Chapter 1

I died on Thanksgiving.

As my soul left my body and drifted back home, I finally understood why my older sister, Aubrey Cochran, had insisted on taking me on a trip.

As it turned out, her biological younger brother, Brent Cochran, wanted to spend some family time without me.

The Cochrans sat around the dinner table, laughing and enjoying themselves, and Brent was the happiest of them all.

"With Gary gone, even the food tastes better!"

Mom and Dad looked uncomfortable, while Aubrey frowned slightly.

"Why do you dislike Gary so much?" she asked. "He's always been good to you, and he's always been well-behaved."

A flash of irritation crossed Brent's eyes. "I just don't like him, okay?" he shot back, raising an eyebrow. "Why does there have to be a reason?"

Aubrey fell silent.

Ever since Brent had been found and brought back to the family, he'd been diagnosed with depression. At home, everyone treated him like royalty. His word was law. If even the slightest thing upset him, he'd throw a tantrum and threaten to end his own life.

No one dared to cross him. When I was still alive, I even went out of my way to avoid him.

"What?" he snapped. "You all miss him now?"

When nobody answered, Brent slammed his fork down on the table.

"I seriously don't get it. I'm your biological son! What on earth is so great about that bastard?"

The mood in the room instantly grew tense. Mom quickly grabbed his hand and soothed him gently, "Don't be upset, Brent. We don't like him. We're just… not used to him not being around."

"If any of you dare bring him up again, I'll run away from home!" Brent threatened.

His face darkened completely as he jerked his hand free from Mom's grasp. "If you all miss him so much, why don't you just bring him home?"

"That's not what we—"

But before Mom could finish placating him, Brent was already spiraling.

"All I wanted was to have one Thanksgiving without him around. Is that a crime? I'm the victim here! He grew up in this family and enjoyed everything that should've belonged to me. I hate him! I'm begging you, can you just stop worrying about him? I really can't take it anymore."

As he spoke, his eyes were red.

Mom and Dad turned pale with panic and hurried to comfort him. Only Aubrey frowned.

"For your sake, I changed the location settings on Gary's watch," she said. "If he gets lost and something happens to him, we'll all be the perpetrators."

Mom shot her a disapproving glare, signaling her to stop talking.

"What could possibly happen to a grown man?" Brent retorted, lifting his chin defiantly. "Is he going to drop dead or something?"

His emotional state was clearly getting worse. With a grim expression, Aubrey stared at him for a long moment before finally sighing and giving in.

"Let's just leave it at this for now. I'll personally go and bring him back after Christmas."

Brent immediately beamed with satisfaction when he heard that.

Meanwhile, floating above them, I let out a bitter scoff.

Brent's words had come true. I really was dead.