Chapter 1 The Tragic Wedding
I died on my wedding night.
My groom Kaleb Harrington left me at the altar, turning me into the biggest joke in town.
When a killer came for me, I called Kaleb for help. But he told me he’d be better off without me, for I always upset my sister, Alena Brook.
Right before I took my last breath, fireworks lit up the sky–Kaleb turned our wedding celebration into a surprise for Alena.
I thought he’d be thrilled, as he could finally make their relationship
official.
But when he realized the rosaries he wore around his wrist were made from my ashes, he lost his marbles.
”
In my final moments, I made the last call.
Kaleb’s cold voice cut through the noise on the other end. “Savannah, enough with the drama. I gave you a grand wedding, and all Ally ever got was a bit of my time. Can’t you be a bigger person for once?”
Blood was gushing from my wounds as the killer loomed over me, all triumphant.
He knew I was dying, powerless to resist.
But I held on, clinging to the faintest hope.
In my soaking wet, dirt–streaked wedding dress, I whispered using the last of my strength, “Kaleb, please save me!”
“Enough!” he snapped. “I’m so done with your trick.”
“I’m not playing tricks. Someone is trying to kill me.”
He gave a snort.
“Savannah, you faked being sick before, and now this?
“How far will you go for attention? Ally is your sister. Do you really need to push her to the edge? And I already married you. What more do you want?”
The wind bit at my skin, but his words cut deeper. Watching as blood soaked my wedding dress, I realized my time was running out.
I turned and lay flat on the ground, swallowing the goodbye stuck in my throat. “But Alena is perfectly fine. And I… I’m dying,” I protested weakly.
“Oh yeah? Just die already. Then Ally won’t have to deal with your tantrums anymore.”
Before the call ended, Alena’s sweet voice chimed in, “Kaleb, the fireworks show is about to start.”
Kaleb hung up. Now all I could hear was the howl of the wind. My bloodstained phone slipped from my hand and fell to the water’s edge.
The splash squirted in my eyes, sliding down my cheeks together with my
tears.
Amid the swirling snow, tiny lights from drones flickered on the horizon, lighting up the night sky.
WAH
Fireworks burst in midair, the thunder of explosions filling my ears.
What Kaleb had spent six months planning for our wedding was now a spectacle for Alena.
My phone buzzed with a message–someone sent a photo of him holding Alena in his arms under the glow of fireworks.
A faint smile curved his lips, something I’d never seen when we were together.
At the peak of their happiness, I breathed my last.
I heard that the dead would end up in the underworld, waiting for their reincarnation.
If that were true, I hoped never to see Kaleb again.
But fate had other plans.
When I came around, I saw Kaleb and Alena kissing under the fireworks,
“Kaleb, you can’t do this to me!!!” I cried, rushing toward them.
But my fingers passed straight through their bodies, and neither of them noticed me.
I stared at my transparent hands, finally realizing that I was already dead.
Somehow, my ghost lingered by their side.
It actually hurt to watch them kiss. I never expected a ghost would feel heartbreak too.
Kaleb was my childhood sweetheart. Not long ago, he swore he just saw Alena as his sister, and I was the only one he had ever loved.
tar 1 The Trag: Wedding
Another firework burst across the night with a thunderous crack, jolting Kaleb back to reality.
He pushed Alena away. “Ally, this isn’t right.”
In the glow, Alena’s cheeks flushed from the kiss, looking captivating. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t help it,” she murmured, biting her lip.
Kaleb stroked her head and replied softly, “It’s okay. I won’t blame you. Let me make a call.”
I watched as he pulled out his phone and dialed my number.
A sense of despair washed over me.
We had known each other for over twenty years, yet Kaleb didn’t bother to call me back until he finished kissing Alena, even though he knew I was dying.
My phone rang and rang.
I used to keep it on 24/7 for him, always answering within five seconds.
But now, I was dead. How could I possibly pick it up?
Kaleb frowned. “Ally, Savannah sent me the location. I’ll go find her.”
Oh, now he finally had the time for me?
Before I died, I sent him my coordinates by the river. If he set off now, he should be in time to find my intact body.
I wasn’t sure if that killer would do anything to it if he waited any longer.
Just then, Alena grabbed Kaleb’s wrist and pleaded with tearful eyes, “Kaleb, please stay!”
The Trage We
He hesitated. “But Savannah-
戲
“Come on. Kaleb. You know how she is. Remember when she said she was having surgery, and you dropped a billion–dollar deal just to find out she was fine? Or when she lied about someone stalking her?
“She’s spoiled by my parents. This must be one of her tricks for attention. With her background, who would dare to hurt her?” Alena said, cutting
him off.
Kaleb was convinced.
Rubbing his brow, he said, “If only Savannah had half your sense.”
Alena cracked a smile, while I gave a dry laugh.
He used to love me for who I was, telling me things like “Only unloved kids are told to be sensible. Vannah, you’re different. You should live how you want.”
After Alena’s bullshit, Kaleb didn’t come for me. Instead, he brought Alena to our home.
I stood in the doorway to block her path, but it was useless.
She walked right through me with a smile.
Dead or alive, I could never stop her.
She walked out of the bathroom wearing my nightdress, the one I had saved for our wedding night.
Kaleb swallowed hard, his gaze lingering on her curvy body through the
lace.
After decades together, I knew that look all too well.
The titillating tension between them left me angry and sad.
“Alena, that’s Savannah’s dress,” he said.
“I know.” she replied, slipping her arms around his neck. “You don’t love her anymore. You’re into me, aren’t you?”
“Alena, stop.” Kaleb snapped, his tone turning cold. “You’re crossing the
line.”
Tears streamed down Alena’s cheeks as she sobbed, “You’ll be my brother–in–law after tonight. I’m not asking for much, just one night. Please, Kaleb. Let me be yours.”
“I’d do anything else for you, but not this.” He pushed her away.
Alena stomped her foot. “Fine! If you won’t have me, I’ll just find somebody else, like a delivery guy, a janitor, or even a hobo.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“What? You won’t fulfill my tiny wish. Why can’t…”
Kaleb pulled her into his arms, cutting her off with a kiss.
I screamed in despair, but no one could hear me.
The man I had loved for over a decade was now screwing my sister, in our new home.
I watched as Kaleb gave vent to the desire he had kept buried for so long.
Morning came, and sunlight shone on Alena’s bare skin marked with love bites. Feeling shy, she nestled against Kaleb’s chest.
Kaleb came to his senses and said guiltily, “Ally, about last night, we…”
“Oh, save it. What’s the point in saying anything now?” I sneered, even though he couldn’t hear me.
Alena tried to comfort him. “Don’t worry, Kaleb. I’ll never tell Vannah. From now on, you’re just my brother–in–law, nothing more. I’m leaving for my studies abroad and staying out of your lives for good.”
Kaleb frowned, his tone firm. “Wait, you-”
Before he could finish, his phone rang.
As he picked up, the policeman’s serious voice came through. “Mr. Harrington, we pulled a custom wedding dress from Mirror Lake this morning. It’s the one your wife was wearing yesterday. We need you to come in and help us with the investigation.”
Chapter 2 Kaleb’s Doubt
