Chapter 2

2.

Sienna was sitting by the bed, clutching Gavin's hand. Tears were streaming down her face―a look of pure devotion I had never received.

"Gavin, we can finally be together forever," she whispered, stroking his face.

"I feel nothing but disgust for Zale. I'm just using him. My love belongs only to you."

I had heard those words before, right before the system erased me in my past life.

Yet, the pain was still sharp. It felt like I had been dropped into a frozen lake.

She took the ring from her pocket and slipped it onto Gavin's finger. It was a perfect fit. She smiled through her tears.

"I've had this ready for you for so long. See? We have matching sets now."

Of course. The ring was for him.

I looked at my red, irritated knuckle and let out a silent, bitter laugh.

For a split second when she gave me that ring, I actually thought she might care. Even when she said it wasn't for me, I tried to lie to myself.

Now, I knew for sure. Sienna never loved me.

That ninety-nine percent affection score? It was all an act for Gavin's benefit.

Gavin reached up and ruffled her hair, kissing her hand repeatedly.

"You've worked so hard, Sienna. But are you sure he'll be... gone... at the wedding? I don't want any loose ends."

Sienna tucked the blanket around him, her smile turning dark. "Don't worry. I've planned everything. He'll die in agony while he watches us walk down the aisle."

So, the wedding was a trap to trigger the system's execution. She had planned my death from the start.

I turned to leave, but the doctor spotted me. "Zale Sterling? Here are your reports."

The door flew open. Sienna charged out, her face twisted in a mask of pure rage.

"Zale! Did you put a tracker on my phone? Have you been following me!?"

I met her furious gaze with a blank expression. "The doctor told me to come here. I was just passing by."

The doctor chimed in, confirming my story and asking if there was a misunderstanding.

Sienna didn't believe a word of it. "Whatever. You've always been a desperate, creepy stalker."

I thought I was numb, but that word still stung.

She was referring to the times I researched her favorite restaurants or waited to pick her up after work events.

Back then, those actions made her affection score jump from fifty to eighty.

She had even cried while drinking the soup I made for her, telling me I was the only person who had ever been so good to her.

But now that Gavin was back, my kindness was labeled as "creepy."

I forced a smile. "You're right. I'm a pathetic person."

I had debased myself just for a glance from her.

Sienna looked back into the room and blew a kiss to Gavin, her eyes softening. Then she turned back to me, her face turning back into ice.

"What are you standing there for? Go get the car. Now!"

People in the hallway were staring at me with pity. I had no dignity left in her presence.

I wasn't going to take it anymore. "Take a cab. I'm going home on my own."

She screamed at me as I walked away. "How dare you walk away from me! Fine! Go! I don't want you near me anyway!"

I felt a flash of bitterness, but I suppressed it.

Only two days left. It wasn't worth the argument.