Chapter 3

I looked at Andrew and said, "I have to remind you—you're entitled to part of the family assets too. Are you really willing to give all that up?"

Andrew lifted his chin defiantly. "Why wouldn't I? If it helps my dad rest in peace, I'll give it up in a heartbeat."

Susan's eyes lit up at his words, and she threw herself into Andrew's arms, clearly moved. "Your father was right to entrust me to you before he passed."

"Don't worry, Susan. Dad's gone, but you still have me," Andrew said, patting her shoulder reassuringly.

"That's easy to say," I shot back. "But if you're so willing to give it up, would you actually sign a waiver? Put it in writing?" I glanced at the dead man on the bed and decided to find a seat farther away from the body.

That was when I saw something incredible.

Richard's soul was floating up from his body, and somehow, I could see it.

He drifted over to Susan and Andrew, and seeing how united they looked, he seemed genuinely touched. He tried to throw his arms around them, but being a ghost, he just passed straight through their bodies.

That was when it seemed to hit him—he was dead. He was actually a ghost now.

But he adjusted quickly. Within seconds, he'd joined forces with the two of them and started yelling at me. "Victoria, you petty woman! Andrew's right—all you care about is money. You don't understand the pure love Susan and I shared!"

I ignored him completely and kept my eyes locked on Andrew, waiting for him to answer my question.

Because I'd realized something crucial. I was the only person in this room who could see Richard's ghost. Those two couldn't see him at all.

If they could, they would've reacted when Richard tried to hug them. But they hadn't even flinched.

I caught Andrew's eye and gave him a subtle signal. He hesitated for a moment, but then spoke up, "Why wouldn't I dare? My dad already made his will, and I support his decision. If we need to sign an agreement, then fine—I'll sign it. For Susan, there's nothing I wouldn't do."

Richard panicked when he heard Andrew agreeing to sign away his inheritance rights. "Andrew, don't be stupid! You can't sign that thing. If you do, you won't be able to help Susan fight for her share of the inheritance. Your mom's ruthless—she'll definitely try to take everything from Susan."

He desperately tried to warn him, but Andrew couldn't hear a word he was saying.

I just gave a cold smile. "Is that so? I don't believe you. Prove it—sign it right now and let me see."

Andrew clearly hadn't expected me to make such a demand. He froze in place, completely stunned.

After a long, awkward silence, he finally said, "The family fortune all belongs to Susan anyway. I'd never fight her for it, so there's really no need to sign anything, right?"

Susan had looked excited when she first heard what I said, but when Andrew spoke, her brow furrowed ever so slightly.

Still, she was good at hiding her emotions around him. She immediately turned to Andrew and said, "The fortune your dad left behind is rightfully yours. Even if you wanted it, Auntie wouldn't fight you for it. There's really no need to sign any agreement."

It sounded generous on the surface, but she'd just put Andrew in an impossible position. She didn't say she trusted him not to compete with her for the inheritance—she said it was his to begin with.

Now, if Andrew didn't sign, he'd look like the bad guy.

Andrew stared at Susan in a daze, but he didn't seem angry. Instead, he nodded with understanding. "You're right. Susan lost her love, and even though she has me to rely on, she still doesn't feel secure. I'll sign it then, so you can have peace of mind."

Watching Andrew make up his mind like that, I'd be lying if I said it didn't hurt.

The Andrew who bossed me around and criticized everything I did was so gentle and considerate with Susan.

Even though he could see through her little manipulations, he still chose to go along with what she wanted.