“What’s that supposed to mean, Calvin?”

There was a loud thud against the door. I looked toward the source of the noise and found Silvia there.

Speed must be Silvia’s game. She was just at her engagement a minute ago, and now, she showed up at the bridal store.

Simon grimaced hard, swaying on his feet.

“Silvia, don’t get upset with Calvin. I ruined your marriage. I’m happy just to be with you. I deserve whatever insults he throws my way.”

His tearful eyes, paired with the quiet hurt look, were enough to tug at heartstrings.

Silvia took strides ahead and tore me a new one, her finger up my nose.

“You said you were fine with the arrangement. What are you doing at a bridal store anyway? Are you trying to ruin our wedding plans?

“I knew it was too good to be true. You were too quick to give in, and here you are.”

Hiding behind Silvia, Simon clung close to her with their fingers interlocking.

I was screaming in my head, dying to pry open their skulls just to see how much dead weight sat where their brains should be.

Annoyed, Kelsey narrowed her eyes at Silvia and judged her from head to toe.

“You’re not even that good-looking. It takes some huge ego for you to think that Calvin’s obsessed with you.

“Hate to break it to you, but he’s buying the gown for me.”

Out of respect for me, my friends would be courteous and treat Silvia like royalty.

Having been disgraced in public, Silvia turned red and whipped her hand across my face.

The sound of the slap was loud enough to draw a crowd from outside the store.

With my head whipped back, thoughts ran through my head.

I didn’t see the attack coming. Surely, the System could offer some kind of compensation.

Silvia assumed that she had broken me.

She pulled a sulking look and let out a dry explanation.

“That’s what you get. I warned you that there would be consequences if you pulled some stunt.

“Don’t test me, or you’ll never see your son again.”

I spat and let out a sneer.

“You should count yourself lucky that I don’t hit women, Silvia. Get over yourself. You’re not the center of my universe. I’m only here for my friend. Well, if you want to talk about relevance…”

I paused for dramatic effects. Silvia’s gaze locked onto me, and her fists clenched.

“I’m spending your money.”

Even when I made myself perfectly clear, Silvia was having none of it.

She seemed to live in her own little world. Narcissism was second nature to her.

“Just drop the tough guy act, Calvin. You’re only doing this to guilt-trip me. I mean, why else would we run into each other in a bridal store? Coincidence? I think not. Either way, I’m not falling for your antics. Your acting sucks. Don’t quit your day job.”

Silvia drew close while wearing a look that suggested she had figured everything out.

I was tempted to slap the ignorance out of her, but rationality held me. I could never lay a hand on a woman.

Turning on my heel, I pulled a punch square on Simon’s face. The place turned into a madhouse.

Livid, Silvia pulled me off Simon and kicked me aggressively.

“Have you had enough? You’re violent because I can read you like a book. You haven’t learned anything at all. I feel embarrassed that I was actually married to you. Leave us alone!”

I latched onto Simon despite the bloody scratches across my skin.

Silvia called security to pry us apart.

“Calvin, are you saying that you don’t care about your son or me? I told you what would happen if you didn’t watch it. You can forget ever seeing your son again.”

I scoffed in disdain. It was not as if I wanted to spend time with the dense kid.

Bearing a smug look, Silvia took off with Simon in hand.

That night, I got a call from Kaden.

His little face, bearing some resemblance to mine, looked in distress.

“How many times do I have to tell you, Dad? Don’t ruin Mom’s chance at a happy life. Why won’t you stop making everybody miserable?”

Kaden fell into contemplation, seemingly weighing his options on what to do with me before letting out a sigh.

“Grow up, Dad. Mom is getting married next week.”

I nearly burst out laughing when Kaden mentioned the wedding. The wedding was the opportunity I had been waiting for.

My disappearance at the right time would push Silvia to devastation. By going through the raw heartbreak, Silvia would then learn to love and cherish.

Oblivious to my plans, Kaden simply grew frustrated with my long silence.

“Did you hear me? Can you have some self-respect? You’re making me look bad.”

Kaden fired off one angry line after another.

“Yeah, sure, of course.”

I brushed him off with a nod before blocking his number.

Life was bliss without the presence of the idiotic mother and son.

Before I knew it, the day of Silvia’s wedding arrived.

Just to be petty, Silvia went out of her way to send me an invitation.

I put on my best suit with a smile and took my assigned seat at the venue.

Kaden looked dapper in his little white tuxedo. As the ring bearer, he led Silvia down the aisle to their idea of a happily-ever-after.

Everyone else was beaming with well-wishes and excitement while I was nothing but derision.

Two strangers kept their eyes on me. I caught them glancing at me at least a dozen times since I showed up.

I knew that Silvia had hired the duo to keep watch over me. She was dying to see me miserable. At the same time, she couldn’t have me ruin the wedding.

As I shrugged in resignation, the officiant began his speech on the couple’s tumultuous but sweet love story.

“Hear that, Dad? The prince and the princess live happily ever after in the story. You’re not even a knight in shining armor. The best you’ll ever be is the villain.”

“Yeah, yeah, sure.”

My half-hearted response stood out against Kaden’s discolored face.

“Mr. Simon Barone, you may now kiss your bride.”

“Player, the exit portal is now open. Ten-second countdown initiating.”

Amid the overlapping voices, Kaden’s eyes widened, and he shrieked out loud.

He shouted the same way when the System went away the other day.

It was a glitch that Kaden could hear the System, but it didn’t change the fact that I was going home.

“What are you on about, Calvin? Are you playing these sounds to mess with me? Mon said that you’ve stayed behind in the world for us. There’s no way you’re leaving. Stop pretending!”

Driven by rage, Kaden clutched me and sank his teeth into my skin.

“Five, four…”

With the countdown nearing an end, Silvia emerged in a hurry. Assuming that I had hurt Kaden, she unleashed hell with her heel.

“Three, two…”

“Stop him, Mom! He’s trying to leave! He has no right to leave.”

The wedding turned into total mayhem. Pulling an anxious look, Kaden clung to my neck as if his life depended on it.

“One.”

As reality sank in, Silvia grabbed my wrist.

Unfortunately for them, the pull of zero gravity ripped me free as my soul left my body, leaving them with only a lifeless shell to hold.