Chapter 5

I had convinced myself that after spending so much time together, she must have developed some feelings for me. It explained why she looked so distraught. 

Now, I was about to hand over my entire life's savings to Jack, that despicable excuse for a man, so he could pay off his debts. 

Jack lunged to grab the bank card from Emma, but she didn't let go. 

"Emma, what's the matter with you? Give me the card, now!" 

She clutched it to her chest, mumbling something under her breath. I leaned in, straining to hear her words. 

"Tom's gone, and I need to raise our child." 

Lily was her daughter, her own flesh and blood. 

Even though she hadn't treated the girl well, she'd never raised a hand to her. On rare occasions, when she was in a good mood, she would even dress Lily nicely before sending her off to school. 

Before Jack came into the picture, I used to dream that the three of us could one day be a happy family. 

Hearing Emma's words, Jack's face twisted with rage. 

"Emma, you didn't even bat an eye when he died, and now you want to raise that brat?" 

I couldn't really blame Jack for asking—I was starting to wonder if she was serious myself. 

But it was like she didn't hear him at all. Emma quietly gathered her things, ready to leave. 

"You can leave, but the money stays." 

Jack blocked her way, gripping her chin roughly. 

"So, you're just not going to talk now, huh?" 

She remained silent, staring off into the distance. 

With a sudden, violent motion, Jack ripped her clothes and took a few photos. 

"If you don't give me the password right now, these will be all over the internet by tomorrow." 

I clenched my fists, feeling utterly helpless. 

Back in college, Emma had liked Jack. They were a couple, and I never tried to interfere. 

Just seeing her happy had been enough for me. But then, one day, I found out that Jack was planning to sell some compromising photos of Emma online. 

Rage overcame me, and I beat him until he begged me to stop. He only agreed to delete the photos after I was done with him. 

It wasn't surprising that I ended up in jail. 

Jack knew I liked Emma, so he made sure that she was the one who called the cops on me. 

When Jack gave his statement, he sneered in my direction. 

"Who would've thought he'd turn into such a nutjob? We'd better stay away from him—he's nothing but a madman." 

He kissed her, right in front of me. 

"I've got it covered, babe," she whispered, caressing his face tenderly. 

When she looked at me, her eyes were cold, filled with contempt and bitterness. 

I wanted to explain, to warn her, but the words died in my throat as I saw the hate in her eyes. 

Jack's anger flared again, and he slapped her hard across the face. 

Emma didn't react. She stood there, emotionless, like her spirit had been hollowed out, whispering Lily's name again and again. 

Finally bored, Jack let her go. 

I trailed behind her as she made her way to Lily's kindergarten. 

Her hair was a mess, and she looked like a homeless wanderer. 

People on the street avoided her like she carried some disease. 

That day, my mom was picking up Lily. She'd been waiting outside for a while, and when she saw Emma, her body tensed as if she were facing a sworn enemy. 

"What are you doing here?" 

Emma shoved the bank card into my mom's hand. 

"This is all the money Tom ever made. Save it for Lily's education." 

Tears welled up in my eyes, but they never fell. 

The change in Emma was so abrupt, so extreme, that it left my mom speechless. 

"What's your angle? We don't want your money. Just go, and don't ever come back." 

With a heavy thud, Emma dropped to her knees. 

People nearby began to stare. Kids started spilling out of the school, one after the other. 

Mom was too distracted to deal with Emma. She craned her neck, searching the crowd for Lily. 

Lily came out last, moving slowly, looking dejected. 

It was the first time I'd seen her since my death—the longest we'd ever been apart. 

When she spotted Emma, she froze, unsure of whether to approach. 

"Lily, sweetie, it's Mommy. Come to Mommy." 

Lily was a smart kid. Even though she was scared, she obediently walked toward Emma. 

"Mommy..." 

Emma hugged her tightly, stroking her face gently. 

She couldn't take Lily back to Jack's place. After what felt like an eternity, she finally let go. 

I felt trapped, tethered to her, forced to witness her every move. 

After the massive fight with Jack earlier that day, going back would be suicidal. 

I almost forgot—she'd already packed her bags. She wasn't planning on going back. 

But then, to my surprise, Jack appeared again, this time with his ex-wife by his side.