Chapter 1

Calvin Yale, my husband, didn't visit me even a single time before I died. It wasn't until three days after I had died that he bothered to step into his stepmother, Margaret Sommer's ward.

"Where's Clarissa? Get her out here now," Calvin ordered.

Margaret lay in the hospital bed, her pale eyes dull and lifeless. She mumbled, "Clare's dead."

Calvin furrowed his brow and scoffed. "You're saying someone like her, who's always fighting to stay alive, would actually die? Did she find out Jenna lost vision in her right eye and needed her help, so she went and hid?"

Then he started searching through the whole ward right before the caregiver, who stared at him in astonishment. He checked the cabinets, looked under the bed and every corner but came up empty.

"You'll never find Clare. She passed away three days ago." Margaret let out a slow breath, her eyes filling with tears. "If you want to see her, you'll have to go to heaven."

Calvin's face grew even darker. He snorted. "Passed away? If you're going to lie, at least make it a better one. So where's her body? Bring it out so I can handle the funeral."

"S-She's gone missing."

Calvin had lost all patience. "Mom, I've been more than patient with you. Don't test me. Have you forgotten who's responsible for Dad's death? You're just his second wife and my stepmom. I've looked after you all these years, but you always side with Clarissa!"

"Calvin, it's my fault. I'll be with Bernard soon…" Margaret, still weak from dialysis, covered her mouth as a coughing fit hit her. When she opened her hand, it was stained with blood.

Calvin's patience snapped, and he slammed the donation consent form onto the table. "You can keep pretending, but I don't have time for your show.

"I'm giving you one day to bring Clarissa to me, or I'll kick you out of the Yale residence. You can keep helping her hide, and… I'll stop covering your medical and nursing bills."

With that, Calvin slammed the door and left.

Tears streamed down my face as I watched his determined figure, my heart aching like it was being torn apart.

I couldn't believe he'd put Margaret's life on the line for Jenna Lopez, a woman who held such a special place in his heart.

I never thought Calvin could be so heartless. Did he forget that he was the one who hung up on me during that car accident three days ago?

He was the one who impatiently said he was tied up with Jenna, who was modeling at a fashion show and couldn't be bothered with me. And now that I was gone, he began looking for me.

Margaret stood up unsteadily and pulled a photo of me from her bag, her tears landing on it. Her face, etched with age, was streaked with tears. "Clare, I'm sorry. I'm coming for you now."

Margaret was my only tie to this world. I was an orphan and she treated me like her own, paid for my college, and even brought Calvin and me together in marriage.

After Calvin's father, Bernard Yale, died from an illness three years ago, Calvin blamed me for his death.

He got caught up with Jenna, never came home, and even cruelly said, "Clarissa Levine, you're a curse! You're the one who deserves to die!"

But Margaret pulled me into her arms, tears streaming down her face as she said, "I understand. Don't cry. I'm here for you."

Three months ago, Margaret was admitted to the ICU due to kidney failure. I secretly signed the consent form for a kidney transplant, but she ripped it up right before me.

Her hands shook as she said, "I don't deserve this from you at my age. You need to focus on living your life. Bernard's death isn't on you. Calvin might not get it, but I do, and I don't hold it against you. You've got to live your life."

Margaret and I leaned on each other for support during the three years when Calvin saw me as a curse.