I was the protagonist of dead literature.

My husband Nolan Stewart chose to save his unforgettable crush Flora Morgan in the fire.

Our seven-year marriage was shattered overnight.

My last plea to him was: "Nolan, come back, or I will die."

However, he asked me to respect life and stop seeking death.

Then he continued to play the role of the perfect boyfriend in Flora's live broadcast.

He didn't know that everything I said was true.

I could die, but they couldn't live happily either.

——

Candles, wine, delicacies, and a cake.

Everything was ready, except for tonight's male protagonist, Nolan Stewart.

The pointer of the cat-shaped clock on the wall pointed to eight, but the door was still tightly closed late in the evening.

No one had come back.

The quiet home only had the ticking sound of the clock.

I dialed Nolan's phone number.

Beep... Beep... Beep...

By the time a mechanical female voice was about to come through the phone, he finally answered.

"Elise Murphy, what's the matter again?"

Nolan's voice was filled with deep impatience, and he was panting imperceptibly.

I tried to keep my voice calm.

"When are you coming back?"

Nolan remained silent as if trying to recall why he had to go back tonight.

He had indeed forgotten that today was our seventh wedding anniversary.

Before he could speak, a clear and beautiful female voice came from the phone.

"Nolan, I feel so comfortable. Let's do it again."

I was quite familiar with the voice, as it was the voice of Nolan's unforgettable crush, Flora Morgan.

After we got married, Nolan spent more time with her than with me, his wife.

Nolan being with her was within my expectations.

But that sentence of hers still disgusted me.

"What are you doing, Nolan?"

Nolan cleared his throat, his voice becoming more impatient.

"I'm helping Flora with rehabilitation training. What do you think I'm doing?"

"Rehabilitation training? It's been two years and it's still going on."

"Elise, can't you have a little compassion? Flora needs care because she suffered severe burns."

I didn't want to argue with him about that anymore, so I took a deep breath and changed the subject.

"Nolan, today is our wedding anniversary. Can you come back?"

"We celebrate our wedding anniversary every year. Can you take responsibility for delaying Flora's recovery?"

Nolan's voice was extremely cold.

I could imagine him frowning on the other end of the phone.

I could also hear a woman's soft urging on the phone, "Hurry up."

I begged Nolan with gritted teeth for the last time.

"Nolan, come back, or I will die."

Nolan sneered.

"Elise, please respect life and stop seeking death. Be sensible."

All right, there was no need to waste words anymore.

I hung up the phone directly, not even wanting to say goodbye.

Nolan didn't know that what I said was true.

I would die on January 1st at midnight.

Since they wouldn't give me a way out, I would take them with me.

Two years ago, a fire in the school auditorium trapped me and Flora.

My husband, Nolan, was a firefighter.

In the fire, he stepped over my body, which was pressed by heavy objects, and shouted "Flora" while searching for Flora's figure.

Flora was his goddess in college, his unforgettable crush.

He didn't call my name.

Nor did he see me, barely alive under the ruins.

I was suffocated by the thick smoke and was finally saved by his colleagues.

The moment I breathed fresh air, I saw him carrying Flora and rushing out of the fire in the chaotic crowd.

I was unharmed.

Flora suffered severe burns.

So, I should compromise.

That was Nolan's logic.

I clicked open Flora's live broadcast room.

She was live-streaming her burn recovery training.

Wearing a low-cut dress, she was revealing the large scars on her neck, trying to seek sympathy from netizens.

Nolan also showed in the camera, gently helping Flora with joint recovery training.

His eyes were filled with indulgence and tenderness.

Netizens' comments quickly scroll by.

[Dear, you're so strong. I'll send you some gifts to show support.]

[Beautiful girl, your optimistic attitude towards life has touched me.]

[I've donated some money to you, doing what I can.]

[Your boyfriend is a nice person, never leaving you. Thumbs up to you guys.]

Nolan saw that comment but did not clarify the issue.

I remembered that Flora once cried and begged me privately.

"Elise, you are unharmed, but I am burned like this. Can't you just let me have Nolan?"

That was the first time I confronted her head-on, shocked by her hypocritical words.

I mercilessly retorted, "What do your burns have to do with me? Why should I let you have my husband?"

She wiped away her tears, her eyes filled with ambition.

"Then let's get him by our means."

I slapped her.

It was shameless of her to willingly be a mistress of Nolan knowing that he had a wife.

That day, Nolan skipped work for the first time and rushed home to question me.

"Elise Murphy, how could you be so heartless? Flora's parents died in the fire, and she managed to escape from the fire. Instead of sympathizing with her, you slapped her. Are you still human?"

I was stunned, staring at his handsome face, which was now red with anger.

I raised my hand and slapped him too.

"Nolan, don't you know who you are?"

He seemed to have forgotten that he was my husband.

He forgot that I also managed to escape from that big fire.

He forgot that my parents died in that fire too.

Most importantly, he forgot that he used my bank card to pay for Flora's medical expenses.

I was so kind-hearted, paying for Flora's medical expenses and letting her steal my husband.

No wonder that Flora had the nerve to show off in front of me, Nolan's wife.

After all, she didn't need to fight at all.

Nolan had always wanted her.

I, however, was just Nolan's simp.

After that fire, Nolan didn't remember me until after he put Flora in the hospital.

At that time, I was choked by the thick smoke and suffered from severe pain in my internal organs, lying on the hospital bed struggling to breathe.

I had no external injuries, but I knew I was dying.

Seeing that I was not injured, Nolan said symbolically, "Have a good rest."

He then turned and went to Flora's ward.

I could tell that he was disappointed.

He was disappointed that I wasn't the one who got burned.

He was disappointed that I didn't die in the fire.

That way, he could receive my legacy.

And he could be with Flora forever.

It was on that day that I awakened the System.

The System told me that I was the female protagonist of dead literature.

After being a simp of the male lead for many years, I still couldn't get his love even though I became his wife.

Only when I died could the male lead feel heart-wrenching guilt.

But I didn't want to die yet.

If I died, I would have nothing.

So, I asked the System to keep me alive.

The System agreed.

But the price was that I must make Nolan say "I love you" to me within two years to extend my life.

I could continue to live as long as he said "I love you" to me at least once.

It should be the simplest thing for a couple.

But for me, it was nearly impossible.

He had never said that to me proactively.

Even when we got married, he didn't say it.

Today was our wedding anniversary, but I couldn't even see his face.

Nolan was a firefighter and usually lived at the fire station.

He spent all the break time he had on Flora.

That fire left Flora with severe burns on her limbs, neck, and back.

Now Flora had become a somewhat famous Internet celebrity, relying on live streaming to gain sympathy from netizens.

Nolan went to accompany Flora whenever he had a vacation.

I couldn't remember how long it had been since he last came back to our home.

It had been so long that there was no trace of him living there.

My last chance of survival was ruined by him.

What's the use of just making him feel guilty if I'm dead?

His guilt is worthless.

I don't need his cheap guilt.

Since I cannot avoid death, I'll let them die with me.