Chapter 4

Just then the door lock turned. Ethan Brown, awakened by the noise, walked in rubbing his eyes, calling out sweetly for Daddy and Aunt Diana.

For the first time since becoming a soul, I felt this excited. I desperately floated toward him.

I wanted to hold him. I was calling to him. But he couldn't see me or hear me.

He ran straight to Diana, hugged her legs, and asked: "Aunt Diana, where's Mom? Why don't I see her?"

Diana, who usually had no patience for children, crouched down and coaxed him gently.

"Mommy went to a friend's house to play. She'll be back in a few days."

Ethan Brown nodded like an obedient child. But I watched as he leaned close to Diana's ear and asked softly:

"Aunt Diana, now that the obstacle is removed, can you be my mom?"

The obstacle he mentioned---was that me?

No one knew how I felt at this moment. It was like a knife tip stabbing into my heart, then twisting back and forth.

I never imagined my own son would wish for my death, see me as an obstacle between him and Diana.

Diana smiled and nodded in response, then kissed his forehead.

"Good boy. From now on, I'll always be with you and Daddy."

Ethan Brown clapped happily: "That's great! Mom always embarrasses me. I've wanted Auntie to be my mom for so long."

Zachary Brown heard everything clearly but remained unmoved, still looking down at his phone.

I also recalled why I'd gone to Diana's birthday party in the first place---thanks to my dear son.

He'd begged and pleaded with me, saying I didn't fit in with the other parents, which made his classmates ignore him too.

If I didn't go this time, his classmates would definitely laugh at him.

It had all been a trap. He'd personally pushed me toward death.

Hatred instantly engulfed me. My soul felt like it was being torn apart in pain.

Perhaps my desire to leave had reached its peak. A powerful force suddenly erupted from within, and I actually broke free from the invisible control.

The next second, my soul plummeted, returning to the area around my body.

Inside the swaying garbage truck, I lay among piles of trash and discarded props that gave off a pungent stench.

The driver's conversation reached my ears: "This model prop looks so realistic, just like a real person. Let's take it to the landfill and dump it."

So they'd mistaken my corpse for a discarded prop.

No matter how much I screamed and shouted, no one could hear the sounds I made. I could only let the truck drive toward the garbage landfill.

An hour later, the vehicle finally stopped. My corpse was roughly dragged out of the truck and thrown into the garbage pile.

Flies swarmed around. Stray dogs prowled nearby. A huge garbage truck slowly approached.

Trash poured down, completely burying the body. My consciousness fell into darkness once more.

When I woke again, my soul was dragged by that force back home.

In the living room, Zachary Brown and Diana were arguing, both looking terrible.

"This is all your fault. Now Lily's missing, and I won't have a date for tomorrow's banquet. Everyone will laugh at me!"

Recently, he'd been busy with a new project. The client who could finalize the deal was a female CEO.

Zachary Brown had told me this CEO always chose partners who were devoted family men.

Not being able to attend this banquet would definitely leave a bad impression on her. No wonder Zachary Brown was so irritated.

Diana retorted indignantly: "How was I supposed to know she'd get down from the platform herself and run away? How about I go with you?"

"No way!"

Zachary Brown flatly refused: "Not bringing anyone, I can still explain. But if I bring you..."

He cut himself off, but I understood. He was afraid people would say he was having an affair.