Chapter 3
Night had fallen, and Edward still hadn't come home.
Vivian got tired of waiting and went to bed, telling the housekeeper Ryan Jones to wake her up as soon as Edward got back.
I wanted to float out, but the second I hit the doorway, some weird force yanked me back. There was no way I could get far.
I ended up back in the room, plopped myself onto the hanging chair on the balcony, and stared at the distant city lights.
These past few years, the Blackwood family had been growing stronger under the radar.
The Harts and the other rich families thought they could buy Edward off with women and treasures. They were way too naive.
Edward had been biding his time for years, waiting to take them down in one blow.
I was planning to tell Dad everything I'd learned. But before I could even open my mouth, I got choked to death.
I touched my neck, and the pain from my death still seemed to be there.
Even now, as a ghost, I couldn't shake off that choking pain.
Edward had been gone for two nights and a day.
By the time he finally showed up again, it was already afternoon. Vivian had whipped up a gorgeous meal for him.
I drifted weakly by the square dining table. Honestly, her cooking was impossible to fault. Even as a ghost, I found myself swallowing at the spread.
Technically, I was a starving spirit who got strangled to death.
Before I died, I barely ate for almost a month. I had no appetite and felt groggy all day long.
When I finally made it back to the Hart family, I didn't even get a bite before Vivian covered my mouth and nose and strangled me.
Strangely enough, now that I was a ghost, I could feel hunger again.
Vivian had hardly eaten anything lately, trying to keep her figure in check. But with Edward sitting right next to her, and her goal finally within reach, her appetite came roaring back.
But Edward didn't budge. He looked at her sideways, his eyes sizing her up.
"Honey?" Vivian gave him a puzzled look.
"Your appetite's back?" Edward's eyes were deep and unreadable as ever.
Vivian's face changed instantly. She realized she'd let something slip.
She lowered her head and muttered, "I was so happy to see you come home, so..."
"Ryan said you haven't been eating well these past two months. I've asked the doctor to come and check on you later." Edward's tone was as icy as ever.
Panic flashed in Vivian's eyes. I knew what she was scared of.
No matter how flawless her disguise, even if she was a perfect copy on the outside, she couldn't change her insides, her blood.
The Blackwood family's doctor was top-notch, but I never thought Edward would be so concerned about my health.
I'd gotten sick before, but Ryan would go to the hospital, pick up some medicine, and bring it back for me.
Vivian was nervous, but she couldn't come up with any excuse to say no. Not that she even dared to refuse.
She secretly texted Grace, trying to find out what my health was usually like.
Grace replied quickly: [Evelyn always said she couldn't keep anything down. Even if she forced herself to eat, she'd throw it all up right away. Nothing else from her.]
Vivian paused for a bit before texting back. [Sounds like she was pregnant. Isn't that just morning sickness?]
Grace replied: [Don't worry. Pregnant or not, she's dead now.]
I looked away, letting my eyes drift elsewhere.
I rested my hand on my belly.
Was I pregnant?
But I was already dead.