Chapter 2

I floated there in midair, listening to Matt's words, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

Should I laugh because at least Matt still hated me? As long as he hated me, he wouldn't forget me.

Or should I cry because I had been dead for so long that I couldn't even remember how I died? I couldn't even let him take his anger out on me anymore.

Shannon curled her lips into a satisfied smile. "Matt, as long as you get over her, whether she's alive or not doesn't matter anymore. Come on. Since you're free, come with me to try on some wedding dresses."

My soul was bound to Matt, and I couldn't leave his side, so I had no choice but to follow them to the bridal shop.

Shannon tried on one expensive custom-made wedding dress after another, each one bringing out her beauty even more. She stood beside Matt with a bright smile, looking like they were made for each other.

All of a sudden, I really hoped Matt had moved on from me. After all, he couldn't spend the rest of his life pining over a dead woman.

But when I looked over, I found him staring at the wedding dress in the mirror, lost in thought. His eyes were blank, as if he were looking at something else through it.

"Matt! Hey, Matt!" Shannon had to call his name twice before he finally snapped out of it.

Matt turned his head and gave her a halfhearted answer. "You look beautiful. The wedding dress looks great on you too."

Shannon pouted in annoyance. "But I was asking if this necklace goes with it!"

Matt paused, then gave her an awkward smile. "Sorry. I was thinking about the merger. Why don't we come back another day? I just remembered that there's a detail in the merger deal that doesn't add up. I need to go back to the office and sort it out. I'll have the driver take you home."

Then, he hurried out without even waiting for Shannon to answer.

Matt went to see Simon Hale again.

Simon was almost beaten to a pulp, his body covered in blood as he curled up in a corner, struggling to breathe.

Matt bent down and nudged him with his foot. "Are you still refusing to talk?"

Simon struggled to open his swollen eyes, his voice barely a whisper. "Mr. Lewinsky, I've already told you. Natalia really is dead. The person who worked with our boss from the inside all those years ago was your fiancée, Shannon. What else do you want me to say?"

Matt kicked Simon hard, barely containing his rage. "I want you to tell me the truth! Stop trying to drive a wedge between Shannon and me. We grew up together. She has no reason to hurt my family. Who told you to say this? Natalia?

"She ran off with the investment money and stole the secret key. She nearly drove the Lewinsky family into bankruptcy and caused my father to die of shock. Is she still refusing to leave me alone, making you tell these lies to deceive me again?"

Simon groaned and then burst into a crazed laughter. He stared straight at Matt. "Mr. Lewinsky, everything I've said is the truth. Do you not believe me, or are you afraid to believe me?"

Matt fell silent.

Simon saw through the pain and struggle in Matt's eyes. Blood and tears trickled from the corners of his eyes as he gave a bitter smile and sighed. "Natalia, what a waste that you died like this…"

Then, he passed out completely.

Honestly, I didn't think it was a waste.

Natalia was the name my leader, Bernard Hale, gave me. Just like Renee Dunn, I was bought by him from some remote mountain village. We were raised and trained for one purpose, and that was to trick wealthy men like Matt into giving up their money and assets.

Simon told me multiple times, "Don't fall for him. If Mr. Hale finds out, you'll die. He won't let you go!"

I didn't listen to him, so ending up like this was simply the price I paid for losing the bet.

At least Matt was still alive.

I got this life by sheer luck in the first place. There was nothing worth regretting.

Matt still took Simon's words to heart. He began distancing himself from Shannon, postponed their wedding, and even had people secretly investigate her.

Shannon couldn't figure out why. It wasn't until she managed to get the truth out of one of the bodyguards that she realized what was going on.

She stormed into Matt's office and threw the folder onto his desk, looking at him with hurt and anger. "Matt, Natalia fooled you again!"