Seven years after my death, my billionaire husband, Carter, sent me a text because of his assistant-turned-mistress, Chloe. “Harper, Chloe had another hit-and-run. Get over here and take the fall for her!” “Oh, and when you come to meet us, grab us a pack of condoms.” When he didn’t get a reply, he lost his patience and stormed into my old apartment. But the person who opened the door wasn’t me. It was my landlord. “What are you talking about?” Mr. Henderson, the landlord, looked at him in confusion. “I’m Harper’s landlord. Harper died seven years ago.” “I heard that right after she took the blame for that fatal car crash, she was stabbed to death by some vigilante right outside the courthouse.” Carter didn’t believe a word. He was convinced the landlord was on my payroll, lying to help me hide. He frowned, letting out a cold sneer. “She’s still throwing a tantrum just because I kicked her and our daughter, Lily, out of the apartment to make them reflect on themselves!” “Tell her this: if she doesn’t show up within three days, I’m cutting off the funds for Lily’s leukemia treatments!” With that, he turned on his heel and walked away. Mr. Henderson shook his head, sighing deeply. “What daughter is he even talking about? Lily passed away years ago because they ran out of money for her treatment…”
In the hallway, the key rattled loudly in the apartment lock. I floated near the ceiling, watching Carter barge into my dusty old apartment, holding a fake agreement in his hand. He covered his nose, waving away the dust, his leather shoes making sharp, impatient clicks on the floor. “Harper! Get the hell out here! Chloe is about to get indicted, and you’re still hiding?” I stood behind him, letting out a self-deprecating ghost of a laugh. Ever since I took the fall for that car accident seven years ago, Carter and I had cut all ties. I never expected that when he finally looked for me again, it would be to make me a scapegoat for his mistress’s new hit-and-run. I had to hand it to him. His love for Chloe was truly undying. Carter paced around the room twice. His eyes swept over the dust-covered sofa and the cobwebs on the windowsills. His lips curled in deep disgust. “Stop playing missing. Where could a felon like you even hide?” “Chloe just texted me saying the police are already investigating. Do you want her to rot in prison?” “I’m going to count to ten. You better get your ass out here right now!” I looked at his cold, handsome face. Seven years had passed, and he was still as arrogant as ever, taking everything for granted. But no matter how many times he counted to ten, I would never run to his side like a loyal dog again. Because I was already dead. “Harper! Did you hear me? Why are you being so difficult when I’m just asking for a simple favor?!” He suddenly kicked the bedroom door. The wood made a dull, heavy bang. But the room inside remained empty. Carter clicked his tongue in annoyance. After tearing the place apart and finding nothing, he finally realized no one was there. Muttering curses under his breath, he slammed the door and stormed out. Downstairs, the landlord was sweeping the hallway. Carter grabbed him by the shoulder. “Have you seen Harper? The girl who lives on the third floor.” Mr. Henderson blinked, lowering his broom. “Harper Vance? She passed away seven years ago.” I saw Carter freeze for a fraction of a second, but then he scoffed. “Who are you trying to fool? A woman like her doesn’t die that easily.” “I’m not kidding you,” Mr. Henderson pointed toward the alley outside. “Seven years ago, right after her trial for that fatal crash ended, she was stabbed to death the second she stepped out of the courthouse. Who are you to her anyway?” The landlord’s answer was too fluent to be a lie. A flicker of panic crossed Carter’s eyes. His brow furrowed, and for a second, his face showed a hint of pain that I couldn’t quite comprehend. But his phone buzzed, instantly drawing his attention away. It was a text from Chloe: *Never mind, Carter. Harper must still hate me. She’ll just find excuses to avoid us. Don’t stress yourself out for me. I’ll just go to prison. Please take care of yourself without me.* This single text was enough to convince Carter that my “death” was just a sick lie to avoid helping them. His fingers trembled as he typed back: *She has no right to refuse! I gave her a massive payout back then. She owes me when I need her!* *Don’t worry, I’ll find her and make her take the fall. I won’t let anything happen to you!* Once the message sent, Carter glared back at the landlord. “Stop acting! She’s definitely hiding. Did she pay you to say this?” Mr. Henderson sighed. “Sir, why would I joke about death? The police came to investigate back then…” “Like police reports can’t be faked!” Carter’s voice rose. He took a threatening step forward, his eyes burning with anger. “You tell her this. If she doesn’t show up in three days, I am stopping the payments for Lily’s leukemia treatments!” The landlord opened his mouth to speak, but Carter cut him off with a harsh wave of his hand. “Save your breath! Either she gets her ass out here, or she can start planning a funeral for Lily!” With that, Carter spun around and left. The motion-sensor light in the hallway flickered and died. Mr. Henderson looked at his retreating back, shaking his head. He whispered to the empty air: “What daughter is he even talking about? Lily passed away years ago because they ran out of money for her treatment…” I floated beside him, looking at the plastic water bottle Carter had kicked to the side. My soul felt as cold as ice. That payout money Carter mentioned? I never saw a single dime of it. While Lily was gasping for air on her hospital bed, waiting for the money to save her life, Chloe was using it to buy designer bags. And while I was bleeding out on the cold pavement, Carter was busy accompanying Chloe to a luxury gala. And now, here he was. Using a dead child to threaten a mother who was already in her grave.
My soul seemed bound to Carter. I was forced to follow him back to his penthouse. The moment he pushed the door open, Chloe rushed to greet him, anxiety written all over her face. “Carter! How did it go? Did you find Harper?” Carter shook his head, his expression a bit vacant. “No… and the landlord said Harper is dead.” “Dead?!” Chloe’s eyes went wide. She took a step back, her hand clutching Carter’s arm instinctively. “How is that possible? Is she… is she just hiding from us? She must have made up that lie to trick you!” Carter kept silent, his brow heavily furrowed. Seeing his silence, Chloe quickly squeezed out a bitter, self-sacrificing smile. “It must be that! Harper must still hold a grudge about what happened seven years ago. She made up this sick lie because she doesn’t want to help me.” “Carter, maybe… forget it? Don’t force her. I’ll just turn myself in…” Carter remained quiet for a long moment, but eventually, he nodded. “You’re right. She’s definitely hiding.” “But we can’t let this go. Even if I have to dig up the entire city, I will find her and make her clear your name!” Chloe’s eyes welled with tears, her voice trembling. “Carter, you’re so good to me…” “However…” Carter suddenly cut her off, his tone hesitant. “If Harper went as far as to fake her own death, she must be utterly furious.” “Chloe, this is the last time. Once she takes the fall for you and gets out of prison, you and I are done.” I stood beside them, so shocked I almost forgot I was a ghost. Carter was actually proposing to break up with Chloe? I still remembered how he used to scream at me, turning our lives upside down just to defend this woman. Back then, we had been married for less than a year when Chloe was hired as his assistant. From that moment on, they flirted right under my nose. If I questioned him even a little, he would call me petty, insecure, and crazy. But now, he was willingly ending it? Carter didn’t notice the stiff, ugly expression on Chloe’s face. He turned his head away, his voice dropping. “I need to… go back to Harper. I gave her money back then, but I really did ruin her life these past few years.” “To be honest, I feel… really guilty.” Chloe stared at him in utter disbelief. “Carter… are you leaving me?” “I don’t know,” Carter avoided her gaze, his frown deepening. “But ever since I stepped out of Harper’s apartment, my chest has been feeling incredibly tight. I have this awful feeling that something bad has happened.” He paused, trying to sound firm again. “But I will help you with this hit-and-run! I won’t watch you go to jail. I’m going to look for her now. Wait for me.” With that, he turned and left, his back tense with determination. Chloe stood frozen in the living room. But the moment the door closed, her vulnerable, pitiful facade vanished completely. I saw it clearly. Her eyes turned venomous, filled with raw, murderous hatred. And the name she hissed through her gritted teeth was mine.
Desperate to find me, the first place Carter could think of was Lily’s hospital. I followed his car as he sped toward the city hospital. I knew this route by heart. For years, my life had been nothing but a constant loop between my cheap apartment and this hospital. Nothing had ever changed. I watched Carter slam his foot on the gas pedal. His forehead hadn’t uncreased once since he got into the car. Of course. He was losing his mind over Chloe’s mess. He didn’t even park properly before sprinting into the pediatric wing. He grabbed the nurse at the front desk. “Check the room number for Lily Vance.” “Oh… okay,” the nurse stammered, looking down at her computer screen. Suddenly, a cold laugh echoed from behind him. “Well, if it isn’t Carter Vance. What brings a big shot like you to our humble hospital?” Carter spun around, his face instantly darkening. It was Rachel Sterling, the former head of legal counsel who used to work with his company. From what I knew, they had despised each other for years. For some reason, right after I took the fall and went to prison seven years ago, Rachel had terminated her contract with Carter’s company. Seeing her rival, Carter glared at her, annoyed. “What I do is none of your business, Rachel.” Rachel crossed her arms, a mocking smirk playing on her lips. “You’re right, it’s not. I’m just curious—how can a human being be so cold-blooded?” “You were nowhere to be found when they were in critical condition. Now that they’re both gone, you finally show up?” “Critical condition?” Carter’s brows knitted tightly. “What are you talking about?” Carter looked genuinely lost, as if he couldn’t understand English. But I knew exactly what Rachel meant. She was talking about me and Lily. When I was stabbed seven years ago, I was already dying in the ambulance. The paramedics had called Carter, wanting him to come say goodbye. But he was too busy vacationing with Chloe, wanting “uninterrupted couple time.” He hung up without a second thought. Later, when they tried calling again, his number had blocked them. And Lily suffered the same fate. When Lily’s treatment was halted due to lack of funds, the doctors said she was in critical condition. When they tried to reach him, he was traveling the world with Chloe. In the end, when Lily took her last breath, there was no one by her side. She left this world completely alone. Staring at Carter’s bewildered expression, Rachel let out a sharp scoff. “Nice acting. Honestly, I don’t know what Harper ever saw in you to sacrifice so much.” Rachel didn’t waste another word on him. She turned on her heel and walked back into her office. Carter stood frozen in the hallway, his fingers tightening around his steering wheel keys. It was a nervous habit he only did when he was terrified. But… what was he afraid of? “Mr. Vance?” the nurse’s voice broke the silence. “The patient you’re looking for…” The nurse hesitated, looking pityingly at him. “Lily Vance passed away three years ago.” Carter’s pupils dilated instantly. He froze, as if nailed to the floor.
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