Chapter 2

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.