Third person's POV
At the sound of the voice, Gloria's pupils dilated sharply, her face filled with terror and confusion. "Am I hallucinating? Why would I receive a call from heaven before I even get there?" Her body involuntarily shrank back, leaning against the bodyguard, her hands clutching his arm tightly.
"What heaven? Gloria, where are you? It's me. I'm not dead," Tabitha's voice carried a hint of urgency, her words spreading through the cold air with a tremor and ethereal quality.
Gloria looked at the bodyguard, her eyes wide. "Did you hear what she said?" Her eyes were filled with anticipation and unease, her lips trembling slightly.
The bodyguard, regardless of who was on the other end, noticed the drastic change in Gloria's expression and quickly played along, "She said she's not dead and asked where you are. What heaven?"
He raised his voice a bit so that those around could hear.
Gloria shot the bodyguard a fierce look, as if her eyes could shoot arrows. "Am I an idiot? Do I need you to explain to this extent?"
The bodyguard felt helpless and bitter inside, thinking to himself how he ended up with such a troublesome job.
However, Tabitha sensed something amiss from the phone call. "Where are you? Who are you talking to?"
Gloria wasn't sure how Tabitha had been resurrected, but the thought that she was still alive made the world seem a little less boring.
At least, she couldn't let Tabitha worry about her.
"No, no, I'm just talking to my new bodyguard. Tabitha, do you know that? Ever since you left, I've been doing quite well. I go out with eight bodyguards now, all with eight-pack abs," Gloria said, trying to sound composed.
"Hearing your voice puts my mind at ease. I was most afraid that you weren't doing well," Tabitha said gently.
"Doing well, how could I not be? I'm living in a mansion now, driving luxury cars, experiencing the luxurious life of the wealthy," Gloria said with a smile, but Tabitha still keenly sensed something was off.
"Are you crying?" Tabitha asked with concern.
Amidst the swirling snowflakes, Gloria looked at the falling snow and managed a helpless smile. "Now that I know you're not dead, I'm so happy I'm crying. Can't I even cry about that?"
The bodyguard seized the opportunity to pull her up with the help of his colleagues. Gloria's body suddenly collapsed onto the snowy ground.
Surrounded by people, she felt an overwhelming sense of desolation and loneliness.
Tears uncontrollably slid down her chin, "Tabitha, I miss you so much."
Tabitha, unaware of Gloria's true situation, thought she was crying out of joy. "Let's meet at our place, and I'll give you a surprise."
"Okay," Gloria quickly agreed.
"When can you get there?" Tabitha asked.
"Half an hour, oh, maybe an hour. I'm a new rich now, I need to dress up properly," Gloria said.
"Alright, see you in an hour," Tabitha replied.
Gloria hung up the phone and hurried away without looking back, the bodyguard chasing after her. "Miss Bennett, aren't you jumping off the building anymore?"
"Can't you see my bestie is looking for me? I'm going out, and if Alpha Leopold stops me again, I'll cut my stomach open for him to see," Gloria shouted.
The bodyguard's mouth twitched slightly, wondering how Alpha Leopold fell for such a strong-willed woman.
"Alright, I'll report to Alpha Leopold immediately."
Leopold received the call and was relieved to hear that Gloria was safe and sound.
"Let her go for now. Don't provoke her. Just have someone follow her."
"Understood, Alpha Leopold," the bodyguard responded respectfully.
"She likes money and jewelry. Bring out my sapphire collection and give it to her," Leopold instructed.
"Yes, sir," the bodyguard agreed.
Gloria rushed back to her room, looking at herself in the mirror. She looked like a haggard, malnourished ghost.
She couldn't let Tabitha see her in such a mess.
She quickly took a hot shower, applied some blush and eyeshadow to her face, carefully chose a bright red lipstick, and picked out an extravagant coat from her wardrobe before heading out.
"Miss Bennett, Alpha Leopold instructed us to take you there," the bodyguard said.
Gloria was in no mood to argue with him, her mind filled with memories of being with Tabitha.
She wondered how Tabitha had been doing all this time.
She knew Tabitha's life with a man like Derek couldn't have been easy.
Thinking about her situation, she couldn't be doing much better.
She hurried to their favorite dessert shop from college days and saw a large and small figure standing at the entrance.
Even though Tabitha was wrapped in a thick down jacket, her thin figure was still evident, and a cute little one accompanied her.
The moment their eyes met, Gloria's tears burst forth like a broken dam, streaming down her cheeks.