Chapter 1 When Arthur took me to the courthouse to file for divorce for the ninth time... He expected me to break down crying, begging him to stay, completely shattered like the previous eight times. Instead, I was completely calm as I signed my name on the dotted line. After all, this was our ninth divorce. Arthur’s adopted sister, Chloe, suffered from severe bipolar disorder. And the only "cure" that worked during her manic episodes... Was seeing our divorce certificate. The very first time Chloe demanded we get a divorce, I flat-out refused. In response, she immediately pushed my one-year-old son down a flight of stairs. I went completely insane, calling the police and demanding Chloe pay for my son's life with her own. But Arthur submitted a stack of psychiatric evaluations to the judge, completely absolving her of any criminal liability. The second time, when I refused to sign the papers, Arthur drove my car off a pier into the ocean. As the water filled the cabin, he asked me: "Divorce, or we die together?" Looking at my calm expression now, Arthur seemed a little guilty. "You know the drill. Once Chloe's treatment cycle is over this year, we'll remarry." He reached out, trying to tuck a stray strand of hair behind my ear, but I took a step back, dodging his touch. Looking up at the invisible progress bar hovering above Arthur’s head—which had finally hit 100%—I offered him a radiant smile: "There's no need. I'm going home." My mission was finally complete. In seven days, I would leave this world forever. …… Arthur let out a soft, mocking laugh and lit a cigarette. "Evelyn, you're an orphan. Besides being by my side, where exactly is 'home' for you?" I didn't answer. I just looked at him quietly. Time didn't seem to have left a single mark on his devastatingly handsome face. He looked exactly the same as he did ten years ago, when we first met. It was true, I was an orphan. When I was eighteen, I was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Just as I was hovering on the brink of death, the System found me and offered me a deal. If I could travel to this world, successfully capture the male lead's heart, and reach a 100% "Heartbreak Metric"... Not only would my cancer be cured, but I would also receive a ten-million-dollar cash prize. When I first arrived in this world, I followed the System's instructions and rescued Arthur from a violent kidnapping. From that moment on, he fell madly, obsessively in love with me. He paved pathways with thousands of Ecuadorian roses. He showered me with mountains of haute couture jewelry. He sent his private helicopter to pick me up just for dinner dates. He made me the most envied woman in New York high society. Until the day I was abducted by Arthur's business rivals in a revenge plot. They tortured me for three days and three nights. Arthur, despite taking several bullets, carved a bloody path through their compound just to carry me out on his back. In the hospital, he smiled weakly as he wiped my tears away: "Seeing you cry for me... it makes it all worth it." That single sentence made me fall completely, irreversibly in love with him. In our first year of marriage, we had a beautiful baby boy. Arthur loved me so deeply that completing the "Heartbreak Metric" seemed absolutely impossible. But I didn't care. As long as I could grow old with Arthur, I was more than willing to give up my old life and stay in this System world forever. Until Chloe appeared. She was the daughter of the man who had once saved Arthur's life. After being found, she was formally adopted as his sister and moved into the Sterling family estate. She made my life a living hell at every possible turn. When I complained to Arthur, he would only say: "She's still young, Evelyn. Just be the bigger person and let it go." Then, Chloe was suddenly diagnosed with bipolar disorder. She claimed that if she didn't see Arthur and me get a divorce, she was going to kill herself. When I refused, she grabbed my son and threw him down the grand staircase. Right before my baby died, he was crying out, screaming for me. "Mama!" I watched him die in my arms, his tiny body growing cold and stiff. After that, I fell into severe clinical depression. Arthur dropped to his knees in front of me, sobbing, swearing he would get me justice. But a month later, Chloe showed up at my baby's funeral. Like a deranged lunatic, she grabbed a hammer and smashed my baby's headstone to pieces. "You cheap bitch! You think you and your little bastard can steal my place in this family?!" I lunged at her to fight back, but Arthur grabbed me and locked me in the basement. He kissed me desperately while trying to coax me: "Evelyn, I owe her father my life." "Please, for me... just endure it a little longer..." The second time she forced us to divorce, Arthur tied me to the passenger seat of his car and drove us off a pier into the freezing ocean. He said: "Divorce, or we drown together." After that day, every single time we got a divorce, the System's task progress bar would jump. And just now, as I held my ninth divorce certificate, I heard the long-absent voice of the System: [Congratulations, Host. Task complete. The portal to your original world will open in seven days.] Ten long years. I could finally go home. Snapping back to the present, I pulled my gaze away from Arthur: "Arthur, actually I..." Chapter 2 Before I could finish, Arthur suddenly shoved me backward. "Chloe!" I tumbled down the concrete steps of the courthouse, crashing onto the pavement. A dull, sickening pain instantly flooded my entire body. "Happy Divorce Day, Arthur!" Blowing a bubble with her chewing gum, Chloe threw herself into Arthur’s arms, and he caught her perfectly. I tried to stand up, but a sudden, violent cramp ripped through my lower abdomen, draining all the strength from my legs. Instinctively, I reached my hand out toward Arthur. But his eyes were filled with frantic anxiety as he cupped Chloe's face in his hands: "Chloe, how did you get hurt?!" Following his gaze, I saw a tiny, one-centimeter scratch near Chloe's hairline. She pouted, acting like a wronged child, "I was just trying to learn how to cook for you, and I accidentally bumped my head." Arthur pulled her into a fiercely protective hug, his voice aching with sympathy. "You don't need to do things like that. That's what Evelyn is for." My breath hitched in my throat. A sharp, piercing pain stabbed my heart. Just because Chloe once casually mentioned that she "didn't like other women getting too close to Arthur"... He fired every single maid in the massive Sterling estate. The workload of dozens of staff members was forced entirely onto my shoulders. Scrubbing floors, buying groceries, cooking three different gourmet meals a day... To the outside world, I was the glamorous, untouchable Mrs. Sterling. Behind closed doors, I was an unpaid, 24/7 live-in maid. After coaxing Chloe for several minutes, Arthur finally remembered I was there. He walked over and pulled me up by the arm, his eyes filled with intense irritation: "You can't even stand up straight? Stop embarrassing me in public." I let out a low gasp of pain, leaning heavily against the brick wall just to stay upright. Arthur caught sight of my massively swollen ankle. A brief flash of concern crossed his face: "Why is it swelling so fast? Come on, I'll take you to the hospital." "Arthur~" Chloe immediately clung to his arm, whining. "You guys are divorced now! How can you let her ride in your car?" "But..." "She's right. I'll just call an Uber and go to the hospital myself." Standing behind Arthur, Chloe stuck her tongue out at me and pulled a mocking face. I limped heavily, stumbling my way to the curb. Arthur called out to me: "Evelyn, what were you trying to tell me earlier?" The agonizing, churning pain in my abdomen had me breaking out in a cold sweat. "It's nothing." I turned and got into the back of a taxi. "Mount Sinai Hospital, please." The moment the window rolled up, the tears I had been holding back finally slid down my cheeks. I slowly placed my hands over my lower stomach. I had wanted to tell him that I was pregnant. But I never, ever had any intention of keeping this baby. By the time I reached the ER, the fetal heartbeat was already gone. I was wheeled into the operating room for a D&C procedure. As the cold metal instruments moved inside my body, my heart physically ached with the memory of what used to be. The very first time I got pregnant, Arthur was so happy he cried like a little kid. He didn't just buy out the entire inventory of the most expensive baby boutique in Manhattan; he personally flew to a monastery in Tibet to pray for the baby's safe delivery. He held me and said: "Evelyn, I am going to make you and our baby the happiest people in the entire world." But in the end... not a single one of our children survived. I wiped the tears from the corners of my eyes. In my mind, I called out to the System. "Those three wishes you promised me... are they still valid?" [Of course. However, they are only effective within the parameters of this specific reality.] I nodded. Since that was the case, I was going to leave Arthur three massive, unforgettable parting gifts. …… After the surgery was over and my injuries were bandaged, I dragged my exhausted body to the billing counter on the first floor. The cashier took my debit card, ran it, and frowned. "Ma'am, this card is declining. Insufficient funds." "That's impossible. Every cent I own is in that account." Panic set in. I pulled out every single credit and debit card from my wallet and handed them over. Every single one declined. Insufficient funds. The line of people behind me began to grumble impatiently. I had no choice but to step aside into a quiet corner and call Arthur: "Arthur, something is wrong with my cards. They're all frozen. Can you please just wire me three thousand dollars for the hospital bill..." "Evelyn, are you completely shameless?" Chloe's venomous, mocking voice echoed through the speaker. "I told my brother to freeze all your cards! You're divorced! Do you seriously think you still have the right to spend the Sterling family's money?" Arthur’s voice chimed in right after hers: "Chloe is right." "For the time being, you need to figure out how to make your own money." I froze. My grip on the phone tightened until my knuckles cracked. I ground the words out through my teeth: "Arthur. Are you seriously telling me I have to find a way to pay for my own abortion?!" My weak, trembling voice was entirely drowned out by the background noise on his end. "Congratulations to Mr. Sterling for winning the emerald necklace for thirty million dollars!" Arthur’s voice was softer than velvet. "It's a gift for Chloe." He refused to give me three thousand dollars for a medical emergency. Yet he turned around and dropped thirty million on a necklace for Chloe. I let out a bitter, self-deprecating laugh and hung up the phone. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught the glint of the diamond on my left ring finger. I limped to a nearby pawn shop, sold my wedding ring, and paid my medical bill. Looking at my bare ring finger... I remembered our wedding day. Arthur’s eyes had been filled with oceans of devotion as he slid it onto my hand. "Evelyn, I will love you for the rest of my life." "Promise me you will never, ever leave me, okay?" But Arthur... you broke your promise first. Chapter 3 I limped all the way back to the Sterling estate. The moment I walked through the front gates, I saw all my belongings thrown carelessly onto the driveway. A few of the landscapers were looking at me with sheer disgust and contempt: "Every year she gets kicked out of the house like a stray dog. Have you ever seen a billionaire's wife look so pathetic?" I had heard these kinds of vicious, kick-them-while-they're-down comments for years. I was too exhausted to argue. I crouched down and started gathering my scattered clothes. Suddenly, a shadow fell over me. I looked up and saw Arthur's anxious face: "Evelyn, perfect timing." Completely ignoring the thick white bandages wrapped around my ankle, he grabbed my arm and dragged me into the massive chef's kitchen. "Chloe really wants her favorite seafood bisque, but I don't know how to make it. You have to teach me." The pain from my ankle shot up my leg, making me break out in a cold sweat. I had to grab the doorframe just to keep from collapsing. Watching Arthur—a man who had never set foot in a kitchen in his life—clumsily trying to chop ribs... My heart gave a violent, painful throb. I remembered when my endometriosis was so bad I couldn't even get out of bed. I begged Arthur to just boil some water with ginger and brown sugar for me. He had looked at me coldly and said: "Evelyn, I'm not your servant. I have actual work to do." I remained dead silent, tied an apron around my waist, and cooked the bisque for him. As he was taking notes on his phone, he suddenly froze. He grabbed my left hand, his voice trembling: "Evelyn... where is your wedding ring?" I pulled my hand out of his grip. "We're divorced. If I keep wearing the ring, Chloe will get upset when she sees it." Arthur frowned deeply, but he didn't push the issue. Yet, a creeping, inexplicable sense of dread began to pool in his chest. "Evelyn... you seem different than before." I offered a mocking, empty smile. I didn't say a word. I just used the wall for support and limped out of the kitchen. "Evelyn! Stop right there!" Chloe was standing at the top of the grand spiral staircase, her arms crossed. She had a group of her wealthy, mean-girl friends standing behind her. She slowly sauntered down the stairs, pointing a perfectly manicured finger at my clothes. "Take it off." I was in no mood to entertain her psychotic tantrums. I turned to walk out the front door. But her friends instantly rushed forward and grabbed me by the shoulders. "Are you deaf, bitch? Didn't you hear what Chloe said?" "Chloe." Arthur’s voice carried a hint of displeasure as he walked out of the kitchen. Chloe immediately whimpered, clinging to his arm and whining: "Arthur~ didn't you promise you would listen to whatever I wanted?" "She was kicked out of the house with nothing! She isn't allowed to take a single thing that belongs to the Sterling family. That includes the clothes on her back!" Arthur’s gaze drifted between me and Chloe. Chloe's eyes were full of eager anticipation. While I stood there perfectly calm, not even bothering to look at him. For some reason, my utter indifference made him angry. "Fine." That single word of permission was all the green light those girls needed. They grew incredibly excited. They swarmed me, viciously grabbing and tearing at my clothes. During the violent struggle, my surgical stitches tore open. Dark red blood slowly began soaking through the fabric. It wasn't until I was stripped down to nothing but my bra and underwear that I forced myself to stand up straight. I reached behind my back and rested my fingers on the clasp of my bra: "Mr. Sterling. Do you need me to take the rest off, too?" Chloe reacted as if someone had stepped on her tail. She exploded. "Evelyn, stop playing the pathetic victim!" She lunged at me, trying to physically rip my bra off. But Arthur suddenly clamped his hand around her wrist. For the first time in years, he actually raised his voice at her: "Is this enough?!" The air pressure in the room plummeted to freezing. "Arthur... are you yelling at me?" Chloe stiffened her neck, tears welling up in her eyes. She burst into dramatic sobs and ran out the front door. Her group of friends immediately chased after her. "Chloe, wait!" Arthur hesitated for a split second, then sprinted out the door after her. I swayed dangerously on my feet. Step by step, leaving bloody footprints on the pristine marble floor, I walked out of the Sterling estate. Tears completely blurred my vision. My mind flashed back to eight years ago. Arthur was holding our baby son, kissing my cheek: "Buddy, when you grow up, you and I are going to protect Mommy together, okay?" But now... Arthur had become the person who hurt me the most. Chapter 4 I rented a tiny, cheap studio apartment. And I quietly waited for the day I could finally go home. Arthur’s efforts to coax Chloe back this time were more extravagant than ever before. Not only did he rent out ten luxury shopping malls so she could shop in private, but he also bought a massive plot of land and began constructing a custom theme park just for her. He even transferred 50% of his shares in the Sterling Corporation directly into her name. At the press conference, Arthur looked like a knight in shining armor, holding Chloe's hand with eyes overflowing with adoration: "Our Chloe was born to be pampered and spoiled." I silently turned off the television. I picked up the bouquet of white lilies and a small plush toy I had bought earlier. Today was my son's death anniversary. I still remember the day of his funeral. Chloe had screamed at my face, calling him a bastard: "Your son was destined to die young! He was too fragile to handle a little fall! How is it my fault that he died?!" Pure, venomous hatred churned in the pit of my stomach, but I forced the tears back down. "Chloe... I hope you're still smiling after today..." I took an Uber to the private cemetery. But when I arrived at my son's plot... the marble headstone had been smashed to pieces with sledgehammers. The dirt from his grave had been dug up and scattered everywhere. Chloe was sitting comfortably in a lawn chair, barking orders at a crew of workers: "Smash it into smaller pieces! Dig out the urn and throw the ashes to the stray dogs!" "CHLOE!" My emotions completely shattered. I threw myself forward, desperately trying to block the workers from the grave. "What gives you the right to touch my son's grave?!" Chloe stood up, walked over, and slapped me viciously across the face. "Because this land belongs to the Sterling family." "You and your little bastard son don't deserve to use a single square inch of Sterling property." A tidal wave of grief and fury completely consumed me. I lunged forward and locked my hands around Chloe's throat. But within seconds, I was violently pulled off and pinned to the ground by her massive bodyguards. Her face was flushed red from my grip. She walked over and delivered several brutal slaps to my face. "You crazy bitch! I'll kill you!" She ordered her bodyguards to drag me out of the cemetery, hauling me directly to Arthur's office. Chloe pouted, crying a river of perfect, fragile tears: "Arthur, I went to the cemetery today to pay my respects to little Leo, but Evelyn called me a murderer and tried to strangle me to death..." She grabbed Arthur's hand and placed his fingers over the red marks on her neck. Arthur’s face turned terrifyingly dark. He stared at me, his eyes filled with a hatred so intense it looked like he wanted to skin me alive. "Evelyn. Explain yourself." I swallowed the metallic taste of blood in my mouth and glared right back at him: "She's right. I absolutely wanted to strangle her to death." Arthur grabbed me violently by the jaw, his voice as cold as liquid nitrogen: "Evelyn. I told you. Anyone who dares to hurt Chloe will pay the price." He casually adjusted his expensive cufflinks and gave an order to his security detail: "Take my wi— take Evelyn out to the yacht. Tie her up and drop her in the ocean. Let her cool off." Pure, primal terror instantly paralyzed my entire body. Every drop of blood drained from my face. I stared at Arthur in absolute, horrified disbelief. During the kidnapping years ago, I had been locked in a specialized water torture cell by his enemies. I was repeatedly submerged and nearly drowned until I was half-dead. Arthur knew perfectly well... that was my deepest, most traumatizing nightmare! I thrashed violently against the guards, screaming at him with everything I had: "ARTHUR! I FUCKING HATE YOU!" Arthur’s footsteps faltered for a fraction of a second. But he didn't turn around.
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