Chapter 1

For eight years, I devoted myself to Silas, the cold and ascetic billionaire who lived like a monk. Finally, his affection for me reached a pathetic one percent. To celebrate, he took me to a concert.

But the star on that stage looked exactly like his first love.

My heart shattered, and I prepared to walk away forever. Suddenly, chaos erupted as gunmen stormed the venue.

The man I thought was paralyzed suddenly leaped from his wheelchair. He didn't run to me. Instead, he shoved me aside to shield the singer from a bullet.

Because of that shove, I took a bullet meant for him.

The System announced my mission had failed. In that moment of agony, I activated the Heartless Protocol.

Once it fully engages, I will lose every emotion I ever had. I will never love anyone again.

1.

The concert hall was a scene of pure carnage. On stage, Silas Thorne held Chloe tightly in his arms.

Panic was written all over his face. His own arm was bleeding from a gunshot, but he didn't seem to notice. He only had eyes for her.

"Are you okay? Please, look at me," he begged.

"I'm begging you, Chloe. Don't die on me."

This was the first time I had ever seen the legendary Silas Thorne lose his composure.

After all, he was known as the Modern Monk. He was a man who supposedly rose above all worldly desires.

In this moment, I realized he had been lying to me for eight years.

He was never paralyzed. He had faked his disability for nearly a decade just to keep the world at bay.

I lay on the cold floor, watching my own blood pool around me.

My heart throbbed with a pain far worse than the bullet wound.

【Host, your mission is a total failure. You are dying.】

The System's mechanical voice echoed in my mind.

I had spent eight years trying to win Silas's heart.

Today, I thought I had finally made progress because that tiny one-percent love value appeared.

Now I knew the truth. He only came here to see Chloe.

She was the perfect double for Jade, his first love who died years ago.

【The exit portal is being prepared. It will take three days. You cannot leave until then.】

As the System spoke, I saw Silas lift Chloe into his arms.

His eyes were bloodshot as he frantically searched for help.

"A doctor! Where is a doctor? Save her!"

He was consumed by his need to save a stranger. He didn't even look in my direction.

It was laughable. I had followed him like a shadow for eight years, yet I meant nothing.

"System, I'm ready to leave. But before I go, activate the Heartless Protocol," I whispered.

Tears blurred my vision as my voice cracked.

The Heartless Protocol was a reward I earned from a previous mission. I had never touched it before.

The System sounded surprised. 【Host, you only have three days left. Is it really necessary to activate it now?】

"Yes."

My answer was instant. I kept my eyes fixed on Silas.

He had already carried Chloe out of the hall. He hadn't remembered me for a single second.

My heart died right then and there.

【Understood, Host. Activating Heartless Protocol. Your emotions and desires will slowly fade until you are incapable of love.】

I closed my eyes, letting one final tear escape.

Silas, this was the eighth year of my love for you.

And today, I finally give up.

They say you can never wake someone who is pretending to be asleep.

I spent eight years trying to move Silas, but he never truly saw me.