Back to the day everything went wrong…

Evelyn was stuck at work all night, and it was super late when I got back from bringing her coffee and a midnight snack.

I had just stepped out of the shower when I heard something in the living room. I was really good at picking up sounds, so I knew right away those footsteps were not Evelyn's. I quickly locked the door and was about to call for help.

The next moment, however, I heard Evelyn's voice outside. It sounded like she was on a phone, crying out for someone to save her.

"Colton, don't you want to rescue your wife?" Marvin's voice was chilling, like a bad guy in a movie.

"If you don't come out, your wife's a goner. Call the cops, and I'll end her right now."

Evelyn's pleas kept echoing in my head. I knew it might be a trick, but I could not risk anything happening to her. I grabbed a clothes hanger for protection and unlocked the door. Marvin barged in so fast that I tumbled to the floor.

He yanked me up by my sleeve and punched me, and my nose started bleeding like crazy.

Marvin looked pleased with my messy state and started rummaging around for something, probably some important papers.

I was dizzy and my vision was blurry, but I had to stay awake. While he was busy searching, I grabbed a little statue from the table and whacked his arm with it.

Marvin turned red with rage and choked me hard. "You really want to die, huh? Well, I'll help you out! Before you go, here's a truth bomb for you. You think Evelyn's been working late? She's with me every night!

"You're so set on saving Evelyn, huh? Go ahead and tell her the truth yourself in the afterlife!"

He finished speaking, his grip tightening—until I went limp and died in his hands.

…

I was lost in my memories when Mom's sharp scream snapped me back to reality. Mom rushed past me, stumbled up the steps, and slapped Evelyn across the face. Evelyn, whom I had always looked up to, had never been treated like that before.

"You hit me? Well, I won't let that slide!"

When I snapped out of it, security guards were already pulling Mom away, ripping her sleeve.

I could not stand by and watch her get pushed around. I tried to step in. However, no matter how hard I tried, my hands just passed through everyone. I could not reach her.

I felt so hopeless watching Evelyn and Marvin. I was mad at myself for letting them meet, for not seeing who they really were all those years.

They dragged Mom away, and her feet got hurt in the process.

"My son's funeral is tomorrow. He's watching you from heaven, seeing everything you're doing! I'll get a lawyer, and you'll get what's coming to you!"

I balled my hands into fists, wanting to help Mom up, but I was stuck next to Evelyn. I watched Mom's thin figure get smaller and smaller, but I could not do anything about it.

The crowd at the door was sent away, and Marvin gently touched Evelyn's cheek. "I'm sorry, this is all my fault. If I hadn't come back, none of this would've happened."

Tears shimmered in Evelyn's eyes. "Marvin, as long as you're okay, I can handle a little trouble."

"Colton's mom was talking about suing. What if…"

"Don't worry about it. The courtroom is my territory. She can try to sue all she wants, but it won't make a difference!"

Evelyn stood tall, her eyes shining with a look that said she was ready to win.

Most people might just be bragging if they talked like that, but Evelyn really could back it up, and I could not help but worry about Mom.

The two returned to the office and acted like they had been through a lot together. They were even more lovey-dovey by the desk.

They were like two peas in a pod. Evelyn did not hold back at all and gave some case files to Marvin to work on, while she got ready to fight against Mom.

I never imagined I would end up being one of my wife's cases, and we were on opposing sides, no less.

I was the only one who saw Marvin sneakily snap photos of some documents with his phone when Evelyn was not looking.

However, when he was about to hide his phone, Evelyn slammed her hand on the desk so hard that it made me jump.

"Marvin."

The air went still for a second, and I could see Marvin was sweating bullets.

"We have to go see Colton. He's been hiding and not calling me for days. He's definitely too scared to face us!"

Marvin looked relieved and quickly agreed without saying another word.

…

Mom had let slip when my funeral was, and even if Evelyn did not believe it, she had to check it out herself. As they drove to the venue, Evelyn kept calling me, but I did not pick up.

"Colton's too scared to even answer my calls. He's really committed to his act. I've had the divorce papers ready for ages. Today's the day he'll sign them!"

I should have been mentally prepared for this a long time ago, but hearing it for real made my heart hurt so badly that I could barely breathe.

Seven years of giving it my all and I had not touched her heart in the slightest. She would not even give me a chance to explain.

In Evelyn's mind, I was someone who did not really matter—someone a nanny could easily replace.

The car pulled up to my childhood home, and though it was the day of my funeral, there were barely any people outside. I could see Mom from the doorway.

It was so sad when parents had to say goodbye to their children. I did not want to look, so I turned away, but I found myself going inside with Evelyn anyway.

Mom heard us and turned around, her emotions bubbling up. She pushed herself up with her cane, looking like it took all of her strength.

"Why are you here? And why did you bring Marvin? Can't you leave me alone, even now when my son is gone?"

Evelyn was shocked by the funeral too.

My picture was right there in the middle of the room, with my coffin behind it. The wind made the white curtains dance, and the candle flames flickered scarily.

She grabbed Marvin's arm without thinking, and he gently patted her hand to calm her down. "This has to be Colton's idea. He must be trying to scare you on purpose."

Evelyn would not even look at my picture.

She cleared her throat and said, "Sadie, tell Colton to come out. I want a divorce!"

"Are you blind? Colton's gone. We're here to send him off today. Can't you let him be at peace?"

Mom was crying, and a few relatives came to help her.

Evelyn thought she was just being stubborn. "If Colton doesn't show up, you think I won't trash this place? You want to put on a show? Fine, I'll play along!"

Right after she said that, Evelyn knocked over all the candles, and my relatives could not hold her back.

Evelyn stood by my coffin, her eyes burning with a rage I had never seen. "Colton, I really didn't see this coming! You'd fake your own death just to get my sympathy! I know you're here, so come out and say sorry to Marvin!"

I was right there, but I was invisible to her.

I begged her to stop and leave my family alone, but only I could hear the words.

Evelyn glanced around, but I remained unseen. In her frustration, she knocked things over and shoved the coffin lid off. It only moved a bit because it was heavy, but it was enough for everyone to see inside.

Evelyn gasped.

Mom saw me and passed out right there.

My face was ghostly pale, laid bare for Evelyn to see. Yet, the marks where hands had choked my neck stood out clear as day.

Evelyn let out a scream and stumbled back, missing a step and falling hard.

"No way... That's not Colton! It has to be a trick!"