Chapter 3

Chapter 3

On the way home, I felt a wave of sadness. How did we end up like this?

We really did have good times once. Or at least, I thought we did.

Celine was Harlan's "one who got away," and she was the biggest hurdle in my mission.

When the System gave me the task, they were already a couple. That made everything harder.

The truth was, I fell for Harlan the first time I saw him in high school.

It wasn't just because of the mission. He was genuinely incredible and charismatic back then.

I did everything I could to get close to him until we became best friends. But I could never get into his heart.

He and Celine were childhood sweethearts. They grew up together and shared everything.

But Celine left without a word during our senior year to go abroad.

Harlan was so devastated he failed his college entrance exams and had to retake a whole year of school.

He was hurting, so I stepped in. I stayed by his side through everything. I believed if I just stayed long enough, he'd love me.

Hard work seemed to pay off. Eventually, he asked me to be with him.

On the day he proposed, my affection meter hit 100%.

I could have left this world then. But when I saw the ring he picked out, I gave up my chance to go home. I chose him.

The System gave me a new mission, but the penalty changed. Instead of being deleted, I would lose my memories.

For the first few years of marriage, we were the perfect couple. Everyone envied us.

I thought we'd grow old together. Then Celine came back.

Everything changed overnight.

All the warmth vanished. Now, he was throwing me away for her.

I finally realized that even during our best years, he never loved me. Not even a little.

Harlan wasn't joking about the divorce.

He hired a lawyer immediately and made sure everyone knew. Within twenty-four hours, the whole town was talking.

Friends and family called me constantly, asking if the rumors were true.

The way people looked at me was full of pity.

The divorce agreement was brutal. It focused on the pre-nup we had signed years ago. Harlan was taking 80% of the assets.

I didn't fight him. I didn't care about the money.

Even though the terms were unfair, I picked up the pen. The moment I started writing my name, a sharp pain stabbed through my heart.

I gritted my teeth and finished the signature.

Harlan looked at the signed papers and grinned. It hurt to look at him. It felt like a thousand ants were biting my chest.

I was doubled over in pain, sweating through my clothes. I had to clutch the table to keep from falling.

I knew this was the System's final warning. Once this agreement became legal, the penalty would hit.

Harlan just rolled his eyes. "Sienna, give the acting a rest. You think playing the victim will get my attention? I don't care."

He thought I was faking it. He practically dragged me into the car.

He couldn't wait to get to the courthouse. After we got our number, I sat down next to him.

I pointed at my dress and asked if he remembered that I wore this on our wedding day.

Harlan barely looked up. He looked disgusted. "I don't remember."

"That dress is years old. You should throw it out." He got up and moved to a different chair to get away from me.

I realized then that in his eyes, I was just like that dress―old, useless, and ready for the trash.

I stopped talking. I just sat there and waited for them to call our number.

The process was fast. It took fifteen minutes. When we walked out with the divorce certificate, Harlan sped up to leave me behind.

"It's cold out here. You shouldn't be running around. What if you catch a chill?" Harlan's voice was suddenly tender as he walked toward a car.

Inside the car sat Celine. She wasn't even pretending anymore. She gave me a wide, victorious grin.

The car drove off, leaving me standing alone on the sidewalk.

A moment later, the System detected that our marriage was legally over. The mission had officially failed.

Before wiping my mind, the System asked one last time, "Are you sure you don't want to try again?"

I shook my head.

The long torture was finally ending. For the first time in years, I felt light.

"Host, the penalty is beginning. Please prepare yourself." The System sounded almost sorry for me. I closed my eyes. "Do it."

I had imagined many ways to lose my memory, but I didn't expect it to be so violent.