Chapter 4

I listed this house, which held countless memories of Leo and me, for sale.

Less than an hour after it went up on the real estate platform, Jake’s call came through.

“Alice, I heard you’re selling the house?”

His voice was laced with surprise, but in the background, I faintly heard Leo’s voice:

“Ask her why she’s suddenly selling… that’s our marital home.”

I took a deep breath, my voice surprisingly calm: “Leo’s dead. I have to move on with my life.”

A few seconds of silence followed on the other end, then I heard Jake’s voice, hushed:

“What about Leo? Alice says she’s moving on.”

Leo nonchalantly replied:

“She loves me too much. How could she ever move on?”

“If she sells the house, she sells it. We’re not short on property anyway.”

Jake said, “Alright, I won’t try to persuade her then.”

I heard it all, clenching my fists.

Leo, I don’t need you!

Jake cleared his throat, raising his voice: “Alice…”

I hung up immediately.

After packing my belongings, my best friend, Lucy Sterling, called a moving company for me.

“Alice, are you really okay?” she asked cautiously. She still vividly remembered my heart-wrenching sobs from a few days ago.

I shook my head gently. “I’m fine. I just hope to find a new place soon and get out of this dreadful house.”

Suddenly, she remembered something. “My brother has a house. He hasn’t lived in it since he went abroad. Why don’t you stay there for a while?”

I frowned slightly: “Alex Sterling’s house? No, thanks.”

Lucy shook my arm, persuading me:

“Come on. My brother went abroad after you married Leo. He hasn’t been back in years, what are you afraid of?”

I looked down slightly, embarrassed to tell her. Actually, Alex had texted me a month ago. But I was so consumed by Leo’s death that I hadn’t replied.

After a moment’s thought, I politely responded to his message—

[The dead can’t come back to life. Take care of yourself.]

[Thank you.]

He replied instantly: [Don't be too sad. He's not worth your tears.]

I paused, then suddenly remembered the day Leo proposed to me. He’d asked me to meet under the cherry blossom tree near the school building. The wind was particularly strong that day. As I brushed the hair from my face, I saw Alex. He stood in the hallway, his deep eyes fixed on me. I glanced at him, then smiled and accepted Leo’s proposal. When I looked back in his direction, he was gritting his teeth, glaring furiously at Leo, before turning and storming away.

Shaking off the memories.

My packing was almost done. On the bedside table sat a photo of Leo and me. I ripped it without hesitation and threw it in the trash. He might not be dead, but in my heart, he was.

When Jake and Mark arrived, my last box was already loaded onto the truck.

“Alice, if you ever need anything, just say the word.”

I remained expressionless. “No need.”

Jake and Mark argued in hushed tones. Finally, Mark spoke:

“Actually, Alice, you might be right. Leo might still be alive…”

“The police still haven’t confirmed that body was Leo’s. Maybe if we wait patiently, there will be good news.”

I scoffed inwardly.

Did Leo really think I’d be desperate enough to die for him, and send his friends to give me false hope? How ridiculous!

I knew Leo's petty games. All he wanted was for me to pine for him forever.

Dream on.