Charlotte Hayes has been dead for a month. Her husband Arthur still thinks she's throwing a tantrum. He calls to force her to apologize to his first love Vivian. But Julian answers: Charlotte has been dead for a month.
Flashback: Charlotte was diagnosed with stomach cancer. Before surgery, she begged Arthur to sign the consent form. He said, "Let me know when you're dead so I can collect your body." She died on the operating table. Her soul was trapped by his side, watching him care for Vivian, celebrate her birthday, plan their divorce.
Arthur doesn't believe she's dead. He goes to the orphanage to find her. Julian takes him to her grave. He digs up her ashes with his bare hands. He reads her diary — she gave up her dream design school for him, gave up her career, faced cancer alone in fear and pain.
The truth comes out: Vivian admits she lied about Charlotte pushing her into the lake. Arthur goes mad. He shoves Vivian's head into the toilet. She escapes, gets hit by a car, and is paralyzed for life.
At Charlotte's funeral, Arthur reserves the plot next to hers. He tries to kill himself and fails. He lives in hallucinations. In the end, he drives to the sea where her ashes were scattered. He never comes back.
