Chapter 2

2

Over the next few days, my condition worsened rapidly, and my body grew weaker by the hour.

After reviewing my latest scans, the doctor let out a heavy sigh.

He warned me that without immediate surgery, I wouldn't even survive the month.

The online fundraiser I set up had brought in some donations, and after selling my late parents’ old house in the countryside, I finally scraped together enough for the operation.

On the morning of the surgery, I dialed Garrett’s number for the very last time.

I expected it to go straight to voicemail, but after several agonizing rings, he actually picked up.

“Hello? What do you want?”

Garrett’s voice was utterly cold.

A sharp pain pierced my chest.

“Garrett, you’re on vacation with Macy Wells, aren't you? You never had a business trip.” My voice cracked with suppressed tears.

I thought he would at least try to make an excuse.

Instead, silence hung between us for a moment before he answered bluntly. “Yeah, I’m traveling with Macy. What about it?”

“You’d rather take her on vacation than come to the hospital to see me once?” I took a shuddering breath. “I’m dying, Garrett.”

I heard an irritated click of his tongue over the receiver.

His harsh words immediately followed.

“Faye, grow up! Macy is battling a severe illness, and I’m just supporting her! Can you stop making up lies every time you want attention? You’re in the hospital, you’re dying―people who are actually dying don't go around announcing it to everyone!”

“Macy has clinical depression, yet she stays strong and never threatens to kill herself. Look at her, and then look at yourself. Do you see the difference between you two now?”

I fell completely silent.

“So... you really don't believe that I'm dying?”

“Faye, what do you even want from me? Do you think bad people admit they’re bad? If you’re really dying, go talk to a doctor instead of bothering me.”

A profound chill settled deep into my bones.

I was heartbroken. I had spent years being a devoted, dutiful wife, only to be met with constant cruelty and contempt from him and his mother.

What was all my sacrifice for? I just wanted a warm home, someone by my side so I wouldn’t leave this world all alone.

Yet I still had no one.

“Goodbye, Garrett,” I whispered softly.

I knew we would never see each other again.

When I looked down at the screen, the call had already been disconnected.

I didn't even know if he heard my final words.

None of it mattered anymore.

I closed my eyes as the nurses wheeled my gurney toward the operating room.

The bright overhead lights, the cold sting of the IV sedative, the gradual fading of my senses―it all happened in less than thirty seconds.

When I opened my eyes again, the surgery was over.

A strange confusion washed over me.

I wasn’t staring at the ceiling tiles. I was looking down at myself.

My own body was lying on the table, a white sheet pulled completely over my face.

The surgical team around the table was bowing in solemn silence.

Was I dead?

I reached out to touch my body, but my translucent hand passed right through the cold flesh.

I drifted around the room, waving in front of the doctors, but none of them reacted. They couldn’t see me. I was truly gone.

A wave of bitter grief washed over my soul.

I was only twenty-seven years old.

Leaving the world like this left a deep ache of regret in my chest.

Suddenly, an invisible force pulled my floating spirit forward, dragging me across towns and highways until my vision cleared.

Right in front of me stood Garrett.

And next to him was Macy Wells.