Chapter 1

Chapter 1

After the storyline officially concluded, I bought a bouquet of fresh flowers and a gift, ready to celebrate.

Instead, I accidentally overheard a conversation between my husband and our son.

"Daddy, now that I'm all better, we don't have to pretend with that fake mommy anymore, right?"

"Auntie Lorelei is the mommy I really want!"

My husband gave a gentle laugh, a warmth in his eyes that I had never once received in all these years.

"Alright. Daddy will replace her and make Auntie Lorelei your new mommy."

Our son nodded with pure excitement.

I turned around and tossed the flowers and gift into the trash, feeling even more thrilled than he was.

If it weren't for saving my real-world husband and daughter, I never would have endured being the tragic female lead in this world for so long.

......

Earlier that afternoon, it was Parker's fifth birthday. I left work early to pick him up from his tutoring center, only to be told he had already been taken home.

Seeing my confusion, the young receptionist quickly explained herself.

"Parker called the woman 'Mommy,' and his father, Mr. Pierce, was right beside them. I assumed she was you…"

She paused and pulled up the security camera footage on her phone. "Look! That's your husband, right?"

I zoomed in on the screen. Parker was wrapped tightly in a woman's embrace, smiling brightly, while Garrick Pierce had his arm draped affectionately over her shoulders, looking completely blissful.

I swallowed the bitter lump in my throat, handed the phone back, and thanked the teacher.

Noticing my pale face, the teacher tried to soften the blow. "It could just be a misunderstanding. Maybe Parker just misspoke…"

I forced a faint smile. How could a child accidentally call someone else his mother?

I turned around and headed straight home. Before I even opened the front door, their voices drifted through the crack.

Parker was curled up in Garrick's lap, asking innocently, "Daddy, now that I'm cured, will my body stop hurting forever?"

"Of course, buddy!" Garrick ruffled Parker's hair, his tone lighter than I had ever heard before. "The main plot is finally over. We don't have to walk on eggshells anymore, and we don't have to fear the system's penalties if things go off track."

I froze on the front porch, my hand hovering over the doorknob.

"That's wonderful! Then can Auntie Lorelei be my mommy now? I hate having to play along with that fake mommy."

"Just looking at her annoys me," Parker's childish voice rang out. It struck my chest like a sharp hook, tearing into my heart until the agony became unbearable.

Garrick didn't correct him. Seeing his father's silence, Parker pressed on, whining sweetly, "Daddy, my only birthday wish is to get a new mommy. You promised you'd make it happen!"

After a brief pause, Garrick replied softly, "I know. As soon as she gets back, I'll bring up the divorce. Then we can finally be a real family with Lorelei."

The moment the words left his mouth, the gift and bouquet slipped from my hands and hit the floor with a loud thud. Parker's cheerful chatter died instantly.

Spotting me by the doorway, Parker's smile vanished, replaced by an icy scowl.

"Mommy, why are you eavesdropping on us?!" he snapped at me like a spoiled prince. "Get away from here! I don't want to see you!"

A flicker of awkwardness crossed Garrick's face. He scolded Parker half-heartedly and bent down to pick up the fallen items.

"Don't touch them!" I cut in coldly. Garrick looked up, his pupils shrinking in absolute shock.

His reaction was entirely expected. For the past five years, I had never spoken back to him. I had been the submissive, obedient wife who catered to his every whim, terrified of displeasing him.

"Leah, what's wrong with you…" Garrick stared at me in disbelief. I stood tall, staring right through him.

The suffocating tension proved too much for Parker. The little boy jumped down from the sofa, balling his tiny fists, and lunged at me in anger.

"I hate you, Mommy! You're bad! You're mean!"

"You're just jealous because Daddy loves Auntie Lorelei instead of you!"

Even with the heater blasting throughout the living room, a freezing chill crawled up my spine.

"Parker, do not speak to your mother like that," Garrick grabbed him and scolded.

Being reprimanded made the five-year-old completely lose control. He dropped onto the rug and burst into loud, wailing sobs.

"I don't want her to be my mommy! I want Auntie Lorelei…"

Watching the child I carried for nine grueling months look at me with such sheer disgust, tears welled up in my eyes despite my best efforts.

I took two steps toward Parker, instinctively wanting to comfort him. Just then, Garrick's phone rang.

Parker glanced at the caller ID, and his tear-stained face instantly lit up. "Daddy, it's Auntie Lorelei! It's her!"

Garrick answered the call, and a delicate, sweet voice came through the speaker.

"Garrick, Parker left his backpack at my apartment. Why don't you two come over and spend the night here? I promised to read him a bedtime story tonight anyway."

Before Garrick could answer, Parker snatched the phone eagerly. "Yay! Auntie Lorelei, I want to hear your story! You're the best!"

An unmistakable warmth spread across Garrick's face. Both father and son were instantly captivated by Lorelei, completely erasing my existence from the room.

I looked at the two of them with detached eyes. The moment the call ended, I spoke up calmly.

"Let's get a divorce."