Page 5 of Reborn to Love You

I’m dead.

I’m really dead.

The reason why no one had ever looked her way, the reason why none of her coworkers said ‘hi’ and none of his coworkers ordered her around like she was their slave—

It was because she was dead, and thus invisible to their eyes.

So what now?

The world around her started to fade as she tried to grapple with this new reality.

I’m dead.

But I’m still here.

She didn’t know how much time had passed when she heard her husband’s voice penetrate her thoughts.

“Thank you, all of you...for the outpouring of support in the past few days. You all made it more bearable. I wouldn’t have been able to make it here if not for you.”

And as soon as she focused on his shaking voice, the world around her gradually rebuilt itself. She was back in the church, back in her funeral, and Eric was at the lectern, looking every inch the grieving husband he was pretending to be. Blond hair mussed, bloodshot eyes, and a slightly rumpled suit when everyone who knew him knew Eric would rather be caught dead than be seen in public looking less than impeccable.

And so for him to look like this now...

Payton could only feel herself growing more numb at how her husband seemed to have planned everything.

“I keep going over the last time we spoke.”

His voice broke off, as if he was overcome with emotion, but Payton knew him too well. She could tell he had been momentarily distracted, and seeing where his gaze swung for one second—

Rosé.

The girl had slipped out through one of the side doors, and it left her husband...well, Payton had no idea what Eric was thinking since he obviously remembered he still had an audience, and he was now back to playing his role as her grieving husband.

"I keep thinking, if I had just..." Eric stopped speaking as if another word would kill him, and he even pressed his knuckles against his mouth as if not wanting to burst into manly tears.

And Payton, seeing all this...

Wow. Just wow.

If she had any conclusion to make of this, then it was that her husband was wasted in corporate. He should’ve been an actor instead. His performance alone right now could easily win him an Os—

“My wife was a good woman.”

Payton forgot the rest of her thoughts the moment she heard her husband say it.

That word.

Good.

Just hearing it had Payton stumbling back and covering her ears, but it was no use. Her mind was already replaying it over and over—

Good girl.

It was Eric’s last compliment because she had made it so easy for him to kill her, and no no no no no no—

The memories made her feel trapped. She suddenly couldn’t stop herself from reliving how helpless she felt as he made her drink whatever it was that killed her—

No no no no no no no.