Chapter 2

2.

"I'm going to get burgers. Find a doctor yourself―a little princess like me doesn't wait on servants!"

Chloe pouted, turning on her heel and skipping away in her pink princess dress.

My heart sank to rock bottom.

Five years ago, when Meredith got pregnant, my mission was declared a success, and I was supposed to return home.

But she accidentally overheard me talking to the System and begged me not to abandon her.

Tears streamed down her face as she sobbed, "If you leave, what will happen to me and our baby?"

My heart softened, and I defied the System to stay in this world for her sake.

I told her that because I broke the rules, I was stuck here forever and could never leave.

She threw her arms around me with a radiant smile. "Isn't that even better? We'll be a real family, and I'll love you for the rest of my life."

Over the past five years, I worked myself to the bone.

While I sweated under the scorching sun on construction sites, she sat at home in the AC, snacking on expensive treats.

While I rushed through traffic delivering takeout without even having time for a bite of food, she slept soundly in bed, never leaving a single meal for me.

Yet I never blamed her; I would even cook late-night meals for her as soon as I got home.

Day after day, year after year, that was how we lived.

I spoiled her into a helpless princess who couldn't lift a finger.

She threw daily tantrums, demanding designer bags and luxury jewelry.

I even sold my own plasma just to satisfy her endless demands.

I made excuses for her, convincing myself she was just emotionally vulnerable from the pregnancy.

When Chloe was born, Meredith refused to breastfeed or take care of her.

I took on every single chore, looking after the baby around the clock while hustling to pay for formula.

I was exhausted beyond belief, yet I felt it was all worth it.

I raised Chloe with all the love in my heart and paid top dollar to get her into the best private preschool.

And now, she had turned into an ungrateful monster.

And her mother had betrayed me without hesitation.