Chapter 2Moonset, Stars Fade

Vera pushed her bowl away. "Jacob, I can't eat anymore. I'm tired. I think I'll head to bed early."

He suspected nothing. He took her hand and led her to the bedroom. "Alright, let's get some rest. I don't have much on at the office tomorrow, so I can spend the day with you."

My daughter and I were pulled along with them, two invisible specters floating into their room. Ever since our deaths, we'd been bound to Jacob, unable to leave his side no matter how hard I tried. I had no choice but to watch, day after day, as he and Vera played out their sickeningly sweet love story.

Vera was six months pregnant now, the curve of her belly prominent as she lay on the bed. Jacob carefully pressed his ear to her stomach. "Hey there, little one. It's Daddy. Mommy's not feeling well today, so you be a good baby, okay? No mischief."

The tender scene made my spectral eyes burn. I thought death was supposed to end the pain, but for three years, every time I witnessed a moment like this, my heart still ached with an agony that left me breathless.

Bella tugged on my hand, her soft voice choked with tears. "Mommy, is Daddy going to have another baby?"

Her lip quivered. "Daddy's a liar. He promised he only wanted me. He lied."

I knelt and pulled her into a tight embrace. I wanted to comfort her, but the words wouldn't come. How could I comfort my three-year-old daughter when I couldn't even comfort myself?

The next day, Vera slept until noon. Jacob stayed home with her, forgoing work. When she finally woke, his handsome eyes crinkled with a smile.

"You're awake. How about we go out for a bit? The nursery isn't finished yet. We can pick out a few more things."

Bella and I were forced to follow them out the door.

At the city's largest department store, Vera was instantly captivated by the adorable baby items, her mood lifting as she browsed. Jacob stood beside her, his arm around her waist, commenting on each of her choices.

To any onlooker, they were the perfect couple.

A sales assistant smiled at them. "You two make such a lovely pair. A handsome man and a beautiful woman. Your baby will be absolutely gorgeous."

I looked away, unable to watch anymore.

But as I lowered my gaze, I saw my daughter standing forlornly in the toy section, her eyes fixed on a Barbie doll. She reached for it again and again, her small, translucent hand passing straight through the plastic.

Finally, her hand dropped to her side, and fat, silent tears rolled down her cheeks.

Just then, Jacob's voice rang out. "This one, that one, and all the others we looked at. Wrap them up and have them delivered to the Brodie residence."

Vera laughed playfully. "Why are you buying so many toys? The baby won't be able to play with them for ages. You're just wasting money."

Jacob’s gentle gaze fell to Vera's stomach. "My child deserves the best of everything in the world. He doesn't have to play with them, but I have to buy them."

I quickly turned to my daughter.

She had seen it too.

She stared at her father, then at the sales assistants busily packing up the toys. Her little head drooped. I couldn't see her face, only her small shoulders, shaking with silent sobs.

I rushed to her side and heard her whispering to herself.

"Daddy doesn't love Bella anymore… Daddy doesn't love Bella anymore…"

She repeated the phrase over and over, the brokenness in her voice squeezing my heart like a vise. The hatred I felt for Vera surged, becoming a tidal wave of pure rage.

Thief!

That's what Vera was. A thief.

She didn't just steal my life and my husband.

She stole my daughter's life. She stole my daughter's father.

Suddenly, Jacob's phone rang. As he listened, his brow furrowed deeper and deeper.

"Hello, is this Mr. Jacob Brodie? This is the East District police precinct. We've discovered two bodies on East Mountain, and we have strong reason to believe they are your ex-wife, Eleanor Vance, and your daughter."

"Sir, are you available to come down to the station?"