Chapter 1 Chapter 1

“How’s it going? Has Lisa been behaving in there?”“Don’t worry, Mr. Shane. We’ve been keeping a close eye on her. No one’s come out, but since the second day, after that scream, there’s been no movement from her at all.” Benjamin Shane sneered, a look of disgust twisting his face. “That woman’s tough. This is what she gets for pretending to be my precious Emma’s sister. I’ll make sure she wishes she were dead.” Anyone who saw him like that would think I was his sworn enemy, but I was his wife, and we had been married for three years. What he didn’t know was… I’d been dead for a long time, and my soul was bound to him, unable to move on. Benjamin climbed into the helicopter and flew off. As I watched from above, I saw the dense forest where my body now lay. It was as suffocating as my life was, trapped beneath a canopy of unrelenting darkness. Why wouldn’t he let me go? I had agreed to divorce him, but why wouldn’t he leave me in peace? Was it all because I refused to give Emma my kidney? It all began a year ago when Emma Tony came back. She was Benjamin’s first love, the one he’d always pined for. When she left the country, I was the one who comforted him in his sorrow, and that was how we ended up together. However, when she returned, everything fell apart. Benjamin’s gaze shifted to her again, and he wanted nothing more than to be with her—even if it meant divorcing me. Then, suddenly, Emma dropped a bombshell that she was in the final stages of kidney failure, and the only way to save her was a transplant. Benjamin took Emma to every hospital he could find, both local and overseas, but nothing worked. That was when he thought of me. He’d asked for a divorce a year earlier, but I hadn’t agreed, and we hadn’t spoken since. Now, out of the blue, he came back to me, acting as if nothing had ever happened between us. I thought he had a change of heart, that maybe he still cared for me, but no. All he wanted was for me to give up my kidney for Emma. “You’ve got two kidneys,” he’d said. “Giving one to your sister won’t hurt you.” When I refused, he snapped. “Why are you so selfish? She’s your sister! How could you not want to save her?” He tried to sweet-talk me, promising we’d have a great life together if I just agreed. In the end, I, swayed by his words, agreed to get tested. The results came back. It showed we weren’t a match because I wasn’t Emma’s biological sister. Emma had gone missing when she was four years old, and in my parents’ grief, they adopted me. However, on Emma’s 18th birthday, she found her way back to the family—with a DNA test to prove she was the real daughter. My parents were overjoyed and determined to make up for all the years she had suffered. No matter how much I tried to explain the situation to Benjamin, he wouldn’t listen. He was convinced I wanted Emma dead. Emma, in fact, knew the truth but still went along with the testing, hoping against hope. When it failed, she left a goodbye letter for Benjamin and disappeared overseas. Benjamin blamed me. In his eyes, I had killed her, so he drove me deep into the forest and left me to die. Even in death, I found no peace. My soul was trapped, forced to follow him wherever he went. As soon as we got back to our house, Benjamin went to the bedroom and began cleaning Emma’s framed photo, as he always did. However, then there was a commotion downstairs. Benjamin rushed down, and to his shock, there she was—Emma had come back!

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

Benjamin stared in disbelief at Emma, her petite frame illuminated by the soft evening light, standing quietly in the yard. Her once sickly, pale complexion had been replaced with a healthy, radiant glow. She didn’t look sick anymore. “Emma, have you finally come to your senses and come back? No matter how sick you are, I’ll do everything in my power to cure you. Just don’t leave again.” I had never seen Benjamin look at anyone with such tenderness. It was like she was the most precious thing in his world—a treasure he'd lost and miraculously found again. On the contrary, when his eyes fell on me, all I ever saw was cold indifference. Why did he marry me if he never loved me? Why drag me into this nightmare of a marriage? Emma nestled into his arms, her voice soft and gentle. “Benjamin, actually, my illness… it's been cured.” Emma then began to tell him about her strange experience overseas. After leaving the country, overwhelmed with despair, she had planned to end her life. However, she then met a miracle doctor, who cured her of the kidney disease that had plagued her for years after just a few treatments with some herbs. Benjamin was too overjoyed to question her story. Holding Emma tightly, he whispered, “I’m just glad you’re healed. Now, no one can come between us again.” What a picture-perfect scene. They looked like a perfectly matched couple, standing there together. I watched, my chest tightening, making it hard to breathe. Everyone had their happy ending, except for me. I had died alone in the wilderness, forsaken. I cried out, demanding answers from Benjamin, but my words fell on deaf ears. We were no longer in the same world, and no one could hear me. What I didn’t notice was Benjamin glance in my direction, his brow furrowed for a moment, as if sensing something was amiss. Benjamin took Emma upstairs to the master bedroom—our bedroom—and lovingly tucked her into bed. “Emma, you’ve just recovered. You should rest here and regain your strength.” Just then, Emma, who was never afraid of the dark, clutched his hand, her voice soft and pleading. “Benjamin, I’m scared. Will you stay with me tonight?” I knew for a fact that Emma had never been afraid of the dark. I, on the other hand, had been terrified of it ever since my time at the orphanage, where I was often locked in a pitch-black room as punishment. I’d told Benjamin that many times, but he always brushed me off, calling me dramatic. ‘Please don’t stay with her, Benjamin. If you do, I’ll know for sure you never loved me,’ I tried calling out and telling him. Yet, all he did was smile indulgently and say to her, “You’re such a handful.” Then, without a moment’s hesitation, he climbed into bed beside her. I stood there, stunned. How foolish I was to ever think I could compare myself to Emma. I should’ve known better all along. Emma’s eyes sparkled with joy as she gazed at Benjamin, her fingers tracing down his cheek, clearly hinting at something more. However, Benjamin gently grabbed her hand. “You’ve just recovered. Don’t push yourself.” As the two of them drifted off to sleep, my awareness began to fade. Luckily, I was a ghost. I didn’t need sleep or feel tired. When I regained consciousness, Benjamin had taken me downstairs. The security team stationed at the edge of the forest was giving their report. “Mr. Shane, it’s been two days, and there’s been no movement from Mrs. Shane. The guys are worried something might have happened. Should we go in and check on her?” The same man who had kissed Emma goodnight now wore a hardened expression, and his face twisted in disdain. “Why would we want her back? So she can make her sister sick again?”“But what if something’s happened to her?”“What could possibly happen? If she’s hungry, she can find fruit. If she’s thirsty, there’s dew. If it’s dangerous at night, she can climb a tree. Let her stay there and learn her lesson. Maybe next time she’ll think twice before lying.”

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

I didn’t feel cold anymore, but an icy chill still ran through me. I never imagined Benjamin could hate me this much. If he saw my body now, he’d probably feel satisfied. Like a ghost, I followed him, drifting behind as he entered his study. He didn’t immediately sit down at his desk to work. Instead, he stared at the table momentarily before making a call. “Drop some supplies in the forest,” he ordered. “I don’t want her being dumb enough to starve to death and have people blame me for it.” I almost laughed out loud. For a second, I thought he might pity me a little, but it turned out he was just covering his own back, avoiding responsibility. Once that task was handled, Benjamin looked a little more at ease. However, suddenly, the study door opened, and Emma stood in the doorway. “Benjamin,” she said softly. “I haven’t seen Lisa since I got back. What’s going on with her?” Benjamin shook his head. “Don’t worry about her. She stood in the way of your treatment. I couldn’t let that go unpunished, so I taught her a lesson. She’ll be back soon.” Emma hesitated. “Alright, but I’m a little worried about her.” Benjamin pulled her into his arms, reassuring her gently. “You’re too kind, Emma. That’s why someone like Lisa could take advantage of you and be so cruel.” … Emma’s recovery was supposed to be a reason for celebration, a moment of pure joy. To mark the occasion, Benjamin decided to auction off part of his private collection and donate the proceeds to charity. Naturally, that drew a large crowd. At the charity gala, Emma looked stunning in a black mermaid gown, with Benjamin by her side in a matching black suit. They looked like the perfect couple, flawless and inseparable. Everyone, however, knew Benjamin was married to me. The crowd froze for a moment, exchanging puzzled glances, but no one dared say a word. From the shadows, I saw my parents in the crowd. Dressed in their finest, they were all smiles, accepting congratulations from the guests. It seemed they couldn’t care less about me, lost deep in the forest. Ever since Emma returned, all the love and attention they once gave me had shifted to her. I couldn’t really blame them. I had enjoyed the title of the only child for years. It made sense that they would want to make things right for Emma after all she had suffered. Still, I never imagined they cared so little about me that they didn’t even ask about me. I watched as my parents approached Benjamin and Emma. My mother, Andrea Tony, took Benjamin’s hand, her eyes brimming with tears. “Benjamin, you must take care of our Emma. She’s been through so much.” It was absurd. Anyone who didn’t know better might think it was their daughter’s wedding day. Benjamin nodded, accepting her plea. “Don’t worry, I’ll look after Emma. As for Lisa, after I’ve given her the lesson she needs, I’ll let her out.” My parents exchanged a strange glance before my father, Xavier Tony, spoke up hesitantly. “Benjamin, there’s something we haven’t told you. The truth is, Lisa’s had her heart set on someone else for a while now... and that person isn’t you.” I stood frozen, shocked by what I was hearing. Why would they say that? They knew I had fallen for Benjamin the moment I met him in college. How could they claim there was someone else? “When you were away with Emma, treating her illness this past year, Lisa went on several dates with this man,” my father continued. “As her parents, we couldn’t lie to you. We had to tell you the truth.” Benjamin’s fists clenched at his sides, his knuckles white with fury. His eyes blazed as he looked at my parents. “Are you saying Lisa cheated on me?”

Chapter 4 Chapter 4

Suddenly, a commotion erupted at the entrance of the banquet, drawing everyone’s attention. “Where’s Lisa? I haven’t been able to reach her for days. What did you do to her?” The voice belonged to Melissa Zacarias, my only friend and the only person who cared about me since I went missing. She stormed up to Benjamin, her tone frantic. “Where is she? What did you do to Lisa?” Benjamin, still fuming, snapped, “I dumped her in the middle of the wilderness. This is what she gets for betraying me!”“You’ve got to be kidding! You know that could kill her, right? How could you?”“I left supplies for her. She’s not going to die. Besides, she deserves to be punished!” Benjamin scowled and called for security. “Get this crazy woman out of here. She’s just like Lisa.” I watched helplessly as Melissa was dragged away, and the worst part? No one said a word, and the banquet just continued as if nothing had happened. By the end of the night, Benjamin was praised as a kind-hearted man, and Emma was now standing proudly by his side. Meanwhile, I—Benjamin’s wife—had been forgotten by everyone. I drifted like a ghost behind Benjamin, following him to his company and then back to our house. There, I watched as he sat down, all smiles, eating the food Emma had made for him. It hurt to see that smile. I wanted to escape, but I couldn’t. I had no choice but to watch them together, their happiness like a blade cutting me to pieces over and over again. It was the fifth day after I had been abandoned in the wilderness when Benjamin finally remembered me. He called the security team, ordering them to go and bring me back. However, within a few hours, they called him back, their voices filled with panic. “Mr. Shane, we’ve searched everywhere but still can’t find her. There was a huge storm a couple of days ago, and even the dogs can’t pick up her scent.” Panic flashed briefly in Benjamin’s eyes, but he quickly brushed it off with a cold smirk. “Don’t bother looking. She’s probably hiding, trying to make me worry. If she wants to stay there, let her be.”“Mr. Shane, something’s really off about this. Maybe we should–”“What are you so afraid of? Lisa’s not in any danger. Didn’t you inspect that forest? There’s some wildlife, sure, but nothing that would attack a person. She’s just playing games.” The security team couldn’t argue with him, so they reluctantly gave up the search. Benjamin hung up and immediately called his lawyer. “Mr. Andrews, draft the divorce papers for me. Yes, I want a clean break with Lisa. She’s been unfaithful and a liar. I want her out of my life with nothing in her name.” When he hung up, he finally seemed satisfied, as though getting rid of me was all he needed to feel free. On his desk was a photo of him and Emma, smiling together. He had never looked at me with that kind of tenderness, and now, I was nothing more than discarded trash to him. I burned with rage. I wanted to rip their perfect little world apart, to destroy them both, but I couldn’t. I was nothing but a wandering spirit, powerless to do anything. After finishing his work, Benjamin left early to go home, all because Emma called and said she missed him. He dropped everything for her, just like that. By the seventh day of my exile in the forest, Benjamin finally told security to bring me back again. However, there was still no trace of me. For the first time, I saw a flicker of concern in his eyes. He personally went to the site with a team to search for me. The security staff was terrified. “Mr. Shane, we’ve searched every area we hadn’t checked before, but there’s no sign of her.” Benjamin immediately decided to lead the search himself. It didn’t take long before they found the cave I had been staying in.