Chapter 3

“Babe, what do you mean, ‘I don’t think they deserve it’?”

“Has someone been bothering you?”

Liam was terrified I’d suffer even the slightest grievance.

I told him the truth.

The staff’s words echoed in my ears:

“Your parents had your registration officially cancelled.”

“Generally, if someone is missing for four years, you can apply. But since you fell into the sea, considered an accident, your family could apply to the court in as little as two years.”

I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.

A trace of doubt surfaced in my mind.

Why was my dad so eager to declare me dead after only two years of my disappearance?

On the other end of the phone,

Liam gritted his teeth.

“That’s outrageous! How could they do that to you?”

He sounded a hundred times angrier than me.

“I’m sorry, I couldn’t be there for you.”

Liam’s branch office was in the next city. He wanted to come home with me but had an important client meeting.

I told him to focus on his work.

“Babe, are you sad?”

Not really.

It just felt strange to be inexplicably declared dead.

I didn’t know how to explain it.

I wasn't particularly bothered.

But there was a dull ache.

I went to the courthouse to revoke the death decree.

On the way, I ran into Ethan.

He stared at me intently, his eyes swirling with an unreadable emotion.

“Elara, after your uncle Richard cancelled your registration, I went to the beach to lay flowers whenever I had time.”

I nodded, feeling incredibly awkward.

“I wasn’t dead. Did I make you waste money?”

He quickly shook his head, then added, as if explaining,

“Tiffany and I only got together after your registration was canceled.”

“By then, we were both barely holding on, and thankfully we became each other’s support.”

“That’s good. You two look like a great match.”

Ethan’s eyes turned red.

“Elara, I know you loved me most. But Tiffany and I are married; I can’t betray her.”

“Please don’t take it out on Tiffany; she’s fragile and pregnant with my child. She can’t handle any stress.”

I looked at him, bewildered.

“I’m not doing anything!”

Ethan’s expression stiffened slightly.

“That’s good! When the baby is born, Tiffany hopes you and Mom can help take care of it.”

He seemed to be testing my reaction.

I shook my head.

“No, I’ll be leaving Fairview soon.”

Ethan’s face instantly paled, and he grabbed my hand.

“Say that again?”

“I finally waited for you to come back; why are you leaving again?”

I pulled my hand away with force.

“My fiancé is in Silverwood. Isn’t it normal for me to leave with him?”

Ethan’s voice was strained, trembling slightly.

“Impossible. You said you’d marry me when we grew up… How could you choose someone else?”

I looked at him, at a loss for words.

“Uh, your name is Ethan, right?”

“To me, you’re no different from a stranger now.”

“You married my cousin, so don’t say such strange things.”

“My fiancé is a jealous type. If he beats you up, it’s not his responsibility.”

Ethan’s body trembled as he looked at me, his eyes reddening inch by inch.

Is something wrong with this guy? Is he going crazy?

I quickly walked away.