Three years ago, I broke up with my girlfriend—Audrey Hades—while she was on the verge of going bankrupt.

Immediately after, I got engaged to her biggest rival, Clara Sterling.

Later, she turns into a celebrated and adored rising star of the business world. She allows people around her to mock and label me as a gold-digger who leeches off rich women.

But what she doesn't know is that I've been dead for three years.

I died on my birthday, right as the candle melted into a pool of wax.

I thought death would end everything, but it didn't. Somehow, I became an invisible and intangible wisp of a ghost drifting through the world.

I always found myself uncontrollably drifting back to my ex-girlfriend, Audrey Hades. I watched her pull a failing company back from the brink of bankruptcy and build it all the way to a successful IPO. She transformed from a workplace novice to a rising star of the business world.

I watched her for three years straight, but she was never aware. She only knew that her fiancé—Sebastian Knox—had always been by her side.

I'd witnessed his frequent cheating affairs when he was out without her.

One day, I drifted with Audrey to a hotel she owned. A huge banner over the entrance read "Warm Congratulations to Hades Corporation on its Successful IPO."

It was her celebration party, and ironically, my birthday.

A few managers rushed out before she even reached the door, all with smiles and nods. Who would have thought these were the same people who'd once made her life difficult?

Behind Audrey stood a massive tiered cake, decorated with intricate piping. It was identical to the one I'd bought before I died. The memories hit me so hard that sharp pain spread through my body.

Suddenly, a shrill cry cut through the air. It was Audrey's voice.

Fighting the discomfort, I looked down and noticed that someone had accidentally spilled champagne all over her. Though his head was bowed low, I recognized the man at once. It was my younger brother, Ethan Stone.

Audrey seemed to recognize him too. "Ethan? What are you doing here?"

Ethan remained stubbornly silent and kept his head down.

Audrey let out a cold laugh. "Have you fallen so low that you're waiting tables now? Did Lucas Stone really ditch you after landing his sugar mommy?

"He's really ruthless to discard his little brother just to live off a woman."

Ethan pressed his lips together and said nothing. I knew he wanted to speak the truth, but he was holding back for my sake.

Audrey glanced at her assistant—Sarah Miller—who immediately understood. Sarah began mocking me by calling me a kept man. With her leading the tone, others joined in with the insults.

Eager to curry favor, a manager stepped forward. "We should celebrate Ms. Hades' escape from that dead weight. Though I have to say, Lucas' brother has the looks of a kept man himself."

He gave Ethan a once-over before continuing, "Didn't Lucas introduce you to a rich woman you can latch onto? You future kept man?"

His words drew light laughter from Audrey.

Pushed past his limit, Ethan grabbed the remaining champagne and dumped it over the sycophantic manager, who erupted. He shrieked and slapped his hands dramatically.

"Don't you dare talk about Lucas like that!" Ethan yelled.

He tried to lunge at the manager again to teach him a lesson, but a guard off to the side got him under control.

Audrey watched him struggle and turned to tell the guard, "Take him away and fire him."

As Ethan fought against the guard, he shouted at Audrey as they dragged him away, "You'll regret this!"

I drifted and followed him out, only to find him in a dim corner of the building. He was slumped against a wall and sobbing uncontrollably.

By then, I was weeping too. I wanted to wipe his tears away, but I was just a ghost who couldn't do anything.

For three years, I'd helplessly watched as Ethan suffered, over and over again.

…

Drifting in the air, I silently followed Ethan home. Throughout the journey, he was so distraught that a car nearly ran him over.

In that split second, I reached out to yank him back with all my might, but my hand passed straight through his body. I couldn't touch him at all.

Fortunately, the driver slammed on the brakes in time.

When he finally made it home, he collapsed onto the couch, looking utterly drained. My heart ached at the sight because this wasn't how he used to be.

A knock came at the door, and he forced himself up to answer it.

It was the property manager, who apologetically said, "I'm really sorry, Mr. Stone. This area is scheduled for demolition, so we'll need you to move out soon."

Ethan was so stunned that he tripped over his words. "W-Why is there a sudden demolition? Who's behind it? What is it for?"

The property manager answered, "Hades Corporation has set its sights on this land. They're planning to turn it into a commercial street."

The words hit me like a thunderbolt. So this was Audrey's doing!

…

Ethan didn't sleep a wink that night, and neither did I.

Early the next morning, he stood at the door for a long time before finally gathering the courage to step out. I drifted along behind him as he made his way to the Hades Corporation building.

The receptionist told him he needed an appointment, so he pleaded until she finally agreed to at least check with Audrey.

When Sarah brought him into Audrey's office, the latter didn't even lift her head. Instead, she kept her eyes on her documents as she asked, "What's up?"

He begged in a low, desperate voice, "Audrey, for the sake of our past, please don't tear that house down. It's where Lucas and I grew up, and the only home I have left.

"I'm begging you… Please don't do it…"

As I listened to his words, I felt as if my heart was burning over an open flame.

Audrey looked at him with a cold gaze. "Stop trying to play the victim or overestimate yourself here.

"Our past? What are you talking about? Are you referring to the past when he left me?"

Ethan shook his head hard. He wanted to speak, but stopped himself.

She scoffed. "Save it. I know he sent you here to play the pitiful little brother. It's pathetic that he's still using his little brother this way. He really hasn't changed after all these years. As always, he's trying to latch onto anyone successful.

"Now that I've made it, he better not be dreaming of crawling back to my side."

Ethan rushed to defend me. "No! He never did that! He was just—"

My heart skipped a beat as I sensed his eagerness to reveal the truth.

"Enough!" Audrey cut him off. "I don't have time for your performance on brotherly love."

She waved at Sarah. "Don't let him in again, unless he brings Lucas with him. Also, Lucas has to kneel to apologize."

As I hovered high in the air, watching the farce unfold, I knew that Audrey—the woman I was looking at—was no longer the young lady I knew from my youth.

Life had been tough on Audrey back in our school days. She always wore old, ill-fitting clothes, which made her a target for the delinquent bullies.

The day we met was my first day as a transfer student at the school.

On my way home, I saw a tough-looking young lady yanking Audrey by her ponytail, dragging her toward a nearby hair salon. A cigarette was dangling from the lady's lips as she sneered. "If you've got no money, you can sell your hair to buy me a decent pack of cigarettes."

As someone coming from a comfortable, upper-middle-class family without having to worry about money or putting food on the table, it was my first time hearing of selling hair for money.

Just as they were about to drag her inside, I stepped in to block their way. "What do you think you're doing? Keep this up, and I'm calling the dean."

The young ladies immediately scattered, leaving Audrey trembling in place.

I picked up her bag and handed it to her. "Here. You're safe now."

When she took it and whispered a thank you, I nervously raked a hand through my hair and said, "Let's walk home together."

From then on, we went to and from school together every day, except when she went to the hospital to take care of her mom, Eleanor Vance.

She never let me come along. I understood she had her pride and knew she didn't have enough money for Eleanor's treatments, so she had to juggle multiple part-time jobs. But the money she made was never enough.

Through a friend, I found out where Eleanor was staying. One day, while Audrey was at work, I went to visit.

I brought fruit and daily necessities. The place was heartbreakingly bare.

Before leaving, I told Eleanor, "I paid off the medical bills and added some credit for future treatments, Mrs. Hades. Please focus on getting better.

"This is just my small help, and please don't tell Audrey about my visit today."

She was moved to tears as she repeatedly nodded and squeezed my hand. "You're such a good child. Audrey was lucky to have met you."

But now, that clearly wasn't true.

Once again, I watched helplessly as Ethan was thrown out. My heart throbbed in so much pain that it was suffocating.

Still, he didn't give up. When Audrey refused to budge, he went to Eleanor for help instead. "You're the only one who can help us now, Mrs. Hades. I'm begging you… Please talk to Audrey."

She stroked his hair in distress. "You don't have to beg me, child. Of course, I'll help.

"Lucas paid for my treatments, and you take care of me all the time. If it weren't for you two… I'd have long been dead.

"Speaking of Lucas, where is he? I haven't seen him in so long."

Tears had long been streaming down my face. Right now, Eleanor was the only person still standing on our side, but she had no idea that I'd left the world.

Ethan choked back a sob. He was just about to explain when Sebastian stepped in and shot him a look of pure disdain. "What's going on now? Since Audrey wouldn't relent, have you come to Mrs. Hades instead?

"Don't pay him any mind, Mrs. Hades. He is a liar. He showed up at the office today to harass Audrey."

Eleanor acted as if she hadn't heard a word. Ignoring Sebastian, she gestured for Ethan to take a seat and drink coffee.

Sebastian's face flushed between alternating shades of anger and shame.

Just then, Audrey walked in. When she noticed Ethan on the couch, she immediately summoned the butler to throw him out.

"Why are you always following us around? Have you no shame?" she spat.

At that, Eleanor abruptly jumped to her feet and snapped at Audrey, "How could you talk that way? Lucas took such good care of us both back then and helped us immensely. How could you treat his little brother this way? Learn to be grateful, Audrey!"

All Audrey did was frown and say, "It's over between us now, Mom. I have a fiance, so stop bringing up the past. People change, and he was no exception."

Seeing Audrey's stubbornness, Eleanor was about to open her mouth to argue when Ethan gently took her hand. He stopped her, then turned back to Audrey.

"Believe it or not, Lucas had his reasons."

Audrey didn't respond and just let out a cold laugh. After that, Sebastian grabbed him and shoved him out the door.

I wanted to leave with him, but for some reason, I couldn't drift away. All I could do was hover around Audrey and follow her wherever she went.

Late that night, she drove out alone. I sat in the passenger seat, watching as she entered "The Tonic Bar" into her GPS.

I couldn't help but frown.

After we arrived, she sat in a booth alone, drowning her sorrows with drinks after drinks. I tried to snatch the glass from her hand countless times, but my fingers always slipped through.

Suddenly, she turned around and raised her phone to take a photo.

When I followed her gaze, I noticed my so-called fiancee—Clara Sterling—drinking with a group of friends. Her arms were draped around two male models.

As they were about to kiss, Audrey strode over and pulled Clara aside. Then, she asked mockingly, "Does Lucas know you're cheating on him?"

Clara impatiently shook her off. "What would a dead man know?"

Audrey stumbled back and collapsed onto the couch in shock. "What did you just say? A dead man?"

While Clara took a slow drag from her cigarette and slowly exhaled, Audrey frantically cried out, "Talk!"