Chapter 3

I never expected my soul remained in the world.

I also had no idea to have the chance to open my eyes again and see the shriveled, pale corpse in the bathtub.

The sound of the door opening came, and I floated out.

Jessica's voice rose.

"William, happy birthday!"

They were holding a cake, along with some packed food.

The living room was empty.

Jessica looked surprised.

"Where's Olivia?"

William sneered.

"Here we go again, the cold war, trying to force me to beg her and please her."

William's face was dark, but I could see a hint of disappointment in it.

"I didn't come back after the phone call yesterday, and now she's giving me the cold shoulder."

Jessica seemed to feel unbelievable.

"But today is your birthday."

William self-mockingly replied.

"Yeah, even if today is my birthday, she won't care."

Nora, my wolf, and I anxiously tried to explain, apologizing in incoherent words.

"I'm sorry, I care, I just wanted to hold on a little longer, but I'm too useless..."

But no matter how many times I said "happy birthday," William couldn't hear it.

I was surprised by how I couldn't let go of my love for William.

At this moment, I hated myself for still loving him.

Otherwise, I wouldn't feel the pain in my heart over his slightest disappointment.

"Maybe Olivia just forgot."

Jessica went to knock on the bedroom door.

"Today is William's birthday. Could you make him happy for a while?"

The room was silent.

Jessica tried to explain for me.

"Olivia must have fallen asleep."

But whoever heard this, it was a weak excuse.

I quietly watched Jessica. I could feel that when William was with her, he would visibly relax.

"This is fine. After I'm gone, William won't feel so lonely."

William stared at my bedroom door, his expectations fading.

"Sleep? She hates me so much that she won't even see me."

He turned and returned to the living room.

"Fine, it's my birthday, does it really have to be her?"

He said this, but the cake was on the table, and no one had lit the candles.

Jessica, unable to watch William's disappointment, said,

"Let's wait a little longer, Olivia wouldn't be that heartless, today is your birthday after all."

I sang the birthday song for William over and over again.

Don't wait anymore, I won't come out.

The clock turned two full circles, and William chuckled wryly.

"I'm just delusional."

Jessica inserted the candles into the cake and lit them.

"Make a wish. Wish that you and Olivia can reconcile like before."

"You're a liar, you and he are the ones who truly love each other," I thought.

William remained silent for a while before speaking.

"I wish... I wish I would stop loving Olivia."

In that moment, my heart ached like it was being twisted.

Last year on his birthday, William clung to me for a smile.

His birthday wish was to be with me for a lifetime.

"I hope that in the future, there will always be someone by your side."

I muttered to myself.

Jessica cut the biggest piece of cake.

"This is for Olivia, eat something sweet, it will make her feel better."

She knocked on the door again.

"Olivia, this is the cake William specially left for you."

Of course, there was no response from the room.

William suddenly stood up, grabbed the cake, and threw it in the trash, along with the unblown candles.

"She won't take my things? She’s been with me for a day, and all she does is eat my food and drink my drink!"

His eyes turned red.

"I don’t believe she can starve herself!"

I saw Jessica shiver from his sudden anger.

William calmed his voice. "Fine, let’s not bother with her, let's eat."

I crouched beside the trash can, looking at the deformed cake.

It was like it had been soaked in tears, turning muddy, no longer looking appetizing.

With a trembling voice, I spoke to Nora:

"He really hates me."

He didn’t even blow out the candles.

Hurry, blow them out! I thought desperately.

If he doesn't blow them out, what if the wish doesn't come true?

The dining table in the living room was empty and silent.

I sat next to William, gently wiping the tears from his eyes.

I opened my arms, but I could only give him a futile hug.

If he had cried in front of me instead of in places I couldn’t see, if we had both been more honest, would the outcome have been different?