The first day after I died, my wife went on a date with her old flame. I once told her, "If I die... I swear, in the next life, I won't make the mistake of loving you again." But she just scoffed back, "Wouldn't bother me one bit. Besides, only the good die young, right?" Later, she got her wish. I died. But clutching my urn, she murmured, "Still mad at me?" 1 The clock struck midnight. I stared at the sky-blue cake on the table, the frosting slowly starting to sweat. The single candle stuck in it had already burned out. My birthday. Ended in silence. I slowly walked over to the table, looked at the forgotten cake, picked it up, and took a bite. "Happy birthday," I told myself. Then, without hesitation, I threw the whole thing into the trash can… Late that night, she came back. I looked at the woman walking in through the doorway. "You're home." Chloe’s indifferent gaze swept over to me, her brow furrowing in annoyance. "Can you do anything besides drink?" I swirled the wine in my glass and gave a slight smile. "Drinking is serious business." Then, I swayed unsteadily towards her. "Wine's good stuff. Here, have a sip..." I lifted the glass to her lips. She narrowed her eyes and slapped my hand away. "You need to sleep it off." The force knocked most of the red wine out of the glass. That jolt actually sobered me up a bit. I put the glass down and turned back to face her properly. "It was my birthday today." Hearing this, Chloe’s eyes flickered for just a second, then returned to their usual cool indifference. "Since it's my birthday, there should obviously be a gift," I sighed. "You're not giving me one, so I'll give you one instead." Saying that, I pulled a file out of the drawer by the sofa and tossed it onto the table. "This is my gift to you." Her eyes scanned the cover. The words "Divorce Agreement" caught her eye. Her brow furrowed then, and she asked quietly, "What kind of game are you playing now?" "Our families practically pushed us together for business reasons all those years ago, tying you to me. I know it's been hard on you. You've always been thinking about your old flame, haven't you? Go find him." I pushed the divorce papers into her hands, and before she could react, I gently kissed her forehead. 2 Just a few seconds later, she shoved me away forcefully. I almost stumbled. Keeping my eyes lowered, I said, "For a marriage to end up like ours... it's pretty pathetic. Looks like we really weren't meant to spend our lives together." Chloe's voice was still cold. "If you'd thought that way back then, we wouldn't have had to be tangled up like this until now." "It's my fault." I managed a weak smile. "Looks like the only way to pay for this sin is with my life." A cruel smile touched Chloe's lips. "You think you actually have the guts to die?" I paused, my voice dropping slightly. "If I die... I swear, in the next life, I won't make the mistake of loving you again." "We'll talk when you're actually dead." Chloe looked away, turned directly around, and left. The door slammed shut with a bang. She was gone again. The smile faded from my lips. She still hated me that much. I gave a bitter laugh. Sitting down on the sofa, I pulled another document out of the drawer – a medical report. Late-stage cancer. Those suffocating words were written on the last page. I closed my eyes, opened them after a long moment, and then tore the report to shreds. Pieces of paper scattered on the floor. I looked at the wedding ring on my ring finger, rubbing it gently back and forth with my fingertip, then slowly slid it off and placed it on the table… The next morning. I gathered all my things and threw them into the car. Without even eating breakfast, I drove away from the villa. I drove straight ahead, gradually leaving the city behind, getting onto the coastal highway. I rolled down the window. The wind blowing in was cool and crisp, ruffling my hair. "Goodbye forever, Chloe." I jerked the steering wheel to the right, let go of the wheel, and slammed the gas pedal to the floor. CRUNCH! The car smashed head-on into the cliff face on the right. The front end crumpled severely. From the driver's seat, bright red blood snaked out from under the car… 3 Even though I died, my soul just kept drifting. I thought death would finally get me away from Chloe, but for some reason, my spirit stayed tethered to her. Apex Global, sixtieth floor. I floated into her company building. Ever since her parents died in that car crash, she'd taken over the company. Her secretary brought her a strong cup of coffee. I followed her into the office. "Ms. Bellweather, the video conference with Weston Corp starts at 9:30. The meeting materials are already compiled and on your desk." Chloe nodded slightly. But I noticed something missing from her finger. Right, the wedding ring. Even though Chloe usually treated me coldly, she never took off her wedding ring. But today, the ring on her left ring finger was gone, leaving only a faint pale mark. Well, we were divorced now, no need to wear it anymore. I felt a suffocating sensation for a moment; I didn't expect to still have feelings after death. Around noon, I habitually checked the time. For five years, like clockwork, I’d gone to her office to bring her lunch. Today, I didn't show up. Her secretary, Jessica, seemed to guess something was up and quickly ordered takeout for Chloe. Thirty minutes later, the food arrived. "Ms. Bellweather, maybe have some lunch first." Jessica put down the takeout and left. Chloe finished the work she was doing, opened the container, and took just one bite before frowning slightly. She seemed to notice the taste was different. She picked at it for a few more bites, then pushed it aside. Her phone on the desk vibrated. I glanced at it and saw a familiar name. Her gaze remained fixed on the document in front of her; she just casually picked up the phone and answered. "Chloe, are you done with work yet?" Chloe glanced down at the phone screen, a small smile touching her lips. "Yeah, almost." "Let's get dinner tonight then." Chloe looked at the files on her desk and replied softly, "Okay." Chloe picked up her pace, finished the documents she was holding, and left the office. The Grand Plaza Hotel. As Chloe's car pulled up, Ethan straightened his shirt, waiting with a smile for her to get out. "Chloe." Chloe walked towards him. "Been waiting long?" Ethan casually put his arm around her shoulder. "Nope, I just got here too." Chloe's body stiffened noticeably for a second, then relaxed. They walked into the French restaurant on the third floor of the Grand Plaza Hotel. Ethan gallantly pulled out Chloe's chair for her and ordered several dishes she liked. It struck me as funny, thinking back. Chloe had never once served me food from a shared dish. Every time I eagerly put food on her plate, looking at her with hopeful eyes, she would always say coldly, "Alex, don't you have any pride? Just save your energy." 4 Ethan seemed to be in a great mood, a constant smile on his face. Exquisite dishes arrived one by one. Ethan maintained his gentlemanly manners, occasionally putting some food onto her plate. Chloe looked up at him, asking with concern, "Are you feeling better?" So, she could show concern for people, just not for me. Ethan continued cutting his steak. "Much better. It was just a stomach thing, same old problem. As long as I eat on time, it doesn't act up." "I remember back in college, you didn't have stomach problems." Ethan paused his cutting, meeting her eyes. "Well, you took such good care of me back then, I never had a chance to get sick, did I?" Chloe lowered her gaze. "Didn't she take good care of you?" Ethan put down his knife and fork, his expression darkening slightly. "Alex kept you tied up for five years, and I forced myself to be with someone else for five years too." "But we both know you can't force feelings. We loved each other deeply. If Alex hadn't interfered, we could have been together five years ago." Yeah, it was all my fault. Now I was finally gone, letting you two be together. Chloe seemed to recall all the unpleasantness she'd endured five years ago, her face showing a hint of guilt. "I'm sorry for what happened to you." Ethan stood up, walked over to her side, and leaned down. "No, it wasn't your fault. It was Alex and his family, using their influence to force the issue. We had no power back then, no way to fight back." He looked into her eyes, his gaze finally settling on her lips, and slowly leaned in. In a flash, Chloe almost instinctively turned her head, dodging his kiss. I was really curious what she was thinking right then, why she reacted like that. Could she possibly be remembering what I once told her? "Chloe, after we're married, you need to stay away from other men. They're all after something. I'm the only one who truly loves you." I shook my head, feeling like I was fooling myself. Why would she care about anything I said? Ethan's expression stiffened, and he stood up straight. "I forgot myself. Forgive me, you're a married woman." "We got divorced." As she said this, Chloe subconsciously touched the spot on her left ring finger. The ring she'd worn for five years was gone, but the indentation from wearing it so long remained. Ethan looked shocked. "Really? You two got divorced?" But I noticed the corners of his mouth twitch upwards for a split second. Chloe stood up, guided him back to his seat, and said softly, "Yes, we did." Ethan placed his hands over hers, smiling. "That's wonderful, Chloe! Finally, you don't have to force yourself to be with him anymore." He squeezed her hand tightly. "This is great news! We should really celebrate." Chloe said nonchalantly, "It's not that big of a deal, no need to celebrate." "Of course, we have to celebrate!" Ethan raised his voice. "I've waited five years for this day, Chloe! Even if it's just for my sake, let's celebrate properly…" Seeing the bright smile on his face, Chloe didn't want to disappoint him, so she went along with it. 5 The eighth floor of the Grand Plaza Hotel housed an exclusive lounge, a notorious playground for the city's wealthy elite. After dinner, they headed up there. I didn't want to watch them flaunt their relationship like this, but my body, or spirit rather, seemed out of my control, following them anyway. When they reached the eighth floor, they happened to run into Chloe's friends drinking with a group of men. Ethan immediately pulled Chloe into their private room. Thumping music blasted from the room. Ethan kept his arm around Chloe's shoulder, as if staking his claim. Her friends kept egging them on, glasses filling and emptying constantly. By the end, Chloe was so drunk she could barely stand. Her head swam. She squinted at her watch and mumbled, "It's midnight. I need to go home." "That guy Alex... he never let me stay out late." "Always controlling me. So annoying!" Ethan had stayed by her side the whole time and seemed to hear her muttering. His expression darkened slightly. He put his arm around her waist and coaxed softly, "Chloe, you're divorced now. There's no one telling you what to do anymore. You don't have to stick to any rules about not drinking or coming home early." "Divorced?" Chloe closed her eyes, then smiled faintly. "Yeah, we're divorced… divorced…" Right, we were divorced. Look how happy she was. I loved her for so many years, and never got even a shred of affection in return. She stumbled as she took another drink someone handed her, downing it in one gulp. Some of the liquid trickled down from the corner of her mouth, tracing a path down her neck. Ethan stared at her, looking almost bewitching in that moment, and his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily. "Alright, alright." He stepped in, blocking others from offering her more drinks. "That's enough for tonight. Chloe's drunk, I'm taking her to rest." With that, he supported Chloe and slowly guided her out of the room. Chloe followed Ethan silently out of the lounge and took the elevator up to the 60th floor. "Okay, Chloe, careful now." Ethan helped Chloe to one of the room doors and used a key card he’d already procured to open it. "Come on, let's get you inside." Was I really supposed to watch them get intimate? This was too cruel. They went inside. Ethan helped her lie down on the bed and was about to help her take off her coat when Chloe suddenly sat up, pushed him away, her bright eyes showing little emotion. Ethan paused, surprised. He asked tentatively, "What's wrong?" "I'll get another room." Chloe got up, her head still fuzzy, swaying a couple of times, almost losing her balance. Chloe stumbled towards the door, bumping right into the floor manager who was walking down the hallway. She had the manager open another room for her, then went into the new room alone, shutting the door behind her. I really didn't understand Chloe's move there. Shouldn't she have been waiting for this day for a long time? Ethan's misty eyes gradually turned cold, eventually revealing raw resentment. He muttered under his breath, "We're divorced, and she's still acting loyal to that bastard…" The next morning. Ethan composed himself, putting on a perfect smile. Looking refreshed, he put his arm around Chloe as they took the elevator down from the 60th floor. As they walked through the hotel lobby, we ran right into an "old friend"... 6 The grand lobby buzzed with people coming and going. Ethan and Chloe smiled as they looked towards someone standing not far away. It was the hotel's lobby manager – and my best friend since childhood, Mark. I wanted desperately to "run" over, to tell him not to get involved, but my soul just passed right through his body. My spirits sank. I remembered then that I was dead. He stood there ramrod straight in his black uniform, his gaze falling coldly on the couple leaning on each other. Mark sneered, "Well, Ms. Bellweather, you really know how to play the field, don't you? One at home, a bunch on the side? Having a good time, are we?" Chloe's eyes darkened slightly, but she didn't say anything. Ethan's smile vanished. He stepped forward, positioning himself protectively in front of Chloe. "Mark, this is between the three of us. It's none of your business." "Five years ago, Alex used his family's influence to force Chloe to marry him. If it weren't for him, Chloe and I wouldn't have been separated for so long. Besides, Alex is a nobody now, what can he do for Chloe? He was just living off her." Mark looked pointedly at Chloe. "Living off her? Relying on a woman? I've never seen a friend sacrifice as much as Alex did. Gave up his whole career for a woman." "Shut up!" Ethan glared furiously at Mark. "I know Chloe better than anyone, and I won't let you slander her like this!" "You won't allow it? In what capacity? As the other man?" Ethan shot back at Mark, "Chloe and I knew each other first! Alex was the one who came between us!" Mark scoffed. "Funny, I remember you being the one who dumped Chloe because she wasn't rich enough, ran off overseas with some heiress." Ethan glanced guiltily at Chloe, quickly trying to explain, "If Alex hadn't interfered, I never would have left Chloe!" "Got the order wrong there, buddy," Mark said dismissively. Five years. Even a dog would wag its tail after five years of kindness. And I poured my heart out for Chloe, only to not even get a second glance in the end. Mark stared hard at Chloe. "I hope you really never loved him. Because when you finally realize what you've lost, you'll understand what real regret feels like!" Seeing my friend defend me like this, remembering he was the first to hear I died, how he broke down when he saw my body at the hospital… I wanted to tell him to stop wasting his breath on this woman, she just didn't care. But right now, Mark was so furious he looked like he wanted to tear them both apart with his bare hands. I knew he was angry – angry at me for being so spineless, angry at her for being so ungrateful. Chloe met his gaze coolly, her voice flat. "I don't love him." Mark gave a cold laugh. "I hope you remember saying that today. Just don't come crying when you regret this for the rest of your life." Mark threw those words at her coldly, then clenched his fists and turned sharply away. 7 After driving back to the office, Chloe was busy as usual. The hangover from the night before left her with a bit of a headache. After a meeting, during a short break, she asked her secretary again for an extra-strong coffee. While waiting for the coffee, she took out her personal phone, which had been silent all night, and scrolled through it. I looked over her shoulder at the screen. Ethan had texted asking her to dinner tonight. She replied saying she had plans, maybe next time. After replying, she scrolled back and forth through all her messages and call logs. What was she looking for? Waiting for? She lowered her eyes, silent for a moment. Just then, Jessica came in with the coffee. "Ms. Bellweather, your coffee." "Hmm." Chloe glanced one last time at her phone, then looked up at Jessica and asked casually, "Did Alex call?" Jessica paused, startled, then replied, "No." Chloe lowered her eyes again, saying nothing more. Jessica looked confused. I guessed Chloe had probably never actively asked about me before. After all, I was always the one chasing after her. After finishing the hot coffee, Chloe put down her phone and threw herself back into work. At noon, Jessica ordered her a boxed lunch. Chloe took two bites, and her brow furrowed again. "Where is this lunch from?" "City Bistro." Jessica thought for a moment, then asked hesitantly, "Is the food not to your liking? Should I order something else?" "Is this the same place we used to order from?" "...No." "From now on, order from the place we used before." "..." Jessica glanced at her boss, not daring to speak. Chloe shot her a look. "Can't do it?" Jessica seemed to struggle internally for a moment before confessing, "All those meals before... Mr. Thompson sent them over." Jessica spoke nervously. "For the past few years, Mr. Thompson always brought your lunch, almost always right on time, rain or shine. He specifically told me not to let you know it was from him because he was afraid you wouldn't eat it. That's why I never told you." "I'm sorry, Ms. Bellweather. I shouldn't have kept it from you." Yes, before, no matter how much effort I put into cooking for her, if she knew I made it, she wouldn't even take a bite. From then on, I was careful, humble, just trying to please her. Not asking her to love me, just asking her to accept my love. She must have gotten used to it, and the sudden change didn't sit well. Chloe didn't say anything, just waved her hand dismissively for Jessica to leave. Chloe stared at the lunchbox in front of her, her expression unreadable. I looked at the food; it was decent, standard fare. The meals I used to make were always arranged beautifully, thoughtfully. Maybe not gourmet, but they had that comforting taste of home cooking. She picked up her phone again, scrolled through it once more. Still no messages. She put it down and dove back into work. By the time Chloe finished everything, it was already late. She glanced at the time and drove back to the villa. The house had been empty of its master for two days. The housekeeper and several maids kept the villa immaculate. Seeing Chloe return, the housekeeper was visibly pleased. "Ma'am, you're back! I'll go have the kitchen prepare dinner for you." Chloe took off her coat, handed it casually to a maid, then asked the housekeeper, "Is Alex home?" The housekeeper shook her head, worried. "Mr. Thompson drove out yesterday morning and hasn't been back yet." "Hmm," Chloe said quietly. "Have them prepare dinner." "Yes, right away." I hadn't been home in two days, and she hadn't even noticed? Chloe went upstairs, back to our room. Walking around the room, she finally noticed how empty it felt. All my things were gone. My side of the closet was bare – all my clothes, shoes, gone. All my personal items had vanished. And the man who had waited for her to come home every day for five years was gone too… She finally realized that I had truly, completely left this place, left her. Chloe looked at the empty bedroom, a strange, unnameable feeling suddenly filling her chest. She sat down on the sofa, her gaze falling on the diamond wedding ring sparkling under the light. This ring was the match to the one she used to wear. She picked up the ring, ripples gently disturbing the deep-sea calm of her eyes. Chloe clenched her hand around the ring, her expression somewhat lost… Maybe she thought I'd finally chosen to leave. 8 The next day, Chloe arrived at the office on time. A morning meeting was still in progress when she saw Ethan rush over looking for her. After the meeting, when Chloe returned to her office, she found Ethan waiting unexpectedly. She was slightly surprised. "What are you doing here?" Ethan put down the coffee he was holding and walked towards her. "Tried to get dinner with a certain busy lady yesterday, but no luck. So today, I had to come find you myself." Chloe sat back down in her chair, looking at the mountain of files on her desk. "I might be a while," she said helplessly. Ethan replied thoughtfully, "That's okay, I'll wait for you." Time ticked by. An hour passed without them noticing. Chloe finished processing all the files on her desk. Just as she was about to get up and take Ethan to lunch, her phone rang. She glanced at the screen and answered, though with some hesitation. It was her personal number; very few people had it. The voice on the other end was cold. "Chloe Bellweather, this is Mark. You need to come down to the police station right now." Chloe asked calmly, "What is it?" Between her and Mark, there was no connection other than me. Mark's voice was like ice. "Alex's body needs to be cremated. The cremation process requires your signature." The cremation process required the signature of the deceased's next of kin. My parents were already gone. Besides Chloe, I had no other relatives. Although we had signed the divorce agreement, the final divorce proceedings hadn't been completed. Therefore, legally, Chloe was still my only relative. Chloe narrowed her eyes. "What did you say?" Body? Cremation? Mark repeated coldly, "I said Alex's body needs to be cremated, and it requires your signature." Chloe clearly didn't believe it. Her voice grew stern. "Is this some kind of sick joke?" "You'll know if it's a joke when you get here." With that, Mark hung up. A faint, mocking smile touched Chloe's lips. "Hiding for two days, and now he finally decides to show his face." Ethan approached Chloe, asking softly, "Chloe, who was that?" Chloe snapped back to reality, her expression apologetic. "Sorry, Ethan, something came up suddenly. I can't have lunch with you." Ethan's expression faltered, but he quickly put on a smile. "That's okay, work is important. We can get together next time." "Okay, sure." She went to the parking garage, got her car, and drove towards the police station. Arriving at the station, she wore an air of nonchalance, clearly thinking this was some scheme cooked up by me and Mark, just a way to get her back. She expected to see me standing there, looking smug about my successful ploy.
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