Chapter 5

Charlotte joined Jonathan at auctions and tagged along with him to all sorts of parties and galas.

They'd climb to the top of the tallest buildings to stargaze and go diving together in crystal-clear waters.

Late at night, he'd open up to her about all the stress at work, and she'd listen, talk him through it, and help him figure things out.

He'd say, "I'm really glad you're here."

I read through each message, my hands trembling uncontrollably.

The flowers he gave me, he'd given to her too. The steak he brought for me, he'd actually gone out and eaten with her. Even the auction item he gifted me, he'd bid on it together with her.

He never had time to reply to my texts, but he could talk with her for hours late at night.

I used to think his heart was just wandering for a bit, but now it seemed like she mattered more to him than I did.

I felt like a joke. I also felt that my relationship with him was just a test run for him to figure out how to love someone.

The email ended with a hotel address and a time.

That was the day I saw Jonathan shirtless, together with Charlotte, in the same hotel room.

Charlotte looked at Jonathan's pained expression, a hint of satisfaction flickering across her face.

She went on, "Bet you didn't know this, but I'm Stella's sister. Now that I know what kind of jerk you really are, I'm going to make sure she knows everything.

"I've already sent her all our chat logs, and I told her we were meeting at the Saintly Hotel. I want her to catch you cheating, so she'll finally see you for who you are and walk away before it's too late.

"Since you hurt her, you're going to have to face the consequences."

Jonathan looked shocked, and honestly, I felt the same.

I never thought Charlotte would go as far as becoming Jonathan's side chick, just so I would leave him and not get hurt.

I was in a daze for ages.

I tried to dig up any proof we ever had a real sisterly bond in the past ten years, but all I could remember was our parents always comparing me to her, putting me down.

I could only remember watching her bask in the glory, getting all the praise and attention. We barely ever had any peaceful moments together.

Jonathan didn't say another word. He just stared at my tombstone for a long moment before turning and leaving.

For some reason, there was something strange about the look in his eyes as he gazed at my grave.

After Jonathan left, Charlotte sat down by my grave.

She said, "Stella, the drunk driver who killed you is locked up now, and Jonathan's company has gone under. Everyone who hurt you has paid the price.

"Just wait for me. Once I take care of the rest, I'll come find you."

Then, she went quiet, just sitting by my grave in silence until the sun finally set.

I had a million questions. I wondered why she was doing all this for me. I wondered why she insisted on calling herself my sister.

After all these years, she should know I never acknowledged her as my sister. I also wondered what she meant when she said she'd come find me after taking care of the rest.

But no one could give me any answers. So I just sat down next to her, trying to read the sorrow in her expression, searching for some kind of explanation.

Just as the last rays of sunlight faded away, she answered a call.

I couldn't hear what was being said, but her expression darkened in an instant.

She hung up and opened the news app. I leaned in to see the headline. It read: [CEO of Infinite Capital sets his house on fire in a suicide attempt. He dies despite emergency treatment.]

My heart dropped, and my mind went completely blank.

I realized that the last look Jonathan gave me as he walked away was actually a goodbye.

On the twenty-first day after my death, Jonathan set his house ablaze in a final act of despair.

Charlotte, being the last person he spoke to, got called in by the cops for questioning.

I saw Jonathan's burnt corpse there.

When they dragged him out, he was clutching a shredded wedding photo for dear life.

His heart stopped over and over during the rescue. The doctors kept yelling in his ear, "Your fiancée's still waiting for you, don't give up!"

When the doctors said the word "fiancée," his heart gave a brief flutter, but it didn't last.

Later, when the police opened his lifeless hand, they found a pair of wedding rings clutched in his grip.

That wedding photo had arrived on the day I died. I didn't even get to unwrap it.