Chapter 1

Three years after faking my death, I ran into my ex-husband, Jarvis Weiss, at an underground auction house on Harbor Isle.

He was burning an offering for Adela Henson, buying a pair of blood-dove rings.

Three years apart, and he was still as high and mighty as ever, murmuring softly to the woman in his arms.

"In this whole world, only you are worthy of it."

I sat in a private box on the second floor, watching the scene.

Three years ago, Adela had said with red-rimmed eyes, "It seems like Judy just can't stand me."

And Jarvis had sent me off to the Women's Virtue Academy.

"Judy James, go learn how to be a well-behaved, gracious lady of the house. Once you stop making trouble, I'll bring you back."

Later, my ribs were broken, and I was left barely breathing.

He was still setting off fireworks for Adela, telling me over the phone, "Still putting on an act. Without me, do you think you could even survive?"

He didn't know.

The one who truly died at the Women's Virtue Academy.

Was the Judy James who still wanted to beg him for a little love.

...

The gavel came down, and the light pressed onto that pair of blood-dove rings.

Vivid red.

"Mr. Weiss makes the offering—sold!"

Applause exploded.

Jarvis sat in the front row, prayer beads wound around his wrist, his brow hard and cold.

Adela leaned into his arms, tears in her eyes.

"Jarvis, it's too expensive. I really don't deserve it."

Jarvis pulled her shawl back into place.

"If I say you deserve it, then you deserve it."

Someone egged them on. "Over these three years, Mr. Weiss really has spoiled Miss Henson like she's the moon over Harbor Isle."

Adela blushed.

"Judy would be upset if she found out."

Jarvis's hand paused for a moment.

Then he said, "The dead don't get upset."

"Then Mr. Weiss might be disappointed. This ghost of mine has always had a bad temper."

I laughed out loud, pulled back the curtain of the box, and looked at them.

Adela followed the sound and lifted her head. When she saw my face clearly, the wine glass slipped from her hand in fright.

Crack.

Jarvis's head snapped up.

The wine glass shattered in his palm, blood dripping down between his fingers.

He stared at me, utterly stunned.

"Judy James?"

The whole room went silent.

I came down the stairs in my high heels and stopped in front of him.

Jarvis stared at me and let out a cold laugh.

"Judy James, so you're actually still alive. Gone for three years, and now you show up playing ghost—what are you trying to pull?"

Adela tugged at his sleeve.

"Jarvis, don't say that. Judy's probably just had a hard time of it."

She looked at me with red eyes.

"Judy, it's so good you're still alive. We all thought you'd done something to yourself."

I looked at her.

She was good at crying, deliberately using her tears to win sympathy and hurt other people.

Jarvis's voice turned cold, with a note of condescension.

"If you've had it so hard, then you should come back and beg me. What, are you here today to admit you were wrong?"

I lifted my eyes to him.

"Three years ago, I knelt at the gate of the Women's Virtue Academy and begged you to take me back. Didn't you say I wasn't worthy of talking about dignity?"

Jarvis's expression shifted slightly.

Just as Adela was about to speak, I raised my hand and slapped him.

Crack.

His face turned to the side.

I drew back my stinging hand.

"Mr. Weiss, I really am no longer the obedient Judy James you remember."

"Because the Judy now can hold this whole game together—and can hold your ashes too."

Adela shrank behind him in fright.

"Jarvis, she's terrifying."

Jarvis stepped in front of her.

"Judy James, you're scaring Adela."

Three years had passed.

And it was still the same line.

I laughed.

"If she's so easily scared, why didn't she go down sooner and die with me?"

Jarvis flew into a rage and clamped down on my wrist.

He caught it right on an old injury.

My wrist hurt terribly, but I didn't frown.

A voice came from the top of the second-floor stairs.

"Mr. Weiss, let go."

The man who came down was Elijah Stephens.

The man in charge of the Stephens family of Harbor Isle.

And the man who, three years ago, had rescued me.

He draped his coat over my shoulders and looked at Jarvis.

"She's not here to apologize. She's the seller of that pair of blood-dove rings."

I took out the document and slapped it down in front of Jarvis.

"Mr. Weiss, the Blood-Dove Ring is a keepsake from my grandmother."

"Using my own things to sweet-talk her—came pretty naturally to you, didn't it? Since you're so generous, Mr. Weiss, then I'll thank you for paying such a high price."

Adela went pale.

I looked down at the line of text on the inside of the ring.

To my granddaughter Judy, may she never bow her head as long as she lives.

I turned and walked toward the back.

Behind me came Jarvis's voice. "Judy James, what exactly did you come back to do?"

I didn't turn around.

"To take back what's mine."

"And to let you all know—when the dead come to collect a debt, they never show mercy."