Chapter 3

My soul is always with Joanne.

I watched him curse me all the way, yet he was so gentle with Chloe.

He personally administered her medicine, rubbing her swollen ankle with the reverence of a saint.

“Joanne, I’m fine. Don’t worry,” Chloe smiled and acted sweetly, “But I’m really worried about Yuri.”

Joanne scoffed. “It’s all Yuri’s fault. If she had blocked that rock for you sooner, maybe you wouldn’t have been hurt.”

Hearing this made my heart ache.

Just then, Joanne’s phone rang.

“Hello, Mr. Joanne. Are you a relative of Yuri?” the voice on the other end said. “Ms. Yuri has passed away after failed rescue efforts. Please come to Civic Hospital to collect her body.”

“Here we go again.”

“What?” The caller sounded confused.

Before she could say anything else, Joanne hung up, throwing the phone onto the sofa in anger.

“She’s really sick!” Joanne cursed. “She’s been putting on a show for me. I must have spoiled her over the past two years!”

Chloe’s expression changed slightly as she softly comforted him. “Yuri did everything to be with you. Maybe she feels threatened because I’m here.”

“It’s my fault for making her feel uncomfortable. I need to apologize and ask her to come back.”

Tears were welling in her eyes as she spoke.

Joanne quickly hugged her. “It’s not your fault!”

“She’s the one who should leave!”

I watched them embrace, seeing Joanne hold back the urge to kiss Chloe on the forehead.

I also noticed the cell phone on the sofa, flashing continuously.

I’m just a soul.

But why does it hurt so much?

The pain is overwhelming, as if my soul is about to shatter.

After comforting Chloe, a news report suddenly came on TV.

“[At 11:00 PM today, a magnitude 4 earthquake struck Linden City. A pregnant woman died after failed rescue efforts. The pregnant woman...]”

There was only one death in the magnitude 4 earthquake, and it was due to excessive blood loss.

As reporters covered the incident, they expressed their condolences.

Chloe and Joanne watched the report intently.

Perhaps it was the familiar scene or the clothes that jolted Joanne; I noticed a flicker of shock and worry on his face.

Could he be worried about me too?

I closed my eyes slightly, feeling absurd.

How could he be worried about me?

I was afraid he would rejoice at the sight of my death.

"Not her!"

Joanne seemed momentarily dazed before picking up his phone, but just as he was about to dial, he hesitated. "It’s not her. She’s not pregnant."

"I can’t let a woman like her have my child. She doesn’t deserve it!"

"Besides, it’s impossible for someone like her to die!"