Chapter 1

After I successfully made Jude York fall for me, he suddenly woke up.

As the male lead, every woman in this story was supposed to be obsessed with him.

He was no longer satisfied with being tied down to a plain woman like me.

On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, he fooled around with the childhood sweetheart he once regretted losing.

On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, he worshipped his untouchable first love.

On Sundays, he trampled my heart into the dirt.

"I already helped you finish your little mission, what else do you want?" he sneered.

His eyes were filled with nothing but impatience and disgust.

"I only helped you out because I felt sorry for you. Get this straight―I am not yours to keep."

In that moment, the System announced my mission had failed.

He didn't realize that soon, he would be on his knees with bloodshot eyes.

He would beg the System to take his status as the male lead just to make me stay.

1

I trembled when I heard the cold, mechanical voice of the System.

A wave of despair washed over me.

Jude didn't notice at all.

He pulled at his tie impatiently as he continued to speak.

"Blair Ramsey, don't push your luck."

If this had happened three minutes ago, I would have started a huge fight.

Just yesterday, he went to the airport to pick up his first love.

He completely forgot it was his mother's birthday.

I had cooked a huge table of food and waited with his mother from dawn until dusk.

Instead of Jude, all we got was a provocative post from his first love.

The photo showed half of Jude's hand.

The caption read, "I am still his number one priority."

I would recognize that hand even if it turned to ash.

There was a burn scar on the back of it from a time he tried to protect me.

But the ring finger, where his wedding band should have been, was empty.

Only a faint indentation remained where the ring used to sit.

Suddenly, Jude's phone started ringing.

I caught a glimpse of the caller ID; it was his childhood sweetheart, Lillian Finch.

Her voice sounded incredibly weak over the line.

"Jude, I think I have a fever. Can you take me to the hospital?"

Without a word, Jude started taking off the pajamas he had just put on.

I stood there, feeling my mind go clear for the first time.

He changed his clothes with lightning speed.

"Wait for me, I'll be there soon," he told the phone.

I grabbed his hand before he could leave.

He turned back and met my empty gaze, his brows furrowing deeply.

"What now?"

"Jude, if I told you this was my last chance, would you still go?"

He arched an eyebrow. "What?"

"The System said this is my last chance to stay in this world," I stated calmly.

"If you stay, it means I still have a chance to succeed. If you leave, I fail completely."

Jude shook my hand off.

Disgust practically spilled from his eyes.

His tone reached a peak of annoyance.

"Enough! Stop talking about that stupid System."

"You said if we got married, your mission would be a success. I felt soft-hearted and married you."

"Now you're changing the rules? Are you going to lie to me every time you need something?"

"I bet the System doesn't even exist. It's just a giant scam you made up to control me."

He let out a mocking laugh.

"I'm actually curious to see what happens if you fail. What, are you going to die?"

He slammed the door shut behind him.

The loud bang jolted the System awake in my mind.

The mechanical male voice actually let out a soft sigh.

【Mission failed. We will now begin the process of deleting the host.】

I couldn't help but look up.

Hot, searing tears rolled down my face.

A profound sense of sorrow rose in my heart.

Yes, Jude.

I really am going to die.