Chapter 1

On our wedding night, my husband, Ralph Raymond, dropped dead in our bed and left me hundreds of millions.

Naturally, everyone told me to remarry while I was still young.

Even my best friend secretly set me up with a guy.

Broad shoulders. Slim waist. Not as hot or rich as Ralph, but young, sweet, and always there.

Then he proposed.

And glowing messages blew up in front of my face.

[Do NOT say yes! Lila set this whole thing up! She knows Ralph's ghost is still right beside you!]

[The second you take that ring, everyone will call you a gold digger and a cheating liar!]

[Ralph's love will turn into hate. When he comes back from the dead, you're the first person he'll strangle.]

[And your fake bestie? She'll save the man you betrayed, steal his heart, take his fortune, and spend the next forty years living your life. Their epic love story will be the only thing anyone talks about.]

I stared at the guy on one knee, holding out a diamond ring.

A few seconds passed.

I chose to trust the messages.

Then I slapped him.

Chapter 1

Matthew Jahn clutched his cheek. "Are you insane? I'm proposing to you! What the hell is wrong with you?"

I didn't have time to care about his sudden attitude switch.

Ralph had always been insanely possessive.

When he was five, he got into a fight at school. His dad bragged that their family was loaded and Ralph could have anything he wanted.

Ralph only wanted me.

From that day on, I had an overprotective childhood friend shadowing me everywhere.

He'd looked after me like he was a tiny adult for as long as I could remember, right up until I turned eighteen. Even my mom said he hovered way too much.

Ralph didn't care.

When I was nineteen, some guy on the street whistled at me.

By morning, Ralph had every thug chased out of Southvale.

The city was later named the Best Place to Live five years in a row.

At first, I didn't believe the messages.

I'd held Ralph on our wedding night until his body went cold and stiff. Then I watched his coffin get sealed and lowered into the ground.

But glowing messages were literally floating in front of me.

What if they were real?

The thought of Ralph watching me with Matthew for the past three months sent a violent shiver through me.

Even the breeze felt icy.

"Sophie." Lila frowned. "You've been with Matthew forever. You even said you two know each other inside and out.

"Isn't marriage the obvious next step? What's gotten into you?"

I opened my mouth, but more messages flashed through the air.

My blood went cold.

[Saying you know Matthew "inside and out" right in front of Ralph? Girl, that makes it sound like you've already slept together.]

[Ralph's been following you for three months. He's heard plenty of crap like that. Saying yes would be the final straw.]

That's when it hit me.

Lila loved making suggestive comments like that.

I'd never done any of it.

I always thought it was harmless best-friend teasing.

But if Ralph's ghost had really been beside me, then she'd been doing it on purpose.

She wanted him to hate me.

"When did I ever say that?"

Maybe because it was the first time I'd pushed back, Lila froze.

"Lila's not wrong. We'll be that close sooner or later." Matthew frowned, looking more annoyed than confused. "What's with you today?

"I love you. You love me. So why won't you say yes? Don't you want me with you forever? Can you really let me go?"

More messages flooded my vision.

[The one he really loves is Lila. He even bought the ring in her size. Later he'll claim he grabbed the wrong size because he was nervous.]

[Ralph comes back in three days. Don't believe a single word they say!]

I took the ring from Matthew.

Ignoring the messages racing across my vision, I slid it onto Lila's finger.

Perfect fit.

Matthew instantly panicked.

"This is my first proposal. I was so nervous, I bought the wrong size."

Even his excuse matched the messages exactly.

A chill sank into my chest.

If the messages were right... if Ralph really came back in three days... and I'd said yes to Matthew...

I wouldn't just lose the hundreds of millions Ralph left me.

Ralph would hate me enough to kill me.

Three days.

I'd wait.

If the messages were real, I'd know soon enough.

"You've got it all wrong." I met Matthew's hopeful eyes and gave him a cold smile. "I've never seen you as anything but a friend."

Chapter 2

"I've got it wrong?"

Matthew stared at me, stunned.

Then he grabbed my hand. "Sophie, quit being stubborn. I know you're mad about the ring. We'll go pick out a new one right now."

Lila took my other hand with a smile. "Exactly. He was just nervous. You two need to get married already. Then I can finally stop worrying."

[Of course she can. The second you put on that ring, Ralph goes on a killing spree.]

[She's seriously ruthless. You've never even done anything to her.]

I looked at the face I'd known for ten years.

For the first time, she felt like a total stranger.

"Why are you so desperate to make me marry him?"

Lila froze.

Then she frowned. "What's with you today? Haven't you always liked Matthew?

"You said he's younger than Ralph. That you were sick of Ralph acting like an old man. And you even said you and Matthew..."

Ralph was only two years older than me.

But he was so steady and mature that people always guessed he was older.

He also loved dressing me in soft, youthful colors.

People got it wrong all the time.

Once, a guy trying to flirt with me called Ralph an old man.

Ralph got so furious he landed himself in the hospital.

"I'm older than you. If I die first, there won't be anyone left to take care of you."

That fear never left him.

I'd never complained about his age.

Not once.

Lila was making the whole thing up.

I smirked and slapped Lila.

The next second, Matthew shoved me to the ground.

"Have you lost it? Lila's not well. How could you hit her?"

He pulled the stunned Lila into his arms, his eyes full of worry.

Me?

I was still on the floor.

He didn't even look my way.

I wasn't an idiot.

I knew exactly who mattered to him.

"The ring was my fault. Be mad at me. Don't blame Lila."

In his panic, the mask slipped completely.

Matthew didn't love me. Not even close.

I said nothing.

My scraped knee was already swelling.

He finally noticed. He froze, then came over, guilt all over his face.

"I'm sorry, Sophie. I'll take you to the hospital."

I stepped away from his hand. "Lila looks pale. Take her first."

Matthew opened his mouth, then quickly nodded.

"Okay. I'll take Lila first, then come back for you. After that, we'll pick out a new ring."

Then he scooped her up and rushed off.

***

I ran into them again at the hospital.

Matthew leaned over Lila, gently rubbing her temples the same way he used to rub mine.

After Ralph died, I fell apart.

A woman alone with hundreds of millions and no one to protect her?

That was basically a ticking time bomb.

Ralph's relatives came at me with schemes and insults. I was drowning in grief. For a while, I was too scared to even leave the house.

Then Lila showed up with Matthew.

He stayed by my side every day and slowly pulled me out of it.

I loved Ralph.

But he was gone, so I buried those feelings deep.

And I really thought Matthew cared about me.

"Sophie!" His face lit up when he saw me. He hurried over. "Don't worry. Lila's fine. She was just scared.

"Come on. Let's go pick out a ring. Lila has great taste. She'll help you find the perfect one."

"I'm not marrying you."

His face went stiff.

"I made one small mistake. Why can't you forgive me?

"I even sold my house back home so I could buy us a mansion."

Matthew pulled out the paperwork for the mansion and held it out.

"I'll be a good husband. I'll help you forget everything you've been through."

[Exactly. Once you marry him, you'll be stuck paying the mortgage while he never works a day in his life.]

[And obviously, he'll need a brand-new sports car. Then when you die, he won't even bother claiming your body.]

I laughed. "Did you pay for it in cash?"

Matthew reacted like I'd hit a nerve.

"It's... financed. But I'll cover the mortgage myself. Sophie, you have to trust me."

Lila let out a sigh. "I know you care about money. You told me if Ralph hadn't been rich, you never would've married someone that paranoid.

"You also said he was nothing like Matthew. That you loved Matthew... and never loved Ralph."

Chapter 3

I smiled.

Lila relaxed. "Once you and Matthew are married, you'll be family. Who cares who pays the mortgage?"

Matthew grinned too.

"Exactly. We'll be family. No need to keep score.

"And forget Ralph. You were already sick of him controlling you. Now he's dead. You should be happy. Nothing can stop us from being together."

[Watching his wife blow her own money on another man is enough to make Ralph snap.]

[Quit pushing your luck and kick them out already.]

"Done?" I asked.

Matthew paused, then nodded.

So I slapped him.

Lila gasped.

The second she opened her mouth, I slapped her too.

"You did help me after Ralph died. I'll give you that. But you had no right to trash him.

"And I always loved him. I never hated him."

I stared her down.

"Lila, you keep lying. Anyone listening would think Ralph was standing right here—and you wanted him to hear every word so he'd hate me."

Her eyes flickered. Sweat beaded across her forehead.

"Ralph is dead. How could he be here?

"And you did say those things. You just... forgot."

I was done arguing.

The more they talked, the more chances they had to turn Ralph against me—assuming he really was here.

I turned and walked away.

Behind me, Matthew shouted, "Sophie! I already told both families. The invitations are out. The wedding's the day after tomorrow. Go home and cool off. Your mom's not well. Don't stress her out."

***

I went back to the mansion Ralph and I had shared after the wedding.

The staff stayed downstairs. I was alone on the second floor.

Curled up in bed, I couldn't shake the weird chill in the room.

[Ralph has been watching you.]

The messages only made me more nervous.

I grabbed one of Ralph's photos and hugged it to my chest.

"Honey, you're the only person I've ever loved. From start to finish."

Before I knew it, I fell asleep.

Then Ralph appeared in my dream.

His dark eyes locked on mine.

His ice-cold fingers gripped my chin.

"You lied to me."

He said it again and again.

My lips shook as I tried to explain.

Then his hand closed around my throat.

"Ah!"

I shot awake, drenched in sweat, and stumbled to the mirror.

Not a single mark.

But I could still feel his fingers around my neck.

No.

I never took Matthew's ring.

Ralph wouldn't kill me.

I splashed cold water on my face, trying to calm down.

***

Matthew sent wedding invitations to both our families, everyone at his school, and even the people online who followed Ralph and me.

To them, I'd moved on barely three months after my husband died.

So obviously, they decided I'd been after Ralph's money all along.

My socials blew up with people calling me a black widow and a gold digger.

I was furious.

I posted a video saying I'd never remarry.

Nobody believed me.

Hoping to sleep better, I went back to my parents' house.

Mom had made a huge meal.

The second I lifted my fork, more messages popped up.

[Your mom's furious you refused to pay for your brother's wedding, so she sold you out. The food's drugged. Once you eat it, she'll force you to marry Matthew.]

[Matthew paid her fifty grand. She doesn't care whether you agree. This wedding is happening. Ralph's about to go full villain.]

My hand froze.

I'd only refused because my brother's girlfriend was a scammer. I didn't want my whole family getting played.

Besides, Ralph had already given them more than enough money during our marriage.

He always said he'd take care of my family so I'd never have to worry.

And Mom still sold me out for fifty grand.

"Mom, I'm not marrying Matthew."

Her face changed instantly.

She clutched her chest and gasped like I'd just attacked her.

My heart tightened, but before I could speak, she snapped, "If you don't marry Matthew, then who will you marry?

"Everyone online already thinks you're a black widow. Turn him down, and no one else will ever want you.

"The venue's booked. The invitations are out. If you back out now, everyone will laugh at us because our daughter couldn't land a husband.

"I'm your mother. I know what's best. If I say you're marrying him, then you're marrying him."

My fingers tightened around the fork as cold spread through my chest.

"I'm leaving."

The second I stood, everything went black.

I hit the floor.

"Good thing I put some in the incense too," Mom said with a smug laugh.

She locked me in the attic for two whole days.

Strangely, I didn't see a single message the entire time.

Then Mom dragged me to the wedding venue.

The place was packed.

And with one glance, I recognized the man I'd never forget, even with a mask covering half his face.

Chapter 4

Ralph was really back from the dead.

The messages had been telling the truth all along.

Thinking about how Lila and Matthew had played me for the past three months—how they'd made me look like a complete fool—

My eyes burned.

Without thinking, I started toward Ralph.

"Sophie!"

Matthew grabbed my hand, forcing our fingers together.

To everyone watching, we looked like a happy couple.

"I knew you'd come," he said with a smile. "I knew you still loved me."

I met Ralph's eyes.

My teeth chattered, but I didn't have the strength to pull away from Matthew.

"Matthew, are you insane? I never said yes—"

His hand clamped down on my shoulder, squeezing hard enough to make my bones ache.

Still, he smiled like a loving groom whispering to his bride.

"That's enough. Be good. We're getting married."

Then he dragged me onto the stage.

I looked back at Ralph, silently begging him to help me.

If he'd really been beside me this whole time, he had to know I was being forced.

I didn't want to die.

"Ralph..."

But the second I turned, Lila stepped in front of me, blocking my view.

"Have you lost it? Ralph's dead. Matthew's your husband now."

Matthew and Lila marched me onto the stage.

Ralph stayed where he was, watching from the crowd.

His face gave nothing away.

But a chill swept through me.

He didn't believe me.

Why would he?

Matthew and Lila had put on the perfect show.

I bit my lip until I tasted blood.

Then I shoved them both away with everything I had.

"I'm not marrying him!"

"Sophie!" Lila yelled. "Stop making a scene! You're already over three months pregnant. What, you want your baby to grow up without a dad?"

My mind went blank.

I stared at her.

"What are you talking about? I'm not pregnant!"

Lila's mom let out a sigh.

"Sophie, how can you deny it? I did your ultrasound yesterday. I still have the report."

The ultrasound appeared on the big screen.

Before I could say a word, the crowd exploded.

"Mr. Raymond's only been dead three months, but she's almost four months pregnant? So she was cheating before he died?"

"Unbelievable. How does someone like her get to keep his entire fortune?"

"If Mr. Raymond knew, he'd come back from the dead just to rip her apart!"

The insults came from every direction.

I screamed that they were wrong.

I even hit my stomach to prove I wasn't pregnant.

No one stopped.

No one cared.

"Babe, please." Matthew's eyes turned red as he begged in front of everyone. "I'm sorry I made you mad. Just don't hurt our baby."

His performance was perfect.

When I went quiet, my mom rushed over and slapped me.

"Have you had enough?

"You're pregnant. How much longer are you going to keep this up? Haven't you embarrassed us enough?

"A shameless woman like you should be grateful Matthew still wants to marry you!"

My cheek burned.

That's when it hit me.

It didn't matter what I said.

No one was going to believe me.

Lila wanted Ralph to think I'd betrayed him so he'd kill me and make her the new Mrs. Raymond.

Matthew loved Lila. He'd do anything she asked.

My own mother hated me for refusing to pay for my brother, so she sold me out for fifty grand.

And Ralph...

He'd watched his wife betray him with his own eyes.

They all wanted the same ending.

No one believed me.

No one cared.

Through the chaos, Ralph walked toward me, his mask still on.

I remembered the messages.

The dream.

The crushing grip around my throat.

I couldn't stop shaking.

"How could you not believe me? I thought you were dead. Matthew and I..."

Ralph's eyes were so bloodshot they looked ready to burst.

Veins stood out across his hand as his fingers slowly brushed my cheek.

"Congratulations," he said quietly.

Then his hand locked around my throat.

His eyes went cold with hate.

That same crushing pressure closed around my throat.

I clawed at his wrist, forcing out one last sentence.

"The ultrasound is Lila's!"

In an instant, every face in the room changed.