Five Christmases after my death, my husband Aiden Smith came looking for me again, wanting me to take the fall for a murder case involving his lover Zoey Watson. He barged into my home with forged evidence, only to find I was long gone. In desperation, Aiden asked the security guard Theo Patel about my whereabouts. But Theo told him, “Liliana? She’s been dead for years.” Liliana Lewis is my name. Theo continued, “I heard the victim’s family from that case five Christmases ago wasn’t satisfied with the verdict. They cornered her in an alley the night she got out of prison and stabbed her to death.” Aiden didn’t believe it, thinking this was all a scheme between Theo and me. He frowned and said impatiently, “All I did was make her serve a few Christmases in prison. What’s there to be dramatic about? She’s actually faking her death? Please tell her that if she doesn’t show up by tomorrow afternoon, I won’t let her sister Stella Lewis attend school anymore.” Watching Aiden’s angry figure as he left, Theo sighed. He muttered under his breath, “Stella was sold off to some mountain village to be an old man’s wife ages ago. How could she possibly still be in school?” ***** “What? Liliana is dead?” Aiden roared. In the office, the sound of shattering glass made my eardrums ache. I floated near the ceiling, watching Aiden slam his phone down on the desk after hearing his secretary Parker Brown’s report. His handsome features twisted with rage. Aiden bellowed, “Parker, have you lost your mind? How can you believe such nonsense? If she really had the guts to die, she wouldn’t have taken the fall for Zoey five Christmases ago.” Hearing Aiden’s furious shouts, Zoey quickly got up from the sofa to comfort him. She said, “Aiden, don’t be angry. Maybe Parker just made a mistake. Don’t worry, give him more time.” “How can I not worry?” Aiden turned to glare at Zoey. But there wasn’t much anger in his eyes—more anxiety and concern. He said, “The police have already traced it back to you. Besides Liliana, who else can help you?” Five Christmases. Since I last took the fall for Zoey, Aiden hadn’t visited me once. Now he finally remembered me, and it was because Zoey had caused another death. How tragic. After hearing his words, Zoey’s expression showed something strange. But she deliberately pretended to back down: “It’s okay. If we can’t find her, forget it. I can go to prison. I can’t make things difficult for you anymore. I’m not afraid of anything, except that after I leave you, you’ll be heartbroken and have no one to take care of you.” Aiden could never resist Zoey when she looked pitiful like this. Whenever she showed this expression, he wanted to give her everything. Sure enough, hearing these words, Aiden’s eyes instantly reddened. He said, “What nonsense are you talking about? How could I let you go to prison? That Christmas, I had Liliana take the fall precisely to keep you safe. Don’t worry. As long as I’m here, I’ll never let anything happen to you.” I floated behind them, watching this scene, feeling my chest tighten. That Christmas, after Zoey killed someone in a drunk driving accident, Aiden cried in front of me for three hours. He said if I would take the fall, he’d treat me well for life and pay for Stella’s college education. And the result? Until I was stabbed to death by someone else, he never even called. Turns out he gave all his tenderness to someone else. As if remembering something, Aiden suddenly clenched his teeth and angrily headed out. He said, “She must be hiding somewhere. I’ll go find her myself.” Zoey followed behind him, hypocritically advising, “Don’t go. If she really doesn’t want to help me…” Aiden roared, “She wouldn’t dare! Stella is still in my hands. If she doesn’t come out, Stella will never have a good life.” Seeing his determined attitude, Zoey’s expression showed some hesitation. In the end, she still went along with his decision. I watched them get in the car, and an invisible force dragged me along. The car stopped downstairs at my old apartment complex. Aiden brought Zoey and angrily rushed upstairs. Then he roared, “Liliana, get out here! Don’t think you can escape by faking your death! I know you’re in there. Get your ass out here!” Aiden’s shouting continued, loud enough for the entire building to hear. His excessive noise even attracted Theo, who came up with a flashlight, shining it at the two people upstairs. He asked, “Who are you looking for? No one’s lived here for ages.” Aiden turned around and asked, “I’m looking for Liliana. Did she go out?” “Liliana?” Theo was stunned. “You’re looking for her? She died five Christmases ago.” Aiden’s movements instantly froze. Then he let out a cold laugh and said, “What kind of joke is that? How could someone like her possibly die?” “I have no reason to lie to you,” Theo said. “Liliana was cornered in an alley by the victim’s family from that Christmas case the night she got out of prison and stabbed to death. I heard she died on the spot.” At this point, Zoey tugged at Aiden’s clothes. She said, “Aiden, forget it. If Liliana is using this kind of excuse, she clearly doesn’t want to help us. Let’s go.” Aiden had been struggling with the truth of Theo’s words. After hearing Zoey’s comment, his expression instantly changed. He said, “She must have told you to say that. All I did was make her serve a few Christmases in prison. What’s there to be dramatic about? She’s actually faking her death? Please tell her that if she doesn’t show up by tomorrow afternoon, I won’t let Stella attend school anymore.” After speaking, Aiden turned and left. His expensive leather shoes made sharp sounds as they hit the stairs. Watching the two figures walking away one after the other, Theo shook his head. He said quietly, “This guy is really too much. Stella was sold off to some mountain village to be an old man’s wife ages ago. How could she possibly still be in school?”
Naturally, Aiden hadn’t heard Theo’s words. Even after getting in the car, he was still cursing under his breath while holding Zoey’s hand to comfort her. He said, “Don’t worry. She’ll definitely come out. I still have Stella in my hands—I don’t believe she won’t care about Stella.” Zoey’s grip tightened on the steering wheel, but she said nothing. Aiden snorted coldly and continued, “If push comes to shove, I’ll go to the school tomorrow and pick up Stella myself. I’ll bring Stella right to her face, and then let’s see how she keeps playing dead.” The sharp screech of brakes suddenly pierced the air. The car swerved toward the roadside, nearly hitting the guardrail. Aiden jumped in fright, quickly grabbing the handle. “What are you doing?” Zoey’s face was pale as she struggled to steady the steering wheel. She said, “It’s nothing. I think I hit some gravel back there.” Aiden clearly didn’t buy this excuse. He frowned as he studied Zoey, asking, “You look terrible. Are you too stressed about the case?” Zoey avoided his gaze, frantically shifting gears. She said, “A little. After all, this situation is different from last time.” Aiden chuckled and sighed. He said, “Silly girl, what are you afraid of when I’m here? I was able to handle something as big as last year’s incident, and this time will be the same. As long as Liliana agrees to take the blame for you, she’ll be out in two years at most.” He paused, his tone hardening. “If she’s smart, she’ll come out right away. Otherwise, I’ll make Stella drop out and work for the rest of her life—she’ll never succeed.” Floating in the back seat, I noticed Zoey’s eyes darting around nervously, sweat beading on her forehead. She wasn’t nervous about the case—she was clearly afraid that the truth about Stella would be exposed. Just half a month after I entered prison last year, I received a letter that Stella had someone deliver to me. She said Zoey kept coming to the house to harass her, calling her a burden who dragged others down. I was so frantic I kept hitting the walls, but there was nothing I could do. Soon after, I stopped receiving letters altogether. After asking fellow inmates to investigate, I learned that on Stella’s way home from school, Zoey had forced her into a van and taken her away. Later, after having people search for a long time, I discovered that Zoey had sold Stella to an old man in the remote mountains as his wife, all for twenty thousand dollars. Those years I spent in prison like a madwoman, enduring each day and hoping to get out and find Stella. But the moment I walked out of the prison gates, before I could even start asking around, I was cornered in an alley by the victim’s family. “Alright, stop overthinking.” Aiden comforted Zoey. “Once we find Liliana, I’ll make her take responsibility for everything. Then we can go abroad for a vacation, how about that?” Zoey nodded halfheartedly, her fingers drumming restlessly on the steering wheel. She was definitely wondering what to do if Aiden really went to the school looking for Stella. Stella hadn’t been at that school for a long time. Aiden suddenly said, “No, I should call the school teacher right now to confirm whether Stella is there or not.” He started to pull out his phone. “Don’t!” Zoey suddenly raised her voice. Seeing Aiden’s confused expression, she quickly lowered her voice again. She said, “It’s already evening—don’t disturb the teacher’s rest. I’ll go with you first thing tomorrow morning, and we can buy her some things to show we care.” Only then did Aiden put down his phone. “You’re acting strange today.” “How so?” Zoey forced a smile, though panic flickered in her eyes. “I just don’t want you to worry—I want to put your mind at ease.” The car continued forward. Zoey’s grip on the steering wheel never loosened, her knuckles white with tension. I floated in the back seat, staring intently at the back of her head. For twenty thousand dollars, she had sold my only family member. What kind of life had Stella been living in those mountains all these years? Was she even still alive? I didn’t know any of this. Aiden continued planning how to force me to appear, completely oblivious to Zoey’s increasingly haggard expression. He probably would never imagine that the leverage he planned to use against me had long ago been destroyed by his beloved woman’s own hands.
Early the next morning, Aiden dragged Zoey to the school. Fallen sycamore leaves carpeted the ground at the school entrance. Aiden strode ahead with determined steps, looking like he was ready to collect a debt. “Is this the place?” Aiden stopped in front of the academic building and turned to ask Zoey. Zoey’s eyes darted away as she nodded. “It should be.” Without hesitation, Aiden stormed into the office. Teacher Elena Evans was grading papers when Aiden’s fist slamming on the desk startled her. “Where’s Stella? Get her out here! I’m her guardian and I need to speak with her,” Aiden demanded. Elena adjusted her glasses and studied Aiden carefully. “You’re looking for Stella?” she asked. “Yes. Hurry up and get her over here,” Aiden pressed. “You might be mistaken. Stella dropped out five years ago, right before Christmas,” Elena said. As soon as Elena finished speaking, Aiden burst out laughing. “I transferred $5,000 in tuition to her account just last semester. And you’re telling me she dropped out? Are you trying to brush me off? Did you take Liliana’s money and conspire with her to deceive me? I’m telling you, that’s impossible!” Aiden slammed his phone down on the desk. Elena’s expression darkened. “Sir, please show some respect when you speak. The school would never do such a thing,” she said. “Respect?” Aiden scoffed. “What respect does a worthless woman who can’t even get her education straight deserve? She’s just like Liliana—nothing but lies. For all I know, she ran off with some thug from outside school and is living it up with my money.” Elena shot back, “How can you say that about her? Stella was our most outstanding student back then. She ranked first in her grade on every exam. If it weren’t for…” “Aiden!” Elena’s defense of Stella was cut short by Zoey’s anxious interruption. Zoey tugged at Aiden’s arm. “Aiden, forget it. She probably doesn’t know the situation either. Let’s go. The case is more important. If this doesn’t work out, I’ll think of another way.” Aiden stumbled as she pulled him, then turned to glare at her. “Why are you in such a rush to leave?” he asked. “Let’s not waste time here.” Zoey lowered her voice, her eyes filled with panic. “Can’t we go look for other leads?” Before Elena could say anything more, Zoey had already pulled Aiden outside. When they reached the school gate, Aiden finally couldn’t take it anymore and shook off Zoey’s hand. “What’s wrong with you today? You’ve been acting strange since yesterday,” he demanded. Zoey froze for a moment, realizing her reaction had been too obvious. She clenched her hands and smiled. “Nothing. I just didn’t want you to get too worked up.” Watching Zoey’s flustered state, Aiden’s suspicions grew stronger. However, he didn’t press further, just snorted coldly. “Fine. I’ll listen to you. Let’s handle the case first.” Zoey visibly relaxed and quickly nodded. “Good, let’s go find a lawyer first,” she said. The two of them walked side by side toward the exit. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground. I floated behind them, watching Zoey secretly wipe away sweat, and my heart ached like it was being pierced by needles. On the drive home, Zoey kept rambling about the case. This time, however, it was Aiden who seemed distracted. Throughout the ride, Aiden listened to Zoey absentmindedly, giving halfhearted responses. The moment the car came to a stop, he urged Zoey to hurry upstairs. As soon as Zoey disappeared from sight, Aiden immediately called Parker. “I need you to investigate two people,” he told Parker. “First is Liliana’s sister Stella. Starting from when she dropped out of school five years ago, I want every detail of her whereabouts thoroughly investigated. “Second is Liliana. Re-examine her whereabouts. I don’t care what anyone says about whether she’s dead or alive—I don’t trust any of the previous information about her. Look into it again, carefully.” He paused, then added, “And don’t let Zoey know about this.” After hanging up, Aiden sat at his computer to handle some documents. But he couldn’t focus on the words on the screen. Zoey’s panicked expression at school today kept flashing before his eyes. The more Aiden thought about it, the more suspicious it seemed. Aiden worked until dark. Rain suddenly began falling outside, droplets tapping against the glass. He got up to look for an umbrella and pulled open the bottom drawer of his desk, when his fingers touched a hard box. Aiden froze. This drawer usually only held old files—when had a ring box appeared here? I floated beside Aiden, my heart suddenly clenching with pain. That box contained the gift I had prepared for our third wedding anniversary. Seeing that velvet ring box, Aiden also froze, his brow furrowing deeper and deeper. But remarkably, I didn’t see that familiar look of disgust and revulsion in his eyes. Actually, my relationship with Aiden hadn’t been strained from the beginning. When we first got together, our relationship could even be described as sweet. We met through a blind date and unexpectedly hit it off, finding plenty of common ground. On our first date, we talked about everything from work to hobbies, and discovered we even liked the same perfume scents. While we were dating, Aiden would always say, “Who would have thought a blind date could lead to finding the right person.” On our wedding day, Aiden held my hand tightly and said he wanted to stay this happy with me for the rest of our lives. But after Zoey returned to America, everything changed. The Aiden who used to come home on time for dinner with me, rain or shine, started coming home late. He put a password on his phone and never drank the soup I made anymore. I had spent half a month selecting that ring, even having mine and Aiden’s initials engraved on it. I had planned to give him the ring on our third anniversary, to surprise him. I also hoped to humbly use that ring to earn just one more glance from him. But before our third anniversary arrived, I had taken the blame for Zoey and gone to prison. Aiden opened the box, and the platinum ring inside gleamed faintly. Beneath the ring was a card I had written by hand. The card read: [Happy Third Anniversary. I hope you’ll be by my side for every anniversary to come.] Aiden’s fingers tightened around the card, his expression somewhat dazed. Perhaps he too was remembering those early days when we were most in love. Back then, our smiles were genuine, and the light in our eyes was real too. Just as Aiden stared at the ring in a daze, his phone chimed. It was a message from Parker: [Mr. Smith, I’ve found Liliana’s records and sent them to your email.] Aiden snapped back to reality. He shoved the ring box into the drawer and frantically opened his email. The moment he opened the email attachment, his movements froze. On the first page of the document was a death certificate. The death certificate was mine, with the date of death clearly written as five years ago—the day I was released from prison. Aiden’s voice began to tremble. His finger scrolled across the phone screen for a long time, as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. After a long while, Aiden finally spoke in a hoarse voice. He said, “Is Liliana really dead?”
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