Chapter 2

The next day.

The TV in the hospital lobby played the interview from last night on a loop.

Marcus sat in his office, scrolling through online comments.

All of them praised his "selflessness" and "benevolent medical ethics."

Linda pushed the door open, wearing that down jacket.

It was the one I'd begged Marcus to buy me last year for my birthday.

I hadn't dared to wear it. I'd kept it hanging in my closet.

Linda spun around:

"Mr. Bennett, this jacket is so warm."

Marcus smiled:

"It looks good on you. It didn't suit Aria anyway."

I floated in midair, watching Linda slip her hand into my pocket.

The duty nurse knocked and came in, carrying a dressing tray.

Her eyes were evasive:

"Marcus, Aria didn't return to the regular ward last night, and she didn't go home either. Her phone's off. With all that snow, and her wound still needing to be dressed..."

Marcus's smile faded.

"Ignore her."

He tossed his phone onto the desk.

"She's just being spoiled. She's probably hiding at a friend's place, trying to manipulate me with a pity act."

"Tell the nurses' station—no one is to look for her. If she comes back, make her write an apology letter first."

The nurse opened her mouth but didn't dare say more. She backed out.

Linda walked over and massaged Marcus's shoulders.

"Mr. Bennett, don't be angry. Aria probably just feels upset for the moment—like I took her place."

"Actually, I could sleep in the hallway. Let Aria come back to the single room."

Marcus patted Linda's hand.

"You're too understanding. If she had even half your sense, I'd count my blessings."

"Oh, clear out the VIP room on the top floor for your mom."

I floated in front of him, wanting to scream.

That was the room Mom had stayed in before she died.

After Mom passed, I'd kept paying for that room myself. It was filled with Mom's belongings and photos.

It was my last home.

Marcus pressed the intercom button:

"Housekeeping? Go to VIP Room 1 on the top floor. Clear out everything inside. Immediately."

I followed the cleaning staff upstairs.

They grabbed trash bags and swept away the photo frames, stuffed animals, and paintings.

The glass in the frames shattered, stabbing into Mom's photos.

It was our only family portrait.

I reached out to grab it, but my hand passed through the trash bag.

The cleaning woman tied the bag shut, dragged it to the stairwell, and threw it in the bin.

"This family is heartless. Throwing away such nice things without a second thought."

Linda helped her mother into the room.

Her mother sighed:

"Talk about a blessing in disguise. Marcus is so good to us."

Marcus's phone rang.

A video call from his sister,Nancy.

Marcus put it on speaker.

Nancy's voice came through:

"Marcus, where's Aria? She didn't come see me for New Year's, didn't even send a gift. She's getting more and more rude!"

Marcus snorted coldly:

"She's throwing a tantrum at me right now. Fighting over a hospital bed, acting like she's dying. Let her be."

Linda leaned into the camera:

"Aria's just being impulsive. Don't blame her—it's my fault."

Nancy laughed:

"Linda's the sensible one. Aria's just spoiled rotten. Let her freeze outside for a while. Once she's frozen through, she'll know to come home!"

Marcus hung up and sent a message.

I floated outside the window, watching those words appear in the chat:

"If you don't get back here and apologize to Linda, you're paying your own medical bills from now on! Don't expect me to give you another cent!"

In that moment, I felt only relief.

Relief that I was already dead.

I wouldn't have to go home. I wouldn't have to see him. I wouldn't have to work to pay medical bills.

The dead don't need medical bills.