Crossing Life and Death for You

Four years after my death, the true heiress won the Best Actress award, but her sex tape was once again spread like wildfire. My Best Actor boyfriend, Nicholas Jennings, kicked open the rented house where I used to live, hoping to make me clarify once again that it was me in the video, but all he saw was a complete mess. The landlord happened to pass by and, upon his inquiry, scolded him, "You’re talking about Astrid Rhode? She died four years ago! A man saw the sex tape posted online and came here to have some fun with her, but she would rather die than comply. In a fit of rage, he killed her." Nicholas did not believe it at all. He kicked our couple's mugs. "Astrid made you say that, didn't she? She stole Maddie's life just because she looked like her. Did she think that helping Maddie once would atone for her sins? Tell her that none of the children in her orphanage will live if I don't see her clarification video in two days!" He strode away, and I shook my head with a wry smile. The orphanage had long since been reduced to ashes in the fire, and the children had already passed on to their next lives. I had made a deal with Death, wanting to come back and see him one last time. However, now, it seemed that the deal was better left undone. Chapter 1 After failing to find me, Nicholas Jennings said grimly, "Astrid Rhode, I don't have time to play games with you. You haven't answered your phone or contacted me in four years. How long do you still want to hide? Maddie has just won the Best Actress award and cannot allow such groundless rumors to ruin her reputation. The window of opportunity for managing this PR crisis is closing fast. You must come out immediately to clarify that it's you in the video!" My soul floated on the roof, watching him get so anxious because of Madison Rhode that his shirt was soaked with sweat. I put on a self-mocking smile. Whether it was four years ago or now, he still thought those sex tapes were edited. He firmly believed that the innocent and naive Maddie would never do such a thing. He did not want the fake videos to ruin Madison's reputation, so he wanted to sully my reputation to protect her. After all, when Madison returned to the Rhode family with the paternity test report, I became a sinner who used the same face to usurp 18 years of her life. In any case, who would care about the reputation of a fake heiress? "Still not coming out? Are you trying to extort more money?" Outside the door, the landlord spat in disgust. "How can a dead person come out?" Nicholas turned his head around, and the landlord continued, "That girl caused such a filthy mess and even died in my house. Now the house can't be sold. It's all her fault. It looks like you're her relative. Perfect! Pay me two million dollars in compensation. Not a penny less!" I landed on the ground, clearly seeing a fleeting look of surprise in Nicholas's eyes when he heard the word "died." However, he soon laughed dismissively. "Astrid taught you to say that, didn't she? Two million dollars? She's really asking for the moon. Does she think that faking her death can atone for her sins against Maddie?" The landlord grew more annoyed. He glanced over a pile of old newspapers on the floor. "Why would I lie to you? Four years ago, this girl was involved with over a dozen men, and they made a sex tape. She was shameless, even releasing the video claiming it was her. By the way, the video was pretty explicit; everyone in the neighborhood has seen it. Later, a guy came over and tried to have some fun with her, but she resisted, and he hacked her to death. Look, she died right there. If you don't believe me, flip those over and see for yourself; the blood hasn't even been wiped away." Nicholas's eyes flickered slightly as he looked over. I suddenly felt a surge of curiosity. Chapter 2 Five years ago, the Jennings family's finances were in disarray, and I used this to force him to marry me. He disagreed, so I asked my parents to step in and threaten him using the entire Jennings family. The day he had to get engaged to me, he gritted his teeth and said he wished I would die. Now that he knew I was dead, would he feel that he had avenged himself? I gazed over, only to find that he was trembling and stretching out his hand, as if in disbelief. 'Is he afraid? What is he afraid of?' I wondered. However, before that hand touched the newspaper, the phone rang. Nicholas subtly exhaled in relief. When he picked up the call, Madison was crying, "Nicholas, won't Astrid clear things up for me? So many people online are criticizing me!" His earlier fear vanished, and Nicholas now seemed heartbroken. "Maddie, stop crying. I will find Astrid and won't let anyone ruin things for you." After hanging up, he stopped looking at the newspapers and shouted, "Astrid, I know you're right here!" "I'm warning you, this is what you owe Maddie. Besides, you took my money. You can't get away with this! You have two days to upload a clarification video or none of the children in that orphanage will live!" That said, he turned around and strode off, his frame slicing through my soul as he went. Rushing over here was all for Madison, and rushing away now? Same reason. I shook my head with a wry smile. The orphanage had long been burned down to ashes. How could children who had already reincarnated be killed again? The landlord cursed a few times and left. Death's voice echoed in my ears. "Astrid, you have 24 hours left before your soul is annihilated." When I followed Nicholas home, Madison was live-streaming, crying, and pleading her innocence. "The person in the video is Astrid! She hates me for ruining her life of luxury and refuses to come out and clarify things..." Nicholas entered and hugged her. "Why are you crying again?" Madison looked up, tears streaming down her face. "Astrid still won't forgive me? But she's the person in the video..." I sat on the bed I used to sleep on, resting my chin on my hand as I watched the tears roll down Madison's delicate face. In the short year she had been back with the Rhode family, she cried almost every day. She cried because I locked her in the orphanage's storeroom while I pretended to be the Rhode family's daughter and went home with my adoptive parents. She cried about the hardships she endured as she lived on the streets, starving, suffering from the cold, and almost being sexually assaulted. She cried again about how I beat and verbally abused her, pushed her down the stairs, and threatened to kill her. My adoptive mother felt sorry for her, while my adoptive father whipped me, calling me a heinous sinner. I protested that I had never done those things, so she cried again. She cried until Nicholas made me kneel before her and beg for forgiveness, but that only made her cry even more sadly. "Astrid, I know I ruined your life of luxury, but it was all originally mine!" Due to her remark, I was kicked out of the Rhode family, and she naturally became the one engaged to Nicholas. I still remembered the smug smile she gave me when I left, but I never imagined I would see her crying again four years later. Hearing Madison's words, Nicholas hesitated for a moment before silently turning off the camera. "Maddie, I'll have Astrid take the blame for this, and the clarification video will be uploaded within two days. Once this crisis is over, I'll hire several investigative firms to find out who uploaded the sex tape. Once we find out... We'll clear Astrid's name and send her abroad; she won't bother you anymore." Chapter 3 Madison's crying came to an abrupt halt. I was also stunned. I floated over to look at his solemn expression. Nicholas actually wanted to clear my name? Ever since Madison came back, his attention had been entirely on her. She argued with me countless times and said all sorts of nasty things. Even when he asked me to record a clarification video four years ago, he was still filled with anger. "You stole Maddie's life, but you're not even willing to take the blame for her? Have you ever thought about how much Maddie has suffered all these years? All of this is your doing! You’re still unwilling? Okay. Is five million dollars enough for you?" The orphanage was almost on the verge of closing down. Madison had secretly reported the orphanage for operating illegally, so I had to get that money and take the children away. Thus, I had no choice but to nod, but he became even more disappointed in me." You really do only care about money after all. How could someone as greedy and vicious like you exist?" I sighed and heard Madison sniffle."Nicholas, do you think she's not the person in this video?" He shook his head without hesitation." Although what Astrid has done is unforgivable, she values her innocence the most and would never do such a thing." I looked over in shock, only to find Madison's fingers, which were under the table, grasping the hem of her dress. "But… a private investigator said that the upload address for the video was from Astrid's rental house… Nicholas, does Astrid want money? Should I transfer some more to her..." I gasped and shouted, "Impossible! Nicholas, I didn't upload those videos! Nicholas, it really wasn't me!" I forgot I was already dead. No one could hear my voice, and only Nicholas's shocking raging voice filled the air. "So that's how it is… Astrid really won't change!" I panicked and reached out to grab Nicholas's arm. However, my fingers passed right through him, and I watched helplessly as his expression darkened, his fist clenching as he walked away. "In that case, I'll make her pay!" When I followed Nicholas back to the old orphanage site, it was already the next morning. Hope Primary School had been built on the old address. Nicholas stood silently at the door for a long while before gritting his teeth and making a phone call. "I think I know who uploaded the video. Find out the latest address of Starry Orphanage. I suspect Astrid took the five million dollars and ran away with the orphanage kids." The security guard at the gate was baffled when he heard Nicholas. "What are you talking about? Starry Orphanage is gone; the children are gone. What new address are you even looking for?" Nicholas was irritated. "Even if they're gone, there's a new address. They can't have just vanished into thin air, right?" Just then, Madison called, sobbing pitifully as usual, "Nicholas, help me!" Nicholas's eyes widened instantly as he hurriedly got into his car. The security guard stood at the gate, looking at Nicholas as if he were a lunatic. "The teachers and children are dead. Isn't that equivalent to vanishing into thin air?" A jumble of emotions washed over me. If I had been faster four years ago and had gotten back to the apartment to get what she wanted before Madison threatened to set the orphanage on fire, could I have avoided that man and saved them? However, I was already dead; there was no use crying over spilt milk. When Nicholas rushed back, Madison was being besieged by reporters. "Ms. Rhode, are you the person in those videos?" "You said it's that fake heiress, Astrid, who looks a lot like you, but Astrid has not shown up so far. Is it because the PR deal fell through, or..." Chapter 4 "Maddie!" With a livid expression, Nicholas pushed his way through the crowd and shielded Madison behind him. "I said that the video had nothing to do with Maddie. Why are you still pestering her?" For a moment, the journalists' flashlights were as bright as day. "Mr. Jennings, you have clarified things several times for Ms. Madison… Is it because you're Astrid's fiancé that you can recognize Astrid as the one in the sex tape? Or is there something else going on?" Madison was crying so hard that her eyes were red as she gripped Nicholas's sleeve. "Nicholas, what should I do..." Nicholas gently wiped away her tears before turning around and speaking firmly to them." I believe in Maddie. She would never do such a thing! Not to mention that the Rhode family has already stated that Madison is the true heiress of the Rhode family. Therefore, my fiancée isn't Astrid, but Madison! I hereby warn you that if I ever see someone relating the sex tape to Maddie again, the Jennings family won't spare them!" The reporters looked at each other. Knowing they could not afford to offend either the Jennings family or the Rhode family, they scattered. Only I floated in the air, watching as the man I loved held the woman who had killed me and set fire to the orphanage in his arms, gently comforting her. I was brought back to the Rhode family when I was four. Within two months, the Rhode family, which was burdened with a billion dollars in debt, was resurrected. Not only did they pay off their debts, but they also gradually built the massive Rhode Group. They called me a lucky charm, spoiling me rotten, indulging my arrogant and domineering personality. I jumped around every day, climbing trees and swimming in the sea. Later, I accidentally fell from a tree, and little Nicholas caught me. I clung to him relentlessly from then on. Even if he disliked me or was annoyed by me, I did everything in my power to marry him. I knew from a young age that I was not the Rhode family's daughter. Only after meeting Nicholas did I feel incredibly fortunate to be Astrid. However, only now did I understand that what was never meant to be mine would never be mine. Turning away, I decided to make the most of my remaining time by returning to the old orphanage site. However, Nicholas received a message from the investigator shortly after he escorted Madison back to her room. "Mr. Jennings, are you sure you want me to investigate Starry Orphanage? That orphanage burned down four years ago. Everything's gone." As the sky turned dark, Nicholas arrived hurriedly, clutching a stack of photos. "What caused the fire? Was it arson or an accident?" The person next to him shook his head. "I need more time to investigate." I drifted over and saw the photos of the fire four years ago. Even though I was dead, seeing these still broke my heart. The photos showed vast expanses of black ash, desks and chairs in the school building, bunk beds in the dormitory, and the bodies of children who had not been adopted. Some of them had just been sent to the orphanage, and I had arranged the best educational environment for them. I thought I would arrange for them to work for Rhode Group when they grew up if no one adopted them, but none of them managed to survive until that happened. I even died on the same day four years ago. "No, this isn't right. Maddie has been sponsoring the orphanage. Last month, she happily shared that a child named Winnie got into college," Nicholas muttered to himself before quickly dialing Madison's number. The moment the call got through, Madison asked, "Is Astrid still nowhere to be found? Several of my collaborations have been canceled, and I've also lost my endorsements!" Chapter 5 Nicholas pursed his lips and asked, "Maddie, how are the children at Starry Orphanage recently?" Madison froze for a moment before quickly replying, "They're all doing great. There's even a boy who got into college. Why are you asking me this all of a sudden?" Nicholas's fingers trembled, almost losing his grip on the phone. "Maddie, Winnie is a girl." The orphanage tended to accept girls. There was only one boy, and he would now have been no more than five years old if he had survived the fire. It was something even Nicholas knew, but Madison gave the wrong information. "Oh, I was mistaken. It was indeed a girl. I even gave her a dress. Nicholas, let's talk about the orphanage later. Have you found Astrid? If she doesn't come out to clarify things soon, my acting career will really be ruined. My parents are also mad recently. I've never seen them so furious..." Nicholas could no longer make out what was being said on the other end of the line. I watched him repeatedly try to question her, but he swallowed his words when they were on the tip of his tongue. He had no choice but to hang up. A look of fear appeared on his face again. Something he was resisting and unwilling to believe seemed to be emerging uncontrollably. A security guard nearby saw him and handed him a USB drive. "You're looking for information about the orphanage, aren't you? I've seen you come twice. This is CCTV footage from the old orphanage site. I was going to give it to the police, but no one has come to investigate, so I kept it to myself. Take a look and see if it has what you need." In the car, Nicholas opened his laptop in the back seat and quickly reviewed the footage. I sat next to him, slowly looking over his appearance. I recalled how thin and small he was back then, yet he held me firmly when I fell. Later, I learned there were many sharp rocks under the tree. Without him, I would have died from the fall. I held on for years because of this life-saving grace. Today, it had finally come to an end. Suddenly, Madison's face appeared on the computer screen. Her eyes flickered with fury as she spoke viciously into the phone, "Astrid, give me Nicholas's heirloom ring within half an hour or all these people will die! Don't blame me, blame yourself. When you were four, I made you impersonate me so you could suffer in the Rhode family in my place. Who knew that the Rhode family would make a comeback? You enjoyed 18 years of blessings that weren't yours, so this is the price you have to pay!" Nicholas widened his eyes in disbelief. His first instinct was to make a call, but his finger tapped to check the home surveillance footage from the cameras he had installed last night out of worry for Madison; only he knew about this. On the screen, Madison was pleading humbly into the phone. "Mr. Whittaker, even if I sleep with ten more men, I still won't be able to gather a billion! How about... I give you a woman who looks like me? You like my looks, right? Astrid can be yours to play with as you please. Just delete the rest of the video backups and we'll write off my debt..." Nicholas's back stiffened. His breathing was rapid and his veins bulged as if he wanted to crush the phone. At the same time, the person in the seat in front of him exclaimed, "Mr. Jennings, Astrid died four years ago!" I did not hear the rest as Death had arrived. "The time has come, Astrid. Are you ready for your soul to be annihilated?" I gently stroked Nicholas's cheek and nodded slightly. "Yeah, let's begin."