Chapter 3

Lost in thought, Zoran emerged from the hospital room.

His brows furrowed as he dialed my number without thinking.

I knew he wanted to remind me that it was time for my penance.

Usually at this hour, I would be kneeling in the chapel, desperately repenting for a full five hours. I wasn't allowed to move an inch until Zoran was satisfied.

But after the phone rang for dozens of seconds, there was still no answer on the other end.

Zoran's frown deepened.

Perhaps Genevieve's unexpected awakening had thrown him off balance in his excitement, making him forget about tormenting me - something he viewed as mere "entertainment". Unusually, he didn't force me this time.

I watched his cold, retreating figure, desperately wanting to tell him:

"I can't do penance anymore. I'm already dead."

But no matter how loudly I shouted, Zoran couldn't hear me.

The car door opened. Zoran walked into the flower shop, cradling nine hundred and ninety-nine red roses in his arms, making him appear even more flamboyant and unrestrained.

As I gazed at that fiery bouquet of red roses, a sudden bitterness welled up in my heart.

This was something I had longed for, for so long, yet never received even until my dying day. Now that Genevieve could effortlessly obtain everything without lifting a finger, it couldn't help but feel somewhat ironic.

Back at the hospital, Zoran handed the bouquet to Genevieve with eyes full of tenderness, his voice brimming with affection.

"Losing and regaining you is an unexpected joy heaven has bestowed upon me, Genevieve. I love you!"

Genevieve's eyes welled up with glistening tears, but her hands involuntarily pushed him away.

"Zoran, if you act like this, Melody will be upset..."

"It's all my fault. I shouldn't have disturbed you two, shouldn't have disrupted the happiness you were meant to have. Zoran, I'm sorry..."

She explained urgently, feigning a hurt expression as she cried, causing Zoran's face to instantly darken.

"Genevieve, how could this possibly be your fault?! If it weren't for her stopping me back then, you wouldn't have recklessly gone racing out of anger, you wouldn't have gotten hurt, and you wouldn't have had to endure so much pain. The one who should be apologizing is her, not you!"

His furious demeanor showed he had completely forgotten the promise he once made to me.

A smug smile instantly blossomed on Genevieve's face. She clung tightly to Zoran, enjoying being loved while still remembering to send me photos.

I leaned in closer, seeing a line of text at the bottom of the screen.

"So what if I'm faking it? You tried so hard for so long, but in the end Zoran still fell right into my hands. Melody, you were just a brief interlude after I left. Zoran loves me desperately!"

After saying that, she sent several more photos. In the past, every time after Zoran's visit ended, she would send me a string of photos.

Each one was shot perfectly.

There was Zoran with tears streaming down his face, Zoran giving guilty kisses, and Zoran's long and attentive companionship.

Every single photo was filled with Zoran's unwavering devotion to her.

I lowered my eyes and smiled bitterly. Too bad she didn't know that everything she sent me was saved intact on my phone.

All Zoran had to do was open the door to my room, and he would definitely be able to see it all.