Chapter 2

2

From the very first wedding until now, Gavin said the exact same thing every time: "Next time."

Seven years had passed, and not a single wedding had ever been completed.

I parted my lips, wanting to tell him that there would be no next time for us.

Just then, Nadia's sobbing voice came through the speaker again.

"Gavin, I'll only be able to love you in the next life..."

Gavin's face tightened with panic.

"I'm on my way! Nadia, please don't do anything reckless!"

He strode out of the hall like a heroic knight rushing to rescue his princess. I could still hear his gentle voice comforting Nadia as he rushed off.

I, the woman who was supposed to become his wife, was left standing at the altar alone. He didn't spare me a single backward glance.

The guests below were already whispering, eyeing me with strange expressions.

Those looks of pity and mockery felt like sharp blades slicing into my skin, exposing my bleeding heart to the crowd.

Watching his resolute back disappear, I let out a bitter, hollow laugh.

Gavin, do you have any idea that I am about to die too?

A robotic chime sounded in my ear.

"Host, if the wedding is not completed within three days, your mission will be marked as failed and you will be erased."

I stared blankly at the diamond ring resting in my palm.

I had waited seven years for this ring, yet it had never stayed on my finger.

Driven by some strange impulse, I slid it onto my index finger.

Seven years ago, the ring was half a size too large.

Back then, Gavin held me apologetically and blamed himself for giving the wrong size, offering to get it resized.

Not wanting to trouble him, I smiled and told him it would fit once he spoiled me and helped me gain some weight after we got married.

Seven years later, it fit me even worse.

It hung loosely on my finger, ready to slide off at any moment.

I pulled it off and threw it out the nearby window without hesitation.

A ring that never fit should have been thrown away long ago, instead of being waited on for seven foolish years.

People were no different.

"System, I want to forfeit the mission."

Even though I had cancer in my original world and had no blood family, I had caring friends there. I had doctors who reminded me to get checkups, a sweet lady in the hospital bed next to mine who shared freshly baked blueberry muffins, and a little girl across from me who gave me flowers.

I drew genuine warmth from every single one of them.

Here, however, I was left with nothing but endless coldness.

I used to believe Gavin would become my true family.

I thought we would build a cozy home and live happily together.

After seven years of being abandoned and stood up repeatedly, my heart had grown utterly numb.

Now, the crumbling fortress of my feelings had completely collapsed.

"Host, there are still three days left. As long as you complete a wedding ceremony, the mission will succeed. Don't you want to try one last time?"

I unexpectedly detected a hint of sympathy in the system's usually cold, mechanical voice.

"No need."

What was the point of trying again?

It would just be another round of humiliating myself, and my heart was already dead.

As long as Nadia existed, failure was inevitable.

"Understood. However, the ten-year timeline must run its course. You will officially depart this world in three days."

"Host, you may choose the manner of your departure."

I pondered for a moment.

"Then let me die right before Gavin's eyes. Let him see what someone who truly wants to die looks like."

Since Gavin believed all ninety-nine of Nadia's staged suicide attempts while treating my words as manipulative threats, I was curious.

I wondered what kind of look he would have on his face when I actually died right in front of him.