Chapter 3

Madison's crying came to an abrupt halt.

I was also stunned. I floated over to look at his solemn expression. Nicholas actually wanted to clear my name?

Ever since Madison came back, his attention had been entirely on her. She argued with me countless times and said all sorts of nasty things.

Even when he asked me to record a clarification video four years ago, he was still filled with anger. "You stole Maddie's life, but you're not even willing to take the blame for her? Have you ever thought about how much Maddie has suffered all these years? All of this is your doing! You’re still unwilling? Okay. Is five million dollars enough for you?"

The orphanage was almost on the verge of closing down. Madison had secretly reported the orphanage for operating illegally, so I had to get that money and take the children away.

Thus, I had no choice but to nod, but he became even more disappointed in me." You really do only care about money after all. How could someone as greedy and vicious like you exist?"

I sighed and heard Madison sniffle."Nicholas, do you think she's not the person in this video?"

He shook his head without hesitation." Although what Astrid has done is unforgivable, she values her innocence the most and would never do such a thing."

I looked over in shock, only to find Madison's fingers, which were under the table, grasping the hem of her dress. "But… a private investigator said that the upload address for the video was from Astrid's rental house… Nicholas, does Astrid want money? Should I transfer some more to her..."

I gasped and shouted, "Impossible! Nicholas, I didn't upload those videos! Nicholas, it really wasn't me!"

I forgot I was already dead. No one could hear my voice, and only Nicholas's shocking raging voice filled the air. "So that's how it is… Astrid really won't change!"

I panicked and reached out to grab Nicholas's arm. However, my fingers passed right through him, and I watched helplessly as his expression darkened, his fist clenching as he walked away.

"In that case, I'll make her pay!"

When I followed Nicholas back to the old orphanage site, it was already the next morning.

Hope Primary School had been built on the old address.

Nicholas stood silently at the door for a long while before gritting his teeth and making a phone call. "I think I know who uploaded the video. Find out the latest address of Starry Orphanage. I suspect Astrid took the five million dollars and ran away with the orphanage kids."

The security guard at the gate was baffled when he heard Nicholas. "What are you talking about? Starry Orphanage is gone; the children are gone. What new address are you even looking for?"

Nicholas was irritated. "Even if they're gone, there's a new address. They can't have just vanished into thin air, right?"

Just then, Madison called, sobbing pitifully as usual, "Nicholas, help me!"

Nicholas's eyes widened instantly as he hurriedly got into his car.

The security guard stood at the gate, looking at Nicholas as if he were a lunatic. "The teachers and children are dead. Isn't that equivalent to vanishing into thin air?"

A jumble of emotions washed over me. If I had been faster four years ago and had gotten back to the apartment to get what she wanted before Madison threatened to set the orphanage on fire, could I have avoided that man and saved them? However, I was already dead; there was no use crying over spilt milk.

When Nicholas rushed back, Madison was being besieged by reporters.

"Ms. Rhode, are you the person in those videos?"

"You said it's that fake heiress, Astrid, who looks a lot like you, but Astrid has not shown up so far. Is it because the PR deal fell through, or..."