Chapter 2

Edward's company had just launched a new project.

I couldn't tell if he was avoiding me or just too wiped out to come home. Night after night, he slept at the office.

I'd been dead for three days now, and nobody had even noticed.

There was a knock at the door.

The secretary stepped in as Edward rubbed his aching forehead.

"Mr. Foster, the project's wrapped up. You don't have to stay late anymore. Let me drive you home," the secretary offered.

Edward picked up his phone and checked the screen. His brows slowly drew together.

"Is something wrong?" the secretary asked.

"Has Grace been here at all in the past three days?" Edward asked.

"Mrs. Foster? No, she hasn't," the secretary said, shaking his head.

Edward let out a quiet scoff. "So she's really planning to keep this up?"

I was already dead, and he still thought we were in some kind of standoff, waiting to see who gave in first.

Edward set his phone down, his lips pressed tightly together.

"It's strange, though. Whenever you worked late, Mrs. Foster always brought you something to eat. She was always worried you'd ruin your stomach by overworking. But she hasn't shown up once these past few days," the secretary said.

"Maybe she's still upset about what happened last time," the secretary added.

Last time, I showed up at the office and walked in on Claire sitting in Edward's office, eating the late-night snack I'd made just for him.

I stormed in, pissed off, and shoved her without thinking.

But Edward jumped in to defend her.

He said I was overreacting and Claire had no idea the snack was meant for him.

She didn't know?

The box was heart-shaped. Anyone with common sense could tell who it was for.

And I clearly saw the smug look on her face when she thought I wasn't watching.

Since we were kids, I never once doubted that Edward would marry me.

But then, in high school, Claire came between us.

She had a serious heart condition, and her teary eyes always made people soften.

Edward and I were like two strong trees growing side by side.

Claire was like a vine. She wrapped herself around Edward, clinging to him tightly.

Her weakness always showed up at the perfect moment. Her troubles always felt reasonable and unavoidable.

Edward could never bring himself to refuse her.

Even on the night before our wedding, I couldn't stop myself from feeling jealous of Claire.

Edward slung on his coat and said, "Let's go to the hotel."

The secretary hesitated and then followed. "Aren't you going back to Seaview Manor?"

"No. Book me another week at the hotel. If she doesn't want to see me, fine. Guess we both need some space," Edward said, his voice cool.

What were we even taking space for?

Was he saying that if this so-called break didn't fix things, we just ended it?

Or did he think this was just a misunderstanding, and I was supposed to reflect on myself?

Too bad. No matter how long he waited, I wouldn't be able to give him an answer anymore.

Edward stepped into the hotel and then suddenly stopped.

"What day is it today?" he asked.

"It's Valentine's Day," the secretary replied.

Edward glanced around the lobby. Nearly every woman was holding a bouquet of flowers. He lowered his eyes.

"Where are you going, Mr. Foster?" the secretary asked, a bit confused.

Edward turned and walked back out. Instead of checking in, he headed straight into the jewelry store next door.

"Welcome, sir. Is there anything you're looking for?" the salesperson greeted him with a smile.

Edward's eyes swept across the center display case and landed on a pink diamond necklace.

"You have great taste, sir. That necklace is one of our limited edition pieces," the salesperson said.

"Can I see that one?" Edward asked.

The salesperson took it out at once.

Edward held the necklace and looked it over carefully.

"I'll take it. Please wrap it up," he said.

Just then, a middle-aged man in a baseball cap walked in.

"You guys sell jewelry here? What about buying it back?" he asked, his voice rough and deep.

The man lifted his head slightly.

The moment I saw his face, my entire body went cold.

It was the driver who'd hit me.

The salesperson was clearly taken aback by his rough, intimidating vibe.

She stared at him for a couple of seconds before finally replying, "Sorry, but we don't buy jewelry here, sir."

The man pressed on, "The ring's got a flawless diamond. You really won't take it?"

The salesperson hesitated and then softened. "Let me take a look at it first."

The man pulled out a small box from his jacket and dumped a diamond ring onto the counter.

My mind went blank.

It was the exact wedding ring he'd snatched off my finger.

It looked like he was to pawn it for some quick cash.

The store lights glinted off the diamond, making it shine sharply.

I was so nervous I could barely breathe.

If Edward just glanced over and took a proper look, he'd recognize it as the wedding ring he gave me. And then he would realize something terrible had happened to me.

The salesperson picked up the diamond ring and examined it closely.

"This diamond is huge. At least three carats. Is this your ring, sir?" the salesperson asked.

Suspicion crept into her voice.

Just then, Edward turned his head.

"It's not mine. It's a friend's," the man said, getting nervous as he quickly grabbed the ring back.

"Forget it if you're not buying," he muttered.

He shoved the ring into his pocket, shot Edward a quick glance, and rushed out of the store.

Edward watched the man walk away, his eyes glued to the man's back.

"Is something wrong?" the secretary asked.

"Did you see that ring just now? Didn't it look like Grace's wedding ring?" Edward said quietly.

"Really? Sorry, Mr. Foster, I was sorting out tomorrow's meeting and didn't pay attention," the secretary replied.

"Should I go after him and check?" the secretary offered.

"No. I must have been mistaken," Edward said.

Why didn't they just go over and check?

All the tension drained out of me, leaving nothing but emptiness.

The man who killed me was right there, but I could do nothing. No way could I get revenge or bring him to justice.