Jacob and Evelyn were at the kindergarten, celebrating Children’s Day with Asher. Anyone who saw them would think they were the picture-perfect family.

Xander did not blame them. Instead, he came to scold me, the one just waiting for death.

A wave of indescribable frustration welled up inside me. Xander had been the first target I tried to win over.

He was my older brother, three years ahead of me. Growing up, he had always treated me like I was something precious. When I was ten, the system excitedly informed me that his affection level had reached 90%. Just a little more effort, and I could return home.

But then Evelyn showed up.

She was the daughter of our housekeeper. After an argument between us, she fell down the stairs, her body covered in bruises.

Xander stood at the doorway, staring at me with a coldness I had never seen before.

"Nina, when will you stop acting like a spoiled princess?

"The older you get, the more vicious you become."

His words were like a sharp blade stabbing into my heart, twisting painfully.

The system told me his affection had dropped to 50%, and that the chances of success were slim.

The system was right. After that day, Xander became increasingly distant, and his affection kept declining. He even suggested my parents send me to boarding school, just to keep me away from Evelyn.

"Xander, what are you doing here?"

Ever since I was sent to that nightmare of a boarding school, I had never called him "brother" again.

"Your tricks are pathetic. Did you forget this hotel belongs to our family?

"You booked a room here just to make sure I’d come, didn’t you?

"Why don’t you just die already? And quit acting like you deserve to be called my sister!"

Even though I had long since given up trying to win him over, the mockery and disdain in his voice still cut deep.

I held onto the hope that he might still have some affection left for the little sister he had watched grow up.

So, just like when we were kids, I tugged at his sleeve, hoping he would help me fulfill one last wish.

"Xander, could you please kill me?"

But before I could finish, he shoved me away in disgust.

I had not braced myself and fell to the ground, feeling lost and unsure.

"You should have died a long time ago. But do it far away from me. I’m not cleaning up after you."

I had been so wrong.

There was no way Xander had any feelings left for me.

I pushed myself up and stood tall, staring at him without fear.

I had not really looked at him in so long.

The once gentle and handsome brother who doted on me had now become more distant and colder.

Without warning, I slapped him across the face.

In my attempt to win him over, I gave up the inheritance my parents left me, just to give this fake heir the resources to get back on his feet.

But he just coldly said, "You owed me this."

I did not owe anyone, least of all him.

With that thought, I raised my hand, ready to slap him again. However, this time he caught my wrist.

"Nina, you’re insane."

He was furious, his entire body radiating anger, and his eyes were practically on fire.

I used to be terrified when he got mad, but now I just laughed.

"Yeah, I’m insane. What are you going to do about it?

"Kill me?

"If you have the guts, go ahead. Kill me! Do it!"

I stepped closer, pushing him to his limit, but he backed away.

Xander’s pupils shrank as he released my wrist.

"You’re truly wicked. Even in death, you want to drag me down with you."

Then he turned and left, nearly fleeing the room.

I glanced at the red marks on my wrist and chuckled softly.

I thought he would be the one to help me go home.

But he wasn’t.

After getting myself together, I headed to Oliver Smith’s boxing gym.

Oliver was the real heir and had been my deskmate in high school.

After I was sent to boarding school, he was the only light in my life.

He used to stand up for me when I was bullied. He barged into the girls' bathroom to save me. He even argued with teachers on my behalf. And for me, he exposed the fact that he was fighting in underground boxing matches.

"Nina, I don’t know why, but when I look at your face, so similar to mine, I feel an overwhelming urge to protect you.

"I’ve always wanted a sister. Let me protect you, okay?"

I thought I would successfully win him over.

But just when his affection level hit 95%, Evelyn transferred to our school.

Once again, she appeared in front of me and my target.

"What are you doing here?

"Didn't I tell you not to show your face in front of me again?"

Oliver stood there shirtless and his wrists were wrapped in bandages. He wore boxing gloves and pounded the punching bag in frustration. When I walked in, he did not even bother to look up.

I scoffed. "What's the point of hitting that bag? If you had any guts, you'd go after Jacob and take Evelyn back instead of sulking here like a loser.

"So what if you're my biological brother? Mom and Dad still love Xander more than you.

"And what does it matter if you knew Evelyn first? She'd rather go to kindergarten with my husband and son than even look at you.

"You're nothing but a complete failure!"

His fist flew past my ear, striking the wall inches away from me. However, I did not flinch. I just kept provoking him.

"If you're so tough, go ahead and kill me. What's the point of all this empty posturing?"

Oliver would have never laid a hand on me before. But ever since Evelyn showed up, the way he looked at me was filled with growing doubt.

"Nina, why is it that they only bully you and no one else?

"Are you really that blameless?"

The only mistake a victim ever made was being too weak. So I fought back, just once, when Evelyn falsely accused me of stealing.

"Nina, please give it back. That hairpin was a birthday gift from Oliver." Evelyn sobbed.

She was looking so pitiful, surrounded by classmates, while I stood there, unable to defend myself.

Then, Oliver burst into the room.

I thought he would do what he always did.

I thought he would stand in front of me, believe me and protect me.

But instead, he stood behind Evelyn, like the most loyal knight.

"Nina, give it back. You shouldn't steal from Evelyn out of jealousy."

How laughable. The person who once believed in me without question now accused me of being jealous of his affection for Evelyn.

After that, the bullying only got worse.

Now, after the insults I threw at him, Oliver's eyes were cold and fierce. However, he said nothing and turned to leave.

I wasn’t done. I couldn’t stop. I not only kept taunting him with my words, but I also started shoving him.

"Get mad. Get angry. Hit me, just once, and end it all," I thought to myself.

Then I could go home.

"Oliver, you're a coward!"

He suddenly stopped in his tracks, his eyes dark and unreadable.

"Get out!"

He kicked me out of the gym.

From start to finish, Oliver never laid a hand on me. His disgust for me had reached the point where he did not even want to look at me anymore.

Feeling helpless, I sat down on the steps and summoned the system.

"System, is there any way I can just die already?"

[Sorry, Host. If you want to return to the original world, you must be killed by one of the targets.]

I missed my parents from the original world so much. Even if I could just see them one more time, I would be content.

Asher was only five years old. He was not capable of killing me.

But Jacob could. He was a doctor.

"System, can I use points to exchange for a teleport?"

[Yes, you can.]

Since none of them are willing to do the job themselves, I would just let an accident take me out.

"System, can you teleport me in front of the car of one of the male leads?"

[I can't teleport you directly in front of a car.]

Of course not.

Just as I was feeling disappointed, the system's cold voice came through again.

[But I can teleport you near one of the male leads.]

"Who's driving right now?"

[Xander is currently on his way to meet with Evelyn.]

"Fine, teleport me near Xander."

So, even after our fight, he felt no guilt and was still rushing to see Evelyn.

The system teleported me to an intersection.

[In ten seconds, Xander will turn left and pass through the intersection. Please be ready.]

[10.]

[9.]

[….]

[3.]

[2.]

As the countdown reached [1,] the blinding headlights of a car appeared in front of me.

I smirked. There wasn’t an ounce of fear.

Finally, I was going home.

Mom, Dad, I missed you so much.

*Thud!*

With the sound of a heavy impact, my body flew through the air like a feather.

Xander slammed on the brakes, threw the door open, and stepped out of the car.