Unfortunately, I was nothing but an incorporeal spirit. I couldn't touch them even if I wanted to.

There had been a storm last night. I was lying on the ground and barely hanging on to my last breath when the ground began shaking. A gaping chasm opened up suddenly before me, causing the shed to collapse right on top of me. It crushed me.

I watched as the chasm widened. The split kept creeping closer to me.

Then, something struck me in the head, and I blacked out.

When I opened my eyes again, I saw my body wedged in the crevice in a grotesque position, bloody and mangled.

My soul had left my body and was left drifting.

I had tried several times to leave the York Residence but to no avail.

Over at the house, Jason had called a doctor over to check up on Jean as he was still worried about her health.

The doctor had been observing Jean's expression as soon as he entered. Slowly, he said, "Thankfully, Ms. Sullivan suffers only minor injuries. She will not need any medication."

Jason did not seem happy with that answer. "Even minor injuries are serious when it comes to Jean. She has ALS, a motor neuron disease. Did you not know that?"

Jason had told me once before that Jean had broken up with him because of her disease. She didn't want to burden him, so she left the country without telling him.

The doctor was just about to say something else when he caught sight of the glare Jean was giving him. Promptly, he swallowed his words.

Jason did not bother to hide his concern. "You have to tell me if you're feeling unwell, Jean. I'm glad that you only have minor injuries. If not, I'll make that woman pay!

"She's only alive now because my grandmother saved her. She would've been dead otherwise. She owes the York family her life!"

He was right. His grandmother, Beatrice Elsher, had saved me years ago from a near-fatal car accident.

However, she did not save me for nothing.

In repayment, I had bound ten years of my life and fortune to the York family.

The success that the York family had achieved in the past ten years was all because of me.

Everyone in the family knew that. Jason had simply forgotten.

"The rain was really heavy last night. Could Chelsea really be in trouble?" Jean asked while blinking innocently.

"She's fine. She won't die that easily," Jason said calmly. He showed no signs of uneasiness. "She's just sulking so that I'll go and comfort her."

"What if she decides to leave you? I think you should go and see her."

"Don't worry. She's an orphan, and ugly to boot. Only the York family would take her in."

I was devastated. Tears soaked my face.

I didn't know that it was possible to feel all this even though I was dead.

Last night, before Jason had kicked me out of the house, the typhoon warning had been at the highest level. I had begged him not to kick me out, but he found my pleas annoying. So, he ordered someone to gag me.

He had said, "I can't believe you are so cruel. Have you forgotten who's in charge here?"

Fleur had gotten to her knees to beg for mercy on my behalf. "Mr. York, Mrs. York still has a fever. She'll die if you throw her out there!"

Jason had kicked her to the ground. "A fever? Well then, the rain will cool her off!"

Then, coldly, he'd commanded, "Take her to the shed in the backyard and lock her up. If anyone dares to plead for her again, they can join her!"

Saddled with a crime I hadn't committed, I had been thrown out of the house and into the rickety shed.

Lightning tore through the night as the storm raged on. Thunder rumbled, terrifyingly close, as the ground shook. The old, rundown shed creaked ominously. It was barely held together with rusted nails.

The rain felt like knives lashing across my skin. The wind had been fierce.

By then, the drugs had taken effect. The pain was excruciating. It gnawed deep down into my bones.

I lay in complete darkness. I was helpless and terrified as heat escaped from my body.

It turned out that the myth was true—one relived their whole life at death's door.

The past began flashing past in my mind's eye.

Just before I lost consciousness, I saw a faint light approaching me.

Even though I couldn't see who was behind the light, it still gave me hope.

I thought that Jason had softened and had decided to bring me back.

However, all I got was a dull pain in the back of my head, and I lost consciousness completely.

…

"Bring her here immediately! And tell her to make us some food before coming here. If she tries any tricks, I'll kill her!"

Jason's fury heightened when he saw Fleur still frozen in place.

Fleur dropped to her knees and held out her hands. She was showing him a tattered piece of cloth. It was a piece of my dress.

"Mr. York, Mrs. York could really be in trouble. There was an earthquake in the backyard last night, and it seems like she fell into a fissure…" Tears streamed down Fleur's face.

Jason slapped her. The crisp sound resounded through the living room.

The poor servant's face swelled up immediately.

"Are you really still playing along with her schemes? Do you have a death wish?"

"Yeah, witch. Open your eyes. Jace is the one with power here," Jean added.

The butler, Tom Sheppard, quickly pulled Fleur aside. "Mr. York, we've found Mrs. York's body. I think you should go take a look."

Jason's eyes flared with anger. "You're in on it too?"

"Jace, could it be true? Could Chelsea really be…" Jean trailed off. Her lips trembled, and her face paled like she was shocked.

"Don't listen to them. She won't die so easily. Just stay here. I'll bring her to you," Jason said. Even though he still looked furious, there was a trace of unease in his eyes.

He followed Tom down the narrow path and through to the backyard.

The backyard was a mess due to the earthquake. There were uprooted trees littering the ground, where a large chasm had opened up.

My body lay in a makeshift shelter, covered with a white cloth. My arms were hanging limp outside the sheet. They were ghostly gray from being soaked in the rain.

There were several people gathered around my body. They looked grave. When Jason drew close, they backed away.

"Get up, Chelsea Quill! Stop this nonsense at once!

"If you come back right now and apologize to Jean, I'll allow you to stay. Our wedding can go on next month as scheduled!" he said. He was still as haughty as ever.

When I did not respond, he continued, "Jean has poor health. You know she needs extra care. If you look after her properly, I'll give you the wedding you want!"

I stood in front of him and looked at him in disappointment.

Wedding? I didn't want that anymore.

"Get up, Chelsea Quill!" Jason grew frustrated at my silence.

One of the servants, who was unable to bear it any longer, shook his head and said, "Mrs. York is dead, Mr. York. You can come over for a closer look."

Jason took a small step forward. His body swayed unsteadily.