In the third year of my disappearance, Xavier Gardner has transformed into a powerful capitalistic mogul whose influence runs deep in the finance industry.

At the celebratory party, he goes down on one knee and proposes to his first love, Nancy Lowe.

"Back when my company was on the verge of bankruptcy, you were the one who sold all of your properties and assets just to help me tide over the crisis. Today, I want you to become the happiest woman in the world. Will you marry me, Nancy?"

Amid everyone's blessings, Nancy puts on the ring while feeling extremely touched.

"Mr. Gardner, it was said that your ex-wife, Victoria Zahn, had stolen all of your funds and fled with her sugar daddy when your company was in a financial crisis.

"Now, she's gone missing for three years. If she ever comes back, will you choose to forgive her?"

The reporter's sharp question makes Xavier's expression change drastically. His gaze shifts into one of pure ice.

"If I ever find that traitorous gold digger, I'll make sure to skin her alive."

As I float next to the crystal chandelier, I can only sigh while noting how deep his hatred runs in his eyes.

Xavier, you will never be able to find me.

After all, I already died three years ago when I was on my way to clear your debt with the loan sharks. Even the money that you've used to tide over your company's crisis is the funds that I gained from selling my family's manor…

The day after Xavier Gardner proposed to Nancy Lowe, he took her to have their wedding photos taken.

"Xavier, do I look good?" Nancy, who wore an exquisite white gown, spun around shyly in front of him.

However, he merely stared at an ordinary white gown in the corner, his expression blank.

Nancy followed his gaze and looked over. "Do you like that?"

The store assistant immediately said, "This is the most basic gown in our store. Given your status, I don't think it's good enough for you."

The gown Xavier had his eyes on looked ordinary and cheap.

Back when we got married, I didn't even get to wear the cheapest gown.

After registering our marriage at the city hall, I spotted a gown in the shop window at a glance.

Smiling, he said, "Let's go in and try it on."

I made up an excuse to turn him down. "You've just started your business. There will be many expenses.

"Once you've become rich, I want the prettiest and most expensive gown, okay?" I feigned an upset look and pinched his ear, and he laughed.

However, my dream never came true.

He fulfilled his promise, but to another woman.

Xavier only snapped back to his senses when he heard someone calling him.

"Our company has only come this far thanks to you. Those cheap gowns aren't good enough for you. You deserve the best things in the world."

Leaning against his chest, Nancy grinned. Then, they started taking photos affectionately.

"Mr. Gardner is such a handsome and caring man. How could his ex-wife bear to leave him?"

"She's just a materialistic woman who leeched off him. She dumped him during the most difficult time and took all his money. She's heartless."

"Damn. Do you think she'll regret it if she sees how successful Mr. Gardner is now? Will she come back shamelessly?"

A few people were gossiping next to Xavier, unaware that his expression was gradually darkening.

He didn't even finish taking the photos. Clenching his fists, he left in a huff.

I hovered in the air and followed him home.

A sense of bitterness washed over me when I saw him entering his house with Nancy.

He went into the study and pressed a button, then a door opened.

It was actually a hidden room.

I was startled after following him in. The room was full of my belongings, photos, clothes, pillows, and plushies.

He smashed everything frantically until a photo frame dropped and shattered.

He slumped to the ground and picked up the photo.

"Victoria Zahn, you're so cruel! Why are you doing this to me?

"You want money, don't you? I'm rich now, but why aren't you… back yet?

"I hate you! I'll make sure you suffer terribly if I find you!"

The shard cut through his palm, blood trickling down. But he didn't even notice it.

I squatted beside him, sensing the resentment welling up in him. A wave of bitterness surged through me.

I wondered why he had believed someone's lie so easily, even though I had been with him for many years.

Why didn't he trust me?

"Xavier, you're injured!" Nancy exclaimed when she came in and saw the blood. Her heart ached, and she quickly tended to his wound.

Xavier remained expressionless like a puppet, but his eyes were fixed on my photo.

Nancy's face turned as pale as a sheet, yet she forced a bitter smile.

"We're getting married soon. Just throw everything away, or we can move into a new house.

"Forget about the past. I'll be here for you from now on. Don't be so hard on yourself. Only then can you move on and start over again. I'll never leave you."

Xavier raised his head at her last sentence.

Holding Nancy's gentle gaze, he gritted his teeth, then let out a sigh. "Alright. Whatever you say. I'll forget… everything."

Nancy leaned against his chest and wrapped her arms around his waist. Xavier shut his eyes, and it was impossible to read his emotions.

Seeing that he was in a bad mood, Nancy prepared a full spread of dishes.

Just as they were about to dig in, Xavier's phone suddenly rang.

The one calling was the person Xavier had sent to look for me. He quickly answered the call.

"Mr. Gardner, I think I saw Victoria Zahn."

Xavier's pupils contracted when he heard they had found me, and his chest heaved violently. "Where is she? Send me the address right now."

Nancy called out behind him, but he simply ignored her. He grabbed his phone and strode out of the house.

My spirit couldn't help hovering around him.

The car was speeding. He pursed his lips, his hands on the steering wheel trembling.

I wondered if he was that eager to see me. But he would be disappointed, as that person wasn't me.

I had died in a secluded alley three years ago, and I didn't even know where my body had gone.

Xavier arrived at the place and parked his car at the roadside.

Before the traffic light turned green, he dashed across the road. Honks blared simultaneously through the air.

Without saying a word, he stared at a woman's back in front of a floral shop.

She wore a white dress, her smooth hair cascading over her shoulders.

I looked over from a distance and realized she looked just like me from the back.

Suddenly, she turned sideways, a gentle smile crossing her face.

Xavier froze and widened his eyes in shock.

"Victoria, I've finally found you!" He quickly strode forward and turned the woman around to face him.

His burning gaze turned blank instantly when he saw a face he was unfamiliar with.

"Sir, do I know you?" It was a voice he didn't recognize.

Xavier's face stiffened, and his throat went dry. "I'm sorry. I got the wrong person."

"Vic, what's wrong?"

Xavier held his breath when he heard the man's voice. Then, he turned around. "Vic?"

He didn't expect to see someone he knew. "Charles, why are you here?"

I was stunned, too. I didn't expect to see my childhood friend, Charles Scott.

Ignoring Xavier, Charles handed the drink to that woman and flashed a tender smile. "It's just the way you like it. 100% sugar with extra toppings."

"There's no milk, right?" she asked while hooking his arm.

"Nope. I remember that you're allergic to milk."

Xavier was in disbelief.

We had the same preference. I was allergic to milk, loved sweet drinks, and always asked for extra toppings.

Xavier seized her wrist and asked through gritted teeth, "Who exactly are you?"

"Are you crazy? She's my girlfriend, Vic."

Charles shoved Xavier away, but he kept asking for her full name.

After knowing that her full name was Vicky Zeller, Xavier lowered his gaze, making it hard to read his expression.

When he saw Vicky pick lisianthus, he froze for a moment.

I used to love lisianthus. He had even made fun of me for not favoring roses.

I told him that I preferred an everlasting love over a passionate one.

Just then, Xavier's phone rang. The person immediately apologized, "Mr. Gardner, I'm sorry. We got the wrong person. She really looks a lot like Victoria."

Those words really hit a nerve.

Even I was shocked.

We might look different, but Vicky's demeanor, preference, and side profile were so similar to mine.

"Look into Vicky Zeller. I want to know everything about her." Xavier spoke through suppressed anger.

Xavier's gaze turned cold when he confirmed that Vicky wasn't me.

As soon as he ended the call, he punched the tree next to him. Blood soaked through the bandage on his hand again.

"Victoria, where are you? You're too ashamed to come back and face me, aren't you?

"Once I find out your relationship with Vicky, I won't go easy on her." His eyes were blazing with resentment.

I extended my hands, hoping to comfort him, but he was beyond my reach.

I felt the urge to tell him that I hadn't betrayed him.

But I had been reduced to a spirit and couldn't do anything.

It was only when I saw him transferring money to that guy that I knew he had hired a private investigator to search for me three years ago.

He had been looking for me over the past three years.

He would always set everything aside and rush over whenever there was news about my whereabouts, but only to be disappointed time and time again.

…

Xavier went to the bar. He was already drunk when Nancy arrived.

Her eyes were red as she questioned Xavier, who was barely conscious. "Why can't you get over someone who dumped you? She took your money and ran away with someone else when you needed her the most. Why would you do this because of a heartless person like her?"

Nancy's face was flushed red as she cried her heart out. "I've been staying by your side, but why can't you see me? I've done everything I could for you. Are you even being fair to me?"

Her cries echoed in Xavier's mind, and guilt washed over him.

"I'm sorry, but I need to know the truth. Only then can I give up completely.

"I've wronged you, Nancy. I'll marry you, and you have my word. Wait for me. I'll find out the truth soon."

He hugged Nancy and buried his face in her neck as he comforted her. "I'll eventually get over her one day."

"I trust you!" Nancy said.

I caught the hesitant look flashing across Xavier's eyes when he said that.

My heart ached so badly that I was losing my breath, but it dawned on me that I was dead.

Even after he found out the truth, he would still forget about me after many years.

Death had torn us apart before we could bid each other goodbye.

After a while, Nancy held him and said, "Let's go home."

I watched them leave. But as they moved farther away, my spirit was drawn back to him.

I couldn't leave Xavier.

Late in the night, Nancy was fast asleep in his arms, but he was wide awake.

When his phone rang, he quietly got out of bed. Vicky's personal information had been sent to him.

The information showed that Vicky had started dating Charles three years ago, and they were deeply in love with each other.

Xavier was surprised by how uncanny the timing was.

His face grew colder as he read through the information.

The information was comprehensive and even included Vicky's preferences.

Even I was surprised by how we had a lot in common.

I wondered what exactly was going on.

Charles grew up with me, so he must have noticed all this.

"Victoria, is it you?" Xavier mumbled as he brushed his fingers against Vicky's photo, but I was shocked.

I managed a bitter smile. He thought I was pretending to be Vicky, but that was impossible.

…

The next day, Xavier spotted a familiar figure in the restaurant after meeting his client.

"Vicky?"

Upon hearing him, Vicky looked up. "It's you, sir."

"I'm Xavier Gardner. I'm sorry that I mistook you for someone else last time. Let me treat you to a meal."

Before she could reject him, he summoned the waiter over to place his order.

His gaze fell upon a dish on the menu, and he quietly pointed at it.

Vicky was about to leave, but he insisted, and she ended up taking a few bites.

Soon, rashes started forming around her neck. It was an allergic reaction.

"Does this contain peanuts?" she asked anxiously.

"Are you allergic to peanuts, too?" Xavier's gaze darkened.

He only wanted to verify something, but he didn't expect that Vicky was also allergic to peanuts.

Fortunately, Vicky brought her allergy medication, and the reaction subsided after she took it.

"I have something to deal with, so I'm leaving," she said, her voice cold.

Xavier stared at her retreating figure and fell into a daze.

…

The next few days, I followed Xavier around.

He would drop by the area near Vicky's house from time to time.

Sometimes, he saw her walking her dog alone around the neighborhood. And sometimes, she was taking a walk with Charles.

The couple's intimate acts often made Xavier burn with jealousy.

One day, at a meeting, Xavier was surprised to find that Vicky was the representative of his business partner.

The partnership brought them closer together.

When they were out together, Vicky would take photos of anything she found interesting, and Xavier would wait for her patiently.

When they were dining out, Xavier would ask the waiter if the food contained peanuts or milk.

He would bring her to get some toys when she was stressed out.

They were doing all the things we did when we were still dating.

I felt like I could see the young Xavier from the past.

One day, while they were working overtime, Vicky went to the downstairs stall, and Xavier followed.

"Sir, could I have two servings of soup, one without cilantro?"

Xavier, who was about to sit down, shot her a piercing look. "You know that I don't eat cilantro? Only Victoria knows I don't eat cilantro."

Xavier hated cilantro. He would cover his nose and step back whenever he saw cilantro.

I loved teasing him by secretly adding cilantro to his food. He would get frustrated and come to kiss me.

Vicky was stunned for a moment, then said with a smile, "You don't eat cilantro? Sir, two servings without cilantro.

"Is Victoria your lover?"

"No, I hate her," he answered without hesitation.

I felt as if someone had stabbed me in the chest, and the pain was excruciating.

"You hate her only because you love her."

Xavier's hand paused in midair, and he locked eyes with her. "What exactly is your relationship with her? Or… You're actually her?"

Unexpectedly, instead of panicking, Vicky retorted, "Mr. Gardner, you must be kidding me. How could I be the person you're looking for? You see her in me, don't you? But you won't be mistaken if you truly love her."

Xavier fell into a daze, his eyes losing focus.

He studied every feature on Vicky's face.

He wondered if it was true that he couldn't differentiate between her and me, or if he was just fooling himself.

Even I felt that Vicky showed up at an uncanny time. It was such a coincidence that she bore a strong resemblance to me. Xavier was definitely aware of this.

But he couldn't think straight because he was too desperate to find me.

Rubbing his forehead, Xavier looked irritated.

Then, he recalled Vicky's words.

"You couldn't find her, no matter how hard you tried. Could it be that she's already gone?"

He replied firmly, "Impossible. She must be hooking up with the person backing her. Yup, she must be!"

Squatting next to him, I was utterly helpless.