Jaylen Green and I grew up together, and we’ve always been close.

His parents were always busy and couldn’t take care of him, so he grew up in my house.

My parents treated him like their own, giving him the best care.

Jaylen was also very sensible, always helping my parents with chores.

My parents had wanted a son but were too busy with work to have more children.

After having Jaylen, they decided not to have any more kids.

Thus, Jaylen and I grew up together like childhood sweethearts.

When I was sixteen, my parents died in an accident.

At the time, Jaylen and I were still in school.

Jaylen’s parents wanted to take him back, but he refused, insisting on staying with me.

His parents had no choice but to let him stay.

From then on, we depended on each other.

We entered the show business together; my career was mediocre, always a minor extra, but Jaylen worked hard and became a top star within a few years.

His fans were all over the country, and his influence was immense.

He made a lot of money and bought me a villa, putting it solely in my name.

I was touched and found his naivety endearing.

We continued to live together and naturally became husband and wife.

Jaylen was busy and often out filming.

At home, I took care of everything, leaving no time to further my own career.

I thought we would continue to live happily.

Until Allison Perry appeared.

Allison was a rising star. Though she only recently debuted, she had already clinched a prestigious film award for best actress. Not only was she stunning, but her acting skills were also commendable.

I saw her once.

That day, I visited Jaylen’s film set.

The two of them stood together, and I saw Jaylen smile outside of a film for the first time.

They looked great together.

I looked down at my old white shirt and felt too embarrassed to go in.

She was filming with Jaylen, playing a married couple.

The two developed feelings through the film, sparking a romance.

The paparazzi caught many photos of them together, but I didn’t care at first because Jaylen said it was the company arranging a publicity stunt.

But gradually, I noticed he changed.

He started coming home late, or often did not return all night.

Every time he came back, he smelled of women’s perfume.

That scent was familiar; it was Allison’s.

I became anxious.

Jaylen and I had grown up together, and I always thought we would be together.

But I forgot that the human heart was the easiest thing to change.

One day, as usual, I called him to ask when he’d be home.

Jaylen said he had something to deal with and wouldn’t come back that night.

I didn’t say anything, and quietly hung up.

The next day, Jaylen came home still carrying that perfume scent.

He looked tired, as if he hadn’t rested well.

I couldn’t help but ask him:

“Where were you last night?”

Jaylen was taken aback.

He probably didn’t expect the usually compliant me to question him.

“Last night I was discussing the script with Allison, and it got late, so I slept over there.”

His response was casual, as if there was nothing wrong.

My heart ached, and I had a big fight with him.

But all I got in return was this:

“Rachel, can you look at yourself in the mirror? You’re acting like a crazy person.”

On the other end of the phone, there was prolonged silence.

During those silent seconds, many thoughts raced through my mind.

Would Jaylen come to rescue me?

My vision was blurring, and consciousness was slipping away.

My stomach hurt terribly, as if a knife was twisting inside.

“Rachel, I told you, I’m rehearsing with Allison. Don’t overthink it, okay? I’ll be back after we wrap up in a few days, then...”

I didn’t catch the rest of his words.

Amidst the spinning room, all I heard was his refusal.

Jaylen...

Why are you being so cruel…

As Jaylen’s staunchest support, I had virtually no social life.

Dealing with household chores every day, I slowly found myself running out of things to talk about with people.

So now, with him away filming and not coming home, no one even noticed my corpse.

Fortunately, it wasn’t summer, so it wasn’t decomposing.

Until Kathrine, my childhood best friend, came to my house, my body was properly dealt with on the third day after my death.

I watched her standing at the door, anxious and sweating. She banged on it and made frantic calls, unable to reach me.

Finally, she called the police.

The police broke in, and there lay my body in the living room.

She was so terrified that she cried immediately and called Jaylen.

I reached out, trying to wipe her tears, but my ghostly hand passed through her body, touching nothing.

“Kate, it’s no use contacting him. He won’t come...”

The call connected, and Kathrine tearfully informed Jaylen of my death.

There was silence on the line for a few seconds.

“I’m filming and really busy. Tell her to stop being so childish and quit these games, okay?”

Sensing his indifferent attitude, Kathrine was furious and yelled at him on the phone.

She scolded him for neglecting me.

She scolded him for not being there for me.

She scolded him for not fulfilling his duties as a husband.

Jaylen was stunned, then slightly puzzled.

“Did Rachel say something to you? Tell her not to be so petty. Not everyone’s a small-time star with nothing but time at home.”

Kathrine, usually sharp-tongued, was so upset by Jaylen’s shamelessness that she cried harder and hung up the phone.