Chapter 7

Chloe didn’t expect me to say that, and her face showed disapproval.

“That’s all nonsense, come on! You’re such a good person, how could your stars be bad? Ellie, trust me!”

“I’m a good judge of character. Your future boyfriend will be just as wonderful as you are, and you’ll be just as happy as I am.”

The car swayed slightly. I instinctively glanced at Liam, noticing the veins on his hand, gripping the steering wheel, stood out starkly.

I moved my pale lips, responding softly.

“Perhaps.”

But whether I was happy or not, that would only be in the next life.

My current life had already ended at the age of twenty-six.

There was no future for me anymore.

The scenery along the highway blurred past. A sign indicated only 1 kilometer left to Veridian City.

Just as I was lost in thought, my phone received a border-crossing message from Veridian City.

[Welcome Home to Veridian City! Heaven’s Gates Funeral Services are honored to assist you.]

My breath hitched, and it felt like a ball of fire was lodged in my chest.

The heat crawled up from my chest, scorching me so much that even my fingertips trembled.

Liam noticed something was off and turned his head to look at me.

“What’s wrong with you? Your face is so pale.”

I bit hard on my lower lip, weakly shaking my head.

“Nothing.”

Seeing my ceaselessly trembling body, Liam raised his right hand and directly touched my forehead.

“Why are you so cold?”

Then, he turned on the car’s heater, and a wave of warm air hit me.

I thought of the body in the trunk and reached out to turn it off.

“I don’t need the heater…”

Liam swatted my hand away, turned the steering wheel, and drove the car directly into a highway rest stop.

“You’re shivering like this. Are you trying to freeze and catch a cold?”

Chloe’s comforting voice also came from the back seat.

“Yes, Ellie, you need to take care of yourself. Let’s rest at the service area for a bit.”

After I finished speaking, once the car was parked, I got out and went to the restroom.

Liam walked to the passenger side and opened the car door.

“I’ll take you into the service area for some hot water and to find a clinic to see a doctor.”

I shook my head, unwilling to get out of the car.

“No need. I know my own body.”

Liam, without a word, grabbed my hand, intending to pull me out of the car. But as he touched my wrist, his face instantly changed.

“Why don’t you have a pulse?”

I remembered Liam, who’d studied pre-med in college, and quickly pulled my hand back.

“It’s just cold; my pulse isn’t very clear.”

I instinctively explained, unwilling for Liam to notice any more clues.

My phone rang.

I picked it up and saw it was a call from the funeral center.

Avoiding Liam, I walked to the back of the car and answered.

“Hello, we need to process the cremation certificate. Can we confirm the name of the deceased one more time?”

I reached out and gently brushed the trunk, my voice a little hoarse.

“Eleanor.”

“Okay, for the funeral, we need a family member to greet the hearse into the hall and hold the deceased’s portrait. Will that be you…”

Hearing the staff member’s inquiry, I blurted out.

“I have something important, I can’t be there.”

The other end of the phone hesitated for a moment.

“If you’re not coming, who will be bringing the deceased? And who should we designate as the family representative?”

Snow began to fall again, sparsely.

I reached out, catching a snowflake, and looked at Liam, who was also on the phone not far away.

“Her friend, Liam, will be delivering the body. It’s in the SUV’s trunk right now.”

“As for the funeral and memorial service procedures, he will handle everything.”

After hanging up the phone, I felt my body become much lighter.

Liam, this time, this is our real goodbye…