Nathalie nodded so hard her head felt like it might fall off.

    "Nathan, it''s me."

    But almost instantly, she realized-Nathan couldn''t see her, couldn''t hear her. She was just a ghost in this world, powerless to change a thing.

    Wait...

    She stared down at the sunflower plush in her hands, stunned. How on earth could she still hold it?

    "Nathalie. I knew you''de back to see me."

    Nathan''s eyes were red and watery, his voice thick with grief. "Nathalie, if you''re really here, show me a sign."

    Nathalie tapped the sunflower gently.

    Nathan broke into tears of relief and joy. "It really is you."

    It took a while before he could pull himself together.

    He sat on the couch, hugging the sunflower plush to his chest.

    He patted the seat next to him. "Nathalie, can you sit with me for a bit? There''s something I want to tell you."

    Nathalie sat beside him, quiet as a shadow.

    Nathan offered her the sunflower.

    She understood-this toy was their only bridge now. She took it and held it close.

    When Nathan saw the sunflower floating in the air, a look of peace crossed his face. But just as quickly, pain clouded his features, as if he''d remembered something unbearable.

    "I was only gone on a work trip. Why did you and Nina disappear while I was away?"

    "Nathalie, please, tell me what really happened?"

    He looked so young, just past twenty, but his eyes held a depth and heaviness far beyond his years.

    Nathalie couldn''t answer him. The truth was, she didn''t even know how she''d died.

    "Was Cameron good to you?" Nathan tried again.

    Nathalie felt lost.

    She''d always assumed Cameron was cold and heartless, but in reality, she''d seen him grieve deeply for his lost wife, and treat Greta-the supposed mistress-with nothing but indifference.

    Nathan didn''t wait for her answer. "Nathalie, I know you loved him. Loved him enough to give up your own health for his so-called true love."

    "But he didn''t love you back. Not the way you loved him. If someone really loves you, how could they let

    you get hurt like that? If the love

    wasn''t pure from the start, any

    affection after that just feels cheap."

    Nathan''s face hardened, his voice turning fierce. "So I won''t let you keep getting tangled up with him."

    Nathalie almostughed through her tears. She was already dead-how could

    she possibly get involved with Cameron again?

    But Nathan said, "I''m talking about your next life. And the one after that."

    Nathalie stared at him, speechless.

    Nathan turned away, showing her his lonely back.

    "Nathalie, don''t me me for being cold. If Cameron''s not right for you, don''t waste another thought on him."

    "In a couple of days, I''ll ask a medium to help you move on."

    "I''ll have them change your fate. You''ve suffered enough in this life."

    Nathalie was stunned. So this was what Greta had meant when she said Nathalie''s fate had been tampered with?

    With nowhere else to go, Nathalie stuck close to Nathan for the next few days, following him everywhere.

    That''s when she discovered his

    ет

    secret: Nathan had been meeting with a medium a lottely, and there were always strange ritual objects turning up around the house.

    One night, Nathan and the medium stayed upte, talking behind closed doors.

    What Nathalie heard left her reeling.

    "Master, I want you to change her fate. Is that possible?"

    "Nathan, you know what you''re asking for. Changing fate goes against thews of

    the universe. It can''t be done."