A week before I died, my wife, Emma’s first love, Liam, returned to the country.

That night, she didn’t come home.

The next day, I received her call.

“I’ve prepared the divorce papers. Come home and sign them.”

I coughed lightly before replying, “I’m in the hospital.”

Her voice was cold, sharp. “I don’t care where you are. Even if you’re on your deathbed, you need to come back and sign them.”

Calmly, I responded, “Alright.”

She didn’t know I truly was dying.

On the day of my funeral, my wife was busy marrying Liam. Later, she wore a pure white wedding dress and leaned against my tombstone, tears streaming down her face as she murmured, “If there’s a next life, I’ll still marry you.”

That day was her wedding day. It was also my funeral.

——

The doctor wanted me to stay in the hospital for observation. I refused.

I knew my body better than they did. My life was counting down and there was no reset button.

I didn’t want to spend my remaining days in a hospital bed.

When I returned home, Sophia was sitting on the sofa. Her gaze was cold and indifferent.

“Weren’t you in the hospital? You look like you’re in pretty good shape to me,” she said.

Summoning the last bit of strength, I walked to sit across from her. My voice was hoarse as I spoke.

“Where are the divorce papers?”

Sophia frowned, her tone growing colder.

“Where have you been loitering around? You look half-dead.”

I ignored her question and asked again for the divorce papers. I could feel my body failing and I didn’t want to collapse in front of her.

I didn’t want her to see me at my weakest.

“Hmph. Fine. Pretend all you want. Do you think acting pathetic will make me take you back?” she snapped. With a scornful grunt, she slapped the papers onto the table.

“Sign it!”

I didn’t even glance at the divorce papers. Instead, I looked directly at Sophia.

“This is my final gift to you,” I said.

I picked up the pen and carefully signed my name.

The moment I put the pen down, it felt like all my energy had drained away. I slumped weakly onto the table.

Sophia froze for a moment, then sneered, “Stop pretending. Do you think playing the victim will make me change my mind?”

“If you hadn’t forced my parents with your family’s influence, I would’ve married Ethan years ago and had a happy life,” she said. “You’ve been good to me all these years, sure. But that’s what you owed me.”

I forced a faint smile.

“So, you’ve always blamed me. If I die, will you forgive me?”

“I’ll think about it after you’re dead.”

Sophia scooped up the papers and turned to leave without a backward glance.

I watched her walk away, my chest tightening sharply. Darkness closed in around me.

When I woke up, I was already in the hospital.

Lily was sitting by my bedside. She was Sophia’s closest friend, my friend too and the one who had introduced me to Sophia.

It was thanks to her that we met. But we hadn’t turned out the way she’d hoped: a couple walking hand-in-hand through life.

When she saw me wake up, Lily rushed to ask, “How are you feeling?”

Her eyes were filled with concern.

Warmth flickered in my chest and I smiled faintly. “I’m fine. Just a little tired lately.”

Her eyes instantly reddened.

“How long are you planning to keep lying to me? The doctor already told me everything.”

I fell silent.

Lily pressed on, “Does Sophia know?”

I shook my head.

“Why won’t you tell her? She deserves to know. I’ll tell her right now.”

Lily pulled out her phone. I stopped her.

“There’s no need!”

If this had been any day before yesterday, I might not have stopped Lily. But after everything that happened yesterday—every word Sophia said—I couldn’t bear it.

I was terrified that if she knew I was dying, she would stand before me and spit venomously, “Why couldn’t you have died sooner? You destroyed the happiness Ethan and I could have had!”

If she said that, I would crumble.

“Why won’t you tell her? Does she still misunderstand what happened back then? Let me explain it to her.”

Once again, I stopped Lily and waved her off.

“It’s not necessary. Let the truth of what happened back then stay buried with me.”

Sophia believed that it was I who pressured her parents to stop her from going abroad to find Ethan and forced her to stay and marry me.

But the truth was, it was her parents who disapproved of her relationship with Ethan. They came to me and begged me to help them stage a charade.

Of course, I agreed. Because I loved Sophia.

I thought that as time passed, she would forget Ethan and I could slowly tell her the truth. But no matter how much warmth I offered, it couldn’t thaw her frozen heart.

For years, we lived as a couple in name only. In reality, she saw me as an enemy, blaming me for interfering and ruining her happiness with Ethan.

Rather than reveal the truth and make her resent her parents as well, I’d rather be the villain she hates. After all, I don’t have much time left.

Sophia’s call came through. “I’m waiting for you in front of the Civil Affairs Bureau.”

Her voice was cold. I replied calmly,

“Okay.”

As soon as I hung up, Lily spoke, “I’m coming with you.”

I instinctively wanted to refuse, but before I could say a word, she added, “I won’t tell Sophia anything. I just don’t feel comfortable letting you go alone.”

I didn’t refuse again and nodded in agreement.

Sophia wasn’t waiting alone in front of the City Hall. Beside her stood Ethan.

Ethan looked just as he had years ago. Today, he seemed especially cheerful, unable to hide the smile on his face.

When Sophia saw Lily and me arrive together, she was surprised.

“Lily, why are you here?”

Lily’s expression was blank. “Sophia, do you really have to divorce James?”

Sophia sneered at me.

“James Charbel, did you ask Lily to come and plead for you?”

Before I could respond, Lily cut in, “No, James didn’t ask me. I came on my own.”

“Sophia, I urge you to reconsider. James loves you deeply—more than your parents do. You must have felt that over the years.”

Sophia frowned but didn’t argue.

Ethan stepped forward, positioning himself protectively in front of Sophia. Smiling, he said to Lily,

“James indeed loves Sophia, but love has to be mutual. Sophia doesn’t love him; she’s always loved me.”

“And I believe my love for Sophia is no less than his.”

Lily sneered. “You have the nerve to say that? Who was it that abandoned Sophia without hesitation to go abroad back then?”

“I never saw any sign that you loved her. The only person you’ve ever loved is yourself.”

Ethan’s face darkened.

Sophia’s expression turned grim.

“Lily, there’s no need to bring up the past. Ethan had no choice back then. He didn’t mean to abandon me. It was James who forced my parents to forbid me from going abroad and made me marry him.”

“This is all crystal clear to you. Everything is James’s fault.”

“The truth about what happened back then is actually—”

I interrupted Lily, keeping my gaze calm as I looked at Sophia.

“You’re right. It’s all my fault. So let’s not waste time entangling ourselves any further. Come on, let’s get the divorce over with.”

“James!” Lily called after me, as if she wanted to say something more.

I shook my head at her.

There was no need to explain. Sophia had never loved me.

When Sophia and I stepped out of the City Hall, Ethan cheerfully rushed over to her.

“Sophia, you’re finally divorced! Now we can finally be together.”

To my surprise, Sophia didn’t respond. She stood frozen, staring at the divorce certificate in her hand.

Could she be regretting it?

The thought barely crossed my mind before I shook my head.

Impossible.

Getting divorced from me had always been her wish.

Lily spoke up. “Sophia, if you regret this, there’s still time to change your mind.”

Ethan glared at Lily with obvious irritation. “Why would Sophia regret it? She doesn’t love James. Only by marrying me will she find happiness.”

Lily scoffed. “And how exactly do you plan to make her happy? With your current lack of any accomplishments?”

Ethan’s confidence faltered as he glanced nervously at Sophia, fumbling for a defense.

“Happiness isn’t just about material things. I can give Sophia spiritual fulfillment.”

“All you have left is that mouth of yours,” Lily retorted disdainfully.

I knew Lily was trying to persuade Sophia to reconsider. But after years of pouring my heart out for Sophia, tending to her every need and still failing to warm her icy heart, how could a few words from Lily make a difference?

Besides, Sophia and I were already divorced. I had no desire to drag this out any longer.

“Lily, let’s go,” I said.

Lily hesitated for a moment, then sighed and turned to Sophia.

“Sophia, think carefully about what I said. Don’t wait until it’s too late to realize what you’ve lost.”

Sophia replied with indifference, “There’s nothing to think about. I won’t regret it.”

Her final words were directed at me, “Because I never loved you.”

A sharp pain pierced my chest.

Sophia didn’t look at me again. She got into Ethan’s car and together, they drove away.

I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I clutched my mouth, coughing violently. Warm liquid seeped through my fingers and caught my eye.

It was bright red.

When I opened my eyes again, I saw Lily kneeling on the ground, crying uncontrollably.

I wanted to comfort her. But when I moved, I realized my body felt weightless. The hand I tried to place on her shoulder passed right through her.

I froze, glancing around, until my gaze landed on the hospital bed.

On it lay my lifeless body.

I had died.

In this ethereal, soul-like state, I silently stayed by Lily’s side.

I watched her arrange my affairs—preparing my body, notifying my family and friends and holding vigil for me. She handled everything, step by step, with care, but the toll on her was obvious.

Within a few short days, she had visibly thinned.

Three days before my funeral, Lily sat before my urn, murmuring softly, “James, I don’t know if I should tell Sophia. Can you give me a sign?”

Of course, I couldn’t give her an answer. But deep down, I wished she wouldn’t tell Sophia.

I feared that if Sophia learned of my death, she might clap her hands in celebration.

As long as I didn’t witness it, I could still lie to myself, pretending otherwise.

Just then, a ringtone broke the silence.

I glanced at Lily’s phone.

It was a call from Sophia.

Lily didn’t take her eyes off my urn. Without looking at the screen, she reached out, picked up the phone and answered the call.

“Lily, the wedding between Ethan and me is in three days. I’ll send you the location later—don’t forget to come.”

For a moment, I felt suffocated. I hadn’t realized the dead could still feel.

Lily’s face went pale. “Why did you choose that day?”

Sophia’s voice carried a hint of confusion. “Is there a problem?”

“No, no problem at all. I’ll be there,” Lily replied.

After hanging up, she turned to my urn and whispered, “Did you hear that? She scheduled her wedding with Ethan for that day.”

“But that’s the day of your funeral!”

Yes, it was. That was the day of my funeral.

But Sophia and I were divorced. She was free to marry Ethan whenever she wanted. There was nothing I could do to change it.

Three days later, Lily put on a black dress, a matching veil and an expressionless face before leaving the house.

I wanted to stop her, to tell her not to go. But I couldn’t. I could only hover beside her, following as she walked into the wedding venue.

The moment Lily stepped inside, dressed as she was, the guests’ faces turned to shock.

Sophia, radiant in her white wedding gown, came forward to greet her. Her expression darkened.

“Lily, what are you wearing? This joke is a bit much, don’t you think?”

“I’m not joking,” Lily said coolly. “After attending your wedding, I have to head to James’s funeral. There’s no time to change.”