Chapter 2

Natalie snapped back to reality and said softly, "I've been feeling dizzy these past couple days. I'm afraid I might drop the bowl."

Alexander stared at her intently for a few moments.

I saw a flash of panic in Natalie's eyes.

How ironic. That night when she stabbed my heart with a dagger, she was so afraid I wouldn't die that she even twisted it a few times to make sure.

Natalie nervously changed her words, "I'll go get it for you."

Alexander looked away and walked towards the dining room. "No need. If you're not feeling well, get more rest."

I was stunned for a moment. In our two years of marriage, I had never heard him tell me to rest more. Now that I'm dead, I finally hear these rare words of concern.

It's also strange - my weak constitution that had plagued me since childhood rarely bothered me after those first few months in the Thorne household. I was hardly ever unwell in the past year.

After all, we had shared a bed for two years. I gathered my courage and floated to his ear, calling his name.

I wanted to ask him to go to the Reed house and bring me back.

My grandmother had passed away. There was no one left in this world that I cared about.

Although I died with regrets, living had also felt tiring.

The freezer was too cold. I had always been prone to chills. I wanted to find a sunny place to stay.

Besides, when I died, I heard them planning to cut me open to make it easier to dispose of my body in pieces later.

Just hearing about it terrified me. If I was going to end up dismembered, I would have rather been drowned as a baby. At least then I could have kept my body intact.

Even being cremated would be better - at least I would be whole when I died.

Unfortunately, he had no reaction at all. He simply picked up his bowl and started eating. "I heard you've been going out a lot recently?"

Hearing his question, my eyes lit up.

Other than the Reed family, I didn't know anyone else in the city.

On my wedding day, my parents had told me that if I didn't want my grandmother to run out of money for medical treatment, I should do my best to please Alexander. As long as the Reed Group remained stable, my grandmother's medication would never stop.

They said a married daughter was like spilled water - I shouldn't come back in the future.

So after marrying into the Thorne family, apart from occasional trips to the supermarket or walks, I hardly had any contact with the outside world. No wonder Alexander found it strange.

Natalie obediently replied, "The weather has been changing a lot lately between morning and evening. My parents both got sick, so I went back to check on them."

At the mention of our parents, I was reminded of the scene when she tried to kill me.

I had fought back desperately to protect myself.

My mother, worried I would hurt Natalie, rushed forward with my father to pin me down.

In that moment, I suddenly lost all strength in my body and allowed the dagger to pierce my heart.

Alexander didn't say anything, only responding flatly, "It must be boring staying at home all the time. It's good to go out for a change."

I felt somewhat discouraged.

How could someone as cautious and suspicious as Alexander not notice anything amiss?

He even said things he had never said to me before.

On our wedding day, my parents had smiled ingratiatingly at Alexander.

They said my marriage to the Thorne family was to atone for the Reed family's sins.

He could take out his anger on me however he wanted. I would endure any beating or scolding - my life and death were in his hands. The Reed family would not object.

Alexander didn't actually use me as a punching bag, but he didn't seem to like going out.

So apart from our activities in bed, we hardly had any other interaction in our daily lives.

After finishing the soup, they returned to the bedroom together.

Natalie sat on the bed expectantly, watching Alexander finish washing up.

Alexander leaned down towards her.

His phone rang.

After hanging up, he started changing clothes.

I wasn't surprised. He was most likely going to the company to deal with an urgent matter.

A flash of dissatisfaction appeared on Natalie's face, but she quickly replaced it with a smile when Alexander turned his head.

"Your perfume is too strong. It was better before."

Natalie stared at Alexander's retreating back in confusion, then quickly raised her arm to sniff.

She found she couldn't smell anything.