Chapter 1

Isaac Carpenter lost his parents in a devastating arson. Then, Fiona Sanchez appeared in his life like an angel, taking him in and raising him.

On his 18th birthday, Isaac confessed his feelings to Fiona, but she recoiled and fled overseas in response. Three years passed before she returned, but she wasn't alone—she came back with a boyfriend.

One day, after picking up Fiona's birthday gift, Isaac was captured by criminals looking for ransom. When he desperately called her for help, she was too preoccupied with caring for her boyfriend's sick dog and repeatedly hung up on his calls.

Later, Isaac met a horrific end, dismembered by his captors.

At the mystical Shop of Lost Souls, the Reaper asked him, "What would you trade your soul for?"

Isaac replied without hesitation, "I'll trade my eternal soul for 70 years added to Fiona's life and seven days to return to the mortal world."

From that moment on, Isaac owed her nothing. The debt of raising him was repaid in full.

…

Isaac had just changed out of his blood-soaked clothes, but the metallic scent of blood still lingered in the mansion. When Fiona entered, she didn't notice anything unusual at first, and she let out a subtle sigh of relief when she saw Isaac.

For a brief moment, Isaac thought he saw a flicker of worry in her eyes, but maybe it was just his imagination.

Fiona thrust his emergency SOS message in front of him, her voice trembling slightly. "You're 21 now. Don't you think sending SOS messages to scare me just because I didn't answer your calls is a little childish?"

Isaac mumbled, "I didn't mean—"

"Didn't I tell you Victor's dog was sick, and I needed to help him?" Fiona cut him off coldly. "Why do you keep trying to contact me?"

Isaac remained silent with his head bowed. Meanwhile, Fiona's piercing gaze remained fixed on his face, demanding answers.

After a tense silence, Isaac finally gave in and said, "I'm sorry, Fifi, I pressed it by accident."

Fiona felt a twinge of nostalgia hearing him use her old nickname. She warned, "Don't ever pull stunts like this again."

Isaac nodded obediently. Satisfied with his response, Fiona turned to head upstairs.

However, as she glanced down, she noticed the deep wounds on his wrists. That was when she finally registered the coppery smell lingering in the air.

Her expression became a complex mixture of panic and anger, ultimately manifesting as accusation. She snapped, "Are you trying to manipulate me with suicide attempts? It won't work!"

She continued, "I'm marrying Victor soon. Three years apart clearly have taught you nothing—if you continue having these inappropriate feelings for me, you can move out!"

Fiona stormed upstairs and slammed her door without another glance at Isaac. In truth, the wounds weren't from a suicide attempt but rather from being bound and tortured before his death.

With a bitter heart, Isaac whispered, "Fifi, I won't have those feelings anymore because I'm already dead."

Fiona seemed to sense something was off and paused, but a strong gust of wind from outside muffled his words before they could reach her.

…

Back in his room, Isaac hung seven wind chimes by the window, each containing a fragment of his soul. In seven days, he would cease to exist entirely.

Once he was done, he found himself staring at their old photograph on the desk. It showed a 17-year-old Fiona holding hands with a much shorter Isaac, both bathed in the warm sunset glow. He was only ten then, and without Fiona, he wouldn't have survived.

The household staff had mocked him as a parasite and denied him proper meals. Fiona was furious when she discovered this and fired every single one.

Despite her busy college schedule, she came home every day to cook for him herself. When the smoke from the fire had ruined his eyes, Fiona read his textbooks aloud until her voice grew hoarse, permanently damaging her vocals.

Isaac had been consumed with guilt, but Fiona had gently assured him, "I don't blame you."

Fiona had raised him well for eight years, and even though he had grown taller than her, he still looked up to her with admiration.

At 18, Isaac was in the prime of his youth, and he had hopelessly fallen in love with the woman who brought him up. Fiona had thrown him an extravagant birthday party that year.

During the celebration, Fiona had become tipsy, and Isaac, having his first taste of alcohol, had lost control at the sight of her alluring presence.

He couldn't resist kissing her lips, but Fiona instantly sobered and bit him hard. With blood on his lips, Isaac still persisted in confessing his feelings. It was the first time Fiona had ever spoken harshly to him.

"Isaac, I'm seven years older than you, and we're practically siblings," she had said. "Loving me like this is wrong."

However, the fire in Isaac's eyes only grew stronger. "My last name is Carpenter, yours is Sanchez—we're not blood-related, so why can't we be together?"

Fiona threw her drink in his face, extinguishing his desires completely. "I've only ever seen you as a brother, nothing more."

That night, Fiona drank until the break of dawn while Isaac lay awake. When he tried to apologize the next day, her assistant informed him she had left for another country.

Isaac waited up for her every night for three years.

When they finally reunited, Fiona sweetly clung to Victor Lambert, insisting that he was Isaac's future brother-in-law. Devastated, Isaac asked if she had found a man just to break his heart.

Fiona scoffed. "Don't flatter yourself. I fell in love with Victor the moment I saw him perform on stage."

Victor was a dancer, a rising star in the entertainment industry, and Fiona had always loved the arts. For two weeks, she frequently appeared before Isaac with Victor, displaying their intimacy.

During his torture, his call was answered once—by Victor. "Hey, Fiona's busy blow-drying the dog's fur. She'll call you back later."

Isaac's screams were drowned out by the sound of the hair dryer, and Victor hung up. Until the moment the knife carved out his heart, Fiona never called back.

In the afterlife, Isaac discovered Fiona only had six months left to live. So, he traded his soul for 70 years to add to her life.

The underworld was moved by his devotion, keeping three parts of his soul and allowing seven fragments to return to earth to resolve his lingering attachment.

…

As the clock struck midnight, one wind chime fell and shattered. Isaac whispered, "Fifi, today marks the first of our goodbyes."

Upstairs, Fiona was startled awake by the sound, her heart trembling uncontrollably.

Chapter 2

On the second day, Isaac began making arrangements for his own death. He had been indebted to Fiona in this life and didn't want to burden her after his passing.

His first task was to recover his own remains from the crime scene. The abandoned field was overgrown with weeds, giving the area an eerie stillness.

His killers were ruthless, repeat offenders who had used a specialized chemical to dissolve most of his remains, leaving only a few bone fragments behind. As he dug through the soil to retrieve his remaining bones, Isaac still felt the pain despite having already died once.

Among the remains, he carefully cleaned a shell bracelet found within the bones of his hand. The criminals had deemed it worthless, but to Isaac, it was priceless.

He had crafted the bracelet for Fiona, knowing her love for seashells. He had even apprenticed under an artisan to learn the craft, meticulously polishing each shell.

In six days, it would be Fiona's 28th birthday, coinciding with his final day of return. Being able to give her this birthday gift personally would leave him with no regrets.

Isaac packed the remains carefully in a black bag, which could easily be mistaken for groceries at a glance. He had intended to go straight to the crematorium and close his accounts, but having left in haste, he had forgotten his ID and had to return home.

When he opened the door and saw Fiona at home, he lowered his head in greeting, lacking his usual enthusiasm.

Fiona sensed something different about him. Uncomfortable with his silence, she spoke first. "What did you buy?"

Isaac tensed up, his eyes darting nervously upward as he timidly replied, "Meat."

This was his tell when lying.

Fiona's thoughts drifted to the previous week, missing his nervous expression. Victor had come over to cook for her then, impressing her with his culinary expertise. At the dinner table, as he fed her, he said, "The way to a woman's heart is through her stomach."

Isaac had overheard it all from the corner of the room. That night, he stayed up watching cooking tutorials, determined to learn. At dawn, while Fiona was still asleep, he snuck into the kitchen to try.

However, as soon as he turned on the gas, the flames roared to life, freezing him in place. Memories of the fire that had killed his parents came rushing back, paralyzing him with fear.

He didn't know how long he stood there, staring blankly at the flame. It was only when Fiona came downstairs and quickly turned off the gas that they managed to prevent any accident from happening.

Seeing her face flushed from the mild gas exposure left Isaac riddled with guilt and heartbreak. He promised, "I'll try to overcome my fear of fire. Eventually, I'll learn to cook for you."

Fiona's response had been as cold as ice. "I don't need you to."

The memory lingered as Fiona's eyes drifted back to the black bag in Isaac's hands. She said flatly, "I have Victor now; I won't need you to cook for me."

Isaac let out a quiet breath of relief, though the look in his eyes shifted from anxiety to sadness. He couldn't deny it—Victor was better for Fiona in every way. Skilled in the kitchen, confident, and unburdened by Isaac's emotional baggage, Victor seemed perfect for her.

As he watched her graceful figure leave, Isaac felt a sticky sensation on his face. He was unsure if it was sweat or tears.

Nonetheless, Isaac was grateful Fiona hadn't looked inside the bag—the bloody sight would have terrified her. Just as he was about to set down the bag, Fiona unexpectedly returned, causing him to clutch it tightly.

She was busy carrying in a pile of deliveries and didn't notice him tensing up. Once inside, she began opening the boxes.

To Isaac's surprise, most of them contained products from a brand he loved—limited edition items, all in matching sets.

For a moment, he stood frozen, staring at the contents. In the past, he had begged Fiona to let them use matching items, and she had humored him by buying everything in pairs.

Shaking his head, Isaac forced himself to let go of the thought. He muttered under his breath, "Is Victor moving in?"

The sound of scissors cutting through tape muffled his words, and Fiona asked, "What?"

Isaac lowered his gaze, fidgeting with his fingers. "These matching items must be for Victor, right?"

Fiona froze, instinctively beginning to respond, "They're for—"

However, her words were interrupted by a phone call. Victor's warm voice came through the speaker, "Fifi, I've packed everything. When would you like me to move in?"

Isaac didn't hear Fiona's response as he had already turned to leave silently. Watching her gentle smile while on the phone, he bitterly realized the items were indeed for Victor.

Shortly after, Fiona went to her room for a video call with Victor, and Isaac quietly prepared to leave.

Halfway down the stairs, she called out from behind him, "There's a big storm coming. Where are you going?"

Isaac glanced outside. The sky was dark, the air heavy with the promise of rain. He didn't answer right away, but Fiona continued, "I can drive you."

Isaac was stunned—it had been three years since she had last offered to share a car ride with him. Unfortunately, he was going to close out his earthly affairs forever.

Chapter 3

Under Fiona's questioning gaze, Isaac casually replied, "To the dance studio."

After being adopted, he discovered Fiona's passion for dance. When she asked about his dreams, he confidently answered, "To become a professional dancer."

For eight years, he had trained relentlessly. Even when he pulled a muscle, he would take a painkiller and get back to practice without ever taking a day off. Finally, this year, he was accepted into the best performing arts college in the city through a competitive audition.

Fiona had once encouraged him, saying, "I believe you'll become the most exceptional dancer."

Yet, the table had turned, and his achievements were overshadowed by Victor's presence.

The day Fiona returned home, Isaac had excitedly prepared to show her his acceptance letter. Before he could share his joy, she had introduced Victor, her eyes full of admiration.

She said, "Victor and I met at the theater—he's the most talented dancer I've ever seen."

It was obvious that Fiona adored Victor. On the drive home that day, she enthusiastically described Victor's unique style and talent.

Meanwhile, Isaac simply listened obediently, noticing that death had somehow dulled the familiar ache in his heart.

His quietness surprised Fiona. Not long ago, he would react strongly anytime Victor was mentioned.

Fiona added, "Victor is an excellent dancer and a senior performer. You should learn from him."

Isaac replied, "Of course, Fifi."

This time, he spoke sincerely. Seeing Victor and Fiona share such similar interests assured him that she would be happy even after he was gone.

The dance studio and the records office were in opposite directions, and Fiona's Maybach had just passed the intersection. Isaac checked his watch and figured he still had time to head back to the office after Fiona left.

Just then, Victor's video call came through, and Fiona answered immediately.

"Fifi, I miss you," Victor said tenderly.

"But we're meeting tonight," she replied playfully.

They talked animatedly about their future after marriage. When the conversation grew more intimate, Victor made a heart gesture and blew her a kiss.

Isaac turned to look out the window at the darkening sky.

When the car was just about two miles from the dance studio, Victor mentioned craving some loaded fries from a restaurant on the West Side. However, the studio was on the East Side.

Fiona hit the brakes abruptly and glanced back at Isaac. She said bluntly, "I'm not going this way anymore. You'll have to get out."

With a heavy heart, Isaac silently opened the door. As he started to leave, Fiona lowered the window and handed him an umbrella, saying, "There's a storm coming."

Isaac froze for a moment, caught off guard by her rare gesture of concern. A faint warmth stirred in his chest.

However, Fiona averted her gaze and added indifferently, "If you catch a cold, don't expect me to take care of you. I'm busy planning my wedding with Victor."

The Maybach sped off, leaving Isaac in the middle of the road. Fiona's words echoed in his mind as he stood there, unmoving for a long time—the quick wedding plans confirmed how much she loved Victor.

Isaac had barely walked a few steps when the downpour began. Despite the umbrella, the heavy rain soaked through his clothes. By the time he reached the records office, it was noon, and the doors were locked.

He stood alone in the storm, a solitary figure, until the office reopened in the afternoon. Since Fiona was still legally his guardian, he wanted to remove himself from the records to spare her future complications.

The clerk was shocked—they had never processed a living person requesting to be declared deceased. Isaac smiled sadly, "Because I'll be dead soon."

The clerk was unsure how to handle this unusual request and went to consult their supervisor. When the supervisor arrived, he requested a private meeting in the conference room.

To Isaac's surprise, the man turned out to be his middle school homeroom teacher, Alfie Davidson.

After a few moments of small talk, Alfie eyed him curiously. "Why are you doing this? Does Fiona know?"

Isaac sighed and lied with a straight face. "I have a terminal illness, and I haven't told her."

Seeing his sorrowful gaze, Alphie stopped questioning but couldn't help but reminisce. He said, "Fiona has been so good to you. I still remember how you were an outstanding student yet insisted on pursuing dance despite our objections—Fiona supported you wholeheartedly then.

"When your spot in the competition was given to someone else, she even canceled her international project to fight for your rights. She's done so much for you, Isaac…"

As Alfie continued, Isaac's mind drifted to those memories. Finally, Alfie sighed and patted his shoulder, "You should tell Fiona about your condition. Don't leave her with regrets."

Isaac nodded. "I'll tell her personally soon. Please keep this between us for now."

He felt relieved when Alfie agreed.

On his way to the crematorium, memories of the past kept playing in his mind. Things could never return to how they were—she had found new love, and he was already dead.

As the flames consumed the remains he had gathered, Isaac could still feel the sting as though they were burning him. After everything was done, he walked away clutching the urn, only to run into familiar faces—Fiona and Victor walking side by side.

Seeing him, Fiona froze and blurted out, "Weren't you supposed to be at the dance studio?"

Chapter 4

Isaac looked up as their eyes met in an awkward silence.

Victor smiled warmly and asked, "What a coincidence seeing you here, Isaac. What brings you by?"

"I came to see off a friend," Isaac replied, quickly masking the tension in his expression.

Looking at Fiona, he added, "I just got the news—he was attacked and tragically killed. He didn't have any family, so I came to handle the… arrangements."

Fiona felt something strange stir inside her and was about to ask more questions, but Victor spoke first. He said sympathetically, "Your friend must have been around your age. What a tragic loss."

Fiona glanced at Isaac but remained silent as she walked away with Victor. Isaac breathed a sigh of relief as he stepped through the doorway, but Fiona's cold voice stopped him.

"Victor's dog just died of a heart attack. I need to be with him tonight, so don't wait up for me."

In the past, Isaac would have stubbornly waited in the living room all night when Fiona went to see Victor, his eyes bloodshot from lack of sleep. Yet now, he only saw her as a sister. Besides, he was already dead—someone else would be by her side in the future.

Isaac turned slightly and nodded calmly. "Okay, Fifi."

After returning home alone, he changed out of his rain-soaked clothes. In a few days, once the gravestone was ready and he had buried himself, all his affairs would be settled.

Isaac sat in his room until midnight when the shattering sound of a wind chime broke the silence—only five days remained of his time on earth.

Fiona's car didn't pull into the driveway until the next evening. Isaac watched from his window as Victor carried bags of his belongings while Fiona held his arm, her laughter genuine and sweet.

Isaac felt a pang in his chest—it had been three years since he saw Fiona smile so naturally. Nonetheless, he quickly found peace in knowing she had found her soulmate. In five days, when he disappeared for good, he would leave with no regrets.

In the kitchen, Victor busied himself cooking while wearing an apron as Fiona watched him adoringly. When dinner was ready, Victor warmly invited Isaac to join them, but being dead, Isaac couldn't consume food meant for the living.

"I'm sorry, I already ordered takeout," he declined politely.

Victor wasn't offended and simply replied, "Then you'll have to try my cooking next time."

Isaac retreated to his room. As he reached for the door handle, he heard it being pushed open from the other side. Fiona stood there, clearly annoyed.

Isaac automatically apologized, "I'm sorry, Fifi. I didn't mean to refuse Victor's offer, I—"

However, Fiona cut him off, staring at him as she asked sharply, "Didn't we agree takeout was unhealthy?"

Isaac was stunned—she was upset about his eating habits, not about Victor. He lowered his head and promised it wouldn't happen again.

Fiona's expression softened slightly at his words. As he was about to close the door, her voice came through the gap.

"I'll let it slide this time, but don't disrespect Victor like that again."

He chuckled bitterly, realizing he was right. Sure enough, she was warning him because of Victor.

Fiona added, "By the way, Victor's moving in soon. You'll need to get used to having him around."

Throughout their conversation, Fiona watched Isaac's face intently, but he maintained his composure. His newfound calmness unsettled her, and she felt something strange stirring inside her. Before she could say more, Victor called her down for dinner.

Only after Fiona disappeared from sight did Isaac close his door. Shutting out the cheerful laughter from downstairs, he called the cemetery.

He wanted to purchase a plot next to his parents but was told they were all sold. Reluctantly, he asked the staff to reserve one nearby.

After finishing the call, he leaned against the door with relief. Suddenly, footsteps echoed in the hallway—he had been too focused on his call to notice someone upstairs.

His heart missed a beat, and his fingers trembled, hoping no one had overheard his conversation. Fiona's familiar voice drifted through the door, her tone exceptionally gentle.

"Victor, you can choose any room upstairs."

Isaac relaxed slightly. Since they were busy choosing rooms, they probably hadn't noticed his conversation.

To Isaac's relief, Victor ultimately chose the room next to his. His wind chimes, tied to his lingering soul, were in there. Moving them would break them instantly.

The sound of cars and movers carrying belongings filled the air. Apparently, today was moving day.

The lingering smell of blood made him nauseous, so Isaac headed to the bathroom. The shower was running so loudly that he didn't hear his bedroom door open.

When he emerged wearing only a towel, he found Victor standing by the window, his hand reaching for the wind chimes.

Chapter 5

Isaac felt his soul shudder as he rushed to stop Victor, accidentally pushing him too hard and causing him to fall. He shouted, "Don't touch that!"

Fiona ran in to help Victor up, her voice sharp with anger. "Isaac, what's wrong with you? It's just a room. How dare you disrespect your future brother-in-law?"

Victor looked guilty as he spoke, "That room was too far from Fifi, so I wanted to switch to this one. I didn't know it was yours. I'm sorry—I'll leave right now."

As Victor turned to leave, Fiona stopped him and fixed her cold gaze on Isaac. Victor squeezed her hand gently and said, "Fifi, I didn't mean to take Isaac's room. I honestly didn't know."

Fiona's eyes flashed with anger as she pointed at Isaac. "Victor will be the head of this household soon. If he wants this room, you need to give it to him."

She watched him intently, expecting his usual defiant reaction.

Instead, he took a deep breath and said quietly, "Give me five days, and I'll move out."

His compliance caught Fiona off guard.

After leaving, Victor didn't go to the other room but headed to Fiona's instead. Meanwhile, Isaac sat at his desk, writing down herbal remedies for stomach problems.

Years ago, Isaac's father had been Fiona's first mentor before the accident. Out of gratitude, she adopted Isaac, despite the Sanchez family's objections about a young woman taking on such a burden. They had even cut off her finances to force her hand.

Fiona had built her own success from scratch, and only when she became a rising tech mogul did the Sanchez family try to reconcile. Being a workaholic, she developed stomach problems, and Isaac had always prepared her herbal remedies.

Now that he would be gone soon, he wanted to leave her the recipe.

Suddenly, his phone buzzed. Victor had sent a selfie showing lipstick marks on his collarbone—Isaac recognized it as Fiona's favorite shade.

He stared at the screen, his expression unreadable. In the past, seeing their intimacy would have made him cry alone in his bed, but being dead seemed to have numbed the pain.

About two minutes later, the photo was deleted, followed by a message from Victor. "Sorry, I sent the wrong picture. I actually wanted to ask what lipstick shade Fifi likes. Her birthday's coming up, and I want to get her a gift."

Isaac was no longer affected by Victor's provocations, and he calmly forwarded him the product link. Then, he walked to his bed and crushed one of the wind chimes.

Though it wasn't midnight yet, this day could end early. Only four days remained of his time on earth.

The next morning, Isaac overheard a discussion downstairs about a family dinner at which Fiona would introduce Victor to her parents. On the couch, Victor wrapped his arm around Fiona's waist and suggested, "Why don't we bring Isaac along?"

The mention of the family dinner gave Isaac pause. For eight years, he had never visited the Sanchez family, knowing he wasn't welcome. Fiona had always protected him from that rejection.

After a moment's hesitation, Fiona still refused. However, Victor persisted, "I'm nervous about meeting your parents. Having someone familiar there would help."

Under Victor's pleading gaze, Fiona finally gave in. Her devotion to Victor's wishes showed how deeply she loved him.

Spotting Isaac at the stairs, Victor waved at him and said, "Isaac, I don't have a suitable suit. Could I borrow one of yours?"

Fiona turned to look at him as well, and he smiled softly before leading Victor to the walk-in closet. 15 minutes later, he emerged to find Fiona holding his phone with a strange expression.

"Why are you ordering a headstone?" she asked.