Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Landon married someone else, and my seven-year mission ended in total failure.

As punishment, the System stripped away every single one of my emotions and desires.

I became completely carefree and utterly indifferent to him.

Yet Landon grabbed my arm in tears, begging, "Give me back the Valerie who loved me! Can't we just go back to how we used to be?!"

I looked at his tears without feeling a single ripple of pity.

Sorry, not interested, and there is no going back.

……

The day Landon married Mindy Reed, I became the biggest laughingstock in the city.

As the CEO of Caldwell Global, my seven-year pursuit of Landon had been public knowledge.

To the outside world, I was a ruthless, accomplished heiress, but in front of Landon, I was the most devoted girlfriend imaginable.

Seven years ago, Landon had just entered the entertainment industry as a completely unknown rookie.

I fell for him at first sight during a charity gala and pursued him relentlessly.

Eventually, we made our relationship official.

I pulled myself out of the dating scene, cutting off every casual fling and questionable acquaintance.

I secured top-tier movie roles for him, shielded him from industry predators, and blacklisted his rivals.

I did countless things I never thought I would ever do for another human being.

Tabloids even ran front-page headlines: 【Notorious Playgirl Tames Her Heart for Rising Starlet】.

Our romance was once hailed as a modern fairy tale.

With my backing, he finally climbed from complete obscurity to the pinnacle of stardom.

Yet I held a secret that only I knew: Landon was my assigned target.

I was born bound to a System that brought me immense business success, but it also gave me a conquest mission.

The ultimate objective was simple: 【Grow old together in love and spend a lifetime side by side.】

Failing the mission would trigger severe penalties from the System.

I admit that I initially pursued him just to complete the task.

Over time, through every little moment we shared, he carved his way deeper into my heart.

Until finally, I genuinely fell in love with him.

Just this year, backed by my resources, Landon won Best Actor at the film festival and claimed the coveted crown.

Everyone assumed our journey would culminate in marriage, waiting for the new star to officially join my family dynasty.

Then, a sudden entertainment headline shocked the entire country.

【Breaking! Newly Crowned Best Actor Landon Shaw Announces Surprise Marriage to Starlet Mindy Reed!】

In an instant, reporters swarmed the entrance of Caldwell Global, completely blocking the doors.

Cameras and microphones were shoved aggressively into my face like weapons.

"Ms. Caldwell, is it true that you and Mr. Shaw have officially broken up?"

"Did you know that Mr. Shaw and Mindy Reed already registered their marriage?"

"What exactly went wrong between you and Mr. Shaw?!"

The relentless flashing lights triggered a sharp, stabbing migraine, and I had no idea how to answer.

I did not know the answers myself because just the day before, Landon had been holding me tenderly before suddenly dropping this brutal blindside.

He told me he was sick of living under my shadow.

He was tired of everyone respecting him only because of my name.

He hated that every ounce of his glory came from my wealth and influence.

So he fell for an innocent, twenty-one-year-old newcomer he had known for barely three months.

I still remember the look on his face when he confessed his feelings for Mindy.

It was burning with raw passion.

"I love Mindy because she makes me feel like myself! She isn't like you, constantly controlling me, packaging me, and suffocating me!"

He seemed to have forgotten everything.