Chapter 3

The papers inside the folder scattered all over the floor. Matt picked one up. The moment he glanced at it, his eyes widened.

It was a foreign bank statement, and the account holder's name was listed as Natalia Yates. The most recent transaction was dated yesterday, and the location was a luxury casino in Lintor.

"Natalia was still using this account to live it up at a casino overseas as of yesterday! She's always one step ahead. We can't seem to catch her. Don't listen to Simon. Why would I ever harm you?"

Matt gripped the paper, his knuckles turning white as he wrestled with his doubts.

Seeing this, Shannon cried even harder. "Matt, did you forget how your father died? It doesn't matter whether Natalia really betrayed you. She approached you with ulterior motives. She also scammed you out of a ton of money. And she really did steal the secret key, causing your father to have a fatal heart attack.

"Now you're going to let Simon, someone who worked with her, make you doubt me?"

Matt put down the paper, then reached out and pulled Shannon into his arms, lowering his head to kiss her hair. He said, "I'm sorry. I was wrong. I should've known from the start that Natalia was no good, and neither was Simon. I shouldn't have doubted you and treated you so coldly.

"I promise I'll deal with Simon right away. Then, we'll get married, okay?"

Shannon broke into a smile through her tears. She stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek, nodding hard. "Okay."

When Matt returned to the water prison under the cover of night, Simon knew he was going to die.

Matt raised his gun and asked Simon one last time, "Where exactly is Natalia?"

Simon stared at the gun and gave a bitter smile. He tilted his head back and looked into the empty air, his eyes landing right where I was floating.

For a moment, I almost thought he could see me.

But Simon quickly looked away and murmured, "I don't know where she is either. I miss her too."

The gunshot rang out, making Shannon, who had been waiting outside, flinch.

Simon collapsed into a pool of blood.

Matt just stood there and stared at Simon for a long while before finally walking out, the smell of blood clinging to his clothes. He glanced at Shannon, whose face had gone pale, and patted her head.

"I'm sorry. That must have scared you. I should've said no when you insisted on coming with me. I'll forget about Natalia. Let's just live our lives in peace from now on."

The color slowly returned to Shannon's face. A bright smile suddenly spread across her face, as if she'd finally gotten what she'd been waiting for.

"Matt, I'm so glad you're finally willing to move on from her. Let's go home. We'll go to the city hall first thing tomorrow morning and make it official."

On the way back, Matt instructed Adam to stop looking into my whereabouts. As if he were determined to let me go for good, he also had the housekeepers clear out the room I'd once lived in. My clothes, decorations, and everything that proved I'd once been there were thrown away.

I watched in silence, happy for him, yet I still cried my heart out. My body slowly began to turn transparent.

People often said that a soul lingered because someone couldn't let go of them. If Matt had decided to move on from me, then maybe I was about to truly disappear too.

I was just a little sad.

I hadn't had the chance to tell him that I really was a bad woman. When I fell in love with him, my identity was fake, my family background was fake, and even my name was fake.

But my love for him was genuine. I had given him the only bit of sincerity I had left in this life. Even if it cost me my life, I had no regrets.

…

Early the next morning, Shannon dragged Matt to the city hall. I floated beside them, watching the staff smile as they guided them through the forms and asked for their information to register their marriage.

Shannon excitedly handed over her ID and turned to Matt. "Matt, hurry up and give her your ID. Once she enters our information into the system, we'll officially be husband and wife!"

Matt took a deep breath, as if he'd finally made up his mind. He pulled out his ID and was just about to hand it over when a hand suddenly reached out and grabbed his wrist.

He turned his head and saw two police officers standing behind him.

"Mr. Lewinsky, we need your cooperation on an urgent matter at the police station. Please come with us."