I kept going.

"Calvin, if you don't do it, I'm leaving. Good luck getting me to court to finish the paperwork."

After all these years, I knew him too well.

Right on cue, he frowned.

"I thought you were actually being reasonable today. So this is your new move? If I do it, you'll finish the filing?"

He really couldn't wait to make things official with Molly.

"Yes."

His expression darkened.

Like he was heading to his own execution, he forced the words out.

"Rhea, be with me. I'll buy you two bottles of milk every day and warm them up for you. What you drink will always be the perfect temperature..."

Molly's eyes instantly turned red.

"You still remember."

The room burst into applause.

Everyone praised Calvin for being so devoted, saying that even after eight years, he still remembered the way he'd confessed to Molly.

The two of them stared at each other while my stomach twisted.

I stood up.

"I've got something to do. I'm leaving."

Laughter followed me out the door.

People said I'd just embarrassed myself.

***

Outside, Sasha Selby, my bestie, came running over the second she heard.

"You actually signed the divorce papers with Calvin? Are you insane? You gave up your engagement to Mike Mercer and went against your family until you lost everything just to marry him. And now you're divorcing him like it's nothing and letting trash like Molly slide right in?"

I stayed quiet.

Mike Mercer.

The heir to the richest family in the country.

Back when Vance Corp was about to go under, I gave up Mike and married Calvin to save him.

My parents were so disappointed they cut me off completely.

And even then, the Vance family pushed me aside. I was Calvin's wife, but I wasn't allowed anywhere near family business. My place in that house was awkward at best.

After Molly came back, Calvin didn't hesitate for a second. He made her the COO and handed her control of ten billion dollars in company funds.

Love and indifference couldn't have been more obvious.

My heels had rubbed my skin raw. I shifted and let out a bitter laugh.

"You think she's trash. Calvin treats her like she's priceless. What exactly am I supposed to do?"

Sasha sighed and steadied me. "Men are like shoes. If they hurt, throw them out and upgrade."

Just then, Calvin walked downstairs. He gently ruffled Molly's hair.

"Molly, we'll do wedding photos first, then pick out the rings. Once we get the license, I'll send a thirty-car convoy to bring you home."

Then his eyes landed on me.

His mouth tightened.

"Rhea, you've got two things left. If you're playing games, I won't go easy on you."

I lowered my eyes and smiled bitterly.

He had no idea I already wanted to be as far away from him as possible. I was only staying around him because I wanted to survive.

After he left, I called out to the System in my head.

'That counts, right?'

The System's cold voice didn't change.

[Barely acceptable.]

[Task Two: Go on a one-day date with Calvin.]

I almost tripped.

"Seriously? He could barely stand me today. If I ask him on a date, he'll think I'm messing with him."

The System stayed cold.

[You have no right to question it. You may choose to give up and be erased.]

***

I spent the rest of the night tossing and turning, thinking about the task.

Bang.

Calvin kicked the door open and yanked me out of bed.

In the dark, his eyes burned with anger.

"Happy now? After the stunt you pulled today, Molly got sick the second she got home. I spent half the night taking care of her before her fever finally went down."

I pulled his hand off me and forced a smile.

"It was just a game. Couldn't you have stopped it? Who's gonna argue with the CEO?"

Calvin went quiet for a second, then let out a sigh.

"It was just a game. Why couldn't you just go along with it?"

I answered casually.

"The second thing—clear your schedule tomorrow and spend the day with me."

His face instantly darkened.

"I've been way too nice to you, haven't I? You're really pushing it."

He slammed the door on his way out.

Bitterness filled my mouth.

I already knew this was how it'd end.

The next morning, Calvin still showed up. He knocked on my door with a sour look on his face.

"I lost a hundred grand because of you today. Whatever you want, make it quick."

Because of me?

More like because he couldn't wait to marry Molly.

The System told me the date itself didn't matter. I just had to keep Calvin with me for six straight hours.

So I took him to the mall to kill time.

The whole time, his eyes never left his phone.

Every so often, he'd stop outside a clothing store or luxury shop and casually buy a few things.

All for Molly.

Seven years of marriage, and he'd never bought me anything.

The dress I was wearing had been washed so many times it was pilling.

Just to get back at me, he'd gone after my family's business too. My dad called me a traitor, and I got blacklisted across the industry.

No one knew that behind the polished front, I was barely getting by on side gigs online.

By noon, Calvin was already getting impatient, so I quickly took him to a restaurant.

We'd barely ordered when his expression changed at whatever popped up on his phone.

He immediately made a call, worry all over his face. "How are you skipping meals? You can't eat without me? Fine. I'm coming right now."

He grabbed his coat. "Something came up at the company. I have to go."

I knew Molly was behind it.

"Are you coming back?"

My task still wasn't finished.

He paused, then nodded. "Yeah."

But when he came back, Molly was with him.

Calvin fussed over Molly the whole time—feeding her, wiping her mouth, acting like she couldn't do anything herself.

They looked like a happy couple.

I was just the extra person at the table.

Every time I tried to order something, Molly would point at it first.

My appetite disappeared, and I set my fork down.

She looked way too pleased with herself.

"Calvin, food tastes so much better when you feed me..."

Under the table, her foot came down hard on mine.

I sucked in a breath from the pain.

Calvin acted like he didn't notice.

Thankfully, I only needed to get through a movie to hit the six-hour mark. I forced myself to put up with her.

But when we got to the theater, only two tickets were left.

Molly spoke first, her eyes already turning red.

"Calvin, you and Rhea should go. I know she's using the divorce as an excuse to spend time with you. It's okay. I won't be the third wheel. I'll leave."

Calvin instantly panicked and grabbed her.

"What are you talking about? Forget the movie. I'll spend the whole afternoon with you instead, okay?"

I kept my voice calm. "Calvin, just watch one movie with me. After that, I'll let you go. I won't bother you again."

Instead, he shoved me.

The popcorn slipped from my hands and exploded across the floor.

"Rhea, cut the act. I've already told you—I could never like someone as selfish and self-righteous as you. Molly's kind. She's generous. Just because she doesn't blame you doesn't mean I'll keep giving in to you. I already did more than enough by shopping with you today."

Then he took Molly's hand and walked away.

[Warning. Passive task behavior detected. Electric shock penalty. Persuade Calvin to return within one minute.]

The next second, a brutal surge ripped through my body.

I dropped instantly.

My knees slammed into the floor with a sharp crack as my whole body started convulsing.

Almost biting through my lip, I forced the words out.

"Calvin! Please, just watch the movie with me. If you don't, I'll die. Please..."

Calvin turned around, startled.

The second he saw me on the floor, his eyes widened, and he instinctively took a step toward me.

Then Molly spoke.

"Calvin, go ahead. Rhea's always been healthy. If she suddenly collapsed, it must be serious. Stay with her. Don't worry about me."

He stopped.

His face went cold.

"Rhea, now you're faking a collapse too? Stop acting weak. Don't make me look down on you."

He walked away.

No matter how many times I called after him, he never looked back.

After a long time, the punishment finally ended.

My face was ghostly pale, like I'd just been dragged out of water. People started gathering around me, offering to take me to the hospital.

The System's voice cut in, cold and sharp.

[Task Two completion rate: fifty percent.]

[If Task Three is not completed perfectly, you will still be erased.]

The panel shifted.

Only one line remained.

[Make Calvin propose to you.]

A hollow smile tugged at my lips as I sank to the floor.

This was impossible.

***

When I opened my eyes again, I was in a hospital room.

Sasha quickly handed me some water.

"The doctor said your organs are failing. You probably don't have more than three days left. Does Calvin know? Is that why you're divorcing him?"

I knew it was the aftermath of the System's punishment.

Not more than three days?

I only had twenty-four hours left.

I still didn't want Calvin's pity.

I used to be the daughter of an old-money family. I still had my pride.

I shook my head.

"No. Sasha, for the sake of our friendship, I need you to do one thing for me. After I die, tell everyone I moved overseas and settled down. Don't let them see me die like this."

Sasha's eyes turned red. She wiped at them.

"Back during the avalanche, you were the one who saved Calvin. He thinks it was Molly. He misunderstood you and put you through hell all these years, and you—"

My phone started ringing on the table.

Calvin.

Sasha answered, and this time she couldn't hold back.

"Calvin, do you even know Rhea's sick?"

I struggled up and tried to stop her.

There was a pause on the other end.

Then Calvin let out a cold laugh.

"Did Rhea tell you to play along? She just fell down. What's supposed to happen? Tell her to hurry up and say the last condition so we can get this over with. I don't have time for her games."

Hearing the impatience in his voice, I took the phone and spoke seriously.

"The third thing is simple. I just need you to propose to me."

Crash.

Something slammed into the floor on the other end.

Calvin's voice instantly changed.

"Molly? What's wrong? Molly, don't scare me!"

The next second, he snapped.

"Rhea, are you out of your mind? I'm done playing along. Finish the court filing with me—or don't. I don't care anymore. My lawyer already has everything ready."

Then he hung up.

A sharp pain stabbed through my chest.

I knew he wanted me gone.

I just never thought he'd hate me this much.

The System kept pushing me to finish the task.

But I had nothing left to use against him.

What else could I even do?

Exhaustion hit me all at once.

Even if I begged Calvin, he'd just think I was acting.

If that was the case, I'd rather die with some dignity left.

With that thought, I called him again.

He answered immediately, irritation clear in his voice.

"If you're calling to bring up that proposal crap again, then go die."