Chapter 1

In the fifth year of our marriage, I died saving Ethan Matthews.

The only thing I left him was our four-year-old son.

After that, Ethan raised our son alone, living with memories of me.

Until he met Sophie, who pursued him relentlessly.

No matter how many times Sophie confessed her feelings, Ethan gently refused.

"I promised Charlotte that I would love her forever, and she would be my only wife."

I watched from the sidelines.

Silently praying that Ethan would keep his word.

But not long after, Sophie fell into a coma after risking her life to save our son from a fire.

Ethan could no longer hold back. He knelt by her hospital bed, begging her to wake up.

But Sophie didn't wake up.

Instead, my soul uncontrollably attached itself to her body, opening her eyes in her place to see Ethan.

Of course he didn't recognize me. He only choked out a confession:

"Sophie, I love you."

For a split second, I thought I'd heard him wrong.

But Ethan immediately repeated it.

"Sophie, I love you."

"I've told my parents—once you're out of danger and wake up safely, we'll start preparing for the wedding."

He pressed my hand against his face, looking at me with devotion.

But I didn't know how to tell him that I wasn't Sophie.

I was his wife, Charlotte.

And I had no idea how to face the fact that he had truly fallen in love with Sophie.

Seeing my silence, Ethan apologized frantically.

"I'm sorry, Sophie. It was all my fault before. I fell for you but was too afraid to admit it."

"I swear, from now on I'll love you with all my heart. Is that okay?"

Those words were exactly the same as what he'd said when he proposed to me years ago.

Back then, I'd hugged his arm and playfully said:

"Then it's a promise! If you ever change your heart, I won't forgive you even if I die!"

Yet now, at this moment.

I could only dig my nails into my palm, holding back tears as I told him.

"But I'm not Soph—"

Before I could finish saying "Sophie," someone burst into the hospital room.

"Mom! You're finally awake!"

My whole body trembled.

I watched helplessly as my son's small body embraced me, crying until his eyes were red and swollen.

Feeling his warm body temperature, I was momentarily overwhelmed by immense joy, my voice even trembling.

"You... what did you call me?"

"Say it again, please?"

It had been so long since I'd heard little Henry call me Mom.

However, before Henry could speak again, Ethan covered his mouth and patiently corrected him.

"Henry, you can't call her that. Your Aunt Sophie hasn't agreed to marry Daddy yet!"

"She's not your mom right now."

Those words hit me like cold water, snapping me back to reality.

Right now, I was "Sophie."

Even Ethan hadn't noticed anything unusual.

How could my young son know that I was his mother?

My nose suddenly stung.

I lowered my head and tried to explain again.

"Actually, I am Henry's mom..."

But Ethan misunderstood my meaning and grabbed my hand excitedly.

"So, does this mean you're agreeing to marry me?"

I froze, about to shake my head.

But Henry happily hugged me.

"That's great! So from now on, Aunt Sophie will be my mom, right?"

I looked at the joy in their eyes.

The truth on the tip of my tongue could no longer be spoken.

In the three years since my death, this was the first time the father and son had been this happy.

They truly liked Sophie.

As for me...

A person who'd been dead for three years—no matter how unwilling, how could I take away the happiness they wanted?

My eyes grew hot. I hurriedly turned my face away and nodded.

"Yes."

I didn't know when I would disappear.

Since they only wanted to see Sophie.

Then I would be as they wished.