Chapter 2

"Call him down? With the sour face he pulls every day, he'd just ruin our appetites," Dad said with a huff.

Mom's expression stiffened too. Then, Shelby quickly stepped in with a gentle remark. "It's fine, Sam. Nick shouldn't be having seafood in his current condition. It might trigger an allergic reaction and cause swelling.

"Besides, he's been in a foul mood lately and keeps himself locked up in his room. He doesn't want to see anyone. You should all go ahead and eat. I'll bring him something light later."

Hearing that, Mom immediately breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness we have you taking care of Nick. Otherwise, we old folks really wouldn't know what to do."

I let out a quiet laugh.

"Why are you so relieved, Mom? Because Shelby seems like a perfect daughter-in-law? Or because you don't have to deal with me anymore after handing me over to her? But Mom, you don't need to avoid me anymore. I'm already dead. My body was right there in front of you!" I thought.

"Forget about that killjoy! How long has it been since the surgery?" Dad exclaimed, looking annoyed. "Sam is already up and running, and he's recovering so well! Nick's the only one being overly dramatic! He locks himself in his room all day with a sour face, acting like the whole family owes him something!"

Samuel immediately lowered his head and scooped some salad onto a plate. "Don't say that, Dad. After all, Nick only ended up like this because he saved me. Let me bring Nick his food, okay? It's been so long, and I haven't properly thanked him in person yet. Maybe it'll cheer him up a little."

A flash of admiration appeared in Shelby's eyes. "How kind of you, Sam. Let's go ahead with your suggestion."

If souls could throw up, I probably would have messed up the entire dining room by now. But the two of them simply picked up the tray and walked upstairs side by side.

Suddenly, Shelby's phone buzzed in her pocket. She glanced at the screen, her expression shifting slightly, and let go of Samuel's arm. "Sam, wait for me. I need to take a work call."

Samuel nodded.

Shelby walked to the balcony at the end of the hallway and lowered her voice to answer the call.

A harsh roar came through the phone. "Shelby, where the hell is my money? You Holloways are nothing but a hollow shell! If you don't pay back that 50 million you owe me, I'll sell you off myself!"

"Evan, please give me a few more days! Really!" She wiped the cold sweat from her forehead and explained urgently, "I've been taking care of Nick every day. Those two old fossils trust me completely now. And Samuel is almost wrapped around my finger!

"They'll definitely leave the family fortune to their biological son! As soon as I marry Samuel, I'll pay you back with interest!"

My soul felt as if it had been struck by lightning, and I froze in place. I used to think that even if Shelby had fallen for Samuel, she had at least fulfilled her duty as my childhood sweetheart by taking care of me for so long.

But it turned out that her kindness toward me was only so she could stay in the Caldwell family under the guise of being my fiancee. Even Samuel was just a stepping stone for her to drain the family dry!

Rage burned in my chest. I wanted nothing more than to expose everything to Mom and Dad and rip off her mask. But when I turned, Samuel was already standing at the door of my room, his hand on the doorknob, about to push it open.

My heart rose in my throat again. The room was empty now. If they went in, would they find out I was already dead?

"Sam!"