Chapter 1

Three years after my death, my husband, Zack, was once again ordering me to take the blame for another medical mishap just so his precious Sophia could stay spotless.

Zack shouted, his voice booming down the hallway, "Nina, you know Sophia's up for vice director. This is a critical moment, nothing can go wrong. Are you trying to mess things up on purpose?

"It's just a few more years in prison. Sophia promised she'd make it up to you when you get out. Why are you making such a fuss?"

His furious shouts rattled the entire hallway.

Before Zack could bang on the door again, a neighbor finally opened their door and interrupted him, "Stop knocking. She died three years ago."

"She died?" Zack asked, shocked.

The neighbor sighed. "Yeah, I heard it was because of that medical accident a few years back. The patient's family wasn't satisfied with the verdict, so they stabbed Nina right after she got out of prison."

Zack was in disbelief at first, but it only took a moment for him to decide I must be behind all this, even from beyond the grave.

He frowned, letting out a mocking laugh. "Wow, she's got some nerve.

"Making up a story like this just to get out of helping Sophia. Does she really think she can get away from me that easily?

"Tell her this. If she doesn't get in touch with me in three days, her sick mother will be out on the streets."

With that, Zack turned and walked away.

The neighbor watched Zack's figure recede, shook their head, and sighed deeply. "Her sick mother? She lost her mind and accidentally fell from the balcony long ago."

*****

Three years after my death, Zack barged in once again, ordering me to take the blame for Sophia.

The security door shook under his fists. I drifted outside, watching his good looks warped by fury.

"Nina, I know you're in there," Zack yelled, kicking the door and frantically dialing my number. "Pick up. Answer me."

A phantom ringtone echoed faintly from the depths of my empty bedroom, just a trick of my dead mind.

That old phone must have lost power ages ago, just like me, never going to answer.

Zack shouted, "Sophia's about to be considered for vice director, and you choose now to vanish on me?

"Still not over what happened back then? It was just a few years in prison. Are you really going to keep holding a grudge?"

Zack's furious shouts echoed loud and clear, cutting through the hallway.

After what felt like forever, the door across the hall suddenly swung open.

"What's all this noise? Can't you let people sleep in peace?" the neighbor grumbled.

Zack turned and shot her a glare. "I'm looking for my wife. What's it to you?"

"Your wife?" the neighbor scoffed. "You mean Nina? She died three years ago."

The hallway fell silent.

Zack's expression stiffened for a moment, then he smirked sarcastically. "Dead? How much did she pay you to spin that lie?"

"Who's lying?" The neighbor dropped the trash bag, pulled out his phone, scrolled for a bit, and held it up for Zack to see. "Look, local news from three years ago.

"'Patient's family takes revenge after medical dispute. The former doctor killed the day after being released from prison.' That's Nina, right?"

Zack snatched the phone from the neighbor. His fingers slid across the screen, slower and slower, trembling with each swipe.

The news article was short, with a censored photo from the scene. The faces were blurred out.

But anyone who knew me would recognize that gray coat, stained with blood. It was one I wore all the time.

"No way," Zack muttered, shoving the phone back. "This has to be photoshopped. There's no way someone like her. It just can't be true..."

"Believe it or not." The neighbor made a face. "This place has been empty for three years anyway.

"If you're really looking for her, try West Hill Cemetery. Her tombstone's probably gathering dust by now."

The elevator doors opened and closed.

Zack was left alone in the dim hallway, slumping down against the door he couldn't get through, mumbling to himself nonstop.

I watched as he pulled out his phone, his finger hovering over Sophia's number, but he couldn't bring himself to hit dial.

After a long while, something seemed to dawn on him. He suddenly got up, his arrogance snapping right back into place.

He murmured, "Nice act, Nina. You really think this is enough to scare me?"

Then Zack redialed, this time calling his assistant. "Ethan, check where Nina's mom is living now, what nursing home."

He answered, "Yeah, right now. I'm heading over there myself.

"She thinks she can hide? Let's see if her mom's life still matters to her."

Ethan was saying something on the other end, and Zack's scowl deepened with every word.

He snapped, "What do you mean you can't reach them? What do you mean they disappeared last year? What about the monthly payments I've been making?"

Zack suddenly raised his voice. "Sophia said she handed over the money. She told me herself."

The hallway light flicked on again, bathing his ghostly pale face in a sickly yellow glow.

"Check it," Zack snarled. "Get to the bottom of it. Where did all that money go?

"And send people to every nursing home. Turn the whole place upside down if you have to. Find Nina's mother."

After hanging up, Zack didn't leave right away.

He stood in front of my door, his fingers absentmindedly running over the dents his own rage had carved into the wood.

All those memories of us screaming, throwing things, cursing each other. They came flooding back like a tidal wave.

"Nina, you'd better be faking this," Zack muttered. "Because if you're not..."

He left the threat hanging, but I could feel exactly what he meant.

I drifted behind him, just wanting to tell him to give it up already.

After I died, Mom slipped out the window one rainy night and fell from the fourth floor.

Now, the last person who ever showed him any kindness was gone too.