Chapter 3

I started paying close attention to Felix's spirit.

Maybe being too far from his body affected his chances of returning. Most of the time, he stayed in the hospital room, only wandering off when the weather was nice.

The last time he'd gone that far was to see Sienna.

Now that he was over her, he stayed put.

While I took care of Felix, his spirit never stopped talking.

"How does Ruth know I love opera? She must've done her research. Not bad. But how come she didn't figure out my favorite snack is blue cheese? I tried it once and got hooked. She keeps making me smell apples every day. I'm over it."

The next day, I bought a small wedge of imported blue cheese.

Back at the hospital, I unwrapped it right in front of him.

"How much should I cut?"

I'd gotten a lot bolder.

I even played with his fingers, bending them into a six, then an eight.

At first, his spirit hated it.

"Hey! Stop that! Nobody's ever treated me like this. Do I look like a toy to you?"

Eventually, he got used to it.

He'd roll his eyes, but the corners of his mouth always twitched up.

The second the smell of blue cheese filled the room, his eyes lit up.

His will to live seemed stronger than ever. "I've missed that smell so much... I need to wake up already so I can eat it with Ruth."

The moment he said that, the lines on the heart monitor flickered.

I picked up a small piece of cheese and carefully took my first bite.

"Felix, you know something? Thanks to you, this is the first time I've ever eaten something this fancy. Back home, I barely ever got good snacks. So yeah, this is my first time trying something this expensive."

His spirit froze.

By now, I was used to his face.

I talked to him like he was a friend.

"Your mom thought I was working hard and gave me ten thousand dollars. Back home, I had to take care of my parents and Sienna. Before that, it was my grandparents. Now I only have to take care of you. Honestly, it's easier."

His spirit drifted over and stared at me quietly.

That day, I told him everything.

How my parents treated me.

How Sienna bullied me for years.

After finally getting it all out, I felt like I could breathe again.

His eyes turned red.

"Are Ruth's parents insane? Why wouldn't they dote on their own flesh and blood, but pamper an entitled, spoiled brat of an adopted daughter instead?"

I was a little touched.

But I didn't need revenge.

As long as the twenty million hit my account, I'd be grateful.

After that, Felix's spirit and I grew a lot closer.

I still acted like I couldn't see him, but I always gave him what he wanted.

He stayed by my side constantly, watching everything I did.

Four months passed like that.

Then one day, while I was bending Felix's fingers again—

His finger suddenly moved on its own.

His spirit stared in shock. "My nerves and muscles are responding. That means my brain's recovering. Am I finally about to go back?"

I was thrilled and immediately told Penelope.

The news spread fast.

Soon, a team of experts arrived to examine Felix.

And not long after, Sienna stormed into the room.

She shot the unconscious Felix a look of disgust, then dragged me out into the hall.

"I heard Felix's about to wake up."

When I didn't answer, she slapped me.

"You really think you're engaged to some old-money heir now? Who gave you the right to act like that?"

Felix's spirit clenched his jaw. "Ruth, are you serious? Hit her back! I've got you. You're not gonna do it? Fine. I'll do it myself."

He swung at her.

The punch only stirred a cold gust of air.

Sienna jabbed a finger at my face.

"If Felix wakes up, you'd better disappear. I'll make him believe I've been the one taking care of him this whole time. I'm the girl he loves. When he wakes up, he'll marry me. Not you."