Chapter 1

Eight years into my marriage with Kendra, we finally finished the scripted plot.

I thought I could finally be free from the System and truly build a life with her.

Then I overheard her talking to our daughter: “The script is done! We can finally get rid of your father!”

Our daughter replied, “Yay, Mommy! Now we can be with Uncle Colton every day!”

Right then, the System notified me that a glitch had surfaced―one final plot point remained unfinished.

Suddenly, I just felt exhausted. I didn’t want to play along anymore.

Let the mission world collapse. I just wanted to go home.

1.

“Mommy, does that mean I can play with Uncle Colton whenever I want now?”

“And our bodies won't hurt anymore?”

My daughter Maisie’s voice drifted from the bedroom.

I stood outside the door, frozen in place.

I thought completing the storyline meant our family could break free and live happily.

Now I realized Kendra and Maisie never cared about me at all.

“Of course, sweetie. We don't have to be afraid of anything anymore.”

Kendra’s voice was filled with sheer joy.

“The plot is over. We don't have to worry about story deviations, which means no more punishments.”

Before this, any slight deviation from the romance script triggered agonizing body pains for all three of us.

“Your Uncle Colton can finally be with us out in the open!”

Kendra kept talking, sounding more ecstatic than I had ever heard her.

Just minutes ago, she had smiled at me and said, “Dustin, we finally finished the plot. Let’s celebrate tonight.”

I had stepped out to grab a surprise gift, only to return and hear their true thoughts.

“Mommy, are you going to divorce Daddy first?”

Kendra went quiet for a moment before answering, “Yes. As soon as he gets back, I'll tell him it’s over.”

The gift box slipped from my fingers, hitting the floor with a soft thud.

Two delicate custom bracelets tumbled out onto the carpet.

I had spent months designing them to celebrate our freedom.

Now, it all felt utterly worthless.

“Mommy, is Daddy back? I heard a noise.”

Maisie called out as she swung the door open.

Kendra noticed the jewelry on the floor and bent down to pick it up.

My voice cut her off: “If you loved Colton all along, you should have told me sooner so I could get out of your way.”

Her pupils shrank, shock flashing across her face.

It made sense that she was stunned.

For eight years, I had been nothing more than her loyal lapdog.

I had never spoken to her with such ice in my voice.