On the day of Ethan’s engagement to my sister, I sat in the front row of the audience. When he saw me, he inexplicably let out a sigh of relief. “Olivia, have you finally had enough? If you apologize to me, I’ll…” All the guests were terrified, not knowing who he was talking to. Because I was already dead. Today was the seventh day after my death. 0 The day before I died, Ethan broke up with me. Because he was going to get engaged to my sister. I gathered my courage and asked him, “Ethan, can you not marry her?” Ethan’s dark eyebrows furrowed, his expression very displeased, his large hand gripping my waist tightly. “Olivia, if you need money just say so. This act is nauseating.” “Don’t forget why you exist.” “You like money that much? You like stealing from others? How cheap can you be?” My expression became dejected. I hadn’t forgotten. My existence was because my sister Sophia had a heart condition and couldn’t do strenuous activities. But my parents didn’t want to miss this opportunity to climb the social ladder through Ethan. So they made me, the “debt collector,” replace my sister in “serving” Ethan. Yes, that’s right, serve. A completely unequal term. But when there’s such a huge disparity in wealth and power, when even my birth parents don’t treat me as a person, concepts like human rights and women’s rights all become meaningless. “Your sister will recover and be discharged from the hospital soon. She can get engaged and married.” “You fake, get lost quickly. Don’t dream of stealing your sister’s golden goose.” “Look at your sister’s fate, and look at yours. How dare you even think you deserve this?” My mother’s cursing voice echoed in my ears. My heart ached dully. I gave a faint smile and hugged Ethan’s neck tightly. “Mm, I am a bit short on money. Give me another 500,000 then.” The dim light hid the tears in my eyes. No one believed that I, the substitute, truly loved Ethan. “Watching you get engaged, I want to turn over a new leaf too.” “Consider this money as a dowry for my years of companionship.” 0
The day I died. Ethan really had a bad temper. After hearing me say I wanted to marry someone else, he immediately turned cold, got up and left, leaving me feeling empty inside and out. Afterwards, he gave me two options: “Take back what you just said, or get out.” He often made me choose before, usually between “apologize or get out.” I usually chose the first option. After all, when he said get out, he really meant stand outside the door all night. But this time, I decisively chose the second option. Before pretending to cheerfully jump out of bed to pack my luggage, I kissed Ethan’s lips lingeringly, forcing a bright smile. “Ethan, thank you for taking care of me these three years. Goodbye.” Aside from the things Ethan had given me, I really didn’t have many personal belongings. After all… someone without a home to return to doesn’t dare to have too many possessions. By the time I finished packing, it was almost dawn. I pulled my suitcase, tiptoeing out of the bedroom. Ethan was already dressed in his loungewear, waiting for me in the living room. He tossed me a 500,000 breakup check, his expression more grim than I’d ever seen. His eyes trembled, his thin lips parting, surprisingly speaking once more: “Olivia, if you apologize to me now, you can still change your mind.” “Didn’t you want money? I’ll give it to you.” The effect of these words was no different than a meteor striking Earth, shocking me so much I almost dropped my suitcase. Ethan, the young master of the Xing family. It was always others bowing and scraping, offering every opportunity to beg for his mercy. When had he ever taken the initiative to give someone a way out, letting them back down? But no matter how great an honor, I never intended to take this way out, Ethan. “Brother-in-law, I wish you and my sister a happy marriage.” Offering sincere blessings, I turned around with a smile. Then, tears streamed down my face. My fingers gripped the suitcase handle tightly, turning white. I laughed through my tears. It’s fine. I may have lost my love, but I gained 500,000. It’s enough for Grandma Rose’s surgery. She can live healthily for a long time. Live for a long time. 0
I died. The soup of forgetfulness was a bit bland. “No green onions, it doesn’t taste good, Grandma Meng.” I looked up at the Goddess of Forgetfulness, forcing a pale smile. “Grandma, have you seen my Grandma Rose? She should be just ahead of me, about half an hour.” “You could… learn from her…” Two streams of bloody tears flowed down my cheeks as I smiled mournfully, my heart breaking. “The soup she makes is the best-tasting in the world.” “She’s also the only person in the world who truly cares for me.” “It’s my fault I couldn’t save her, but why, Grandma? I was just one step away, just one step…” Grandma Meng’s pitch-black eyes stared at me silently. Then she stroked my head. Though her touch was icy, I felt a warmth flow into me. “Child, you did your best.” A white light flashed before my eyes, and when I opened them again, I had returned to the mortal world. I became an earth-bound spirit, confined within a five-meter radius of Ethan. 0
The first day after death. I floated in the air, watching Ethan work with nothing better to do. Ethan was still handsome, his suit jacket draped over the chair back, white shirt sleeves rolled up to reveal half of his muscular forearms. The cufflinks were ones I had picked out. But what use was it? No matter how well I served him, I was still just a substitute for my sister. After all, just look – what kind of life did my sister have, and what kind of life did I have? To Ethan, my sister was his only childhood sweetheart, the delicate princess he had protected as they grew up. How could he bear to let her do these trivial, housekeeper-like chores? He had no qualms about ordering me around, this debt collector that my parents didn’t love. But Ethan seemed to be waiting for some news today. He kept not receiving it. He frequently picked up his phone, unlocked it, checked it, then angrily tossed it aside. Especially as it got close to the end of the workday, his face was so dark it could almost drip ink. How strange. But to be fair, without me reminding him every day to eat on time, pay attention to the weather, share trivial matters. He really didn’t have many messages. I guess I used to be such a chatterbox. No wonder he found me annoying.
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