What had been a mild case of gastritis had turned into a full-blown stomach perforation.
When I woke up, I cried and demanded to know if he'd stopped loving me.
He knelt at my bedside and swore he would never abandon me again.
In his heart, I was always an afterthought.
But now, I truly didn't care anymore.
My only worry was Dad. When he learned I was dead, the grief and guilt would destroy him.
After that little interruption, the livestream chat urged Pauline to show them the master bedroom.
Allan hesitated, but he could never resist when she pouted and wheedled.
He pushed open the door, and a magnificent embroidered wedding gown came into view.
The chat exploded.
"Oh my God, is that hand-stitched embroidery?"
"The phoenix on that gown looks alive. It's like something a noblewoman would've worn to her wedding in the old days."
Greed flickered in Pauline's eyes.
She shoved the camera close, her fingers tracing the dense, delicate stitching.
I screamed.
"Don't touch it with your filthy hands!"
That gown had been passed down through generations of my family. My grandmother gave it to my mother, and my mother gave it to me. She told me I'd be the most beautiful bride when I wore it.
I bit through the flesh inside my cheek, but all I could do was tremble.
I was nothing but a soul now. I couldn't touch anything. I couldn't do a single thing.
Pauline ran her hands over the gown like she couldn't get enough of it, then lifted it straight off the hanger.
The chat egged her on.
"Just put it on, Pauline! Do the whole wedding ceremony with your boyfriend!"
"Yes! I bet she'd look absolutely stunning in it!"
Pauline laughed shyly, tossing Allan a coy glance.
"But it's not mine. I can't just wear someone else's things, can I?"
Allan stared at the gown, and Olivia's smiling face flashed through his mind.
Just days ago, she'd told him she wanted him to dress her in this gown with his own hands on their wedding day.
She wanted to carry her family's blessings with her and be his beautiful bride.
Allan's throat bobbed. He caught Pauline's hand.
"You can't wear it. She'd be upset."
Pauline froze. It hadn't crossed her mind that Allan would refuse her.
The chat erupted, full of complaints.
"It's just letting Pauline try it on. What's the big deal?"
"Exactly, she's just wearing it for us to see. Nobody else will ever know."
Pauline's eyes reddened with hurt.