“Where did you take Laura? I need to discuss something about the orphanage with her.”
The orphanage was something James and I had opened together.
It was a partnership, so we mainly talked during work hours.
But even that led to Simon’s constant misunderstandings.
Later on, I had an assistant take over for me to avoid interacting with James.
“Hah, who are you fooling? Do you think I don’t know you took her?”
Pulling off such a switch in plain sight wasn’t something I could do alone.
Simon could only think James had helped.
On the other end, James was baffled. “What are you talking about?”
“Don’t play dumb. Isn’t it you who took Laura? Do I need to spell out your little secrets?”
“What the hell is wrong with you? I have nothing going on with her. But you, Simon, don’t you forget the vows you made! What have you been doing these past six months with Hollie?”
Simon let out another cold laugh. “What does it matter to you? Even if I don’t love her anymore, she will never stop loving me.”
James was furious. “You-”
But Simon hung up before he could finish.
What he said was true-at least it was before I died. I did love him, so much that even when he stopped loving me, I still loved him.
But that was my thinking when I was alive.
After death, I realized that love can change in an instant.
And his love? It disgusts me now. If I were still alive, I would definitely divorce him!
Hollie sensed that something was wrong with him and quickly stepped forward to comfort him. “Of course, he won’t admit it. He’s just calling to provoke you. Simon, don’t get mad.”
Simon didn’t respond. His eyes were fixed on his phone screen.
It was our chat window.
The last message I had sent was from that day I made a mistake, apologizing to him, begging him not to ignore me.
I loved him so much.
And once, he had loved me the most too.
After every argument, he would secretly order flowers for me, then hug me and act playful.
I asked him why.
He said, “Because you’re my wife. It’s my duty to make my wife happy.”
But everything changed when Hollie appeared.
After that, every time we argued, he would grow impatient.
He would even accuse me, saying, “Can’t you be as understanding as Hollie?”
This was the first time I hadn’t replied to him.
Staring at the empty chat history, Simon grew irritated, his brows furrowed.
Then, all of a sudden, he relaxed and a mocking smile appeared on his face.
“Fine, Laura. Let’s see if you’ve got the guts to never show up again!”
—
Simon was a man of action, and he truly planned to shut down the orphanage. He had even contacted a lawyer.
I knew he was doing this to force me to show myself.
But he would be sorely disappointed, for I had already become a wandering soul.
The children at the orphanage all knew him.
They greeted him warmly whenever they saw him.
Seeing their familiar faces, my heart ached at the thought of what they were about to face.
I could only pin my hopes on James, hoping he could save the orphanage.
He owned 50% of the shares, and as long as he didn’t agree, the plan to shut down the orphanage couldn’t go through.
When James received the documents, he exploded on the spot. “Are you out of your mind?! You’re going to destroy everything she worked so hard for!!”
He knew better than anyone how much effort I had put into the orphanage, the early mornings and late nights I spent on it.
“Then make her come out and talk to me. Otherwise, there’s nothing to discuss,” Simon said, tapping his fingers on the table, sounding casual and indifferent.
James was livid. “You’re her husband, and even you don’t know where she is? I’m just her business partner, how would I know?”
“She’s really not with you?”
“If she were, would I even need to talk to you?”
James froze for a moment, but quickly returned to his usual expression.
“Stop pretending. Who else but you would help her fake a corpse to fool me?”
James had no idea what Simon was talking about, but he stood firm in protecting the orphanage.
However, Simon was never one to act without plan.
Once the lawyer arrived, they quickly pointed out all the minor and major irregularities within the orphanage and even filed a lawsuit, aggressively pushing for its closure.
I looked at Simon in disbelief.
I never thought he would go this far.
All of this, just to force me to show up and apologize to Hollie!
I was furious, wishing I could rush over and strangle him.
But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stir the slightest ripple.
James, his eyes red with anger, shouted, “Simon, one day, you’re going to regret this!”
Hollie leaned in to whisper to Simon, “Simon, aren’t we being too harsh? What if Laura gets really angry?”
“Angry? Then let her be angry. She still hasn’t shown up, has she?” Simon replied, completely unfazed.