How Can You 22

Nathan was drowning in work, scrambling to fix the mess. For the first time in weeks, he was too busy to hold my urn and make me sick.  That night, as Nathan was about to drive home, Trinity ambushed him from the backseat. She knocked him unconscious and dragged him to an abandoned warehouse.  When … Read more

How Can You 21

Chapter 11  The traffickers in Dortmund sent Nathan a video of Mom being tortured, demanding money in exchange for her  release.  In the footage, she was beaten so badly that her face was unrecognizable, her body covered in blood. But even in that state, she kept cursing Trinity, saying she deserved to die. In between, … Read more

How Can You 20

Nathan didn’t hold back. He froze Trinity’s bank account and canceled all the medical payments he had been covering for her.  Trinity had been sick for years, and Dad’s insurance payout had long since run dry.  Mom had struggled to keep up with her treatment, even trying to force me to drop out of school … Read more

How Can You 19

Chapter 10  “The biggest regret of my life was falling in love with you. If there’s a next life, I hope we never meet again.” My note ended.  Scalding tears spilled from Nathan’s eyes, soaking the letter.  I watched, unimpressed, until Nathan suddenly bolted out of the room, grabbed his car keys from the entryway, … Read more

How Can You 18

For the first time, Nathan, who was always strong and composed, held the urn in his arms, his eyes reddening. He whispered my name over and over.  I curled my lips into a sneer.  “Oh, this is just the beginning. You will be crying a lot more soon,” I thought.  Under Jake’s urging, Nathan finally … Read more

How Can You 17

hapter 9  I kept telling myself over and over again not to be sad and not let it get to me. But for some reason, tears still slipped down my cheeks.  Only now did I realize that even as a ghost, I could still cry.  Mom kept rambling on, oblivious to the way Nathan’s gaze … Read more

How Can You 16

Nathan closed his eyes. He didn’t answer.  I knew what he was thinking.  He was torn. He couldn’t let go of the woman he had been with for eight years, yet he was unwilling to make the one he truly loved suffer.  Just as the tension in the room thickened, a knock sounded on the … Read more

How Can You 15

Chapter 8  +25 BONUS  Nathan let out a relieved smile. “Trinny, since you’re fine now, get some rest. I’ll be heading out.”  Hearing that Nathan was leaving, Trinity immediately grabbed his hand, her face pale, and her eyes brimming  with tears.  “Nate, before I went into surgery, you said you’d promise me something. Does that … Read more

How Can You 14

A second later, I was back at the estate, in the bedroom where I had died.  A blood–curdling scream tore through the house.  Willow Trump, the housekeeper, stumbled down the stairs, nearly tripping over herself as she grabbed Jake’s arm in a panic.  “Ms. Bartlett! S–she–she’s dead!”  1/2  Chapter 7  +25 BONUS  Jake’s expression changed. … Read more

How Can You 13

Chapter 7  That night, under Trinity’s pitiful pleading, Nathan didn’t go home.  He leaned against the window in a stairwell, smoking a cigarette while repeatedly calling the landline at the house.  The line was busy. Nathan couldn’t get through.  Irritated, he called Jake. “Are you absolutely sure the villa’s phone can only receive calls and … Read more