Chapter 1 Chapter 1

As I emerged from the hospital doors, I carefully tucked the prenatal checkup slip into my bag. My hand instinctively rose to caress my small belly, and I couldn’t suppress the joy swelling within. The doctor's words still echoed in my ears: “Congratulations, Mrs. West! You’re pregnant!” After a year of marriage to Lucas West, I had finally conceived. Passing by a flower shop, I paused, realizing today deserved to be celebrated. I decided to buy a bouquet for myself. I put on my mask and selected flowers with minimal pollen, instructing the clerk to wrap them securely before I cradled them as I made my way home. Due to my asthma, flowers had never adorned our home. Lucas had never gifted me any, perhaps because it was not a love marriage. If it weren’t for the financial troubles at Lucas's company, I doubted he would have married me at all. However, over the past year, I sensed a gradual shift in Lucas's attitude toward me. Now that I was pregnant, I believed he would treat me with more care. A smile broke across my face at the thought, and I imagined Lucas's expression upon seeing the prenatal slip. I changed into fresh clothes and settled onto the sofa to wait for his return, my heart racing with anticipation. In my boredom, I leaned over the balcony to tend to a flowerpot and remembered the bouquet in the bedroom. I hurried to retrieve it, eager to present it to Lucas as soon as he walked in. However, I lost my grip, and in an instant, the flowers tumbled off the coffee table, scattering across the floor in a disarray of petals. Flustered, I rushed to gather them, completely forgetting that I was allergic to the pollen. “Achoo!” Realizing my mistake, I stepped back quickly, covering my mouth and nose, and dashed to the bathroom to splash some water on my face. Remembering that I carried a child within me sent a shiver of unease through me. I decided to head upstairs to take a couple of my medications in advance. But when I opened the drawer, I found the pill bottle empty. I searched high and low for a good while, only to recall that I had run out during my last bout of illness. It had been so long since I’d suffered an attack that I’d completely forgotten to restock my supply. My breathing quickened in my panic, and I swiftly dialed Lucas's number. He should be on his way home now, just in time to pick up what I needed. When the call connected, his warm voice filled my ears. “What’s wrong?” I took a deep breath. “Lucas, we’re out of my medication at home. Are you on your way back? Could you pick up a new supply? The kind I usually take.” There was a brief pause on the other end. “Okay, I understand.” As I sensed that the call was about to end, I added, “Please come home soon. I have something very important to tell you.”“Sure.” After hanging up, I felt more at ease and slowly returned to the sofa to wait. However, as a heavy pressure settled in my chest, my breathing became labored, and my cough intensified. This familiar sensation… Why did my asthma have to flare up now? I struggled to reach for my phone again. I tried calling Lucas’s number, but to my dismay, he didn’t pick up. I wondered if he was driving and so was unable to answer, so I waited a moment before calling again. This time, it rang for what felt like an eternity before he finally picked up.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

“Lucas, where are you? I’m not feeling well. Can you hurry?” I asked urgently. There was a brief silence on the other end before a woman's voice spoke. “Lucas is busy right now. I’ll have him call you back.” I froze, the familiar voice sending a chill down my spine. It was Ariana Venti, Lucas's first love, the woman he had always yearned to marry. The call remained connected as I heard the announcement echoing in the hallway: “Ms. Ariana Venti please report to the obstetrics department, room 15.” Before I could respond, Ariana abruptly ended the call. My hand went limp as I clutched my phone, my mind reeling from what I had just heard. Ariana? In obstetrics? Why was Lucas accompanying Ariana to the obstetrics department? He knew how urgent my condition was, so why was he with her? A tremor coursed through me as despair set in. I crumpled to the floor as tears streamed down my cheeks. Whether it was psychological or the pollen I had inhaled, I felt the symptoms of my attack intensifying, far worse than before. My limbs felt numb and heavy. Suddenly, the reality of the life growing inside me surged to the forefront of my mind. I reached for my phone and dialed 911. As I waited, I curled up on the ground, clutching the hem of my shirt. “Please, save me. I beg you, save my child…help save Lucas’s child…” I whispered, the words spilling from my lips as I lost track of time, my eyelids growing heavier by the second. As darkness enveloped me, I slowly became aware of someone urgently knocking and my brother, Troy Sivan’s voice. “Clara! Wake up! I’m taking you to the hospital!” I felt myself being lifted, and in a flurry, I was rushed into a car. Amid the jolting movement, I lost consciousness again. When I opened my eyes, I was startled to find myself in a pristine white room, the sharp scent of disinfectant filling my nostrils. For a moment, I was stunned, but then I realized I was at the hospital. Thank goodness nothing serious had happened otherwise, my child… I climbed out of bed, only to find the room empty. Faintly, I could hear my brother’s voice echoing in the hallway. “What did you say? She was pregnant?” I hurried out to see Troy standing at the end of the hall, speaking with a doctor. His fists were clenched, anger etched across his face. “Troy? Why were you at my house? I’m so glad you arrived in time, otherwise I would have been in trouble!” I looked up at him, but he acted as if he had not heard me, his gaze fixed on the doctor. The doctor sighed softly. “Please accept my condolences. Ms. Clara’s asthma attack was severe, and it was too late by the time she got here. We’ve done everything we could, you should take her away as soon as possible.” His words struck me like thunder. What? Did I…die? Instinctively, I tried to feel for my heartbeat, only to discover it had ceased entirely. I froze and then bolted back to the room I’d just left. There lay my body, peacefully resting on the bed as if in a deep slumber. Just then my brother entered the room and walked right through me. He collapsed at my bedside, weeping uncontrollably, calling out my name. It was then that I accepted my reality: I was dead. As my brother's cries echoed in my ears, tears streamed down my face. I stepped forward and embraced him from behind. “I’m sorry, Troy…” After a long moment, he finally calmed himself. He pulled out my phone, and my heart sank as I saw Lucas’s message on the screen.

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

[Something came up, Clara. I’ll be home later. I bought the medicine. Wait for me at home.] And then the final message: [Ariana is showing signs of a miscarriage. She’s alone, and I can’t ignore something this serious. I’ll come home as soon as things settle down. Please, don’t overthink this.] Troy's face was filled with anger as he read the messages, and I stood there, frozen in place. Ariana was having a miscarriage? Didn’t she have anyone else? But when my asthma attack hit, I was alone too. My child is gone now... I lowered my head, and at that moment, Lucas called. Troy reached out to answer, but his hand hovered in the air before he pulled it back and turned off the phone instead. I don’t know why he made that choice, but I was too overwhelmed by helplessness to question it. Silently, I followed him home. When I learned that Lucas had been with Ariana, I realized how much of a fool I had been. A year’s worth of waiting and hoping had crumbled in an instant. If I could go back and do it all over again, I would never have fallen in love with Lucas. When my mom, Irene Sivan learned the harsh truth, she cried uncontrollably. It was only thanks to Troy’s presence that she didn’t collapse. Tears filled my eyes but it was too late. Just then, a knock echoed through the house. Lucas’s anxious voice called from outside, “Mom, is Clara with you? Did she come back?” Troy paused, then strode forward, yanked the door open, and dragged Lucas inside. Without a word, he slammed Lucas to the ground and began beating him mercilessly. Lucas was confused but didn’t fight back. He lay there, taking the punches and kicks until his face was bruised and bloodied. I stood by, frantic, powerless to intervene, watching helplessly as Troy battered him. “Troy! Tell me, where’s Clara? Where did she go?” At the mention of my name, Troy froze. Then he shoved Lucas aside with cold contempt. The two men locked eyes for a few tense seconds before Troy turned away, his voice sharp with anger. “I don’t know. Go find her yourself.” Panic flickered across Lucas’s face as he scrambled to his feet. “She didn’t come here? I just went back to the house, and she wasn’t there. I thought she…”“You thought what? Get out!” At Troy’s unwavering hostility, Lucas turned to my mom, his voice filled with desperation. “Mom, I think I upset Clara today. Where is she? Please, just tell me.” Mom stood still, her face devoid of emotion. In a last-ditch effort, Lucas rushed to my room, only to find everything neat and untouched. No one had been there recently. He stood frozen in the doorway for a couple of seconds before frantically searching every room in the house, but still, there was no sign of me. “How could this be? Where did you go, Clara?” Watching him in his panicked state, I almost allowed myself to believe the illusion that he truly loved me. But deep down, I knew that was not the case. Lucas glanced around the room one last time, knowing full well that Troy, always protective of me, would never reveal where I had gone. Defeated, Lucas left, closing the door behind him. Mom sighed heavily, her voice breaking, “Why didn’t you tell him that Clara has already…” Troy clenched his fists, his tone harsh. “I won’t let Clara have anything to do with him again. If it weren’t for him, she wouldn’t have been alone during her attack. I should have never let her marry him.” I sat there in silence, my head bowed, unable to find the words to express my feelings. Even now, I could not let go of Lucas. After much hesitation, I found myself returning to our marriage home.

Chapter 4 Chapter 4

When I entered the house, Lucas was still sitting on the floor, staring blankly ahead. By his feet lay the bouquet I had prepared for him—a surprise that had long since withered beyond recognition. Empty bottles of alcohol cluttered the table, their contents drained hours ago. Lucas picked up his phone and dialed my number over and over again yet it would always go straight to voicemail. He mumbled softly to himself, “Where did you go, Clara? Why aren’t you answering? You’ve always hated it when people don’t pick up their phones… Your medicine is still here with me…” I sat beside him, a bittersweet smile tugging at my lips. “I’m right here. But you can’t see me anymore. You’ll never see me again.” In the dead of night, his phone suddenly rang. The caller ID flashed the name: Ariana. I looked away, my eyes brimming with tears. He answered, “What is it?” From the other end of the line, came Ariana’s voice. “Is Clara upset? Do you want me to help explain things?”“No, it’s fine. I’ll handle it myself.”“Alright then, get some rest.” After hanging up, Lucas drifted into a fitful sleep. I sat quietly by his side, watching him. I knew my time there was limited yet I wanted to spend my last moments gazing at the man I had loved so deeply. Even when I needed him most, he was by someone else’s side. In the middle of the night, Lucas’s phone rang again. “Clara, you’re finally picking up. Where are you? I’ll come get you,” he answered groggily. But a different voice responded. “Mr. West, it’s me.” I recognized the voice of his assistant, Dennis Wayne—no doubt it was another work-related matter. That night, I wandered through the entire house, room by room, lingering over every trace of my time with Lucas. Those memories would soon vanish, just like me. The next morning, Lucas left early. I assumed he was headed to the office, but to my surprise, he drove south—toward the place where we first met. I paused, startled. Why was he going there? For three days, I followed him, watching as he revisited every place we’d been together, desperately searching for me. But he had no idea that I was already gone, that I had died while he was at Ariana’s prenatal appointment. Still, I couldn’t deny it anymore—Lucas did feel something for me. Just as I was about to leave for good, I saw him take a familiar road. He was heading to my family’s house. I did the math. Troy would have already taken my body home by now. So Lucas was about to learn the truth. But... would he be sad? On second thought, he had the right to know. After all, he was still my husband, at least in name. And part of me wanted to see his reaction—what would he feel when he found out? When Lucas reached the front door, his eyes widened as he noticed the black mourning drapes hanging outside. He froze. He was shocked. For a moment, I thought I saw his hand trembling. Troy opened the door, surprised to see him. They both stood there, stunned, for a few seconds. Before Troy could stop him, Lucas bolted inside and rushed straight to the center of the living room. There, I lay quietly in a casket among a sea of flowers, dressed in the purple dress he had always loved. Only this time, my eyes were closed, never to see him again. I couldn’t hold back my tears at the sight of my own body. I stepped forward and gently brushed my hand over my face. The faint trace of tears still lingered on my skin. Before I could fully process what was happening, Lucas lunged toward me, frantically clearing away the flowers around my body. His voice was shaking, almost desperate. “Clara has asthma... there can’t be flowers in the house. The pollen will make her sick. Why would you surround her with flowers?”