Jayden was about to turn toward the chair when his phone rang at the worst possible moment. Vivian's name lit up the screen, and before he knew it, a smile softened his face.

"Jay, did you find Kat?"

"No. I have no idea where she stormed off to throw her tantrum. Forget about her. Vivi, you're in no shape to be up. Go get some rest."

"Okay, I'll listen to you, Jay. But you should really look harder for her. Who knows? Maybe she's been beside you this whole time, and you just didn't notice."

Vivian's voice sounded even spookier in the dead of night. But Jayden—thick as ever—didn't notice a thing. He murmured "goodnight" and hung up.

I let out a bitter laugh. I used to think Jayden was such a fool. He was too dense to pick up on what Vivian really meant and would never figure out that she was the one who'd killed me.

She really was just like Alan Sommer—my so-called father. That twisted man had made a twisted daughter.

When most people killed someone, they'd do anything to cover it up. But Vivian? She wanted Jayden to dig me out of the wall with his own hands, all to feed her sick obsession.

Jayden stayed all night, sleeping on the couch while I sat beside him, watching him the whole time.

Just sitting there with him in perfect quiet would've been unthinkable before. We used to fight every time we were together. Who'd have guessed he could be this calm now?

I counted his eyelashes out of boredom—132 on the left, 128 on the right. I had to admit that he was handsome. Even his lashes were unfairly pretty.

Jayden woke to Hank's phone call.

"Jay, I've been searching all night. Ms. Katherine left the office yesterday evening and hasn't been heard from since. You think something's wrong?"

"No news means she's not out causing trouble. And no trouble's good enough. Leave it," Jayden muttered.

His brow had furrowed at being suddenly woken, but it eased slightly at Hank's words. The operation was entering its final phase. That was why Jayden was afraid I'd screw up their plans.

But Hank was still uneasy. "Things have been tense lately. Nadia from the casino was dumped in the river and left to drown just two days ago. They still haven't found who did it. And Ms. Katherine… She's just a woman. What if—"

"There's no 'what if.'" Jayden scoffed. "Honestly, I wish she were the one who drowned. But no—good people die young, while snakes like her just keep slithering on. How does a curse like her even stay alive?"

My heart clenched painfully, a dull ache spreading through my chest. I'd heard enough cruel words to last a lifetime and thought nothing could hurt me anymore.

But hearing him say it—wishing I were dead—left me drowning in grief, my very soul trembling. It was only now that I realized I wasn't as strong as I'd believed.

At that moment, a vicious wish surged through me. I wanted Jayden to turn around so badly to see my corpse. What kind of face would he make if he knew I was buried in the wall behind him?

But I was just a spirit now, invisible and untouchable. All I could do was watch as he drove to the graveyard. Then, it hit me—today was Evan Austen's death anniversary.

Evan had been an exceptional undercover cop and was Jayden's mentor. To Jayden, Evan was like a father in everything but blood.

Still, I couldn't help wondering if Jayden was actually an idiot. Visiting Evan's grave right now was reckless. Their whole operation would collapse if Jayden slipped up and revealed his identity.

He paused in front of a gravestone and nodded solemnly. "We're almost there, Officer Austen. I'll make sure Katherine stands trial and faces the firing squad. This vengeance is for you."

The photo on the tombstone showed Evan in his police uniform—handsome and righteous, his eyes burning with conviction. But that light had gone out forever two years ago because of me.

A phone call snapped me out of my thoughts and pulled Jayden out of his grief.

"Jay, get over here now. I found a corpse at Ms. Katherine's place."

Hank sounded rattled like he was still trying to wrap his head around what he'd seen. The only thing I knew was that everything would spiral out of control if Jayden found out I was dead right now.

His grip on the phone tightened. "What corpse? Speak clearly!"

Hank's voice cracked like he was about to cry. "Jay, just get over here."

Jayden hung up and headed for the car, nearly tripping twice. He took off without a second thought, his face unreadable, but his knuckles were white against the wheel.

Was he worried about me, too?

The car screeched to a stop at the villa, crashing straight into the flowerbed by the gate with a heavy thud. Jayden's forehead slammed into the windshield. Blood streamed down his face, fast and thick.

I tried to wipe it away, but my hand went right through him. A sharp wave of frustration rose in my chest. Why was he always so reckless?

Jayden ignored the gash on his forehead. He flung the car door open and marched straight into the villa.

Hank froze for a moment when he saw him. "Jay, your head—"

"I'm fine. Where's the corpse?"

"Just up ahead." Hank opened his mouth like he wanted to say more, then hesitated. "You should brace yourself, Jay."

My corpse lay sprawled across the living room floor, already starting to rot. It gave off a stench so vile it was beyond words.

Chunks of dried concrete still clung to me. My exposed skin was blotched with livor mortis, and my face held just enough to hint at who I used to be.

Jayden stood frozen, eyes locked on my corpse like someone had hit pause and left him stuck in that moment.

"No way… No way…" Jayden muttered, his expression twisting into something unreadable, his voice barely a whisper.

Hank gave his shoulder a gentle pat. "What's done is done, Jay. You've got to let it go."

"Let it go?" The words hit Jayden like a spark to dry tinder. He seized Hank by the collar. "Let what go? That can't be Katherine. How does someone that ruthless just die like that?"