Chapter 4
Vivian snapped, "Really? If Luna really is gone, that's her own fate. What does that have to do with Derek?
"She's been married to him for three years, can't have kids, can't make a dime, and sticks to him like a leech.
"Derek has already gone above and beyond, sending her money every month. If she can't get her act together, who's she got to blame but herself?"
In the corner, Eleanor's grip on her broom tightened.
Ethan said, "Luna got two hundred and seventy dollars a month. Two hundred dollars went straight to rent.
"Out of seventy dollars left, she gave me thirty-five dollars and kept thirty-five dollars for herself.
"When she couldn't afford her medicine, she'd stretch it out, taking her pills every other day instead of every day."
Vivian didn't say a word.
Ethan continued, "She had heart problems. She needed to take medicine every day.
"The pills cost forty dollars for a box of thirty. She'd break each pill in half, so a box would last her two months."
His voice was flat, like he was just stating facts about someone else's life.
Ethan added, "In her last month, she couldn't even afford her medicine anymore.
"She tried calling Derek twenty-three times. Not a single one was answered."
The lobby was dead silent.
The receptionist had her head down, eyes fixed on the desk. The two security guards stood frozen in place.
Tears slid down the creases of Eleanor's cheeks.
Vivian stood there for a few seconds, then straightened the buttons on her coat.
"Go on, keep spinning your tales," she said, turning toward the elevator.
She added, "Security, escort him out. Don't let him embarrass us or mess up the company's reputation."
Just as she reached the elevator, a woman burst into the lobby from outside.
She had short hair, a down jacket, and sneakers, her face red from running.
She called out, "Ethan!"
The moment she walked in, she spotted Ethan kneeling on the floor. She dashed over, gripping his arm tightly.
She asked, "Ethan, why did you come here all alone? What happened to your hands? Why are they all bloody?"
Her name was Mia Miller. She was a friend I made back when I ran a stall at the night market.
The day after I died, Ethan called her up. Mia cried for twenty minutes straight, then asked him what he needed.
Ethan said, "I need someone to tell me how to get to Derek's company."
Mia said, "I'll go with you."
Ethan replied, "No need, I know the way."
But Mia was worried sick, so she kept searching for him outside. It took her more than an hour to finally track him down here.
Mia saw the cuts on Ethan's hands, the cracked urn in front of him, and the messy, crooked letters spelling out my name on the lid.
Her hands trembled as she tried to steady herself.
Then she looked up and saw Vivian, who was about to step into the elevator.
Mia recognized her instantly. I had shown her a photo before, Derek's mother.
Whenever I mentioned her, I always spoke in a hushed tone, like I was scared someone might overhear.
"You're Derek's mother," Mia said, her voice calm and certain, not a question but a statement.
Vivian turned her head and glanced at her.
Vivian asked, "Who are you?"
"I'm Luna's friend," Mia replied.
"Luna has friends?" Vivian gave a light, dismissive laugh, like she was flicking dust off her sleeve.
She added, "Take this guy away. Tell Luna that if she wants money, she should sign the divorce papers. Stop with these cheap tricks."
Mia fixed her gaze on Vivian and said coldly, "Luna's gone."
"You think I'll believe whatever you say?" Vivian shot back.
"She died in the basement Derek dumped her in. She was dead for three days, and nobody even noticed.
"Her brother was the one who found her. No one could reach Derek. Not a single person from your family bothered to check on her.
"And now you're here, telling me she's just playing games?"
Mia raised her voice, and everyone in the lobby stopped and stared.
Vivian's expression shifted, not because she felt guilty, but because Mia was shouting at her in Derek's company, with everyone watching.
"Security," Vivian called out.
Two security guards walked over.
Mia brushed off the young guard's hand when he tried to grab her.
She snapped, "Go ahead, try touching me. I'm putting it out there today. Luna's dead, and your family owes us an explanation.
"If you can't give us one, I'll go to the press, the internet, the courts. Let's see how your family handles the shame."
Vivian stepped into the elevator and pressed the close button.
Before the doors closed, she glanced through the narrowing gap at Ethan, still sprawled on the floor.
She said, "Give him seventy dollars and send him on his way."
The elevator doors slid shut.
Mia crouched down in front of Ethan, took his hand, and picked at the dried blood on his skin, cleaning it off bit by bit.
Ethan stayed silent, just hugging the urn even tighter.
"Come on, let's go," Mia said, pulling him up. "No point fighting with them right now. You need to get some food."
Ethan got to his feet, his knees shaky after kneeling so long, and he almost stumbled as he stood up.
Mia caught him, steadying his balance.
When they reached the lobby doors, Ethan suddenly stopped and turned his head toward the front desk.