Chapter 2

The place was a complete mess.

My dad, Richard Marshall, sat in his wheelchair, grief written all over his face.

His voice trembled as he said, "Noah, why won't you believe us? Vic is dead. There wasn't even a body left to bury."

Noah spat on the ground.

"Nonsense! Do you really think you can fool me with a story like that? Victoria loved me too much to die and leave me behind!"

With a single glance from him, two of the men behind him yanked my dad out of the wheelchair and beat him without mercy.

My dad had been paralyzed for years. He couldn't even lift a hand to defend himself. Soon, he was covered in bruises and blood.

My mom tried to stop them, but Noah kicked her aside. She fell hard to the floor.

"You old woman! Tell me where Victoria is, or I'll beat him to death!"

I hovered near them, helpless and frantic.

"Noah! Stop it!" I shouted in vain. I wanted to stop it all, but there was nothing I could do.

My hands passed right through them. I couldn't even stir the air.

Cries of pain and the sounds of fists landing echoed through the house. Every sound was a stab to my heart.

Oliver woke up from all the noise. He rubbed his eyes and stumbled out of his room. The moment he saw his grandparents getting beaten, he burst into terrified sobs.

Noah's eyes lit up when he saw Oliver.

"Where's your mom?"

Oliver had never been close to him. After Amelia returned to the country, Noah barely came home anymore. To Oliver, he was just a stranger.

Choking on his sobs, Oliver whispered, "Grandma said Mommy went far away. She said I'll see her again when I grow up."

Noah kicked Oliver in a fury.

I rushed to shield him, but I couldn't touch anything.

"Lying at your age? You're bound to grow up into a menace! I was right not to want you. Look at what your mom turned you into!"

Oliver cried in pain.

Watching him cry ripped me apart.

How could he do this? That was his own son! How could he not even have a shred of love or trust for him?

My mom's voice cracked as she screamed, "Noah! Vic is dead. She's dead, do you hear me? How dare you come back here looking for her? You cheated on her behind her back! Do you think you deserve anything after that?"

Noah let out a mocking laugh.

"So what? Amelia saved my life. I was dying from acute liver failure, and she didn't hesitate to give me part of her liver! And where was Victoria? She didn't even show up! The only woman I ever loved was Amelia. She's disfigured now and needs a skin graft. I have to help her!"

His liver?

Did he say Amelia gave it to him?

I laughed bitterly, touching my abdomen. Even as a ghost, I could still feel the pain from that operation. The scar where they took my liver still ached faintly.

My dad let out a heavy sigh.

"Noah, I'm telling you one last time. My daughter is dead. Believe it or not. Now get out of my house, or I'm calling the police!"