Chapter 1

Chapter 1

This was the seventeenth time my boyfriend handed over my research to Melanie.

The System, silent for three years, suddenly chimed in my head.

"Host, you have failed to become the valedictorian as agreed. In seven days, your heart will stop, and you will die."

Seven days.

That exact day happened to be our anniversary.

My knuckles turned white as Travis wrapped his arm around my shoulder, murmuring softly.

"Melanie grew up as an orphan. Just have some pity on her. Once she makes a name for herself, she'll make it up to you."

It was the first time in three months he had hugged me on his own.

Yet, I couldn't feel a shred of warmth.

Listening to the cold countdown ticking in my mind, my eyes stung with tears.

In our three years together, he had fed me the exact same lie every single time.

I wouldn't live long enough to see her compensation.

...

At three in the morning outside my dorm building, someone grabbed my hand from behind.

"I just gave your research to Melanie. Are you really that petty, running away the moment you see me?"

Hearing his familiar voice only made my back stiffen.

"I didn't see you."

Travis scoffed, clearly not buying it.

"I texted you hours ago."

I pulled out my dead phone and showed it to him.

This was the first time I had let my battery completely drain―right on the day he stole my work for Melanie Adams.

He sneered.

"Stop playing games. You turned it off on purpose."

I stayed silent.

Looking down, I spotted a ribbon that had fallen from his coat when he shifted.

I recognized it immediately―it belonged to the cardigan Melanie wore today.

I picked it up and handed it back to him with a flat expression.

"What do you actually want, Travis?"

Travis froze for a second when he saw the ribbon, then raised his voice defensively.

"Why are you picking this up with that attitude?"

"I'm telling you, Melanie and I are completely innocent. If I wasn't worried about you walking back alone, I wouldn't even be waiting here!"

His outburst startled me, and I let out a dry laugh.

I used to believe they were just friends.

Now, I was certain they had crossed the line long ago.

The next morning during our lab meeting, he brought Melanie in front of the team and made an announcement.

"Melanie will be joining our research group from now on. Clara, you should step down for this project."

My hands froze on the equipment, and I looked up at him in pure disbelief.

"What did you just say?"

I had led the team through every single step of this experiment.

And now, I was expected to quit just because Melanie needed it?

Melanie walked over, grabbing my sleeve while whining like a spoiled child.

"Come on, Clara, please just let me have this. I really need this paper to qualify for the fellowship."

Then, she leaned into my ear and whispered.

"He's the team lead, and his dad is our department chair. You don't even have his love, so how can you compete with me?"

Pulling back, she looked at me with teary eyes, gloating in secret where no one else could see.

I clenched my fists and took a deep breath.

She was right―I couldn't beat her.

If I could, I wouldn't have lost my research seventeen times in a row.

The other lab members exchanged uneasy glances.

One of them spoke up furiously on my behalf.

"Clara did almost all the work! Kicking her out right before publication... Are you out of your mind, Travis?"

Melanie burst into louder sobs upon hearing that.

"If everyone hates me being here, forget it. I'll just go hungry without the stipend, it's fine..."

Travis pulled the sniffling Melanie into his arms, glaring coldly at me.

"I'm not repeating myself."

While my teammates argued for justice, a strange wave of relief washed over me.

I didn't have much time left to live anyway.

"Thank you guys for sticking up for me."

"And Travis, this works out great. Let's break up."