Chapter 3

It didn't take long for the waiter to return.

He looked visibly flustered, though he quickly forced himself to regain composure after catching Helen's darkened expression. "Ms. Kerr… There's no one on the terrace."

"No one?"

Helen's brow furrowed tight. "He ran off?"

"He must have left," the waiter replied, keeping his head down.

He didn't dare mention the single leather shoe left behind on the terrace, nor did he mention how strange the disturbed snow beneath the railing looked.

It was better to avoid unnecessary trouble. Who would want to ruin the happy occasion for the boss?

"Good riddance."

Helen let out a breath of relief, a flicker of disdain crossing her eyes. "I knew he was just putting on a show. He acted like he was on the brink of death one second, then vanished the next. A man full of lies like him really disgusts me."

Austin exhaled too, patting his chest. "I'm just glad he left. I was genuinely worried he might do something reckless."

"Reckless? Him?"

Helen sneered, slipping her arm through Austin's. "He loves his life more than anyone. He would stop at nothing to gain wealth and the title of my husband. Don't worry. Even if the rest of the world dropped dead, he'd still cling to life."

My heart felt as if it were being crushed by an invisible hand.

Even though it had stopped beating, the suffocating pain still made me want to curl up.

So, in her eyes, I was just a money-hungry coward.

Had she forgotten that she was the one who begged me to marry her?

She had stood outside my apartment all night in a snowstorm, swearing that I was the one she loved most.

Those vows sound like nothing more than a cruel joke now.

The party went on.

A massive three-tiered cake was wheeled out.

Helen held Austin's hand as they sliced into it together.

The heavy scent of sweet frosting filled the air.

I floated beside the cake and stared at the delicate pair of sugar figurines on top. They really did look just like them.

For the past six months, stomach cancer had robbed me of the ability to eat almost anything.

I had been surviving strictly on IV fluids. I couldn't even remember what cake tasted like anymore.

I reached out my hand, wanting to scoop up just a tiny taste of cream.

My fingers passed straight through the frosting, creating nothing more than a weak current of air.

I couldn't even have a single bite of sweetness.

Disappointed, I pulled my hand back and crouched beneath the table, wrapping my arms around my transparent knees.

"It's fine. It's not like… I can feel hungry anymore. It really… doesn't matter." I repeated it to myself over and over.

Yet, tears still managed to fall.

Could ghosts cry too?

If so, they must be the bitterest tears in the world.

Late into the night, the guests finally dispersed.

Helen brought Austin back to the mansion that was once ours but now belonged to them.

The place was once a home I had decorated piece by piece.

The beige curtains I chose, the pothos plants I nursed, and the matching couple's slippers I bought were all gone.

The entryway was replaced with the rug Austin preferred, and the living room was filled with his favorite lilies—flowers I was deathly allergic to, which had never been allowed in our house before.

"Helen, I'm so happy tonight," Austin whispered, wrapping his arms around her waist.

"But… We still haven't heard from Reuben. I'm still a little worried. His phone goes straight to voicemail. What if something actually happened to him?"

Helen's hand paused as she unclasped her necklace.

Then, she scoffed. "What could possibly happen to him? He's probably hiding out in some hotel right now, scheming how to leak things to the press and extort me for cash.

"Just ignore him. Tomorrow, I'll have the lawyers file for divorce. Since he chose to make things difficult, he can't blame me for showing no mercy."

Showing no mercy?

Since when had she shown me any mercy?