Chapter 3

03.

My head felt like it was splitting open, but I ignored the pain to scream at the System.

"How did it fail? The affection level was at a hundred percent!"

The System sounded even more panicked than I was.

"The score was full, but the System detected a massive deception by the target. All affection points have dropped to zero."

"However, don't worry. Your earned points are safe. You can stay and try again, or move to the next world."

"But be warned: if you choose to leave, this world will be wiped out instantly!"

Silas was a master liar. He had even managed to trick the System.

The pain became unbearable. I tried to speak, but the agony dragged me into darkness.

I didn't wake up until the next afternoon.

Silas and our son were already gone from the hotel, and they weren't answering my calls.

Instead, I got a notification. Because I missed the hearing, the court granted the divorce.

I let out a self-deprecating laugh and booked a flight home.

In the living room, Silas was playing video games with our son and Luna.

They looked like a perfect, happy family.

When the door opened, all three of them looked up.

The moment Luna saw me, a flash of genuine panic crossed her eyes.

"Chloe, Silas told me you guys were already divorced, that's why I..."

"Relax. I'm not here for a scene. I'm just here to pack my things."

I tried to walk upstairs, but my legs felt like lead.

I couldn't even make it past the first few steps. I had to look back at Silas for help.

"Silas, can you help me upstairs? I can't feel my legs."

Luna's eyes welled up with tears instantly.

She looked at Silas, her thin frame looking fragile and pathetic.

Silas's gaze shifted to me, turning into pure annoyance.

"Chloe, you agreed to the divorce yesterday. You said you wanted nothing."

"Who are you putting this act on for now?"

"If I knew you'd pull this, I never would have brought our son home!"

Silas slammed the door and stormed out. Our son followed his lead, his voice high and shrill.

"Mommy is a big liar! Bad Mommy!"

"I don't want you to be my mommy anymore. Get out of our house!"

The boy rushed over and pushed me. My numb legs gave out, and I hit the floor hard.

He didn't stop. He started kicking me with his small leather shoes.

The metal buckles on his shoes stung as they bruised my skin.

I was the one who bought those shoes for him.

Only when he got tired did Luna come over to pull him away, faking a gentle tone.

"Chloe, you were only with Silas for some mission. Even having this child was just for points."

"But I'm different. I love Silas with my whole heart. Just let us be."

Just for a mission?

In the beginning, yes, I approached Silas for the task.

But for those three years, his care for me felt so real. Was that part of the mission too?

Even our son wasn't my idea.

Silas had held my hand and begged me for a baby.

He had said, "Chloe, I know you're not from here. Let's have a child."

"Maybe then, you'll never want to leave me."

Now, he couldn't wait to throw me away.

I looked at Luna and said, "The mission failed. The System says I have to start over."

Luna's face turned pale. Silas, who had just walked back in, looked at me with pure loathing.

"Enough! Chloe, you used that excuse to keep Luna and me apart for years. Are you really doing this again?"

"I honestly doubt there ever was a System. I think you made it all up!"

"Pack your crap and get out! Stop standing in the way of our happiness."

"Yeah! I don't want a lying mommy! I want pretty Auntie Luna!" my son added.