With all the tension cleared, the engagement party carried on as planned.

I stayed nearby, watching Helena with Christian, both of them completely caught up in each other. I felt a pang of relief that she had found happiness, but also a hollow ache that it wasn't me giving it to her.

Just as both families were about to lock in the wedding date, Helena set down her glass. "Sorry, I don't think we need to finalize this wedding just yet."

Christian exchanged glances with his parents, frowning in confusion.

"Helena, what do you mean? I went to all this trouble bringing everyone here to witness our love, and now you're telling me there's no rush to set a date?"

He noticed the unease flickering across her face. Taking a deep breath, he pressed further. "Are you still thinking about Nathan? You haven't really moved on from him, have you? You—"

"Ugh, can you stop being so annoying?"

Her patience finally snapped under the constant questioning. She stood abruptly, gathering the engagement documents.

"It's not that I haven't moved on. I just think marriage is a big deal, and it deserves more caution. If there's nothing else, I'm heading back to the office now. Christian, take care of the guests."

Helena turned and left, unaware of the fleeting flash of contempt in Christian's eyes. But just moments later, he restored his usual obedient mask.

"Okay, go handle your work. I've got this covered."

Back at the office, Helena furrowed her brows and pulled an emerald pendant from the bottom drawer of her desk. I remembered giving it to her on our one-year anniversary. I hadn't expected her to still have it.

She stared at it for a long moment before dialing out, her tone sharp and commanding as she issued her orders. "Find out everything about Nathan. Alive or dead, I want to know where he's been for the past seven years."

I lowered my head, watching my semi-transparent form, a pang of sorrow hitting me. "I've been right here this whole time. You just can't see me."

…

Three days later, Helena's assistant, Eli Jennings, timidly handed over a report.

"Ms. Shaw, there's no trace. Nathan disappeared seven years ago. Even his bank accounts were closed…"

"Useless!" Helena snapped, tossing the report to the floor. The papers were scattered across the office.

She walked to the windows, looking down at the city lights, her gaze sharp and merciless. "I don't believe a living man can just vanish. If he's hiding, he won't escape my wrath forever."

"Ms. Shaw, are you saying—"

Helena's lips curved into a cruel smile. "I hear she has kidney failure and needs regular dialysis. Halt her treatment immediately."

Eli froze.

"This…"

"Hospitals aren't charities. If they can't pay, treatment stops. She won't die that easily. He'll be forced to show himself sooner or later. Do exactly as I say."

Her tone brooked no argument. Eli hesitated, then nodded.

"No! What are you doing? Helena, how can you do this?"

She knew how serious my mother's condition was, yet she was using such a low, ruthless tactic to force me out of hiding.

I watched Eli leave, my emotions twisted, powerless to speak for my mother or sister, and I had no choice but to run after him, desperate to get to the hospital.

On the way to the hospital, Eli had already made all the arrangements. When I arrived, Nellie was clutching the bill, completely lost.

"Family of Jeanette Chesson, our system shows the account has been frozen. There's not enough balance to continue treatment. If payment isn't made today, we'll have to suspend her treatment."

Nellie's face went pale as she stared at the itemized charges, checking them again and again. "How could it be frozen? I paid just yesterday…

"Please just give me a few more days! I'll get the money, I swear! My mother can't have her treatment stopped!"

Tears welled up in Nellie's eyes. Her knees buckled, and she almost dropped to the floor, but the nurse didn't even spare her a glance.

"That's the hospital policy. There's nothing I can do. Either you pay, or she'll be discharged. If you don't have the money, you'll need to find relatives or friends to help."

With that, the nurse turned and left, leaving Nellie standing helplessly. Ever since everything fell apart in our family, everyone we knew avoided us like the plague. Family? Friends? There was no one left to turn to.

Nellie looked at the time, her eyes hollow. She reached into her canvas bag, took out a small bottle, and poured the last few pills into her palm. Without hesitation, she chewed them up and swallowed.

I'd taken that medication before. It was unbearably bitter, but Nellie didn't even frown. Expressionlessly, she finished the pills and stood, heading straight for the bank.

I followed close behind, like a shadow, watching her silently withdraw every last cent from her account. At the corner, I spotted a familiar figure again.

Eli had his back turned, methodically reporting Nellie's movements.

"Ms. Shaw, Nellie just went to the bank, but it's still not enough to cover the medical bills."

"Keep the pressure on." Helena's voice crackled faintly over the phone, chilling in its detachment. Isn't Nathan living it up now? I'll drive her into a corner until that coward brother of hers shows his face!"

"But—"

"No buts! This is all Nathan's debt to me. He will pay tenfold! Remember this. If he doesn't come forward, his mother gets no treatment."

Even in the bright afternoon, her words felt like ice. I had no way to tell her I was already dead, that I physically couldn't show up. I didn't know what it would take for her to leave us alone. All I could do was hope Nellie might somehow confront Helena again.

However, our mother didn't survive long enough. Due to Helena's orders, her medication and life-support treatments were cut off. By nightfall, her condition deteriorated rapidly.

By the time Nellie managed to bring in a doctor, it was already too late.

"Helena, if you have a problem with me, come at me! Don't torture my family! When will you leave us alone?"

I collapsed into a crouch and screamed the words. No tears fell, yet the pain in my chest was sharp and unmistakably real.

I watched Nellie clutch our mother's lifeless body, wailing in despair before she finally went quiet and called for a car to the funeral home.

Eli, who had been hiding off to the side the entire time, clearly hadn't expected my mother's death either. Panic was written all over his face, and he rushed to report everything to Helena.

As expected, the news made her lose her grip. An expensive porcelain piece slipped from her hands and shattered across the floor.

"How… How could she die? I… I never meant for this! Where is Nellie?"

"Nellie has gone to the funeral home to make arrangements," Eli replied, then added, "Nathan hasn't appeared at all."

The words drained Helena of all her energy. She collapsed back into her chair.

Finally, she realized something was wrong. She knew how much I cared about my family. There was no way I'd ignore something this serious.

That was unless… I truly couldn't do anything.

"Get a car ready for the funeral home. Now! Go!"