Chapter 1He Hated Me Until He Learned I Was Dead

In the eighth year after I passed away, Leander Kingsmere ran into his son, who was setting up a small stand beneath an overpass.

Thick snow was swirling everywhere. My son’s little face was frozen bright red, and both hands were covered with frost sores.

He was angry. He grabbed Cassian and roughly wiped the snow from his body.

“Where is your mom? Letting you stand out here freezing in this cold, where did she go to enjoy herself? I have never seen such a careless mother!”

Cassian had no memory of this father at all and replied nervously, “My mom is gone… Uncle, are you buying vegetables? I can give you a lower price.”

Leander was caught up in his anger and didn’t understand the deeper meaning in his child’s words. He let out an angry laugh on the spot.

“What, she still cannot let it go, so she is doing this on purpose to punish my son, is that it?”

“If that is the case, then don’t call her your mom anymore! Come with me, Dad will take you home!”

Cassian fought hard to pull away from him.

“I don't know you. You’re not allowed to talk about my mom! Touch me again, and I will call the police!”

Leander was so angry that he lost control and shouted, “I am your dad! Your real father!”

“Is this how Corinne Lockwood taught you? Teaching you to turn your back on your own family? How long is she going to stay upset with me? Is it only going to stop when she dies?!”

My spirit floated beside them. I wanted to pull my child away, but my reaching hand went straight through his body.

A sad smile showed on my face without me stopping it.

Leander, I am not being upset with you.

I’m just… dead.

——

Cassian was so scared by the man in front of him that he started crying right away.

But Leander’s anger still didn’t calm down, and the more he yelled, the more worked up he became.

“Look at what you are wearing, these clothes probably are not even worth much! It is minus eight degrees today, and you came out dressed like this!”

“How did Corinne raise a kid? She treats you this way, and you still stand up for her?”

Cassian held out his hands, frozen and shaking, trying to wipe away his tears.

But Leander moved fast and caught hold of him in one quick grab.

He roughly pulled the sleeve.

“Why are your hands full of frost sores? Where on earth did Corinne go?”

“She fought wildly for custody when we divorced, and this is how she looks after you? What good is she? She may as well be gone forever!”

My spirit floated around nearby, explaining in panic.

It was not that I did not want to care for Cassian; it was only that I had no strength to do so.

The clothes Cassian wore were already the warmest he owned, hand-me-downs from Aunt Florence’s boy from the year before.

Yet no matter how loudly I screamed, nobody could hear my voice.

Leander crouched down, laid his padded coat over his child’s shoulders, and calmly told him that he was his real father.

Cassian needed a long moment before he accepted this truth.

“Then Cassian has a dad now. Does that mean I do not have to stay outside anymore?”

Leander nodded firmly and pulled his child, ready to go.

Aunt Florence had just finished her work. When she turned back and saw this scene, she rushed over to block them.

“Who are you? Trying to steal a child out in broad daylight?”

“Let go right now, or I’m calling the police!”

“Help! A human trafficker is trying to take a child!”

Leander’s face turned dark.

“This is my son!”

Aunt Florence got so mad that she planted her hands on her waist.

“So that’s the truth, you’re that jerk who cheated and walked away from his wife and kid! And you still dare to show your face here!”

“Cassian doesn’t want you! Get out of here right now!!”

She tried to pull Cassian back, but Leander’s tall body blocked her completely.

“So this is how Corinne talks about me?”

“She looked after my son like this, so of course it makes sense that I take him back!”

“Let’s see if the police support you, a stranger, or me, his real father!”

Hearing him talk about me that way, Aunt Florence’s anger burst out at once.

“Corinne is nothing like what you’re saying!”