Chapter 4

When Mike walked in, he carefully supported Ella, as if she was made of porcelain.

When Ella softly said "I'm hungry," Charlotte threw down her bag and rushed into the kitchen. This top surgeon, who was used to wielding scalpels in the OR and had never cooked a meal, was now fumbling with her phone, awkwardly chopping vegetables while following a "post-surgery nutrition meal" video.

Joseph pulled out a stock transfer document he had prepared earlier and handed it to Ella, saying it was a welcome gift to celebrate her "narrow escape from death."

Ella curled up on the sofa, taking all this for granted.

My soul floated behind them, coldly watching this house where I had once lived. Despite all the bright lights, I felt a bone-chilling coldness.

Mike sat beside Ella, opening a container of applesauce and gently feeding her a spoonful, making sure she was comfortable.

Looking at his profile, my heart was filled with mixed emotions.

Once, Mike was the only person in this family willing to believe me.

When I was first brought back, facing Ella's vague accusations, he had firmly stood in front of me and told our parents, "I trust Lily. You can see it in her eyes—she'd never do something like that."

But Ella knew too well how to use "being understanding" as a weapon.

Every time there was a conflict, she never defended herself. She would just apologize first with red-rimmed eyes: "It's all my fault. Lily just came back. I shouldn't have upset her." "As long as Lily is happy, I don't mind being wronged."

At first, Mike would still reassure me. But as it kept happening, day after day, I saw his attitude start to shift.

He began to feel disappointed in me, began to say impatiently: "Lily, Ella has already given in so much, why can't you be more generous?" "She's your sister, can't you be less petty?"

Until today, with Ella's perfect "fall framing," he completely stood on the opposite side from me.

After feeding her, Mike pulled out a wet wipe to clean his hands and casually asked: "By the way, where's Lily?"

If he hadn't brought it up, I doubt anyone in this house even remembered that I had been missing for a whole week.

Hearing my name, Charlotte, who was walking out with a bowl of nutritious porridge, instantly froze.

"Why bring up that bastard on such a good day?" Charlotte slammed the bowl down on the coffee table. "I scolded her a few times outside the operating room that day, and she dared to disappear on me, won't even answer my calls. Why bother coming back? Might as well die out there."

Mike paused, then obediently nodded in agreement: "Charlotte's right. We really shouldn't let her come back and disturb Ella's recovery at a time like this."

Charlotte looked at Mike, her expression softening, and said meaningfully, "Mike, you're a good guy. Lily's got a tough personality and doesn't really appreciate what people do for her—she's just not right for you. But Ella, after everything she's been through, she's become more open and really leans on the people around her. You and Ella would actually make a great couple. Don't waste your time on someone who doesn't deserve you."

Mike glanced at Ella, who was nestled pitifully on the sofa, and a look of both shame and determination appeared on his face: "Charlotte, I understand. Actually, I came today to officially change my engagement to Ella."

A strong bitter feeling surged up my non-existent throat. I laughed at myself and turned my back to them.

So that's how it is. I had tried so hard to prove I was part of this family, to prove I was worthy of being loved, and in the end, my death only completed their perfect family circle.

After dinner, perhaps from some inexplicable intuition, Charlotte became restless and anxious. She went back to the master bedroom alone and started scrolling through her phone contacts.

I floated over and glanced. She was dialing my number.

Once, twice, three times.

Each time, all she got was a cold, busy signal.

Finally, she lost her patience, threw her phone hard onto the bed, and cursed at the air: "Lily, you've got some nerve now? You think playing this disappearing act will make anyone care about you?"

I wanted to tell her: Save it, Charlotte. I'm already dead, and dead people can't answer phones.

But she couldn't hear me.

After her anger subsided, she picked up her phone and called the hospital nurses' station.

"This is Charlotte. Where's that brat Lily? Tell her to stop faking death for attention and get back here right now to apologize to her sister! If she doesn't, she can forget about ever setting foot in this house again!"

The other end of the line fell into a deathly silence.

After a long while, the trembling voice of the duty nurse finally came through:

"Dr. Williams... have you forgotten?"

"Lily was confirmed dead a week ago. She had a bleeding disorder and massive hemorrhage."

"The ER requested your help, but you transferred all the hospital's surgical experts to perform that minimally invasive repair surgery for Ella, so there was no one left to operate on Lily. She died, even though we tried everything to save her."