“Are you kidding me?”
Hunter still didn’t buy it.
In his mind, I was some master manipulator who could get cops to lie for me.
But dead is dead. He could deny it all he wanted–wasn’t changing anything.
The cop got fed up with his attitude and dragged him to ID the body.
Even then, his only reaction was a tiny tremor when his fingers touched the white sheet.
I couldn’t imagine him being that torn up over me.
All those cruel things he’d said kept echoing in my head, stabbing at me over and over, forcing me to accept that he just didn’t love me anymore.
Maybe he’d actually feel relieved?
Next second, he yanked off the sheet covering my face.
No hesitation. No gentle touch.
Quick glance, threw the sheet back over.
So fast, like he was looking at a complete stranger.
“You done?”
“Yeah.”
He took a deep breath. Not a trace of grief on that perfect face.
“What paperwork do I need to handle? She’s got no family left, so I guess I’ll take care of the arrangements.”
Hunter really was stone cold when it came to me.
I followed him around, watching him calmly handle my funeral arrangements. Cremation, burial plot–all business.
On his way out, the cops were talking shit: “What a piece of work. Looks decent enough, but the guy’s pure trash.”
I heard them and just started laughing. Suddenly, I didn’t feel sad anymore.
This guy? I couldn’t figure out why I’d ever been hung up on him. He was just some heartless, selfish rich boy who treated love like a game.
Everything he’d done to me wasn’t worth a fraction of all those empty “I love yous” he used to throw around.
Apparently my death was too much of a bad omen–he never even went home again.
People around him had no clue, still joking: “Drake, how long has it been since you went home? Weird that your girl hasn’t come looking for you. Usually she’d tear the city apart if you disappeared for five minutes.”
CRASH-
fuam Muchost Perch Is Savage!
25.09
His glass hit the floor without warning.
Everyone froze. Hunter just kicked at the broken pieces like nothing happened.
“Her not bothering me is perfect.”
Love really was bullshit.
All those sweet words, all those promises–I actually thought I meant something to him.
But after dying, I got it. I was just passing through his life.
He didn’t tell anyone I was dead. No funeral, nothing.
The day they buried my ashes, he didn’t even show up. His assistant handled the whole thing.
People were about to keep talking when Bella bounced over, wearing this delicate rose hair clip.
She looped her arm through his like always.
I’d seen it so many times, I barely felt anything. But Hunter jerked away like she’d burned him.
“What’s wrong?”
Bella looked confused, checking herself over for whatever was bothering him.
Hunter stared at her hair clip: “Don’t wear that thing.”
He reached up and yanked it out, so rough he pulled out some of her hair with it.
Her eyes immediately filled with tears.
Someone in the group gasped: “Wait, that clip looks familiar. Didn’t Drake give one just like that to Avery back when he was chasing her?”
Bella’s eyes got redder: “So because she had one, I can’t?”
Hunter was gripping the clip so tight it cut his palm, blood seeping through his fingers. He didn’t give it back.
“Be good. That one’s ugly anyway. Go pick out something nice–I’ll pay for whatever you want.”
One sentence from him and Bella was all smiles again.
I stood outside the crowd, hugging myself tighter.
They didn’t get it, but I did.
He thought I was bad luck now. A dead person. How could he let his precious princess wear the same thing as a corpse?
But…
“If you hate me this much, why did you even date me? Why did you make me think you’d actually love me forever? If you didn’t like me, why didn’t you just say so? Then when the system came and made me choose someone to win over, I wouldn’t have picked you.”
“Hunter, you lied to me so bad it hurts.”
Tears I’d been holding back forever finally broke free.
nah to Covagol
25.2%
Chapter 5
My body started going transparent.
The system appeared again: [System 003 has used points to modify your contract. Congratulations, Host–suffering quota met. Elimination penalty waived. Entering reincarnation cycle.]
Reincarnation…?
Such a weird concept.
I took one last look at him in that crowd, everyone hanging on his every word.
Still as gorgeous and cocky as ever.
But if there really is a next life, I just pray I never meet him again.
He couldn’t even keep his promise to love me forever, so I won’t keep mine about finding each other in every lifetime.
Loving Hunter Drake was exhausting.
Next life, I just want to love myself…
Hunter Drake’s POV
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
