(Peyton's POV)

A month ago,Mason had arranged for his assistant to move me into the luxurious Dazzle Apartment Complex,saying that it was a gift.I didn't think much of it.In fact,I was very happy.I guess that was a lie as well.

He also gave me some clothes,but now I see Harper wearing the same design,and it all kind of come together.There were all lies.He played me like a fiddle and I danced to the tune.

I thought maybe he'd regained his memory,feeling guilty for his actions after losing it,but no,he just wanted me to be Harper Reese's substitute!!That was how low he thought of me.

My life wasn't even a life to begin with.It felt like I was a puppet being controlled by the puppet master.I really was naive,but I guess there were no second chances for the dead,huh?

Mason's phone rang;it was his mother,Mrs Reed.

"Young man,I told you to come home early tonight,didn't I?"She said.

"Yes,mum,"he responded,signaling on his degenerates that he called friends to quiet down.I could see them muffling their laughter.Birds of the same feathers flocked together indeed.

"Then why are you still out,Mason?"

"I know.There's no need to make a fuss about it.I'll drop Harper off and head back,"he said,massaging his temples as his eyebrows furrowed.

"I knew you were with that damn woman,"she said,clearly seething in anger."Mason,how can you be so heartless!Your fiancée is..."

Before she could finish her statement,Mason hung up,his fingers white-knuckled from gripping the phone tightly.

"That psychopath must have said something to my mom again!"He fumed."I mean,doesn't she get the memo?I do not want her!!She pretends to be missing in front of us but who knows what she's plotting behind our backs!"

My head began to ache again.The damn headache!I thought death would end my pain,but it seems that even death didn't want me to have peace.

Now I really just wanted my soul to disappear,freeing me from the sick bastard before me,but I also wanted to see the end of this.

After he was done with the party,he dropped Harper off and went back to the his home.My spirit unwillingly followed Mason to the Reed residence.

"Mom,did Peyton say something to you again?"He asked,lighting a cigarette,placing it on his lips and taking a puff.

Mrs Reed quirked her right eyebrow."What are you talking about?"

I couldn't bear his baseless accusations anymore.I stood before him,yelliny words and hoping that it would sink into his thick skull.

"Mason Reed,I've had enough of your shenanigans!I'm dead!So shut your lying mouth up,because I never spoke bad about you to your mother!"

The tears welled up,threatening to spill but he couldn't see me."Why can't you believe me?"

"Didn't I say that I'm done with her?"Mason said.He continued further by saying,"I do not love her.The sight of her makes me sick to my stomach!"

"What nonsense are you blabbing on about?I haven't heard or seen her in two weeks,"his mother replied,sorrow in her voice.

"You two were once deeply in love...so why do you suddenly hate her so much?For all I know,Peyton has been nothing short of amazing.Look,next week's family reunion would be a good chance for you both to reconcile your differences,okay?"

"Bring her along?No,I'd rather bring Harper!She's the one I want and not needy Peyton."Mason's words echoed through the room as he laughed coldly.

"Harper?"Mrs Reed questioned."There is no way you're bringing that damn woman to a family event,and that's final!"

"It is obvious that Peyton timed it perfectly,spreading rumors before the reunion so she'd be able to manipulate me into marrying her."

"Forget it!"He smirked,and left.

Watching him leave,I coldly laughed.It seemed I'd automatically be guilty,regardless of my actions.Even if I did nothing,I would still be tagged guilty.

Mrs Reed sighed,shaking her head,her eyelids drooped.She was sad at the turn of events.

"I'm so sorry,Mrs Reed,"I murmured.Though she couldn't hear me,I couldn't help but apologize.

She was my mother's close friend and had always treated me like her own daughter since my parents passed away.

Before the car accident,she and Mason were the only light in my life.Basically,they were the source of my joy and I was genuinely happy then.

Afterward,despite Mason's constant lies in a bid to belittle me before her and everyone else,she still believed in me.

She genuinely cared and helped me find top doctors when she learned about my condition.If she found out that I was dead,would she mourn for me?

Perhaps she'd be one of the few to shed tears for me–she and my best friend,Skylar.

____

(Peyton's POV)

My spirit has been tied to Mason Reed for a week.Even I was beginning to find everything funny.It was as if life was making a mockery of me.Wasn't it bad enough that I died?Did I have to be sucked back to a world where I was constantly hated and berated?

Goodness gracious!!I had done absolutely nothing wrong to deserve this punishment even in the afterlife.

But today,the Reed family held a grand banquet.I was a ghost so I didn't need to play dress up.Though the rest of the family came prepared.

Their luxurious mansion shone brightly,filled with elegant guests whose taste for fashion were incredible.

I watched as Mason walked into the hall,hand in hand with Harper Reese.They made a perfect couple.If I wasn't in the picture,I'd probably envy them if I was a guest at the reunion as well.

The murmurs began circulating like wildfire,each having something to say.As the relatives looked over the star-studded couple,they couldn't help but whisper among themselves.

"Did Mason Reed finally come with his girlfriend?"One of the relatives whispered.

"I heard they're announcing their engagement as well.I wonder which heiress caught his eyes."

"I know right!!"

I was sure that Harper was pleased with the whispers with the way her grip on Mason's arm tightened.

Mrs Reed who was initially welcoming the guests with a smile,turned stern upon seeing Harper Reese clutching onto her son.She couldn't hide her disdain for her

A bright smile made its way to her face as she greeted her timidly,"Good evening,Mrs Reed.Thank you so much for inviting me."

Mason's mother responded coldly,"This is a Reed's family gathering.I do not understand why Miss Harper is here."

Harper's eyes redden,brimming with tears,and as always,Mason stepped in to save his damsel in distress."Mum,we shouldn't cause a scene here."

Mrs Reed gave her a once-over look,"This is a family affair,Mason.Strangers aren't allowed here."

Harper turned to Mason,seeking his help with a glance.I was excited that Mrs Reed was making her suffer.If I couldn't do it anymore,someone had to do it in my stead,right?

"Isn't Mason engaged to the Vaughn's daughter?"a cousin asked,curiosity clear in her tone.

"Wasn't it Peyton?Weren't they planning to register their marriage?"another cousin thought out loud.

Mason overheard everything,his expression darkening.His eyes burning with anger with unsaid words.

"What's the meaning of this,mom?"Mason asks,his voice firm."Harper Reese is my woman and she has every right to attend our family banquet."

He threw a deadly glare at his relatives,shutting them up instantly.

"Some women are totally shameless,always scheming,plotting and misleading others into thinking that they are the Reeds family's daughter-in-law.We're all adults here,so don't be fooled by these type of manipulative women!"

I sneered.I swear,if I could smack him from where I was,I would.How dare he say such lies about me?

How could they even listen to him and conclude in my absence?It seemed like disliking someone gave one the right to tell lies about them.

I didn't want to see Mason's face,but I caught Harper's subtle,but almost visible triumphant smile.She was enjoying this.

Just then,Mason's phone rings.It was my best friend,Skylar Wade.

"Mason Reed,what the hell did you do to Peyton?Where did you hide her?"Skylar's said,rambling into the phone.Her voice was urgent and berserk.

He laughed,his voice losing its warmth,"Skylar,stop with all the pretense.I know that Peyton is with you.Or are we still playing the missing card?"

He continued,"You're on speakerphone.Let that crazy woman Peyton listen up too.Aren't you ashamed of yourself to collude in this farce?I'll say it one last time:I'm done with Peyton.Tell her to stay the hell away from me!"

His words stabbed my heart like sharp knives.It hurt so badly that all I wanted to do was cry.

Skylar's voice boomed into the phone,still enraged,"Mason Reed!!Are you insane?!Peyton is missing and that's all you have to say?!You and I both know that she'd never ignore my calls for days unend!"

I suddenly remembered that Skylar invited me for shopping yesterday the day before I hadn't answered her calls…I couldn't respond to her messages.

She must be worried sick,not knowing where I was.

"You're aiding her charade!You know how Peyton behaves.She's probably hiding,and then manipulating me into marrying her!"He retorted."Like I care what happens to her."

"You're being unreasonable right now!But I tell you what;if anything happens to Peyton,I'll make sure that you regret it!Mason Reed,mark my words!"Skylar's voice trembled with rage.

I envision her red,angry face.I was sure that Skylar was going to report my disappearance to the police,and made sure that the almighty and ruthless Mason Reed regretted this moment.

___

(Peyton's POV)

"Report her to the police as a missing person?Fine,go ahead then!Let the cops decide who's being unreasonable!You're only wasting public resources."Mason sneered,his tone dripping with contempt.He really hated me.The amount of hate laced in his words were venomous and I couldn't believe it.

For Harper,Mason was ready to do anything,including belittling me in front of everyone.It broke my heart even more and the fact that I was still linked to him made everything worse.

It felt like I was reliving my torment,but I also felt terrible for Skylar.She was a mess the more she worried for my sake.

She was the only one who cared about me enough to report me as a missing person to the police department.My heart warmed at the thought.She was my best friend for a reason and I was glad that I didn't make a mistake with her.

Skylar was the definition of the sisterhood bond.

Unlike Skylar who was tough on love,I didn't have the kind of heart that she did.I once naively believed Mason Reed would one day realize his mistakes and come apologizing to me…I fantasized about it,hence I worked harder to make it a reality.

Now,it was laughable.I smacked myself on the forehead for being stupid all these years in the name of love.For putting him above myself and letting him walk all over me with his side piece,feeding me with the crumbs that fell from their table.

I couldn't believe how put down I was by him even after I was dead.This was the man I loved for so many years,the one I thought I could entrust with my life!

Skylar hung up,and I knew that she was mad with anger.If she had the chance to be in the same room as Mason,she'd probably be throwing punches.

I laughed at the thought.Mason really was a jerk for doing me dirty.

He cursed out loud,slamming his phone on the table,causing the silverwares on the table to clank against each other.

The loud impact heightened the tensed atmosphere,making it damn near impossible for someone to breathe.Everyone in the room held their breath,hopefully not to ruin Mason's mood further.

The blood drained on Mrs Reeds face,leaving it pale in complexion after she overheard snippets of the conversation.

She figured something was wrong but couldn't place her hands on it.

She moved closer to him,"Tell me the truth,Mason.Is Peyton really in trouble?Is she?"

Mason scowled."Mom,don't fall for her tricks again.Peyton's incredibly resilient,so she won't die so easily!"

His mother trembled with anger."Even if you don't love her anymore,there's no need to be so cruel!"

He cut her off."For the past two months,she's used saving me to guilt trip you into letting me marry her.She warmed her way into your heart with her cheap lies and tricks and you fell for it."

"And I obviously won't be surprised if the car accident was part of her plans all along!"He added,seething in rage as he stood before his mother.Mrs Reeds wasn't having it and came to my defense in an instant.

"Boy!!Watch your tone when speaking with me.I'm your mother and not some skank that you picked up,"she said,taking a step further."And you will shut up when I tell you to do so.Do you hear me?"

My head throbbed again.Watching mother and son exchange words with each other for my sake caused my heart to ache.

I regretted saving his conniving ass back then.I could have saved myself alone and mourned him if he has died in the accident.

Just then,his phone rang again.He smirked.

"What did I tell you,mum?Peyton herself is calling me,so tell me,how could a missing person call me,hmmm?"

Mrs Reeds rolled her eyes at him before prompting him to pick up the call.

"Pick up the phone and stop acting like some crazy dude."

That was the problem.I was already dead,so how I could I be calling him?Who was using my phone?Was this another trick of his to get everyone off his back?

The screen flashed the caller ID which was saved as"Nasty Woman"-his nickname for me.

Wow.I was at a loss for words.The man I had saved with my life kept shocking me with everything he did.The pain in my heart hurt even more.

He picked up the call,his voice taunting whoever was on the other end of the line.

"Had enough yet,Peyton?Tell me,how was your trip to wonderland,hmmm?Or have you realized your mistake and have called to beg?"

There was silence on the other end.Then,a low male voice spoke up.

"We're calling from the City's Police Department,and we'd like to ask you a few questions,"the strange man with my phone said.

This news surprised Mason but he didn't show it.He was good at masking his emotions.

"Quit playing games with me,Peyton.I am not in the mood!"He retorted,his voice sharp.

The stranger on the other side kept on bombarding Mason with questions."Sir,what's your relationship with the owner of the phone?We suspect that you're connected to a missing persons case."

His face darkened."For fucks'sake,Peyton!Quit acting like a needy child."

"Id appreciate it if you're cautious with your tone of voice as this isn't Miss Vaughn on the line,"the stranger added.

Mason was bewildered,"What?"

"Please come down to the station right away to make your statement.Thank you."

The caller hung up,leaving everyone shocked to their core.They were expecting a night of their lives,not the chaos that my existence brought them that night.

Mason and Harper were the least pleased with the call's interruption of their night.But duty demanded that Mason be at the police station immediately.

——

At the police station,he sat across from a young police officer who had my phone in his hand.

"Mr.Reed,we ask that you cooperate with us in this investigation.And we'd advice that you answer our questions truthfully as you may bring us a step closer in solving this case,are we clear?"The officer asked,staring squarely at Mason.

"If she's indeed missing,I'll cooperate.But tell you this:you're being played by her.She's not really missing.She just wants my attention,"he replied cockily.This little scoundrel!!

The officer's gaze intensified,not interested in Mason's words.

"I'll take that into consideration,"the officer said,adjusting in his seat."Let's start with your relationship with Miss Vaughn."

__