Chapter 3

Micah scoffed, wrapping his arm around Annie's waist. "She's more desperate to stay alive than anyone I know.

"Just for money and the status of Mrs. Gomez, she'd do absolutely anything. Trust me, even if the whole world went down, she'd find a way to survive."

My heart felt like it was being crushed by an invisible hand.

Even though my heart had stopped beating, that suffocating pain still made me want to curl up.

So that was how you saw me, Micah? Just some vain, greedy woman who clung to life for money and status?

Micah, did you forget that you were the one who begged me to marry you?

Did you forget that you stood outside my house all night in the snow, swearing to love me for the rest of your life?

The oaths you made back then sounded like nothing but jokes.

The party continued.

A massive three-tiered cake was wheeled out.

Micah held Annie's hand as they cut the cake together.

The air was thick with the sugary scent of cream, almost too sweet to bear.

I hovered next to the cake, staring at the delicate sugar figurines on top. They were a perfect likeness of Micah and Annie.

For the past six months, because of my stomach cancer, I could barely eat a thing.

I had survived on nutrient injections every day.

I had almost forgotten what cake tasted like.

I reached out, hoping to get a little taste of the cream.

But my fingers passed right through, stirring up only a faint breeze.

I couldn't even taste a little bit of sweetness.

I pulled my hand back in disappointment, squatting under the table and hugging my transparent knees.

I told myself, "It's okay.

"It's not like I ever get hungry now, anyway.

"It really doesn't matter."

I kept repeating it to myself, again and again.

But the tears still came.

Could ghosts even cry?

If they could, then these tears must be the most bitter in the world.

By the time the night was over, the guests had all left.

Micah took Annie back to our—no, their—house now.

It used to be the home I had built up piece by piece.

The beige curtains I picked out, the pothos I nurtured, and the matching slippers I bought for us.

Now, everything was different.

They laid out a lovely rug that Annie favored by the entryway, and the living room was filled with her favorite lilies. I was allergic to lily pollen, however, and we had never kept lilies inside the house before.

"Micah, I had such a wonderful time tonight," Annie said, snuggling into his arms.

She traced circles on his chest with her finger. "But I'm still a little worried about Eloise. Her phone is off, and we haven't heard from her. Could something have happened to her?"

Micah paused as he took off his tie, then snorted coldly.

He said, "What could happen? Someone like her? She's probably holed up in some hotel right now, planning to call the media to expose me or blackmail me for alimony.

"Don't mind her. Tomorrow, I'll have my lawyer go straight to court and file a lawsuit. If she refuses to accept a reasonable settlement, don't blame me for disregarding our past relationship."

Disregarding our past relationship?

Micah, who exactly was the one showing no consideration for what we once shared?

Over the past three years, to help you land that international deal, I drank with clients until I made myself bleed internally.

To take care of your sick mother, I stayed by her side day and night for two weeks straight.

To let you focus on your work, I endured your mother's harsh words and the gossip from the outside world.

Even after I was diagnosed with cancer, I went through chemotherapy alone, hiding it from everyone so I wouldn't distract you.

When my hair started falling out in handfuls, I bought wigs to cover it up.

When I wasted away to skin and bones, I hid my figure under baggy clothes.

But in your eyes, all of that made me look "scheming" and like I was "putting on an act."

Micah picked up his phone, seemingly about to make a call, but his finger hovered over the screen for a long time before he threw it aside in frustration.

"Forget about her. I'll take a shower," he said.

He turned and walked into the bathroom.

The sound of running water filled the room.