Chapter 3

As soon as they got home, Clara lay down on the sofa. The moment she said she was hungry, Ryan couldn't wait to pull out his phone to order her favorite takeout.

Usually so careless, he carefully studied the reviews of various restaurants on the food delivery app, afraid of letting Clara eat something that didn't suit her taste.

Marcus pulled out a latest model luxury brand handbag, saying it was a discharge gift for her, celebrating her safe return.

Ethan cleaned Clara's room inside and out, placing aromatherapy and calming essential oils, saying it would help her relax and rest better.

Clara just lay comfortably on the sofa playing with her phone, yet she held the whole family's heart.

And me—my soul that had returned with them—only felt this all-too-familiar place was bone-chillingly cold.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang.

I saw a figure I knew all too well—my childhood friend, Derek.

He'd just returned from abroad.

As soon as he entered, he expressed concern for Clara's health. "I heard Clara was being discharged today, so I specially bought some things to visit her."

Clara immediately put down her phone, acting shy. "Sorry you had to make a special trip. I'm fine now."

Derek gave her a warm smile. That face that had always been sunny and cheerful in my memory now seemed inexplicably strange to me.

Suddenly, he changed the subject. "Where's Autumn?"

If he hadn't mentioned me, the whole family probably would have forgotten my existence.

Hearing my name, Ethan's face darkened. "Why bring up that disaster? I said a few words to her and she didn't even come home. But that's fine—since she likes being out there so much, she should just never come back. Die out there. At least then home would be peaceful, instead of her constantly stirring up trouble!"

Derek quickly nodded. "Good that she's not coming back. At least she won't disturb Clara's rest."

Ryan came out carrying water, teasing, "So, are you leaving the country again this time? Clara, you'd better pay more attention, or someone else might snatch him away."

Derek lowered his head slightly. "I originally planned to visit Clara today, and also... clarify some things with Autumn."

An indescribable sourness churned from my heart to my throat. I laughed bitterly at myself, turned around, and didn't want to look anymore.

Not being loved—I'd gotten used to it long ago.

After dinner, Ethan became somewhat irritable for some reason.

He returned to the bedroom alone, searching for something on his phone.

I walked over and glanced—he was looking for my phone number.

Then he repeatedly called me, but no one ever answered.

After a while, Ethan threw his phone hard on the ground. "Still dare not answer my calls? Think anyone actually cares about you?"

I really wanted to tell him I was dead—how could anyone possibly answer the phone?

But then he called that hospital nurse. "What trick is Autumn telling you she wants to pull? Tell her for me not to refuse what's good for her. Get back here right now and apologize to her sister, and I'll still allow her to come home!"

The other end of the line was silent for a few seconds. "Director, Autumn died a week ago. She fell down the stairs that day, hemorrhaged from a miscarriage and urgently needed emergency treatment, but all the doctors had been summoned by you to Clara's room. There were no doctors available to treat her..."

Hearing these words, Ethan's pupils dilated in shock. He froze in place.

He refused to believe it, recalling the scene from that day, frowning confidently. "That's impossible. She and Clara went together. Clara's already been discharged—how could she be hurt that badly?"

"Don't think I can't see through this little trick. Isn't she just trying to make me care about her by causing trouble?"

"I'm warning both of you—stop this endless scheming together! Or you'll both regret it!"

Seeing that Ethan refused to believe it no matter what, the nurse sighed softly and said helplessly, "Director, I'm really not lying to you. If you don't believe me, go to the morgue and see for yourself."