Chapter 2

"I don't want to lose any of this, Bette. I'm gonna need you to do this for me one last time!"

He bribed the doctor on duty to remove my respirator during the operation. I died in agony.

After my death became public, Emil put his Oscar-worthy acting skills on full display and cried like the tragic hero of a heartbreaking drama. His fans claimed they had never seen a man with such profound emotion and devotion, which only made them adore him even more.

Overnight, every doubt about his legitimacy vanished, replaced by sympathy and even stronger public support. His fame reached new heights.

His agency was ecstatic and booked him for more interviews, talk shows, and God knows what else. One collaboration followed another, along with one endorsement after another. He had found an endless stream of money, and he reveled in it.

Now that the public's attention had shifted completely away from me, he forgot all about my corpse.

Had it not been for a certain someone, my body would never have received a proper burial.

…

The thought of that man's handsome face suddenly made me want to leave.

While Emil continued putting on a spectacle for the media and his fans, I rose to my feet and headed for the exit.

He noticed me leaving and assumed I was jealous because he had embraced the actress. Irritation flashed across his face, and he immediately sent me a series of text messages.

Emil: [What the hell? Leaving in the middle of the ceremony? Why? Because I was pretending to have a thing with an actress? Grow up already. It's showbiz. I'm doing this for the attention!]

Emil: [Or were you upset that I didn't mention your name in my speech? If that's the reason, then I don't even know what to say to you. I thought we were past that kind of dramatic, performative display of affection!]

Emil: [Other people might make up stories about me and Helena, but you of all people should know there's nothing between us! Come on!]

Emil: [This is the day I win an Oscar. You know how much this means to me! So stop being a bitch on the most important day of my life!]

Wow. He was already that quick to resort to insults and verbal abuse. My only response was to block his number and look for the young man who had retrieved my body.

I remembered him as an unknown actor who kept getting sidelined by the company for being too honest and straightforward. He had been acting professionally for three years and still hadn't gained any recognition.

I knew who he was, though. He frequently appeared in the same productions as Emil. He was always the unnamed extra while Emil played the lead.

Whenever I visited the set, Emil was always too busy for me. He all but ignored me because he had countless scenes to film, and he rarely even bothered to greet me.

On the other hand, that young man would always bring me something warm to drink while I waited. Sometimes, he would chat with me for a while. Other times, he would simply greet me before returning to work. He never once made me feel uncomfortable or overstepped any boundaries.

I still didn't know why he had cared enough to give me a proper burial. Maybe he was simply that kind. Maybe he felt sorry for someone he at least knew in passing. Or maybe it was because...

I would never know, would I?

What I did know was that, with my second chance at life, I was going to spend my money on someone else.

"Miss Colbert?"

I looked up. The young man who had occupied my thoughts stood before me, his lanky frame wrapped in a thick black parka. He looked at me with gentle eyes.

I remembered the expression on his face when he retrieved my corpse. He had been crying. His eyes had been red, and his entire body had trembled.

A lump suddenly rose in my throat.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"My agent told me to experience the vibe of the Academy Awards... from here," he replied with an embarrassed smile.

That was a lie. He had come to make himself a little more visible, hoping some of the attention surrounding the red carpet might spill over onto him.

Unfortunately, he hadn't been formally invited, so he didn't have a seat inside. Once the red carpet festivities ended, all he could do was remain outside.

I smiled and stepped toward him. "Come on. You're not gonna experience much of the vibe from out here. Let's get you inside."

He stared at me in disbelief. "I-I'd be honored!"