Chapter 2

The wedding day was both extravagantly opulent and chillingly bare.

Vincent had decked out the grand ballroom in pure luxury. Yet, there were no limousines parading the city, no joyous music, not even a single festive decoration.

When Ethan walked in with Sophia on his arm, his eyes darted through the crowd uncontrollably.

He was looking for me.

Sadly, no matter how many times my ghostly figure drifted before his face, he saw nothing.

It was only when Vincent's assistant stepped up to escort them to their table that Ethan finally pulled back his gaze.

Once seated, Ethan realized this table was filled with people from our college circle. Back when the Adams family went bankrupt and Ethan left the country, everyone had lost touch.

Now that Ethan had returned as a self-made titan, this lavish banquet awkwardly turned into an impromptu reunion.

Everyone at the table was sharp enough to know Ethan loathed my guts.

Nobody dared mention our history. They simply traded casual small talk about business and life.

Sophia couldn't hold back her curiosity. She looked around and whispered:

"This atmosphere is so bizarre. The music sounds like a dirge, and when we came in, I saw a group of men dressed in black robes chanting in the side hall."

"Is Mr. Sterling that obsessed with the occult?"

Ethan frowned, completely at a loss.

One of our former classmates across the table snorted and leaned in with the gossip:

"I heard they're performing a cleansing ritual! Vincent thinks marrying Chloe is a curse, so he's warding off evil spirits!"

"Didn't you notice? When the guests arrived, neither Vincent's family nor Chloe herself showed up. But hey, Vincent has humiliated Chloe in worse ways. This is nothing."

Another guest chimed in eagerly:

"So true! A couple of years ago, I ran into her in a mall restroom. She was wearing a janitor's uniform, scrubbing the tiles on her knees. When she saw me, she didn't even dare look up. Vincent’s bodyguards were watching the door, barking that she couldn't leave until every inch was spotless!"

"That’s nothing! At last year's corporate summit, Vincent dragged her along and made her crack walnuts and shell prawns with her bare hands for the table. Her fingers were dripping blood, and she wasn't even allowed to whimper. It was brutal!"

"Man, that's just what they do in public. Rumor has it Vincent has some really twisted bedroom habits. Chloe was rushed to the ER three times this year alone. Her body's probably completely ruined by now!"

Laughter broke out at the table.

They turned all my agony into cheap entertainment.

All to stomp on me, just to flatter the untouchable Ethan Vance.

I floated beside Ethan, watching him.

Maybe it was just the dim chandelier lighting, but his face remained a blank mask.

Only the corners of his downcast eyes were faintly red.

I let out a soft sigh.

Knowing he couldn't hear, I still tried to offer him comfort:

"Are you hurting for me?"

"Ethan... why are you still so soft-hearted? They're exaggerating. I wasn't really..."

The words caught in my throat. Not another sound came out.

These past five years had been suffocating.

So agonizing that even my detached soul trembled.

I wanted to say more. I wanted to tell him it wasn't that bad, that he shouldn't feel sad.

Then Sophia noticed Ethan’s strange demeanor and asked gently:

"Ethan, what's wrong?"

My voice died instantly.

Ethan was a thriving success now, with a gorgeous woman at his side.

Who was I—a dead girl—to offer him ridiculous comfort?

Besides, Ethan hated me.

How could he possibly hurt for me? I was flattering myself.

Ethan forced a thin smile at Sophia, his knuckles whitening as his hands clenched beneath the table.

"Nothing. I'm just sick of hearing her name."

He paused, his voice turning cold.

"It's annoying."