Chapter 2

The little boy ghost told me his name was Eddie Lang. He'd died not too long ago, and since no family had come to claim him, his soul had stayed at the hospital.

We ran into quite a few people who had already passed on in different corners of the hospital. They all seemed to have forgotten they were dead and rushed around like they used to when they were alive.

Some ghosts crouched, smoking with gloomy looks on their faces. Some stood among the crowd, staring blankly at everything around them. I even spotted the ghost of a security guard. He stood ramrod straight in the lobby, taking his job seriously. He greeted every person who passed by, saluting them one by one.

But no one could see him, so of course no one responded.

My chest suddenly tightened. I didn't know why, but out of nowhere, I thought of my relationship with Anthony over the years.

He'd always treated me like this, too—like I wasn't even there. From the time he dumped the dinner I'd spent two hours cooking straight into the trash, to all the times I literally used my own blood to keep his precious true love alive…

All these years, no matter how much I did, he never once really saw me. Unlike these ghosts, he watched my sincerity and devotion to him get trampled right in front of his eyes.

While I was lost in thought, a man suddenly walked straight through the security guard's body. I froze when I saw that familiar figure. It was my husband, Anthony.

He was tall and lean, with striking features. He wore handmade leather shoes and a perfectly tailored suit, his whole vibe cold and unapproachable. Even in the middle of the crowd, he looked sharp and dazzling.

However, he had a dark look on his face, clearly displeased.

Eddie and I followed Anthony. He was making a call, and I saw my own number on the screen. Was he trying to call me?

Because the nurse had ultimately failed to reach him, my phone had already been taken to the storage room. By now, the battery was probably dead.

Sure enough, the call didn't go through. The look on Anthony's face turned uglier as he fired off a text. "Willow Shore, you have three minutes. Get to the hospital right now. If you're not here by then, be prepared to face the consequences!"

Next to me, Eddie clasped his hands to his chest, looking starry-eyed. "Whoa, he's a total domineering CEO. He's so cool."

I let out a self-deprecating laugh. "Yeah."

To me, Anthony had always been cool. His gentle side was reserved entirely for Maisie.

Eddie and I watched as Anthony walked into the room next door. It was the most luxurious private suite in the entire hospital. Maisie lay on the bed inside, thin and frail, her face pale. She had that delicate, fragile look that made people instinctively want to protect her.

"Tony, you're back. Did you manage to get in touch with Willow?"

"Her phone's off," Anthony replied, clenching his jaw.

Maisie's face turned even paler. "Don't be mad at her. I know she's always hated me all these years. She thinks I stole you from her. But how can I control who I fall in love with? I'm sorry about this, but I genuinely love you. I just… I couldn't watch you be with her.

"Can you promise me something? Will you divorce her before I die? Back then, I was forced to stay abroad and couldn't come back. Ever since then, I've been terrified of being alone…"

Her voice broke.

Anthony pulled her into his arms, stopping her from saying anything else. His voice was gentle and soothing as he said, "You're going to be fine. Other hospitals have blood banks, too. I've already sent people to get more of your blood type.

"And don't worry about Willow. Even if I have to turn this city upside down, I'll drag her out from wherever she's hiding."

The moment he mentioned me, his expression frosted over again. That was how he had always been with me—aloof, cold, and contemptuous.