She Died With My Name on Her Lips novel Chapter 18

“She’ll forgive me. Louisa always does,” Stephen whispered, sounding half-crazed. “If I suffer the same way she did, she’ll see me, feel sorry, and take me back. Lou’s got the softest heart. She loves me too much to stay angry. Even in the next life, we’ll be happy together.”

He didn’t know how long he’d been wandering when he found himself back in the walk-in freezer. Louisa lay inside the ice coffin, her skin pale, her body hidden beneath a thick layer of frost.

Stephen pressed himself against the icy glass, hugging the coffin like it was her. He didn’t even shiver.

“Louisa, Lou, just wait for me a little longer. I’ll be with you soon. Once I take care of everything here, we’ll be together in the next life. I promise—I won’t let anything separate us again.”

He talked to her for what felt like forever, lost in the cold and the silence, until he finally forced himself to leave. He barely bothered to wash up before heading to the office.

People at work could sense something was up. Stephen was making big changes—handing over his responsibilities to other managers and shareholders, like he was putting his affairs in order.

Everyone was on edge. The rumors were everywhere, and plenty of people begged Aiden to step in and talk to Stephen, to do something before it was too late.

Aiden felt helpless. Eventually, he found a church he thought might help and finally worked up the nerve to confront Stephen again.

“Mr. Barker, the company needs you,” he pleaded. “No one else can run it like you. If you leave, Barker Corporation could fall apart.”

“And Mrs. Barker—she wouldn’t want this. She ended her own life hoping you’d let go, that you’d find peace and keep living. Your parents would want the same.”

“That’s enough. I don’t want to hear it.” Stephen cut him off, his face cold and distant. “I’ve made up my mind. My family, Louisa—they’re all gone. What’s the point of staying?”

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