Chapter 1

1.

It was the fifth year of my mission to win over the story's villain. Finally, he had agreed to marry me.

On our wedding day, the grand chandelier suddenly broke loose and plummeted. In that heartbeat of a second, he shoved me away with all his might.

He lunged to protect his trembling first love, Celine.

His arm was sliced open by the falling glass, blood blooming across his white suit like a gruesome flower.

But Celine, held tightly in his embrace, was completely unharmed.

Clutching the bleeding gash on my neck, I finally accepted the cold, hard truth: he never loved me.

The System's voice echoed in my mind.

"Do you want to end the mission early?"

I nodded, my heart feeling like lead.

"If he's destined to end up broken and suffering because of her anyway, then I'll let him."

......

"Have you made your final decision? Once confirmed, there's no turning back. No second chances."

The System sighed, sounding almost regretful.

After all, this System was born from my own deepest wish. It sent me into this book when I felt heartbroken for Sebastian, hoping I could change his tragic fate.

I pressed my hand against my neck, feeling the warm blood seep through my fingers. The world started to spin.

"I did my best..." I whispered.

Sebastian was the antagonist of this world. Denied love since childhood, his personality had twisted into something dark and volatile.

As an adult, he was willing to walk through fire for Celine, even if she only gave him the tiniest crumb of attention.

In the original plot, he ended up losing his limbs and living a life worse than death, all for the sake of saving her.

I had been in this world for five years. I recorded every detail of his life, staying by his side to offer him redemption.

Everyone knew I loved him. I was the only one who saw his inner demons and didn't run away in fear.

In the beginning, he was hostile. He didn't believe a word I said, and his eyes were only for Celine.

I knew how cruel he could be. Once, when he intentionally lunged at me with a blade, I didn't dodge. I let it sink into my chest, right next to my heart.

The cruel smirk on his face froze. He looked at me with a mix of shock and confusion.

I told him with a smile that he wasn't the only one willing to sacrifice everything for the person they loved. I was willing to do the same for him.

I won that gamble. He rushed me to the hospital himself, and after that, the verbal abuse stopped.

He loved street racing, something I knew nothing about. To make him happy, I worked three jobs just to buy him a limited-edition helmet, surviving on less than three hours of sleep a day.

In the fifth year, he went missing after a horrific racing accident. I didn't sleep for twenty-four hours until I finally found him.

When he woke up and saw me, his eyes turned red. He cupped my face, whispering sweet things against my skin.

He held me so tightly I thought he might crush me.

Then, I heard the sound of suppressed sobbing against my ear. I hugged him back, trying to soothe his trembling soul.

After he was discharged, he gripped my hand firmly, his gaze dark and intense.

"We're getting married. Once we do, don't even think about leaving me."

His voice was low, laced with a hint of a threat, but it left me stunned.

My heart hammered against my ribs so loudly I could barely hear. My cheeks burned with heat.

After a long silence, I gripped his hand back and looked him in the eye.

"Then it's a deal. Let's get married."

I started preparing for the wedding that very day.

From choosing the venue to the tiny details on my wedding dress, I handled everything personally.

I was so full of hope, looking forward to our future together.

I even invited Celine to the wedding.

I was confident enough to believe that Sebastian wasn't obsessed with her anymore.

But the moment that chandelier crashed down, it shattered every dream I had.

I touched the bandage the doctor had applied. It still throbbed with a dull, aching pain.

I looked down, hiding my tears with a bitter smile.

I pulled out my phone and messaged the wedding planner to cancel everything. Then, I took off my bridal jewelry and packed away the dress.

I thought Sebastian and I had been through enough together to make me special to him.

But I had underestimated the power of a first love.

No matter how long I stayed or how much I sacrificed, as long as Celine was there, I would always lose.

The System asked softly.

"Host, are you really planning on going home?"

I nodded.

"Just tell me when I can leave."

"In about twenty-four hours, the tunnel will reopen. During this time, you can do whatever you want. Don't leave any regrets."