Chapter 1
Theodore Lopez and I had been together since our student days, and we were about to get married. But on the eve of our wedding, he suddenly passed away.
I cried until I nearly fainted, yet comments kept floating before my eyes like bullet screen messages.
[Can someone tell Chloe Brooks that he’s faking his death?]
[Theodore’s mistress ran away after finding out he was getting married. He decided overnight to fake his death and chase after his mistress abroad. Chloe’s crying here while his mistress is crying in bed. I’m about to die of anger.]
[Too bad when he comes back from his fake death, Chloe will happily marry him since she doesn’t know anything.]
Half a month later, news of my engagement to a famous business heir spread throughout Washington.
Friends who had conspired with Theodore anxiously questioned me: “Theodore just passed away not long ago, and you’re already in such a rush to find another man?”
I replied coldly: “Since he’s already dead, I can’t possibly stay unmarried for the rest of my life because of him, can I?”
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When those lines of bullet screen comments appeared before my eyes, I thought it was a hallucination from excessive grief.
But those comments didn’t stop.
[If Chloe goes to the rooftop now, she’ll find out Theodore isn’t dead at all.]
[Chloe has barely eaten for two days because of him, and now she can barely walk. How could she possibly go to the rooftop?]
I dragged my legs, heavy as if filled with lead, toward the rooftop.
When I had just a few steps left, I heard that all–too–familiar voice with a hint of playful tone: “Isn’t my funeral over yet?”
The voice was coming from Theodore’s good friend Gabriel Cruz’s phone.
Gabriel replied: “Yes, Theodore.”
Theodore asked: “Chloe hasn’t noticed anything suspicious, has she?”
Gabriel said: “No. Chloe has been very busy these past few days. Yesterday, she was so overcome with grief that she nearly fainted. Right now, she’s probably still crying in her room.”
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Theodore said casually: “Help me comfort her a bit more.”
Beside him, his other good friend Micah Allen said: “But Theodore, are you really serious about your girlfriend? You actually chose to fake your death and chase after her to Englan You even had us help you put on this act.”
Those bullet screen comments were telling the truth.
I gripped the stair railing tightly, every cell in my body trembling
I heard Theodore say: “Don’t worry about all that. You just need to help me keep it from her.”
Gabriel asked: “So are you still getting married?”
Theodore said: “Of course. When I come back, our wedding will proceed as planned. It’s just that before getting married, you’ve got to let me go crazy for love once, right?”
Gabriel laughed: “You’re right. After you get married, you’ll only be able to revolve around one person, and you won’t have the chance anymore.”
All three of them laughed in unison.
But my blood froze like ice, making my whole body shiver.
I had prayed countless times that Theodore might still be alive,
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but I never imagined it would be in this form.
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[Chloe finally sees the truth. I hope she wakes up in time.]
[You need to get out there and expose that bastard.]
But I didn’t rush out to confront them.
I turned around and calmly went downstairs.
After dry heaving over the toilet in the bathroom for a while, I looked at myself in the mirror.
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My eyes were bloodshot and I looked haggard from not sleeping for days and nights.
I cupped some water in my hands, splashed it on my face, then used a towel to wipe away the tear stains.
[As expected, even after learning the truth, Chloe still chooses to silently accept it. I’m so angry.]
[Chloe loves Theodore deeply. She must have heard Theodore say he’d still marry her when he comes back, which is why she’s choosing to endure all this.]
[I think Chloe doesn’t want to confront them too quickly because she’s preparing to strike back.]
I walked out of the room, and Gabriel handed me two tissues.
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B
He said with concern, “Chloe, don’t be too upset. Theodore wouldn’t want to see you like this.”
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I looked up at his feigned heavy expression and asked, “Could Theodore still be alive?”
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