Chapter 4

Jameson got out of the car without a word.

He still believed I'd run away from home in a fit of childish anger. Every time someone brought me up, he looked disgusted, like I'd embarrassed him.

Caitlyn snapped, "What could possibly be more important than Isabella's competition? I think Mia did it on purpose. She saw Isabella win and couldn't handle it, so she stayed away out of jealousy."

Before I turned thirteen, Caitlyn had treated me well.

Everything changed after Isabella reunited with my parents.

In Caitlyn's eyes, I was just a delicate, pretty face, no different from those seductive women outside. But Isabella was different—confident, capable, dazzling.

She was the kind of woman who shone.

And I… I would never measure up.

I looked at Caitlyn's face, tense with anger.

'Mom, I'm not staying away on purpose. There's no way for me to come.'

As she walked inside, she kept talking, "Jameson, it's not easy for you. Mia's been spoiled since she was little. That's why she's willful and headstrong. She runs off the moment something doesn't go her way. Just ignore her. She's not here, but we're still a family."

Isabella came down the stairs. She wore mostly black—her tall frame lean and athletic. She was a picture of health.

The moment Jameson saw her, his eyes lit up.

Isabella sat beside him. "Mom, don't talk about Mia like that. This is all my fault. Jameson left the wedding because of me. If Mia acted out, it's only natural."

Her eyes brimmed with guilt.

Jameson immediately responded, "Isabella, this has nothing to do with you. MB is such a big event, of course I had to be there. The wedding... was just a formality."

Caitlyn added, "It's all Mia's fault. No sense of propriety—so petty. Her sister wins a championship and she throws a tantrum. She's so short-sighted, just like those women who rely on men to get by—small-minded and pathetic!"

I sat there, listening to them lift Isabella up by tearing me down.

And for the first time, I regretted the choices I made.

Once, long ago, I too was a racecar driver. Fast and fearless.

But then...

Jameson liked long hair, so I grew mine out.

He liked gentle women, so I softened myself, tried to be quieter, more tender.

I changed, again and again, all for him. And still, this is where I ended up.

After dinner, Jameson went to rest in my room. It was painted a fresh shade of green. He sat on the couch by the window.

Isabella's room was right next door. It used to be mine—until she returned to our family. Then I moved to the smaller one.

A knock came at the door.

Isabella entered with a plate of fruit. "Jameson, have some fruit."

The sight of her reminded Jameson of the kiss they'd shared the night before—how they couldn't stop themselves. His heart visibly stirred.

"Thanks, Isabella."

I moved to block her, instinctively.

But I forgot—I was no longer alive. I was just a soul now. I couldn't stop her.

She sat beside him, peeled a grape, and brought it to his lips.

He hesitated, then opened his mouth and bit into it gently.

She had changed clothes. A fitted black dress hugged her figure. She looked elegant and mysterious.

I could feel his gaze shift.

And sure enough, the next second, Jameson turned and pinned her beneath him, whispering, "Isabella, you're so beautiful."

Isabella, usually cool and reserved, wrapped her legs around him. "Jameson, do you want to…do it?"

That line—it struck him deep, scratched some primal itch.

As I watched the scene unfold, I nearly shattered.

'Get out. Get out of my room!'

I screamed, over and over. But they didn't hear me. Instead, they sank deeper into each other, shameless and oblivious.

I'd only been dead a day. And already, my husband and my sister were doing something worse than anything animals could.

I couldn't accept it. It drove me mad. But there was nothing I could do.

…

Ever since their first time together, Jameson and Isabella had been sneaking around behind everyone's backs. In my room, no less.

Nearly a week had passed, and still, I hadn't returned.

Jameson cleaned up the mess they'd made.

Isabella got dressed. Together, they went downstairs like nothing had happened, sitting at the dinner table as if the day were normal.

Over dinner, Isabella mentioned me. "Mia still hasn't come back?"

Jameson didn't even look up. "No."

"It's been a week?" Caitlyn frowned.

I was never the warmest person, but I didn't usually stay angry for long. Even she was surprised I hadn't returned after all this time.

Isabella peeled a shrimp for Jameson. "You should apologize to her. It's not worth dragging this out over something so small."

I was used to this. She always seemed so generous, like she didn't care about comparisons between us. But somehow, the things that were mine always ended up in her hands.

Now, she had Jameson too. And he listened to her.

"There've been some issues with the team," he said. "Once I finish up, I'll call her. We'll talk."

Jameson managed the Phantom Speed team. It was part of the Jameson family's business. His grandfather had placed him there to gain experience.

A week had passed. My body might've been destroyed already.

Talk? How does a dead woman talk to the living?

When Caitlyn heard about problems with the team, she immediately turned concerned. "Jameson, focus on the team. Isabella just signed with Phantom Speed—there can't be any problems. As for Mia, don't worry about her. Your dad's getting discharged in a couple of days. Mia's always been filial. She'll definitely come home for him."

I used to think that thirteen years of living with Caitlyn, even without blood ties, would count for something.

But I was wrong.

In her heart, Isabella had always been the one who mattered. Whenever it came down to Isabella's interests, she never hesitated. Her choice was always Isabella.

Thirteen years was nothing but a dream.

Paul had a weak heart. He'd been hospitalized recently. He was due to be discharged the day after tomorrow.

At home, he was always overshadowed by Caitlyn, too meek to stand up for himself.

Even when he showed me kindness, it was done in secret.

They all believed I'd come back for him, because I had always been obedient. That's what they liked most about me.

The day Paul was discharged, Jameson finished his work with the team.

He drove to the hospital.

Outside the room, he overheard the nurse speaking. "Please be patient. Mr. Dawson needs a full-body checkup before he can be discharged. Mr. Dawson, you're so lucky to have such a beautiful and devoted daughter. She came here so early on such a cold day just to take you home. It's really touching."

'Ah. So she's finally decided to come back,' Jameson thought as he quickened his steps and pushed open the door.

"Mia, how long are you planning to keep this up?"