Chapter 2

Jack and I grew up together as family and were also lovers who understood each other's hearts. But when we parted, it was ugly.

In front of everyone, I argued with Jack, saying I was tired of living in constant danger with him, tired of the anxiety-filled life. I said I had found a rich man and was preparing to go abroad to marry him.

I had never said such hurtful things before, and naturally, Jack didn't believe it.

He lay in the ICU for a month, constantly mumbling that he wanted to see me when he was conscious, but I never showed up. I even had someone tell him that we were done for good.

Finally, he gave up hope.

His hatred for me was justified.

Meanwhile, Jack thought that since Grandpa had mistaken that grave for Rachel Sullivan's, he would go check it out to give Grandpa an explanation, so he could quickly return to the police station.

I followed behind Jack, afraid he would recognize my remains.

His junior, Emily Johnson, also followed behind him.

"Jack," she said coquettishly, "who was that person Grandpa mentioned earlier?"

I saw Jack's footsteps falter.

"A liar."

"Is that so? I thought it might be your girlfriend. People at the police station all say... you had a girlfriend you were about to marry before."

"If it were her... I'd hope it really was her buried in that grave."

He muttered softly, but I heard it all.

"But why would Grandpa bring up a liar?"

Jack was clearly annoyed by topics related to me.

"Why keep talking about this?"

Emily pouted.

"Fine."

Soon, we arrived at my tombstone.

Emily looked around, seeing only dense forest. The heavy rain had mercilessly uncovered this piece of land, the soil had slid away, and the grave had collapsed, revealing the place where I had long been resting. The coffin lay there alone, looking somewhat eerie.

"Jack, this place is scary."

Jack said impatiently, "Emily, no one asked you to come along. I promised your dad I'd take care of you, but you don't need to follow me everywhere."

His junior felt a bit hurt by these words and lowered her head, no longer speaking. However, she still followed behind Jack. The path was uneven, and she accidentally twisted her ankle, the pain bringing tears to her eyes.

Jack was crouching down to examine the unmarked tombstone.

Hearing her soft cry, he stopped and looked back. Seeing the pain on his junior's face, he sighed.

He walked over, bent down, and carried her on his back.

"Let's head back," Jack said softly.

Emily smiled secretly on Jack's back.

"I knew Jack was the best," she said.

Watching them, I remembered when Jack and I were young. When I couldn't walk on mountain paths, I would pretend to twist my ankle to get Jack to carry me.

Every time, he would do this – his face full of impatience, grumbling, "Not again. Why are you so delicate?" But even so, he would still crouch down, turn his back to me, sigh softly, and say, "Come on, get on."

I would climb onto his back with a smile, my arms around his neck. The mountain path was steep, but his steps were so steady it was reassuring. From his back, I could see far into the distance, as if I could see our future.

His future might now include a new girl.

Reaching this conclusion, my eyes stung.

I immediately rubbed my face hard.

Rachel! Wake up! You're already dead! His bride will never be you!

Jack didn't know why, but ever since he arrived here, he had felt uneasy, as if some primordial instinct was warning him.

This feeling wasn't unfamiliar to him. Many times during missions, he had relied on this intuition to escape danger. However, this panic now was more intense and rapid than ever before.

Jack suddenly looked back, and I stared at him, momentarily unable to distinguish between dream and reality. For that instant, his gaze seemed to cross the boundary between life and death, seeing my soul...

I hurriedly averted my gaze, my heart racing. It's impossible for him to see me!

I remembered when we were young, Jack always boasted about being the world's bravest man, fearing nothing.

But then I discovered he was afraid of ghosts, and I teased him about it for a long time. If he could really see me now, he'd be scared to death.

I clutched my chest, cursing myself for becoming so sentimental after becoming a ghost, aching at every little thing.