To save me, Ethan pretended to suffer a head injury that left him simple-minded. I gave up my chance to go home, staying behind in this simulated world to take care of him. But in the third year of my self-imposed exile, he deliberately ran me over with his car. Then, he took his childhood sweetheart's hand and looked down at my broken body. "I've been waiting for this day," he said, his voice cold. "Once you're dead, Maya and I can take your place as the System's 'Player' and live forever." It was only then that I realized he had been faking it all along, plotting to steal the System from me. But he didn't know the whole truth. He didn't know about the punishment I endured. I spoke to the System, my voice a broken whisper. "I've found new hosts willing to take my place. Two of them, in fact. Can you let me go now?" 1 "So you were faking it? The whole time?" Lying in a pool of my own blood, I stared up at Ethan in disbelief. He had his arm wrapped around Maya, his dark eyes filled with a chilling frost. "That's right." "How else was I supposed to make you feel sorry for me? To make you stay?" "But I do have you to thank," he continued, a cruel twist to his lips. "For telling me about the System. Otherwise, I would never have known how to save Maya." Maya huddled in his arms, her face pale and fragile. She was Ethan's first love, and she had leukemia. She'd been fighting it for years. "Her illness has nothing to do with me," Ethan had once told me. "We broke up a long time ago." Now I knew the truth. To save her, he had been planning this for three long years. A tearing pain, separate from the agony of my injuries, ripped through me. It was the System, punishing me. My mission was to make Ethan fall in love with me. If his love wavered, I suffered. "It hurts..." I gasped. The feeling was like being drawn and quartered. I had experienced it countless times, but I could never get used to it. "Does it really hurt that much?" Ethan asked, watching me with detached curiosity. "I thought you 'Players' could just have the System turn off the pain." His casual indifference was a stark contrast to the happy memories I cherished. There was a time when his eyes held nothing but me. I thought I had found true love, so I told him everything about the System. Everything except the punishments. I didn't want him to worry. The pain intensified. I clenched my jaw so hard I thought my teeth would shatter. "Stop talking!" Every word he spoke was another twist of the knife. Maya stepped forward, her hand closing over mine. "Chloe, does it really hurt that much?" she asked, her voice laced with false sympathy. "Ethan, maybe we shouldn't do this. It's okay if I die." "No!" Ethan's denial was sharp and immediate. He looked at her with aching tenderness. "Maya, you're not like her. She's a 'Player.' Even if she dies here, she just goes back to her own world. But if you die, you're gone for good. You don't need to feel sorry for her." Out of Ethan's line of sight, Maya shot me a triumphant smirk. She leaned in close and whispered, "You know, I told Ethan that if he said he didn't love you, you would be in terrible pain. And ever since he found out, he's been saying it over and over." "He doesn't love you," she purred. "He only loves me. After all, I'm the main character of this world." As soon as she finished speaking, Ethan pulled her back into his arms, his gaze soft and adoring. "I've already bought the villa on North Hill," he murmured. "It'll be our home after we're married." I had once told Ethan that in my own world, I had no parents, no home. My only dream was to have a place to belong. So he bought me a villa—that very same villa on North Hill. I had spent countless hours renovating it myself, pouring my heart into every detail. It was finally ready to move into this year. And now, he wanted me dead. My hand fell limp onto the cold asphalt. I spoke to the System again, my voice devoid of hope. "I've found new hosts. Two of them. Can you please let me go?" Ethan, you don't want me anymore. So I guess I don't want you either. 2 【Affirmative. New hosts have been detected to assume control of the System.】 【Player, are you certain you wish to transfer me to both of them?】 Hearing the System's voice, I looked at Ethan and Maya. They were kissing, a backdrop of fireworks celebrating their victory. For a fleeting moment, I saw the simple, foolish Ethan I had known. The one who would say, "Chloe, thank you for being with me. I love you." The one who would warm my milk every night and wash my underwear for me when I was on my period. No one had ever loved me like that. I thought he was the one I could rely on for the rest of my life. I was wrong. "I'm certain," I whispered into the void of my own mind. 【Understood, Player. Commencing transfer protocol.】 "Why hasn't the System appeared yet?" Maya asked impatiently. "She's probably communicating with it," Ethan explained. "Just wait. She always gets distracted when she talks to the System." 【Greetings, new hosts.】 The System's voice was no longer just in my head. It was broadcast for all to hear. 【From this day forward, you will be my new hosts. Please select your mission target.】 "I choose Maya." "I choose Ethan." They spoke in unison, their voices firm and resolute, a perfect picture of devotion. I remembered when Ethan was still "simple." He had told me, "No matter what, I will always choose you, Chloe." But now, he had chosen someone else. 【Affirmative. However, the transfer process will take three days to complete. You must wait.】 The System's voice vanished from the open air, speaking now only to me. 【You will be able to leave in three days. I will heal your injuries from the accident. You may use this time to say goodbye to your loved ones in this world.】 As soon as it finished speaking, the wounds on my body began to heal at a visible rate. "Look, Maya!" Ethan exclaimed in astonishment. "I told you she could have the System heal her! The System is amazing! Soon, we'll be able to do that too. We'll never have to be afraid of getting hurt or dying again!" I pushed myself to my feet and looked at him, my heart a hollow chamber of disappointment. He had no idea what he had just signed up for. The System was not as benevolent as he thought. 3 I went to the hospital to see my grandfather. In this world, besides Ethan, he was my only family. He was so good to me. He gave me all his savings so Ethan and I could buy a car. He would save his favorite foods, things he wouldn't even eat himself, just for me. At the hospital, I ran into Ethan and Maya. They were holding hands, and Ethan was clutching a piece of paper. An ultrasound report. "This is amazing, Maya! I'm going to be a father!" His words were a sword through my heart. I had wanted a child with Ethan, too. Back when he was still "simple." "I don't want kids," he had told me. "They're too much trouble." I thought he was just being silly. Now I knew he was telling the truth. He didn't want a child with me. But he was perfectly happy to have one with her. He must have been sleeping with her even when we were together. 【Player, the punishment mechanism is now being deactivated. You will no longer be subject to penalties based on the target's emotional state.】 The System's words washed over me, and I felt a physical weight lift from my shoulders. I was finally free from that constant, agonizing tether. I could live my own life. It was for the best. 4 When my grandfather saw me, he immediately handed me a box of dumplings. "The nurse gave them to me," he said, his smile warm and loving. "You eat them, Chloe." Tears streamed down my face. If I left this world, what would happen to him? I had to make sure he was taken care of. I rushed back to the house to get my money. I had been living with Ethan, and all my belongings, all my savings, were there. When I arrived, I found the housekeeper carrying my things out to the curb. "Ma'am," she said, her voice flustered. "Mr. Ethan told me to throw your things out. He said... you won't be living here anymore." I looked at the pile of my belongings. Everything was broken. Including the plaster dolls we had made together. I never imagined he could be so cruel. But my money was still tied to his bank account. I had to get it back. I tried to open the door, but the code was wrong. "He had me change the code, too," the housekeeper said, wringing her hands. It felt like a physical blow. I struggled to catch my breath. "What's the new code?" She hesitated, then I pressed her. "My things are still inside. I need to get them." "20180812." August 12th, 2018. The day Ethan and Maya first got together. I stumbled back, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. Just last night, he had held me in his arms and told me he loved me. This morning, he had lured me to a deserted road, promising a surprise. He had blindfolded me, my heart pounding with joyful anticipation. And then, he had hit me with his car. Ethan, you wanted me dead so badly. You wanted my 'Player' status. But do you have any idea how hard it is to be a Player? 5 I pushed open the door. Ethan had Maya pressed against the kitchen counter, his face a mask of adoration. "Maya, I will love you forever." My bag slipped from my fingers and hit the floor with a soft thud. Even though I had decided to let him go, seeing this with my own eyes was still a fresh wave of pain. "What are you doing here?" Ethan asked, his voice sharp with annoyance. "You're not welcome here." His coldness reminded me of three years ago, when I had defied the System for him. My punishment was the agony of having my bones broken, one by one. The pain was so intense I wanted to die, but I endured it for him. I thought we would spend the rest of our lives together in this world. Now I knew how wrong I was. "I came to get my money," I said, my voice flat. "All the money I've earned over the years is in your account. I need it for my grandfather's medical bills." Ethan didn't even pause. He continued to kiss and touch Maya, his hands roaming her body, as if I wasn't even there. I felt a surge of nausea, but I forced it down. It wouldn't be long now. I would be free. "I'll get it myself." As I started towards the bedroom, Maya called out, "Chloe, isn't your grandfather better? Why do you still need money?" Her voice was laced with suspicion. "You're not planning on taking it back to your own world, are you?" At her words, Ethan's cold gaze shot to me. "Are you that obsessed with money?" "I'm telling you, even if you earned it, I'm not giving it to you. This money belongs to this world. You can't take it with you!" I couldn't believe his shamelessness. The loving, kind Ethan I had known was truly gone. "Ethan, I told you, it's for my grandfather. I'm not taking a single penny with me." "I'm not giving it to you. Get out!" I clenched my fists, words failing me. He would only believe Maya now. 6 As I turned to leave, Maya suddenly grabbed my hand. "Don't go, Chloe. If you really need money, I can lend you some." The next moment, she threw herself backwards, her head hitting the corner of the coffee table with a sickening crack. "Ah! That hurts!" Before I could even react, Ethan lunged at me, shoving me with all his might. I stumbled back into the hot water dispenser, knocking it over. Scalding water poured all over me. I cried out in pain. "Chloe, why did you push her?" Ethan roared, his face contorted with rage. "If you're angry, take it out on me! Don't you dare touch Maya!" He kept repeating her name, "Maya, Maya," each one a new wound. Didn't he see that I was burned? But I was too tired to argue. All I wanted was the money for my grandfather. Then I could leave this world behind. "Ethan, just give me fifty thousand. That's all I need." "Give me fifty thousand, and I'll leave immediately. Otherwise, I'll keep bullying your precious Maya." "Chloe!" he snarled, his eyes like daggers. He lunged at me again, his hands closing around my throat. The pressure was immense, squeezing the air from my lungs. "Why do you have to be so malicious? Can't we just part peacefully?" "I wanted to," I gasped. "But you wouldn't let me. I just... want the money." He threw me to the floor. "Fine. I'll give it to you." "But on one condition." "What?" I coughed, my throat raw. "Kneel down and apologize to Maya." I stared at him, stunned. I thought he had at least some lingering affection for me. After all the years we had been together. "Okay," I said. I got to my feet and walked over to Maya, kneeling before her. "I'm sorry," I said, bowing my head to the floor. Suddenly, Ethan's hand was on the back of my head, slamming it into the ground. The impact was so hard I bit my tongue. "You hurt Maya's head," he said, his voice cold. "Now we're even." "Fine," I whispered. "Can I have the money now?" He took out a bank card and placed it on the toe of his shoe. "Crawl over and get it yourself." "Okay." My quick agreement seemed to surprise him. He probably didn't expect me to be so compliant. After all, I had always been so proud. But I was about to leave this world forever. I would do anything for my grandfather. I crawled towards him. As my hand reached for the card, he grabbed my wrist, his voice a low, vicious snarl. "Chloe, you really are pathetic. You'll do anything for money." Tears streamed down my face. I remembered his cold resolve when he ran me over. He didn't care about me anymore. So why should I care what he thought? I took the card and stood up. Just then, my phone buzzed. A message. My grandfather had taken a turn for the worse. He was in the emergency room. I turned to run, but Ethan grabbed me. "You think you can just take the money and run? It's not that easy!" "You're staying here. You can be our maid for a few days." "Let me go!" I struggled, but his grip was like iron. "Ethan, my grandfather is in the hospital! Let me go!" "Hilarious. You get the money, and suddenly your grandfather is dying. Chloe, you'd even use your own grandfather to get what you want." "I'm not lying!" I was frantic. Just then, the System's voice echoed in my mind. 【The transfer system is ready ahead of schedule. There is no need to wait three days. Do you wish to initiate the exchange now?】
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