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."

He had no idea how right he was.

My voice stayed calm.

"I was kidding before. Meet me at the county courthouse tomorrow morning."

Calvin sounded surprised.

"That easy? Since when did you become so reasonable?"

"Don't want to? Forget it."

"Wait. You'd better not be pulling anything."

He agreed almost instantly.

***

At nine the next morning, we were standing in the hallway outside the county courthouse.

The family court office and county clerk's office were on the same floor, separated by nothing but a hallway.

Because I was one minute late, Calvin immediately snapped.

"Rhea, what now? So you were faking being sick yesterday too? People like you always stick around. You'll probably live to a hundred."

His friends looked just as smug.

They were all waiting for Calvin and Molly to get their license, holding confetti and ready to celebrate.

I almost laughed.

Back then, whenever Calvin and I made plans, he was never on time. He stood me up over and over, enjoying watching me wait around like an idiot.

Now I was one minute late, and he was already annoyed.

"Yeah, I did it on purpose. I changed my mind. For the third thing, carry me on your back into the family court office so we can finish the filing."

It wasn't even a hundred yards from here.

Calvin narrowed his eyes at me. "That's it?"

Molly rushed over like I'd committed some unforgivable crime.

"Calvin's the CEO. How can you treat him like a servant and make him carry you? So what if the divorce isn't finalized today? I'll wait for Calvin forever!"

The others immediately frowned.

"Rhea, seriously? That's shameless. You're doing this on purpose. You just don't want the divorce finalized."

I smirked and waited.

Calvin finally spoke. "Fine. But if you pull anything in there, I'll make your life hell."

He stepped in front of me.

I climbed onto his back without hesitation.

A quiet sound escaped him.

He must have felt it immediately.

I was too light.

Alarmingly light.

I used to be fearless. I loved racing, mountain climbing, anything with adrenaline. I used to be strong.

He asked, "Have you been starving yourself?"

I answered flatly, "You and Molly make me too sick to eat."

His expression hardened. "Enough."

Back when we got married, ten bodyguards had dragged him into the county clerk's office in this same building and forced him to sign the marriage paperwork. He'd looked disgusted the whole time.

Now, in the same courthouse, he walked toward the family court office with steady steps, determined to end our marriage.

In a daze, I thought back to when I was seventeen.

Calvin had gotten caught in an avalanche during a ski trip.

I ran into the snow without thinking. I screamed his name until my throat felt shredded before I finally found him.

Snow blindness had blurred his vision, and he'd slammed his leg against a rock. He couldn't even stand.

I half-carried, half-dragged him down the mountain for a day and a night.

I even cut my wrist and fed him my blood so he'd have the strength to keep going.

Half-conscious, his hot tears soaked into my neck.

"You're so good to me. I'll marry you!"

I laughed and told him he better not break that promise.

By the time we made it down the mountain, I should've died from hypothermia.

That was when the System attached itself to me.

It told me our love was extraordinary. If I stayed married to Calvin for seven years, it'd give me health and a long life.

I agreed without hesitation.

Secretly, I was thrilled.

It felt like a gift.

Of course we'd be happy.

But when I woke up, I saw him confessing to Molly in front of the entire school.

He said he'd marry her.

I was the one who saved him.

What I got in return was his endless gratitude toward Molly.

I tried to explain.

He didn't believe me.

"The person who saved me was gentle. Like an angel. You're rough and bossy. How could it possibly be you?"

Snapping out of my thoughts, I leaned close to his ear. "We're even now."

He stopped.

"What did you say?"