Chapter 3

My soul seemed bound to Carter. I was forced to follow him back to his penthouse.

The moment he pushed the door open, Chloe rushed to greet him, anxiety written all over her face.

"Carter! How did it go? Did you find Harper?"

Carter shook his head, his expression a bit vacant.

"No... and the landlord said Harper is dead."

"Dead?!"

Chloe's eyes went wide. She took a step back, her hand clutching Carter's arm instinctively.

"How is that possible? Is she... is she just hiding from us? She must have made up that lie to trick you!"

Carter kept silent, his brow heavily furrowed.

Seeing his silence, Chloe quickly squeezed out a bitter, self-sacrificing smile.

"It must be that! Harper must still hold a grudge about what happened seven years ago. She made up this sick lie because she doesn't want to help me."

"Carter, maybe... forget it? Don't force her. I'll just turn myself in..."

Carter remained quiet for a long moment, but eventually, he nodded.

"You're right. She's definitely hiding."

"But we can't let this go. Even if I have to dig up the entire city, I will find her and make her clear your name!"

Chloe's eyes welled with tears, her voice trembling. "Carter, you're so good to me..."

"However..."

Carter suddenly cut her off, his tone hesitant.

"If Harper went as far as to fake her own death, she must be utterly furious."

"Chloe, this is the last time. Once she takes the fall for you and gets out of prison, you and I are done."

I stood beside them, so shocked I almost forgot I was a ghost.

Carter was actually proposing to break up with Chloe?

I still remembered how he used to scream at me, turning our lives upside down just to defend this woman.

Back then, we had been married for less than a year when Chloe was hired as his assistant.

From that moment on, they flirted right under my nose.

If I questioned him even a little, he would call me petty, insecure, and crazy.

But now, he was willingly ending it?

Carter didn't notice the stiff, ugly expression on Chloe's face.

He turned his head away, his voice dropping.

"I need to... go back to Harper. I gave her money back then, but I really did ruin her life these past few years."

"To be honest, I feel... really guilty."

Chloe stared at him in utter disbelief.

"Carter... are you leaving me?"

"I don't know," Carter avoided her gaze, his frown deepening. "But ever since I stepped out of Harper's apartment, my chest has been feeling incredibly tight. I have this awful feeling that something bad has happened."

He paused, trying to sound firm again.

"But I will help you with this hit-and-run! I won't watch you go to jail. I'm going to look for her now. Wait for me."

With that, he turned and left, his back tense with determination.

Chloe stood frozen in the living room.

But the moment the door closed, her vulnerable, pitiful facade vanished completely.

I saw it clearly. Her eyes turned venomous, filled with raw, murderous hatred.

And the name she hissed through her gritted teeth was mine.