Chapter 2

My soul was uncontrollably tethered to Vivian.

Edward was already sitting on the couch, going through some files.

Vivian jumped when she saw all those photos of dead animals and biological specimens.

She shivered a bit.

I raised an eyebrow, finding it amusing.

A killer who didn't even blink at murder got spooked by some photos of corpses, real or not.

I floated over to Edward's desk and lay across it.

I'd always been afraid of him, but now I desperately hoped he'd see that Vivian wasn't really me.

My body was still buried in Hart Villa's garden, slowly being devoured by insects and ants.

I wished he'd avenge me, for the sake of our five years of marriage. Even if it meant digging up my body and scattering my ashes into the ocean, I'd be endlessly grateful.

I loved the sea and the wind in my hair, but I hated Hart Villa. It was nothing but a prison to me.

Too bad Edward couldn't sense me at all. He was completely absorbed in his work.

Vivian let out a quiet sigh of relief, lowered her gaze for a few seconds, and slowly walked up behind him, about to massage his shoulders.

But just then, Edward looked up. "I heard you went back to Hart Villa while I was away."

Vivian's heart tightened. "Yeah, my grandma got sick a while ago, so I went to check on her. Sorry, I shouldn't have gone out on my own."

The mention of Grandma still made my heart ache, and I couldn't help it.

Back in Hart Villa, only Grandma cared if I ate or had something to wear. Although she never smiled, when the Hart family wanted to abandon me, she was the one who decided to keep me at the villa.

But when Vivian wanted to marry Edward, Grandma lured me back, and handed me over to Vivian to be killed.

I wished I could ask Grandma why.

Why did she save me, only to have me killed later?

Edward didn't seem upset after Vivian's explanation. "Since your grandma was sick, it's fine that you went back. Just let me know next time."

Hearing that, I blinked in surprise.

Edward never talked to me this way before.

The day we got married, he told me I was a present from the Hart family, and from then on, I was his property.

He never let me be myself and took away my freedom.

He demanded everything from me, turning me into nothing but his possession.

Back then, Edward grabbed my chin, his voice cold as ice. "I married you because I needed a wife, but don't get any ideas about actually being my wife."

He said he'd never show me a shred of tenderness.

And he kept his word.

For five years of marriage, he never talked to me except in bed, let alone allow me to visit my family home.

"Honey, you're so sweet," Vivian said softly, gently massaging his shoulders.

Her soft, slender hand slowly slipped into his collar, but just then, Edward's phone rang.

His assistant's flat voice came. "Mr. Blackwood, you have a shareholders' meeting in half an hour."

Edward said "OK" and got up to leave.

Vivian could only grit her teeth as she watched his back, then dutifully followed him out to see him off.

After Edward left, Vivian went back to the room, humming a little tune, looking pleased with herself.

About 30 minutes later, Grace came to visit her.

I had no idea that the cousin I trusted most and Vivian, the woman I despised, were actually sisters.

Back then, I thought Grace was genuinely nice to me because she cared. Turns out, all that kindness was part of the setup to help Vivian take my place.

After all, Grace was the only person I ever felt comfortable opening up to.

Vivian tugged Grace's hand. "Come, take a sniff. What do I smell like?"

Grace leaned in and sniffed closely. "Just that girly scent, nothing more."

"Really?" Vivian still looked uneasy. "But Edward smells my perfume is different the second he's near."

I floated over to Vivian, curious, and tried to sniff the air. But being a ghost, I couldn't smell a thing.

Grace said, "Maybe your old perfume lingers longer. It'll fade in a few days."

Vivian nodded. "Yeah, that makes sense."

She picked up my signature perfume and spritzed herself a few times.

Then she growled, "Tell the Hart family that I won't let Evelyn be buried as me."

Grace's eyes flickered. She lowered her gaze, murmuring, "Okay."

"Evelyn, don't blame me for being ruthless," Vivian said to her reflection. "How lucky you are to have Edward for five years, and he's way better than your loser father. No, he's better than any man."

Vivian was the illegitimate daughter of the Sutton family. When I was 15, Grandma made my father marry Vivian, who was only five years older than me.

Vivian played all sorts of psychological games to manipulate my dad. In the end, the Hart family and the Sutton family merged.

But I never imagined she'd even dare to go after Edward.

"You should be grateful to me. If I hadn't convinced your dad, you'd never have married Edward and enjoyed his body and his power," Vivian said.

She stroked her own face. "You got your time with him. Guess that means our whole mother-daughter thing wasn't totally pointless."

Hearing that, I just wanted to throw up, but I didn't even have a body to do it with.

Vivian looked away from the mirror. "Grace, did Evelyn ever tell you how often she and Edward sleep together?"

Grace's eyes flickered, and she said, "I heard that whenever Edward came home, he and Evelyn were always glued together."

"That bitch had him all to herself for five years, and still no baby. Guess Edward only used her to pass the time, nothing more," Vivian said sourly.

She wasn't wrong.

Edward had told me I wasn't worthy of bearing his child.

So I'd been secretly taking birth control. I didn't want to bring a child into this world who wasn't even wanted.