To save my husband who was dying of cancer, I agreed to a system's mission. Three years later, I returned from the other world. My husband and mother-in-law wept with joy, surrounding me with warmth and concern. The system asked if I wanted to close the portal to the other world. After all, I had died there due to complications in childbirth, and it worried about my mental state, offering me a rare chance to take one last look. Just as I was about to confirm closing it, I walked into my house and heard my mother-in-law's voice: "Chloe, in my heart, you are the true mistress of this house." "Who knows how many green hats she put on my son during those years away." A woman with red eyes rushed out of the room, locking eyes with me. Seeing her features so similar to mine, and my husband's unnatural expression... I called out to the system: "Wait. Don't close it yet." Chapter 1 The temperature in the hallway plummeted. "Ava, why aren't you coming in—" The elevator door pinged open. Caleb's words choked in his throat. "Chloe, please don't leave." My mother-in-law, who had rushed out, froze. Upon realizing what was happening, she immediately shielded the woman, assuming a protective stance. "Ava, this is Chloe. She's my goddaughter." "Don't misunderstand, Chloe and I were fellow patients." "My mom felt bad she was fighting cancer alone, so they supported each other," Caleb quickly explained, avoiding my gaze. My mother-in-law laughed awkwardly and chimed in: "Yes, yes. Whenever I see Chloe, I think of our Ava." "Thank goodness we beat cancer, and Ava woke up. God bless us." At the mention of the past, Chloe Miller's eyes reddened further, and she began to wipe away tears, sobbing. Caleb instinctively took a step forward, concern in his eyes. The smile on my lips stiffened. Ten years in the other world equaled three years here. The obsession with curing Caleb and reuniting with my family supported me through a decade of isolation and countless breakdowns. Finally, I succeeded in the mission and woke up from my vegetative state. Just moments ago on the video call, my mother-in-law was weeping with joy, saying how good it was that I was back. I forced a smile and naturally went to check the shoe cabinet. A cabinet full of women's shoes that weren't mine made my breath hitch. My hand paused. I randomly picked a pair of slippers that looked unworn. Chloe spoke softly: "Ava, those were a gift from my friend. I haven't worn them yet." My hand froze. Caleb quickly grabbed a pair of disposable slippers for me. "Where's Leo?" I changed the subject, asking about my son. When I left, Leo was only a few months old. That tiny bundle nestled in my arms, reaching out chubby little hands to touch my face, babbling "Mama." My longing for him had grown wild. I couldn't wait to see him. But when I glanced at the wedding photo in the center of the living room, I felt like I had fallen into an ice cave. It wasn't the photo Caleb and I took back then. Although the setting, attire, and even the poses were identical. Looking closely, the woman wasn't me, and Caleb wasn't his younger self. Clearly, it was a new photo of Chloe and Caleb. I looked back at Caleb. He was frantically signaling something to his mother, his eyes full of blame. The air in the room became alien. I clenched my hands, opening my mouth to speak. Suddenly, a child rushed out of the bedroom. He ran past me, straight into Chloe's arms. "Mommy! I want milk!" He nuzzled Chloe's face, acting spoiled. That was Leo! My child! Tears uncontrollably welled up, blurring my vision. Instinctively, I stepped forward, voice trembling: "Leo... do you remember me? I'm Mommy..." Leo looked up. His guarded and alert gaze pricked my heart like a needle. His childish voice pushed me further into the abyss. "Who are you? You're not my mommy." "I have a mommy. My mommy is right here." Chapter 2 Leo clutched Chloe's sleeve, looking at me like I was a formidable enemy. I stood there, stunned, looking up in disbelief. But both my mother-in-law and Caleb tacitly avoided my gaze. Mechanically, I looked around. The living room sofa had been replaced with a color I hated most. The plants I hand-raised on the balcony were gone, replaced by a fishing chair. This house, once my marital home with Caleb, now housed my mother-in-law and another woman. There was no trace of me left. Seeing my bewildered panic, Caleb couldn't bear it. He pulled me over to comfort me: "Ava, so much has happened these years. I'll explain it slowly." "Leo was so young when you left. How much did you expect him to remember?" He turned to his mother: "Mom, you and Chloe take Leo out to play for a bit." Leo, sensing something was wrong, fussed a little, but Chloe coaxed him, and he obediently went to put on his shoes. Before leaving, he didn't forget to glare at me: "When I come back, you better not be in my house!" The small child slammed the door with a deafening bang. My heart trembled violently, endless grief spreading. "Ava, Leo was too young then, crying for his mom." "Chloe happens to look so much like you, so he mistook her for you." "I was so sick back then, one foot in the grave. If it weren't for Chloe, Leo would have gotten sick and been in trouble many times." He choked up, eyes reddening. "We didn't know if you could come back..." "For Leo's sake, we pretended to be a family. The wedding photos and everything are fake." My throat felt like it was being strangled. I couldn't make a sound. "Leo is young. Give him some time, okay?" Caleb asked hoarsely. Seeing me nod silently, he immediately smiled through his tears and hugged me tightly. I tried hard to regulate my breathing, propping up my crumbling body, went to the bedroom, and fell asleep. When I woke up, it was already evening. Some dishes were on the table. In the kitchen, my mother-in-law was busy serving food. Leo stood on a small stool, helping to wash dishes. Caleb took a dish from Chloe's hands, exchanging a smile as their eyes met. The family sat down, chopsticks already moving. Caleb finally looked up. Seeing me at the corner, he stood up in a panic, face full of regret. "Look at my memory. Ava, you slept well? Dinner is just ready, come eat." He helped me to the table. Just as I was about to sit, the support beneath me vanished, and I almost fell. Looking down, Leo had pulled my chair away. He scowled, glaring at me angrily: "Why are you still here!" "I don't want to see you! Go away!" He grabbed my clothes, using all his strength to pull me toward the door. Seeing I didn't move, his eyes turned red with rage, and he started punching my legs with his little fists. "Leo Vance! What do you think you're doing!" Caleb shouted sternly, scaring tears out of Leo instantly. Chloe immediately hugged the child distressedly, comforting him softly: "It's okay, it's okay, Leo. Mommy is here." "This auntie is Mommy's good friend. She likes Leo very much. Can Leo try to be nice to her?" Seeing Leo calm down, she looked up at me, her eyes flashing with triumph. Caleb also turned to look at me, pleading in his expression, shaking his head at me. The meaning was clear: don't provoke Leo, the child only recognizes Chloe. Grief surged in my heart, burning my insides. I gave a bitter smile, pulled out a chair, and ate my rice in silence. Chapter 3 Everything seemed calm on the surface. The wedding photo on the wall was taken down. Leo threw a tantrum, and Caleb begged me to take it slow, so our wedding photo wasn't put back up. I tried to detach from the mission world and recommit to reality. But the atmosphere between Caleb and Chloe always made me feel suffocated. They didn't do anything explicitly, but the eye contact made me feel like the third wheel. Watching Chloe take care of the child, I remained expressionless. "Look, Chloe plays piano very well. She taught Leo well too." Caleb hugged me, smiling. "How much longer is she staying in my house?" I interrupted indifferently. Caleb's smile froze visibly. He softened his voice: "Isn't this good? Chloe helps take care of the child without affecting anything." "Good? Your son calls someone else 'Mom,' and you think that's good?" My tone was harsh, and Caleb's face sank. "What do you mean?" "Chloe has worked hard without complaint all these years, acting like a nanny every day. We owe her so much." "She has no family and has long treated this place as her home. She hasn't provoked you, and now you want to kick her out?" He raised his voice, implying I was being unreasonable. Seeing my silence, he sighed again. "My mom recognized her as a goddaughter, so she is our sister." "I know you just came back and feel bad." "But everything was fine, and you suddenly doing this messes everything up." There was hidden blame in his words. Like a knife stabbing the softest part of my heart. He meant I was the uninvited guest who disrupted his peaceful life? Chloe, sitting at the piano, heard the commotion. Meeting my eyes, she looked like a frightened rabbit, smiling ingratiatingly with red eyes. But looking closely, the provocation in her eyes couldn't be hidden. Leo also turned around. Seeing me, his smile vanished. "Daddy, come here, let's play piano together." As he spoke, he glared at me fiercely. Warning me not to approach. I didn't want to watch their happy family of three anymore and turned to leave. I thought Leo was just too young to recognize me. Now I realized, it seemed no one wanted to accept me anymore. That night, after showering, Caleb naturally tried to pull me into his arms. But the scent of his body wash was the same as Chloe's. I turned sideways, dodging him. "Ava, there is absolutely nothing between me and Chloe. We are innocent." "Are you still going to make a scene? Must you target Chloe?" Caleb's tone darkened. Seeing no reaction from me, he said quietly, "Are you thinking about someone else?" "Ava, tell me the truth. In that world, how far did you go with him?" My breath hitched. I knew he meant the man I had to romance for the mission. The emotions I desperately suppressed surged like a tide. In that moment, meeting his suspicious and scrutinizing gaze, my blood seemed to freeze. He knew. Every day he lived meant my target's affection level increased, meaning I was loved more by another man. So, he was disgusted? My eyes burned, tears blurring my vision unknowingly. His expression softened slightly, showing a hint of pity. Then he gripped my hand tightly: "Forget it. It's good you're back." "Every day was actually painful for me. I didn't dare dream of today..." "From now on, we can be together forever." His tone was as deeply affectionate as ever. But it didn't sound like celebration; it sounded like consolation. And his eyes were a pool of darkness I couldn't read.
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