Chapter 4 I Signed It All

The next day, I went back anyway.

Not to apologize to Lexi. The funeral home had sent over some promotional items, and I was genuinely curious to see what I would be buried in after I died.

The moment I stepped inside, I heard crying.

Lachlan was sitting on the living room floor in my pajamas. Lexi stood beside him, looking concerned as she kept softly comforting him.

She pointed at the burial clothes and miniature funeral items scattered inside the open package, her expression darkening.

"Ryder, even if you don't like Lachlan staying here, you shouldn't buy things like this just to scare him."

I glanced at the open box. "Why did he open someone else's package? If he hadn't opened it, he wouldn't have seen any of this."

Lexi was speechless for a moment.

Lachlan started crying even harder.

"I wasn't trying to scare him," I said calmly. "I bought all of this for myself."

She shot to her feet. "I think you've lost your mind. The more you talk, the crazier you sound."

I ignored her, took the burial clothes out of the box, and held them up in front of the full-length mirror.

The style was fine. They were just a little too loose.

It was not the store's fault. Out of habit, I had ordered my old size and forgotten that I had spent ten days being tortured in the basement and lost 20 pounds. No wonder I had ended up with clothes a size too big.

Lexi hurried over and yanked the burial clothes out of my hands. "Let's forget what happened today, but don't ever do anything this morbid again."

It was almost laughable.

She was telling a dying man that his burial clothes were too morbid.

When she saw me laugh, she sighed. "Ryder, I've really spoiled you. That's why you think you can get away with this kind of nonsense. Forget it. You're injured, so I'll let it go for now. But…"

Her tone suddenly changed. "You haven't gone back to work since you were discharged. Lachlan has been running around taking care of everything these past few days. Give the vice president position to Lachlan for now. That way, he can help with your work."

So, that was why she was letting me off so easily. She wanted to get Lachlan the vice president position.

I was dying anyway. What did I have left to fight for?

"Fine. Do it your way."

"There are a few more documents. Sign these while you're at it." Lexi looked at me.

I had always been careful about what I signed. Every time, I made a point of quickly reading through the terms first.

This time was no different.

The first document removed me from my position as vice president. I signed it.

The second transferred several properties and luxury cars in my name to Lachlan. I signed that one without hesitation too.

Lexi looked uneasy. "Ryder, let me explain…"

I did not respond. I moved on to the third document.

She reached out to stop me. "Don't bother reading it. Just sign it and get some rest."

I said nothing and opened it anyway.

It was a transfer of shares. The 30% stake Lexi had given me before was being transferred to Lachlan.

I looked up at her. I had not realized Lexi loved Lachlan enough to give him part of the company.

Lexi looked guilty. She reached for the hand holding my pen. "You don't have to sign this one."

I signed it quickly, tossed the pen aside, grabbed my package, and headed for the door.

"Wait!" Lexi called after me. "Why do you look so pale? Did you forget to take your medication?"

She did not know that after the liver donation surgery, taking my old medication would only make me die faster.

I shook my head. "I won't die in front of you."

A strange sense of panic suddenly gripped Lexi. "I'll heat up the lunch I made for you."