Chapter 4

Russel frowned, ending the call abruptly, clearly irritated. "If Eileen had simply told me she saw Faye, I wouldn't have been so pissed I had to throw her out. She's always up to something, making up outrageous lies.

"Forget it, I'll deal with her after I'm done with work these next couple of days. But she's not allowed at Faye's wedding. I don't want her causing any more trouble."

After thinking it over, he called his assistant. "Pass the word along. If Eileen comes to pick up supplies, make sure she gets extra."

I froze for a moment. Russel couldn't stand me, so why would he go out of his way to help?

My dad sighed. "Honestly, I'm partly to blame for how Eileen turned out. If I hadn't fallen asleep back then, no one would have switched the babies, and Eileen wouldn't have gone down the wrong path."

My mom tried to comfort him. "Don't say that. Eileen just made a mistake. Deep down, she's still a good kid. And Faye's innocent too. They're both my daughters."

My dad was quiet for a moment.

"When Eileen comes back, I'll give her the shares that are rightfully hers. Maybe that'll help her change for the better and get along with Faye," he said.

Get along with Faye? My ghost trembled.

Her mom was the reason I spent eighteen years stuck in an orphanage, the reason my own family kept tossing me aside. Get along with Faye? If I could turn into an evil spirit, she'd be the first person I'd go after.

But I never thought Dad would actually give me any shares. Faye had told me before that Dad thought I grew up without a proper education and would just waste any money I got, so the Tucker family's fortune was never meant for me.

I never wanted to fight her over the inheritance, but knowing my family thought I wasn't good enough still stung for a long time.

Russel sat on the couch, absently tapping his fingers on the armrest, occasionally glancing toward the door.

Suddenly, he got up, the wedding invitation still in his hand. "I'm heading out," he said.

My mom stopped him. "Didn't Faye say in her letter that she lost her memory by accident, and her fiancé saved her? Now that she's got her memory back, she wants to meet us at the happiest moment, and told us not to go looking for her before then?"

Russel nodded. "I just want to see if that guy's good enough for her. I won't let her know I'm there."

With that, he walked straight out the door and lit a cigarette.

Faye hated the smell of cigarettes, so Russel only ever smoked when he was really upset.

Right now, it must be because his favorite sister was suddenly getting married, and he couldn't let her go.

He looked restless, finishing his cigarette in no time. Then he got in his car and punched in the address for Faye's wedding.

I followed behind him, and after turning a couple of blocks, a truck blocked my way.

Two people in hazmat suits were loading a stretcher covered in a white sheet into the truck. It was obvious they were part of the cleanup crew that dealt with bodies after the apocalypse.

Just then, one of them stumbled, and the stretcher shifted, revealing a pale, bluish hand.

Russel glanced over. When his eyes landed on the lucky charm bracelet tied around that slender wrist, he froze for a second.

Curious, I glanced over and instantly recognized my own lucky charm bracelet.

Back in school, Russel once heard that if one wore a lucky charm bracelet, it would bring them good luck and happiness.

He tried making one, but it came out clumsy and messy, so he gave up almost immediately.

Seeing me watching him expectantly, he felt awkward and chucked the lucky charm bracelet into the trash. "Forget it, nobody would want something this ugly anyway. I'll just go buy a proper gift."

But I said I wanted it, picked it up, and tied it around my wrist. No matter how old and worn it got, I never took it off.

It seemed like my body had been found.

Russel gripped the steering wheel tightly and called his assistant.

"Find out where Eileen is, now. And make it fast," he ordered.

He pressed his lips together, about to step out, when a flashy SUV roared past. From the passenger seat came a bright, bell-like laugh.

Russel's heart skipped a beat. It was Faye.

He slammed the car door shut, fired up the engine, and took off after the SUV.

I turned back, watching the truck fade into the distance.

Even if I was dead, as soon as Faye showed up, Russel won't even stop for me for a second.

My heart ached, and it felt like my ghost was growing even fainter.

Russel didn't catch up to the flashy SUV.

He drove to the address on the invitation and found it was a private manor sitting at the top of a hill.

Out of respect for Faye, he went back to the company instead.

His assistant came in with the day's supply distribution report. Russel rubbed his brow. "What about that matter I asked you to look into?"

The assistant said, "Sorry, Mr. Tucker. We still haven't found Eileen. The guys downstairs said..." His voice trailed off.