Chapter 2

Ten years ago, I transmigrated into this world after a fatal car accident claimed the lives of both me and my twin children.

Just when I thought my life was over, the System found me.

It told me I was selected for a survival mission, and once I completed it, I could return to my original world to save the three of us.

If I failed, I would die in that car wreck all over again.

Grasping at this lifeline, I immediately agreed.

“Whatever the mission is, I will complete it!”

I had to do it for Sophie, for Jack, and for myself.

Little did I know, this task was far harder than I imagined.

The System informed me that Garrett Foster, the male lead I had to win over, already had a childhood darling.

She was the universe’s true heroine.

Whenever she appeared, Garrett would be instinctively drawn to her, willing to sacrifice everything for her.

Looking at the smiling father and daughter, I let out a bitter sigh.

Just because I was a transmigrated mission runner, was I destined to never receive love whenever Clarissa was around?

I first met Garrett on freshman orientation day in college.

The System had me wear a special tracker that would beep frantically once my target’s satisfaction potential hit one hundred percent.

During the ceremony, as Garrett gave his speech as the freshman representative, the tracker began blaring in my head.

I looked up his background; he was the sole heir to Foster Enterprises.

To win his heart, I spent years catering to his every whim, enduring mockery and insults from everyone around him.

It was not until our senior year that I finally got my opening.

Clarissa went abroad for grad school with her boyfriend, and Garrett got blackout drunk and forced himself on me.

The next morning, he claimed he would take full responsibility.

I cut straight to the point.

“Then let’s get married.”

After our wedding, Garrett provided me with a luxurious lifestyle, and we had our sweet daughter, Maisie.

Just when I thought life would continue smoothly, Clarissa divorced her husband and returned to town two years ago.

Garrett began coming home later and later, frequently disappearing into the night after a single phone call from her.

The System warned me: “Before your thirtieth birthday, any drop in the male lead’s satisfaction score will directly damage your physical health.”

In just two years, Garrett’s satisfaction score plummeted to fifty percent.

I was plagued by constant illnesses and even spent a week in the ICU six months ago.

Garrett heard some nasty rumors from somewhere and accused me of faking my illness just to guilt him into coming home.

Everyone believed I stayed submissive to Garrett because I was obsessed with the title of Mrs. Foster.

They would never know that I was merely biding my time, doing whatever it took to keep myself alive.

Never mind, it did not matter anymore.

This morning, the System’s sharp metallic chime announced: “Congratulations, Host. Time is up. The mission is officially deemed successful. The return portal will open in seven days at ten in the morning.”

With a blank face, I shredded their plane tickets and prepared to head to the airport alone.

To my surprise, Clarissa grabbed my arm right at the restaurant entrance.

“Madeline, why are you leaving? Isn’t today your birthday?”

I looked Clarissa up and down.

The sparkling diamond necklace around her throat was the very one Garrett had spent millions on at a charity auction three months ago, which had made front-page headlines.

When I subtly asked Garrett about it back then, he claimed he bought it for an important corporate client.

He was bidding against his rival, Logan Wells, for prime real estate on the West Side, so I had not questioned him.

Noticing my gaze on her necklace, Clarissa covered her mouth with a smirk.

“Garrett said this color suits my skin perfectly. What do you think?”

Such simple words, yet so sharp and venomous.

She shoved a bouquet of carnations into my hands.

“Happy birthday, Madeline! What are you standing there for? Let’s head inside.”

Without waiting for an answer, she dragged me straight into the private room.

Seeing Clarissa slightly out of breath, Garrett asked with concern, “Did the chauffeur not drop you off? Why are you sweating?”

He naturally reached out and wiped the fine beads of sweat from her forehead.

Standing in the doorway, I looked completely like an outsider.

Maisie ran over and held out her tiny hand.

“Mean Mommy, where is my present?”

It was my birthday.

Not only did they fail to wish me a happy birthday, but they also demanded a gift from me.

When Maisie realized I did not bring her a toy, she grew furious and pounded her little fists against my body.

“You’re a bad mommy! Waaah...”

She threw a full-blown tantrum and started bawling.

Clarissa immediately swept Maisie into her arms and cooed, “Don’t cry, Maisie. Look, Godmother brought you cupcakes and a pretty charm bracelet!”

Maisie ripped open the box and clapped excitedly.

“Godmother is the best! I don’t want that mean mommy anymore!”

Garrett’s face turned icy as he snapped at me.

“Look at you. You can’t even do half of what Clarissa does. All you do is make our child cry. Go order the food already, we’re starving.”

This seafood restaurant required customers to pick fresh catches in the back and have them weighed.

Seeing me standing still, Garrett frowned again in irritation.

“Madeline, are you deaf? Go now!”

Throughout our six years of marriage, Garrett expected me to pick him up no matter how late he drank.

When we returned home, he expected me to take off his shoes and change his clothes, treating my servitude as his birthright.

I was not born to spend my life bowing to him.

I looked at him coldly.

“You have been sitting here for an hour and did not order? Can you not read the menu, or can you not speak English?”

Clarissa immediately chimed in.

“Madeline, how could you speak to Garrett like that? He works so hard every day. As a wealthy housewife with nothing else to do, can’t you even handle a simple errand?”

She pretended to stand up, turning to Garrett.

“Forget it, Garrett. Madeline is far too high and mighty to do such menial work. I will go instead.”

Garrett pulled her right back down into her chair.

“Your period is due in a couple of days. You need to rest.”

He turned back to me with a bossy glare.

“Stop wasting time and go!”

So he remembered Clarissa’s menstrual cycle down to the exact day.

How ironic.

Last month, while dealing with my own severe cramps on my second day, I drove through a torrential downpour to pick up a drunken Garrett.

I collapsed onto the floor in agony, and he simply glanced at me with disgust.

“If you are going to drop dead, do it in your own room. Don’t block my way.”

Looking back now, it was utterly laughable.