The Girl Who Was Already Gone

When I was 20, my husband, Liam Sterling, lost his first love, Sophia. She died saving my life. From that moment on, he clipped my wings, turning me into a useless bird in a gilded cage. Today, my grandfather's heart condition relapsed, and I begged Liam for the money for surgery. He just smiled, pointing to the frozen lake outside the penthouse window. "Sure. Jump from here, and I'll consider it." When my body was pulled from the icy water, his "dead" first love was officially reinstated to the police force. Chapter 1 Liam is my ex-husband. Our marriage lasted all of a month and a half. Despite the divorce, I still lived in his house. He made me work as a maid and fulfill "marital duties." If I refused, he would cut off my grandfather's medical expenses. He said it was a debt I owed. I didn't know anyone else in New York who could help. Desperate, I had to beg him. "Are you serious? If I jump, you'll save my grandfather?" Liam swirled the red wine in his glass, indifferent. "You can try." This was the 12th floor. I looked down at the thin layer of ice on the lake below. I was a strong swimmer, but fear still gripped my heart. Seeing my hesitation, Liam mocked, "Scared? Guess your grandfather isn't that important to you after all." He stood up to leave. I immediately took off my coat and leaped. "Mr. Sterling, will Miss Harper be okay?" Liam didn't even glance back at his assistant's concern. He headed straight for the office. "Tell my secretary, Ms. Grant, to contact the cardiology specialists." The moment my body smashed through the ice, I knew I was done for. My legs went numb instantly, and I sank into the darkness. Soon, I saw my own body settle at the bottom of the lake. Christmas was coming. Grandpa would have to eat Christmas dinner alone this year. "Liam, remember your promise." Chapter 2 Liam returned to the office and buried himself in work. He once dreamed of being a police officer, but now he was just a workaholic CEO. He worked until the early hours every day. Unless he was on a business trip, no matter how late, he always went home. Ms. Grant, his secretary, resolved the hospital matter and walked in with a stack of files. "Mr. Sterling, the situation in Boston needs you to personally oversee it." Liam didn't look up, flipping through documents. "Book the earliest flight. Pack your things; you're coming with me." Ms. Grant's lips curled into a faint, imperceptible smile. "Yes, sir." When Liam returned from the business trip, the first thing he did was look for me. "Chloe." The master bedroom was empty. His face darkened. "Not replying to texts, not answering calls. I've spoiled you too much!" He swept his arm across the dresser, sending everything crashing to the floor. He glanced at the mess indifferently, then stomped heavily on a pink notebook lying on the ground. He knew it was my diary. It was an act of pure spite. Furious, Liam called Ms. Grant. "Stop all treatments for her grandfather." Then he texted me. [Disappearing without reason has consequences. You have one hour to get back here, or your grandfather's life is no longer my concern.] His usually obedient pet had suddenly rebelled. Liam was in a foul mood all night. Chapter 3 I had been at the hospital with Grandpa the whole time. Since the payments stopped, he was kicked out. The old man could barely walk, carrying his own bag, trying to call me over and over again. No answer. "Grandpa!" I reached out to support him countless times, but my hands passed right through him. He looked so sick that no taxi would pick him up. It snowed heavily that night. I walked home with Grandpa in the storm. The next day, his condition worsened. I watched him put on his glasses, trembling as he dialed Ms. Grant's number. "Ms. Grant, have you seen our Chloe?" The woman's voice on the other end was arrogant and cold. " haven't seen her." "Sorry to bother you. I know I don't have long, I'm not asking for money. You don't need to worry about me clinging to you. "I just can't find Chloe. I heard she's close with Mr. Sterling. Could you ask him where she is? "Or could you give me Mr. Sterling's number? I'll ask him myself." "Mr. Sterling is very busy." She hung up. It was the first time I saw Grandpa cry. As he wept, his lips turned purple, gasping for air. I knew it was a heart attack. I reached for the phone to call 911. But my hand passed through the table. I knew then that I could do nothing. I could only watch helplessly as the old man died. The first night after Grandpa passed away, I went to find Liam. He was working late at the office, as always. I wanted to kill him, but I couldn't even touch him. "Liam Sterling, you bastard! Why did you do this to me?" Chapter 4 Three days later, Liam arrived at the office to find the lobby crowded with people. Seeing Ms. Grant arguing with someone, he frowned. "What's going on?" Before she could explain, a man rushed over and grabbed Liam by the collar. "You killed him! Why did you stop my dad's treatment? Now he's dead, are you happy?" Liam froze. "What did you say?" I stood beside him, watching coldly. The man was my father, a gambler. He probably went home to steal money, found Grandpa dead, and came to extort compensation. In this moment, I wished my father had a knife to stab Liam! But I knew my dad just wanted money to gamble. In the five years I was with Liam, this day was the most frequently he tried to contact me. Ms. Grant, having been hit, was indignant. "Mr. Sterling, why should we pay compensation?" Liam glanced at her with cold eyes. "Regarding Chloe's grandfather, did you forget to report any details to me?" Ms. Grant was too scared to speak at first, then stuttered, "Four days ago, her grandfather called, asking you to help find his granddaughter. I refused..." Just as I wanted to slap her, a cold voice spoke from behind. "Impressive. Even her grandfather didn't know where she was." Liam closed his eyes briefly. "Your bonus for this year is gone. Get out!" Hearing the door close, he opened his eyes, looking out the window with hatred. "Chloe Harper, you really are cold-blooded. Can't handle even this? How dared you take Sophia's token to ask my father for money back then?" Chapter 5 I laughed sarcastically. Even now, he wasn't worried about my safety at all. And my grandfather's life was worth just a year-end bonus to him. But for what happened with Sophia, he took half my life. Christmas Eve. Liam's grandfather insisted he bring his "wife" to the family mansion for the holidays. Liam still couldn't reach me. He started losing his temper. The quiet assistant driving the car suddenly remembered the lake incident from long ago. "Mr. Sterling, could something have happened to Miss Harper? Jumping from the 12th floor in winter..." Liam cut him off without thinking. "Impossible. She won a swimming championship in college! She's deliberately hiding to get my attention. She's vicious and cunning! Forget her. Turn around, go to the mansion." The assistant wanted to say more but was silenced by a glare. I sat next to him, my heart sinking to the bottom. But thinking about it, my life meant nothing to him anyway. So whether I was dead or alive didn't matter. Maybe dead was better. Grandpa Sterling was disappointed to see Liam arrive alone. "Chloe hasn't come back?" Liam's face went cold. "Doesn't answer calls, doesn't reply to texts. Like she's dead!" I am dead. Liam, you should be happy! Grandpa Sterling slammed his hand on the table. "Why didn't you help with her grandfather? That was your wife's grandfather's life! "She's not home now, aren't you worried? Did you go handle the old man's funeral?" "She doesn't even care about her own grandfather, why should you worry for her!" Liam was annoyed too. He left without eating dinner. Chapter 6 Grandpa's funeral was eventually arranged by Grandpa Sterling. It was grand. But few people came. Even my dad didn't show up. Just Grandpa Sterling and the funeral staff. After everyone left, I stayed by Grandpa's tombstone. I didn't know what I was waiting for. Liam didn't show up anyway. Grandpa was gone. Maybe it was a release for him. I went back to the lake house where I jumped. My only wish now was for Liam to find my body soon. Only when my body was recovered and put to rest could I leave this place completely. I wanted to be reincarnated. I never wanted to be human again. While I was wishing to be a seagull in my next life, Liam arrived. He drank a lot. As soon as he entered, our eyes met. My heart raced. "Liam? Can you see me? Hurry, go fish my body out!" But he quickly looked away. I knew it was my illusion. He stayed there for a long time, standing right where I jumped. Staring at the lake... I don't know if it was my imagination, but I saw a flash of grief on his face. I had wondered how he would react when he saw my body. But I knew in my heart, I was just a toy for his atonement. But I clearly remember, the only person I wronged was Sophia Vance. Near dawn, Liam made a call. "Send someone to drag the lake."

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