When You're Gone (Colette) novel Chapter 22

Trapped in a long dream, Colette could not see the faces of the people in the dream, but somehow, she had a feeling that it was a dream about her and James.

The man in her dream was named James, but he was James Zeller, the heir of the Zeller Group. James Zeller had abandoned his family's wealth and his right to inherit the business, all to care for a young, frail girl who had no relation to him.

To the girl, he was a beloved uncle. He doted on her and raised her to become a lovely young lady. He was by her side for ten years. When she reached 18, she unapologetically fell in love with him.

No one, including James, showed any understanding toward her feelings. He withdrew his affection and began a relentless series of blind dates, ultimately finding the "perfect" fiancée to bring home.

He believed that finding a fiancée would put an end to Colette Anderson's feelings for him.

Yet when Colette was viciously stabbed during a robbery, James was the only person she thought to call. But he didn't answer—he was spending the entire day by his fiancée's side, caring for her through a mild fever.

James' attitude changed the day Colette gathered the courage to confess her love for him; from that moment on, he grew increasingly distant and indifferent.

When the killer took her life and hid her body in a closet, Colette didn't even get a final glimpse of him. Bound to her body, her soul couldn't move on. Though a soul was supposed to lack emotions, Colette Evans could feel the sorrow of the girl who had been abandoned by "Uncle James".

She watched as the girl struck a tragic deal with the Grim Reaper, agreeing to vanish forever in exchange for just seven more days with James. Brought back to life, the girl's first encounter with him was met with cruelty: he accused her of spamming him with calls on the very day she had died.