that way.

But I never expected that the moment Charlotte walked in, my parents' faces instantly went cold.

My dad, Bryant Price, shot her a sideways glare and demanded, "So you finally decided to come home? Do you even care about this family?"

Charlotte gave them a frosty glare.

"I'm in a bad mood today. So unless you want trouble, just keep quiet," she snapped.

Bryant slammed his hand on the table and shot to his feet, face red with anger. "Is that how you talk to me? Charlotte, apologise!"

Charlotte paused, cocked her head, and said coolly, "I already told you I'm not in the mood. If you're so bored, maybe you should start thinking about how you'll step down with dignity at tomorrow's board meeting."

I stared at the scene and couldn't believe what was happening.

Since I was out of the picture, I thought they would be getting along just fine.

Everything was so twisted that I didn't even process what Charlotte said.

The next day, during the board meeting, Charlotte slid a document across the table to Bryant.

His hands trembled with fury as he gripped the paper. The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife, but Charlotte just watched him with a smirk.