I was drifting in the air, stunned. I watched as the heart monitor beside me flatlined, its beeping alarm ringing through the room.The person in the hospital bed was barely recognizable—severely burned, completely wrapped in thick bandages, with no way to tell their gender.The patient chart at the foot of the bed was the only clue to their identity.But Quentin Scofield couldn't care less about that. All he cared about was finding a way to clear his beloved Taylor Cross of any charges."Quent, you came…" The nurse, Anya Cross, guided Quentin into the ward, but her words trailed off when she saw my body, still and lifeless.It wasn't that she hadn't seen death before, but it was only natural to feel a little stunned when her lifelong dream finally came true."The victim's dead?" Quentin was surprised, but then a look of excitement flashed in his eyes. "That's great! No witnesses mean I can make the case that Tay's not responsible!"I floated in the air, eyes locked on Quentin,
I kept wondering what I had done to deserve such suffering. Now that I had finally escaped all the agony, I still had to watch Quentin tear me down as a mentally unstable drunk driver, even in death.He stood before my body, looking unusually relaxed for someone always so serious. "Tay won't have to worry anymore now. I'll have more chances in court to fight for what's right for her."Quentin threw aside the papers he'd planned to use against me, his gaze hardening with hostility. "You've caused Tay enough trouble. I'm not letting you off the hook, even if you're dead!"He planned to put all the blame for the accident on me.But it was Taylor who messed with my car. She sabotaged the brakes and mixed psychoactive drugs and alcohol into my sleep tonic, planning to take me out in a crash.Quentin seemed to recall something and turned to Anya beside him. "I heard they found a child's body at the accident site. Is that true?"After Anya confirmed it, his eyes lit up with satisfaction
I fought with Quentin so many times because of Taylor. I told him he was crossing the line with her, but he thought I was blowing things out of proportion and that it was all in my head.The most ridiculous moment was when Ruby was really sick with a high fever. I still hadn't learned how to drive yet, but Quentin left me behind to celebrate Taylor's birthday at her place.He even left a whole room full of friends and family on our engagement day. He didn't care about the whispers or the stares I was getting from everyone and just bolted out of the hall to look for Taylor.It was all because of a message from her saying she couldn't live without him and wanted to end it all. Quentin spoiled Taylor and let her have her way with everything, including calling him her husband. It was all because she was his childhood sweetheart and had a history of suicide attempts.That was why Anya, Taylor's younger sister, felt comfortable seeing Quentin as her brother-in-law.That was also why,
If Quentin really saw Taylor as just a sister, would he let them call each other husband and wife?If she was really just a sister to him, would he have left me and Ruby hanging when I needed him the most, just to take care of Taylor's petty issues?He wrote, "Once this case is over, I'll have more time for you and Ruby."But my life was already over, so his hopes were bound to fall apart.I'd been gone for a while now. He'd never get my sincere apologies again, and he lost Ruby for good.…Quentin rented out an entire luxury event hall on Taylor's birthday.He was dressed in a custom suit, standing tall and confident, while Taylor was in a wedding dress he had designed for her. She was holding onto his arm, and they looked like the perfect couple.Taylor said she knew it wouldn't be easy for them to stay together forever. Therefore, she wanted Quentin to help her make her wish come true—marrying the one she loved, even if it was just for show.Quentin hesitated at first, but
"What?" I watched as Quentin tensed up out of nowhere.He'd spoken way too loud by accident, which caught everyone's attention. But he didn't care. His voice was getting unsteady as he demanded, "What'd you say?"His colleague paused at the other end of the line, then pressed on, stressing each word. "Quentin, the deceased's info matches Sharon's exactly. The name, ID number, address—everything's the same."Quentin looked like all the strength had just drained out of him, and he crumpled to the floor. His phone slipped from his hand, clattering beside him. His custom suit was a mess, all wrinkled and disheveled.He stared ahead, his eyes lost and empty."Quent, what's going on?" Taylor could see he was completely falling apart. She ignored the murmurs from the guests and bent down to help him up."Quent, can you keep up the act a bit longer, just for me?" she whispered in his ear, her voice as sweet as ever.But Quentin didn't go along with her like she thought he would. He push
An eerie silence took over the place.The case was Quentin to handle, but he was so focused on getting back at whoever hurt Taylor that he couldn't care less about the actual victim.He grabbed his phone and texted me nonstop. When I didn't respond, he kept calling me over and over, acting like he'd completely lost it.But what was the point? He'd never hear from me again.With a beep, a call went through.I saw a kind of surprised joy in Quentin's eyes I'd never seen before. His voice had a hint of relief he didn't even notice. "Sharon, I knew you weren't dead—""Hello, sir, this is the funeral home," the staff member said, cutting Quentin off calmly. "Are you a relative of Sharon Eastlake?"No one's come forward to claim the body, and we haven't been able to reach any family. We're about to go ahead with cremation—""No, you can't!" Quentin blurted out, his voice shaky with anxiety he didn't even realize. "This is a joke, right? I'm coming over now to see what's going on! No
Quentin seemed to snap awake, his shoulders shaking. He tried to get up and grab the staff member's hand, but he stumbled and crashed to the floor."Ruby's my daughter. Please, I need to see her! I'm her dad!" Quentin exclaimed.I finally saw Ruby again. She used to be so full of life, always laughing.My heart, which had been numb for so long, couldn't keep it together when I saw the small urn sitting quietly on the shelf. I wanted to break down and cry, but all that came out were dry, painful sobs.No one ever told me that tears vanish after death.I tried to find Ruby after I died, but I never saw her, not even once.Quentin stared at the urn, lost in silence. His tears seemed to have dried up, leaving nothing but a heart full of despair.How could he not be heartbroken? This was his first child, the one he begged me to keep, the one he'd been hoping for so desperately.That Ruby, who used to laugh and get into trouble, now lay alone in a small box. No one even knew who she
Taylor immediately went pale as soon as she realized what she'd said."If it wasn't for you, I would've never doubted Sharon when she called! If it wasn't for you, Ruby wouldn't have burned in that fire! If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have lost them!" Quentin roared.He slammed everything to the floor in a fit of rage—the photos of him and Taylor, and the plaster figurines they made together. Every memory they shared was shattered.Taylor dropped to the floor, shaking with fear—only now did the full weight of fear hit her."Quent, don't be angry anymore, alright? I can have kids with you, too. I know you better than Sharon does. I'm younger, and I can build a family with you!"Taylor crawled over and grabbed Quentin's pant leg, her voice desperate as if she'd just found a lifeline. "I have a sister—Anya can be yours as well! Quent, don't you think the two of us are better than just Sharon?"Had Taylor not said Anya's name, Quentin probably would've forgotten about her in the he