Chapter 1

Three years after my death, my soul was still trapped next to Katrina Cobb.

I witnessed how that once vibrant and bright young woman eventually turned into a cripple. She was hunched over, rummaging through a pile of rotting garbage.

I floated above her head, looking at her messy, straw-like hair, my heart aching for her. I wanted to cry, but I couldn't shed a single tear.

"Trina, please, stop picking at the trash. Your hands are all cut…"

My ghost-like fingers went right through her filthy cheeks.

Yet, she couldn't hear me. She just numbly turned her wheelchair around, preparing to rummage in the next garbage can.

Just then, a black car got in her way. The car window slowly rolled down, revealing two familiar faces.

It was Mom and Dad, my biological parents, whom I hadn't seen for three years.

In that instant, I felt my soul tremble involuntarily.

"Oh, isn't this that poor little girl from back then?"

Mom took off her sunglasses and pulled a handkerchief from her bag, covering her nose with it.

"How did you end up like this? Weren't you so tough when you ran off with Joshua?"

She glanced at Katrina with disdain, her tone laced with condescension.

Dad was sitting in the driver's seat. He didn't even bother to get out of the car, simply scoffing coldly as he said, "I told you that you'd never amount to anything. That stupid son of mine was blind indeed, giving up a perfectly good life as a rich heir to suffer with someone like you."

I floated mid-air, watching their condescending attitude and feeling a chill run down my spine. They thought I was hiding from them in shame, but they didn't know that I was long dead.

I died on the day they thought Katrina and I "eloped".

Three years ago, Katrina's mom, Sally Krueger, fell seriously ill and wanted to see me one last time. She was my adoptive mother and she'd cared for me for over 20 years before I was found and returned to the Norman family.

Back then, I rushed to the hospital with Katrina, only to be stopped by the fake heir, Jayson Norman.

In a moment of panic, I yelled at him, and he tumbled down the stairs. Mom and Dad happened to come home just then and saw us. I had no way to defend myself, and my mind was also preoccupied with the thought that I had to see Sally as soon as possible. So, I left the villa without getting the chance to explain anything to Mom or Dad.

Later, Jayson twisted the truth in front of Mom and Dad, accusing me of pushing him down the stairs so I could elope with Katrina.

Of course, Mom and Dad believed him without a doubt. To this day, they still believed that I had eloped with Katrina.

"Where is he?" Mom urged impatiently. "Tell him to stop hiding and get out here right now. We have arranged a marriage for him. The woman is a little older, but she doesn't mind his past. If he agrees to the marriage, he won't have to suffer here with you anymore."

"Yes," Dad chimed in, his tone full of condescension. "We're only doing this because we're soft-hearted. Look at Jay and how sensible he's been these past few years. He even tried to persuade us to forgive Josh for years. If it were anyone else, they would have disowned him a long time ago."

I heard them say my name, and I suddenly began trembling very hard.

Ever since the day I was found and brought home, Jayson had seen me as a thorn in his side, deliberately putting me in situations that would make Mom and Dad despise me.

I waved my arms angrily in the air, but no one could see me.

Katrina slowly raised her head, her bloodshot eyes fixed on the two people in the car.

"You will never see him again."