Chapter 1 " Katherine Graham , you're really cruel ," Derrick Graham murmured , the white hospital room thick with the stench of disinfectant . +20 On the bed , Katherine Graham looked haggard . A nasal cannula rested under her nose , her lips pale , yet there was no trace of dryness or chapping , as if someone had been carefully tending to them . Beside the bed , Derrick knelt on one knee , his tall frame slightly bent . His trembling hand reached out , but just as it was about to touch her , it froze midair . His expression was calm , only the corners of his lips twitching uncontrollably , but his eyes looked unbearably sorrowful . " You really hate me so much that even on your deathbed , you won't look at me . " As Derrick finished , it was like the weight on his shoulders finally collapsed . He lowered his head , his whole body shaking beyond control . His choked voice was mixed with sharp , ragged breaths , as if he couldn't breathe . Derrick didn't know that behind him , a faint , almost transparent figure had quietly appeared . Her delicate , composed features were exactly the same as the woman lying on the bed . Katherine looked at herself on the bed , then lowered her gaze to her nearly translucent hands and let out a short , derisive laugh . " So there really are such things as ghosts . " Then she looked at Derrick , who seemed on the verge of breaking from grief , and found it laughable . " Derrick , ten years ago , you drugged me , slept with me , and ruined my reputation . Who are you trying to fool with this act of affection ? " Katherine laughed , yet tears still slid down her cheeks . " Forget it . There's no point in holding it against you . " Katherine gave a bitter smile , a hint of pity flickering across her face . " You're just a pathetic man who's never been loved and doesn't know how to love . " She lifted her hand and brushed her chin , teardrops sliding down the back of her withered hand . In a low murmur , Katherine's expression suddenly softened with longing . " I wonder how Charles Miller is . I wish I could see him one more time . " With that thought , Katherine's soul vanished from where she stood . All of a sudden , Derrick , who had been bracing himself on the floor and silently crying , seemed to sense something and turned around . On the spotless floor , there was a damp patch in an irregular circle , with tiny droplets scattered around it as if splashed when it fell . He suddenly let out a laugh , then turned to look at Katherine on the bed , noticing a tear had slipped from the corner of her eye at some point . A look of release crossed Derrick's face as he gently wiped her cheek with his thumb " You must be feeling lonely , aren't you ? Without me bothering you , I bet you're not used to it ." He kept talking to himself , his gaze lingering with a hint of yearning . " Don't be afraid . Once I find you a few more people to join you , I'll come keep you company , " he muttered . " Windridge Villa ? " Katherine , now only a ghost , felt her mind waver . When she opened her eyes again , she was met with familiar decor . It was the Lawson family's villa , but now it was filled with people who didn't hear the family name . The bedroom in front of Katherine still looked the same , even the bed was the one she had slept in for twenty years . But now , the two familiar , bare figures tangled together on it struck her like a punch to the gut . " No way . How could this be ? " Katherine murmured , staring at the scene before her . She had been married for over a decade . She wasn't some naive , blushing girl who would shy away from a scene like this . But right now , her face was burning red , and it was entirely from anger . " This can't be real . Mia Grant , I treated you like my own sister , Katherine suddenly screamed in a frenzy , wanting to rush forward and tear them apart , but her body passed through them again and again . The two were completely unaware they were being watched at this very moment . Mia's soft , delicate skin was marked with scattered 1/4 P P Chapter 1 fingerprints . She was flushed , pressing her palms against Charles's chest , her face glowing with smug , self - satisfied vanity . +20 " How is it ? Doing it in my stepsister's room - doesn't it make it that much more thrilling ? " Mia let out a bright , piercing laugh , her tone dripping with seduction . " For all you know , her ghost might be hiding in some corner right now , watching us ." Charles's body tensed , and the face of the refined gentleman was now twisted by desire into something almost feral . He smirked , " Fine . Then let her watch and see who the true head of the Lawson family is now . It's just a pity - Katherine is so beautiful and her body's so hot , yet I never got the chance to sleep with her once ." Mia gave him a playful look of reproach . " You're awful , already in bed with me and still thinking about someone else . Aren't you the least bit ashamed ? " " Ashamed ? " Charles sneered . " Ten years ago , when we worked together to drug her , I could've had her . But somehow Derrick , that douchebag , got the prize instead . " At that , Mia's expression darkened , a flicker of jealousy and hatred flashing in her eyes before she quickly masked it. " She was never meant to have you , and she was never going to get your love . " Charles smirked , his gaze glinting with lewd intent , clearly lost in some filthy fantasy . Katherine's shouting had worn her out . She stared blankly at the two of them as they came . She whispered , " Ten years ago , it was you two . All these years , I had it wrong ? " But even faced with the truth , Katherine no longer had the strength to be angry . Looking at the man she had loved for ten years , she felt nothing but disgust . At this moment , there was only one person in her mind - Derrick . Katherine thought , ' If everything is a lie , then what are these ten years ? ' Lost in her daze , she heard the door being gently pushed open . A small , adorable child crawled in across the floor , babbling words no one else could understand . Katherine's gaze snapped into focus . " Kit . " She remembered that when she knew her days were numbered , she had entrusted her only son , Christopher Graham , to Mia . But now , Katherine noticed Christopher's clothes were filthy , the collar stained with dried food residue . The arms and legs peeking out from his clothes were covered in bruises , as if he had been living under constant abuse rather than care . What was worse , Katherine saw that there was a thick iron chain fastened around Christopher's neck . Katherine let out a shrill scream , lunging forward to try to undo the chain , but her body still couldn't touch anything solid . " Mia , how you mistreat my son like this ? Even as a ghost , I won't let you off . " dare She had never liked this child who had been born with an intellectual disability . But Christopher was her own flesh and blood . No matter how much she disliked him , she'd still wanted to pave the way for the rest of his life before she died . Katherine hadn't expected to entrust him to the wrong person , only for her child to end up chained by the neck like a dog . Mia screamed , instinctively yanking the blanket over herself . Charles , on the other hand , froze for a moment when he saw the boy whose features were almost identical to Katherine's . Christopher , just as Charles had imagined , looked at him with wide , trusting eyes . " Kate . " Charles got out of bed and reached a hand toward Christopher . " Kate , come here ." Katherine watched as Christopher crawled toward Charles step by step and placed his hand in Charles's palm , and she charged forward in a frenzy . " You jerk , what are you trying to do ? Let Kit go right now , " Katherine roared , but her desperate lunge was nothing more than empty air . Charles yanked the oblivious Christopher into his arms , a wicked grin spreading across his face . " Charlie , you- Mia gasped . Her expression turned to shock . But before she could finish , Charles shot her a vicious glare . " Shut up . Don't get in my way , Charles snapped . But just as he was about to take it further , the half - closed door was suddenly kicked open . With a loud bang , it slammed into the wall so hard that a chunk of plaster fell off . 2/4 P P Chapter 1 +20 This time , Mia truly screamed . After all , there was still a big difference between facing a grown man and a slow - witted child . Seeing who had come in , Charles also panicked , tossing Christopher aside and grabbing the clothes next to him to put on . " Derrick , you're trespassing , " Charles yelled . But before he could accuse Derrick of anything , Charles was kicked to the ground . Derrick was dressed in black , looking intimidating , but it was nothing compared to the storm hidden in his eyes . He was as terrifying as a demon crawling out of hell to claim lives, his stare enough to send chills down anyone's spine . He raised his hand , a flash of light passing before Charles felt a sharp pain below . Seeing the limp thing fall to the side , Charles let out a piercing scream . Derrick didn't bother to listen . The next strike drove straight into Charles's chest , ending his life in an instant . Then , holding the blood - dripping knife , Derrick stepped toward Mia on the bed . " Katherine must be lonely . Since you two were the most important people to her , you can go keep her company . " Mia gasped , " No. Let me go . Please , have some mercy . Ow ! " With Mia's sharp cry , the two people who had caused Katherine such hatred and agony just moments ago were now dead . Katherine stared blankly at the scene before her . When she came to her senses , she rushed forward and slapped Derrick hard across the face . " Are you insane ? Do you have a death wish ? " Katherine shouted . Derrick had killed two people in a row . He was facing either the death penalty or life in prison . Katherine grabbed Derrick's shoulders and yelled , " Do you have any idea what this will cost you ? I'm gone . I'm already dead . Do you understand ? " In the grip of extreme emotion , Derrick felt her pulling at his shoulder. He lowered his head in disbelief . He saw nothing , yet there was a strong , undeniable instinct . " Is that you ? " Then he gave a bitter smile , the bloodstained corner of his mouth drooping as if in grievance . " Are you trying to stop me from hurting them ? I know you care about them , but they're not worth it ." After a long moment , Derrick lifted his hand , as if wanting to rest it on the one gripping his shoulder , but in the end , he didn't . His arm dropped weakly to his side . " You don't like me touching you , so I guess you wouldn't want me dying with you either . " Derrick glanced around the girlish room , the cream - colored walls covered with photos of Katherine from her younger days . In every picture , Katherine's smile was bright , her beautiful eyes always carrying a trace of laughter . But ever since she had been with him , she had never smiled like that again . " Dying here wouldn't be so bad ," Derrick murmured . Katherine looked up in a daze , watching thick , dark red blood gush from Derrick's mouth in streams . " What's happening ? What's wrong with you ? " She reached out in vain , and in no time her palm was soaked through with blood , " What's happening to you ? Call an ambulance . Hurry . " But Derrick's body was slowly collapsing , his eyes fixed , almost as if sensing her presence , on Katherine's direction . " Don't be afraid . I won't cling to you . I just want to ... " Derrick muttered . He thought , See you one more time ! ' Derrick's hand fell limply . He turned his head , his gaze landing on Christopher , who was still standing in the doorway , not yet understanding what had happened . There was a faint trace of relictance and attachment in Derrick's eyes . Christopher looked all pure and innocent , but his wide , uncomprehending eyes were already brimming with tears , Spon , Derrick's assistant arrived . Taking in the scene , he stood for a long moment before letting out a sigh . Without a word , the assistant picked up the bewildered Christopher and said to Derrick , who was lying on the floor , " Don't worry , Mr. Graham . I'll adopt your son and let him grow up without a care , " As for you , I hope if there's another chance , you can be happy , and never fall in love with anyone again . " The scene was cleaned up , and Katherine's soul grew weaker and weaker , fading away in the sunlight as if she had never existed at all . 3/4 P P Chapter 1 Her soul followed her body to the burial , drifting into the cemetery . 20 She was above , and Derrick was below - just as he had said before he died , that he wouldn't cling to her . But he still couldn't rest easy , so he stayed down below to watch over her . " You fool , so you did love me after all , " Katherine murmured . These past few days , she had gone over the past ten years in her mind , frame by frame . Only when she examined certain details did she begin to notice the signs . Katherine thought , ' So all these years , what I thought was control and coercion was just the act of a fool who didn't know how to love , trying to win me over in his own way .' She felt herself growing weaker and weaker , yet until the very last moment , she stayed by Derrick's headstone . Her fingers had already lost their shapes , but she still stubbornly stroked the photo of Derrick on it . In the picture , his lips were pressed tight , his brows furrowed , his expression always cold and distant . " Silly , if there's another chance , find someone who will truly love you . Don't fall in love again , " Katherine said . She thought , ' It's not worth it . ' 4/4