The Unseen Guest

The night Annabelle sent out her wedding invitations, I died unnoticed in a corner.

She wore an exquisite gown, poised and graceful. Beside her, Liam, the groom, tucked a strand of her hair back, his gaze filled with unwavering devotion. The banquet was crowded with far more distinguished guests than when we were engaged.

Liam scanned the room, then casually asked, "Didn't you invite your close friends? The ones you're always with?"

"They didn't show todaydid you have a falling out?" He finished with a knowing half-smile. "Surely they don't dislike me?"

Annabelle's face briefly clouded before she forced a smile. "I'll call them."

Call after call went to voicemail. Liam's smile faded. Those friends, though exclusive, were fiercely loyal. On such an important day, he'd expected at least a token appearance.

And there I stood, openly beside Annabelleher legitimate boyfriend, as always. But no one could see me. On stage, I saw only the silhouettes of the perfect couple: Annabelle and Liam.

I finally saw the signs I'd missed in Liam from the start. He playfully pulled out his phone, screen paused on our chat.

[Asher, whats ten years?]

[I always get the woman I want.]

[My wedding with Annabelle is in seven days. Dare you come?]

I looked down. It was more than a tauntthe malice had always been there.

But by the time I understood, it was too late. I could have shown up, but he wouldn't have seen me.

Because I was already dead.

The banquet ended.

Liam and Annabelle, still tangled together, made their way to the car and tumbled into the back seat. The driver, accustomed to such scenes, raised the partition and started the engine. Liam leaned his face close to Annabelles, his liquor-laced breath hot on her skin. Annabelle giggled, turning her face away, then pecked his cheek. You drank so much.

His voice softened, sounding endearingly docile and childish. Dont you dare find me repulsive!

Annabelle chuckled, tugging on Liams collar and bringing her lips to his. What followed was a long, suffocating kiss.

I suddenly felt the air grow impossibly stifling. I moved through the car and sat on the roof, watching their intimate dance. The summer night wind couldnt warm my icy soul.

Flirting and feigning vulnerability.

That was exactly the type of man Annabelle disliked most. In the past, when I occasionally showed her weakness or dependence, she would only say, A man should act like a man. Dont be like that; it gives me goosebumps.

By the time I came to my senses, they had already reached their destination. As they entered the villa, an invisible force tugged at me, compelling me to follow.

Annabelle, upon entering, casually kicked off her heels by the shoe rack and poured herself a glass of hot water. Liam followed closely, wrapping his arms around her slender waist.

Annabelle, Im scared

Scared?

Not just Annabelle, even I looked at him, utterly astonished. Since Id known him, I had never once seen the word scared in his words or actions.

Annabelle turned, revealing her collar, which had been pulled low due to the warm weather, a generous expanse of skin exposed to the man.

Scared of what?

Annabelle pressed tightly against him, allowing Liam to unzip the back of her dress.

Scared Asher will change his mind.

Scared youll leave me.

Scared I cant truly have you.

Annabelle replied without hesitation: He wont. Asher wont change his mind.

Annabelle's certainty left me in a daze.

Once, when we were most in love, Annabelle was just as certain. She said, Never. This lifetime, I, Annabelle, will only love Asher.

That day, I believed the person I would spend the rest of my life with would definitely be her.

Annabelle and I were middle school desk mates, high school classmates, college sweethearts, and then co-founders of a companysixteen years. We got engaged when our company was well on its way. If nothing went wrong, we should have been married this year.

But in our sixteenth year of knowing each other, our tenth year of love, Annabelle changed.

When did Annabelle start to change? Probably when she stopped sending me messages to check on me, probably when she sat across from me, glued to her phone, unable to suppress the smile on her lips, probably when she started sending Liam good morning and good night texts every day.

Hearts, they change in an instant.

So when we broke up, she took all the blame, completely absolving that seemingly distinguished man. I granted her wish and didn't reveal the evidence of Liam's later provocations.

Initially, when Liam first appeared, I didn't think much of it. A wealthy business partner's illegitimate son, looking to gain some experience at our company. To secure that deal, Annabelle came to me for my opinion.

She suggested arranging for Liam to be an assistant, doing mundane tasks like serving tea and water, just to humor a young master, making sure he wouldn't interfere with the company's core business.

I believed her.

But I never imagined Annabelle would make Liam her personal assistant, and he remained so for a whole year. And Annabelle, using every possible excuse, convinced me to go abroad to expand the market, where I stayed for another year.

When I returned, Annabelle was the future Mrs. Dalton everyone spoke of. I was Annabelles ex-boyfriend.

Before I could confront Annabelle, she sought me out. She pushed a resignation letter across the table to me, along with a share transfer agreement.

Asher, we once said that if one day we met someone who stirred our hearts more, we would part amicably.

You remember, right?

When Annabelle and Liam tumbled into the bedroom, I hid in the living room. Thank goodness.

Annabelle and I could still maintain a small distance, sparing me from witnessing those dirty, disgusting scenes firsthand. Although Liam had already sent me videos and photos of them.

Annabelles phone lay on the living room floor, vibrating incessantly. I moved closer; the number displayed on the screen was mine. My mind felt as if it had exploded, and I froze in shock. My fingertips trembled imperceptibly, and the moments before my death played out frame by frame before my eyes.

Terror, helplessness.

I remembered, I had died an undignified death. After agreeing to Annabelles breakup terms, I left the company. Liam found me, wanting to talk. What was there to talk about? I looked at him, but he just scoffed, Arent you curious why I chose Annabelle?

Why? I asked, following his lead.

Liam took me to a coffee shop near the company. I just wanted to see how deep Annabelles feelings for you were. Turns out, not much.

I didnt want to waste words with him. But as I stepped out, I was grabbed by several men and shoved into a van. The car bumped along, from the city to the suburbs, from daylight to nightfall. Until the mountain wind howled, and jagged branches scraped my exposed arms.

Liam sent you? I asked, forcing myself to sound calm.

The four men before me were emaciated, their eyes sunken, emitting a peculiar stench. The one in charge took a long drag from his cigarette, looking at me like a lamb to the slaughter.

My heart pounded like a drum, but I still desperately sought a way out. I dont have any money on me. Let me go, whatever theyre paying you, Ill double it.

This earned me a chorus of harsh laughter. Their violent faces presaged my impending doom.

Kid, learn your lesson in the next life. Dont mess with the wrong people.

My knees were shattered by an iron bar, my knuckles crushed by a leather boot, and my face was swollen from repeated slaps. One of them sighed regretfully, Too bad hes not a chick; otherwise, we could have some fun.

Another chimed in crudely, Look at that tender skin; does it matter if hes a chick?

The first one retorted in disgust, You think everyones like you, a pervert?

Listening to this conversation, my heart turned to ice.

Later, someone stripped off my outer clothes. I used all my strength to bite off a piece of flesh, enraging that beast. And then my life, and my suffering, came to an end. Blood gushed onto the ground.

When I opened my eyes again, I stood behind Annabelle, watching her hold Liams hand, announcing their wedding date. Counting the days, her wedding was on the seventh day after my death.

One in the morning, Annabelle walked out wrapped in a bath towel. She picked up the phone from the sofa and, seeing the missed calls, her pupils contracted. I huddled on the sofa, trembling, my mind filled with the images of my death.

Liams voice came from the bedroom: Annabelle, whats wrong?

Annabelle suppressed the emotion in her eyes, deleted the call log, and walked towards Liam, phone in hand, to embrace him. The seamless way she deleted the records reminded me vividly of how she used to be when I rarely returned home to see her years ago.

In the early days of my time abroad, Annabelle would always video call me. She would complain about how much work there was at the company, and shed playfully whine, wishing I were by her side. Id respond while processing documents.

When did you become so clingy?

Why are you whining and whimpering like that?

I thought I was just casually teasing her, but I hadnt expected her face to turn instantly pale. It was only later that I realized. People who spend a long time together inadvertently begin to adopt similar ways of speaking.

The next morning, Annabelle left Liams apartment. As she left, she gently kissed Liams face. Sleep in, you dont have to go to the office today.

I found it somewhat amusing.

Annabelle used to be very particular about time. Rain or shine, she would always wake up on schedule and wouldnt allow me to be idle, fearing it would delay the days work. For sixteen years, I had grown accustomed to her habits, the ones she made me adopt. But it turned out all her habits could be broken, and that exception was reserved for one particular person.

I followed Annabelle to the company.

My assistant of three years was pacing anxiously outside Annabelles office, clutching a contract. Seeing Annabelle, she spoke with urgency: Ms. Xu, there was a problem with the contract Mr. Nan negotiated a few days ago during signing.

The other party insists on meeting Mr. Nan before theyll sign.

Annabelle glanced at the assistant, seemingly not taking it too seriously, but rather said as if it were obvious, Then call Asher; hell go.

The assistant looked at Annabelle with some embarrassment; her phone receiver only delivered repeated unanswerable tones. Perhaps there were too many unanswered calls, for Annabelles brow furrowed deeper, and the contract she was reviewing was slammed onto the table with force.

How long have you been calling?

You havent gotten through since this morning?

Annabelles gaze swept to the little assistant standing to the side, impatience written plainly on her face.

The assistant flinched slightly, Yes, Ms. Xu.

I stood by the desk, a little surprised why my phone wouldnt connect. Clearly, last night, my phone had called Annabelles.

Annabelle probably thought I was doing it on purpose. I pressed my lips together, sketching a self-mocking smile, and idly scanned the contracts casually strewn across the desk. Many of the clauses in the contract had been changed. Completely different from the terms I had negotiated.

Liams doing.

After all, he had taken my place.

Annabelle didn't speak for a long time, staring intently at her phone screen. On the screen was her chat interface with me; she had sent me a message two minutes ago, "Call me back ASAP." Annabelle's jaw was tight, simmering with an anger ready to erupt.

Until her best friend, Stella, called her: Annabelle, Asher he

Asher isnt at the company.

Im looking for him too.

If you get in touch with him, tell him to come to the company as soon as possible.

Stellas words were cut off by Annabelle. Without waiting for a response from the other end, Annabelle quickly hung up and walked into the conference room. I was pulled along by Annabelles swift steps, but a faint, hollow ache resonated in my chest.

Annabelle had hung up too quickly. As a result, I desperately wanted to know what Stella had been trying to say, but had no way of knowing. Was she going to say I was missing, or had she already known about my death?

How humiliating, such a disgusting way to die.

The conference room was silent. I had been negotiating that deal for nearly half a month, and Annabelle broke up with me just as it was about to be finalized. Many people said Annabelle was ditching me after using me. Now, the millstone wouldnt turn.

When Stella arrived at the company, Annabelle was in a furious rage.