Chapter 3

I thought death would be the end, but I watched my own body float away with the waves.

My soul was filled with resentment. I tried to walk away, but an invisible force dragged me right back to Ethan's side.

"Lily, if it hurts too much, just bite my arm."

Ethan offered his arm. Lily lay on the hospital bed, looking pale and fragile.

"But then you'll be hurt," Lily giggled, pushing his arm away.

They couldn't see me standing right next to them.

"Did Chloe call you?" Lily asked.

Ethan frowned, as if mentioning my name ruined the mood.

"She called earlier saying she wanted strawberry cake. You know she hates sweet things. She's probably just throwing a fit."

"But I am the one who loves strawberry cake," I whispered. You were the one who told me it was too sweet and made me stop eating it.

"My illness is such a burden to you guys," Lily whimpered, lowering her head.

My parents used to stand by and lecture me:

"Lily is sick, Chloe. Can't you just let her have her way?"

"She's your sister. Why can't you let Ethan spend some time with her?"

Ethan hugged her tightly, whispering that it wasn't her fault.

"Lily, you know that if it weren't for Chloe, we..."

His unfinished words were the clearest answer.

I couldn't stand watching them. I tried to walk out of the room, but the moment I opened the door, a massive force pulled me back.

I couldn't leave Ethan.

"Ethan, can you stay with me tonight? I've been feeling worse lately."

"Of course."

At midnight, I stood by Ethan's bed. If I were still alive, he would have snapped, "What are you staring at my face for?"

Now, I watched him pick up his phone, light up the screen, and lock it again.

His face was calm, but I knew.

It was 11 PM. Normally, I would have texted him goodnight.

By midnight, I hadn't sent a single text. Because I was dead.

For once, Ethan tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

I always knew Ethan loved Lily.

In senior year, he had carried Lily to the nurse's office in front of everyone when she was hit by a basketball.

They started dating on the 325th day of my secret crush on him.

But there was one thing Ethan didn't know.

The breakfasts Lily gave him were made by me. The gifts were personally picked by me.

Ethan was just one of Lily's many admirers.

"Chloe, I have things to do tomorrow. Can you help me pick out a gift for Ethan?" Lily would say, wearing heavy makeup, calling other guys "babe" on her phone.

Our engagement was an accident. Ethan's family was wealthy, and his elite parents despised Lily's promiscuous behavior.

They chose me instead—an Ivy League graduate, polite and proper.

"Are you crazy? You won't let me marry Lily, so you want me to marry Chloe?" Ethan had threatened suicide, but it was useless. Lily had only shed a few fake tears.

"Ethan, I'm not good enough for you," she had said, playing the victim.

But as Ethan's family business grew, our marriage became a cold contract.

"I'm married to Ethan now, Lily. Stay away from him," I had confronted her right before my death.