One wrong move and I was sucked into a dark romance novel. The System said I could go home once the Heartbreak Meter was full. I nodded thoughtfully. Just as my wife, Lily, was about to ask for our heirloom watch for her childhood sweetheart, I cut her off. "Sophia visited today," I said casually. "She accidentally broke the wishing jar in our bedroom." I waved dismissively. "It was an accident, so don’t make a fuss. She’s like a little sister to me. I even gave her that limited-edition fountain pen set from my study to cheer her up." The jar was Lily’s 20th-birthday gift to me, filled with 999 hand-folded stars. The pen set was our custom wedding anniversary gift. Lily’s face went pale with shock. The System screamed in my head, until it saw the Heartbreak Meter tick up by one notch. The System: ? I smirked. "You never said I had to be the one getting hurt. Breaking the villainess works just as well, doesn’t it?" 1 Lily’s lips parted, her voice choked with emotion. “Why was Sophia at our house? Why was she in our bedroom?” I put on an air of complete indifference. “She just flew back into the country, so I picked her up from the airport. I invited her over, gave her a little tour. We were neighbors as kids. It’s normal, isn't it?” “But she broke the gift I gave you!” she shot back, her voice a low growl of suppressed fury. I rubbed my ear, annoyed. “I know. Why are you shouting?” “It was just a glass jar. It broke. So what?” “If it bothers you that much, I’ll buy you a new one.” Lily’s hands clenched into tight fists. “Do you think it’s about the jar? It was filled with 999 lucky stars I folded myself! Every single one had a love note to you written on it. Does that mean nothing to you?” She took a step closer, her voice rising. “And you gave her our anniversary gift? What is going on between you two?” “Ethan, do you even see me anymore?!” Oh, she was getting mad now. Excellent. I adopted a disapproving tone. “Alright, that’s enough. Don’t be so petty. I told you, we’re just friends from way back.” “I only see her as a sister. If something was going to happen between us, it would have happened ages ago. Why else would I have married you?” The words rolled off my tongue, and a wave of pure satisfaction washed over me. I’d always wanted to use one of these classic lines from the genre. It felt damn good. After scolding her, I immediately switched gears, plastering a gentle, caring expression on my face. “Honey, you’re overthinking this. You know you’re the only one for me.” “Now stop making a scene. Be good. I’m a little tired, I’m heading to bed.” Ignoring the thunderous look on Lily’s face, I turned to leave. Suddenly, her hand shot out and gripped my wrist. Her brow was furrowed, her eyes searching my face for… something. A crack in the facade, maybe. I held my expression perfectly still, a calm sea in her storm, and let her look. After a long moment, she let out a slow breath, banking the fires of her anger. “Fine. Just be more careful in the future.” She changed the subject. “Caleb has that big corporate gala tomorrow night. Could he borrow that vintage watch your father left you? It would really help him make an impression.” Here it comes. The villainess finally makes her move. 2 “The watch? Oh, no! Why didn’t you say so earlier?” I exclaimed, my voice laced with panic. “What do you mean?” “Sophia’s having her first solo art exhibition in the city tomorrow night. Her father is attending and they’re doing a joint interview. He didn’t have any decent accessories, so I already lent it to him.” Lily stared, stunned. “You lent it out?” “Yeah.” “That was your father’s! You just gave a family heirloom to a stranger like that?!” See? She knew it was my father’s legacy, yet she was perfectly fine with me handing it over to her boy-toy. The twisted logic of these characters was something else. “What are you talking about? Mr. Hayes is hardly a stranger. He was my dad’s best friend. What’s wrong with me lending it to him?” “Besides,” I added, twisting the knife, “he’s Sophia’s father. When she asked, how could I possibly say no?” Lily’s face was a mask of cold fury. She looked at me as if I were a complete stranger. “Sophia again. You did this… for her.” She opened her mouth to say more, but her phone buzzed. She pulled it out, glanced at the screen, and her lips tightened. She looked up, gave me one last, deep look, then turned and walked out onto the balcony. Must be Caleb, checking to see if his little mission was a success. Too bad for him. I shrugged and headed into the bedroom. 3 When I first arrived in this world, I was so desperate I wanted to strangle the System. This was the most cliché, angst-filled novel imaginable. The hero and heroine fall in love, share six years of dating and four years of marriage, only for their perfect world to be shattered by the arrival of her childhood sweetheart. For him, the heroine, Lily, lowers her standards again and again, letting him frame the hero for things he didn’t do, pushing the hero into a deep depression until he finally jumps off a building. Only after he’s dead does she feel a shred of remorse. The heroine of this story was, to put it bluntly, a total mess. You could say she loved the hero, but she was constantly torn, always siding with her childhood flame and making the hero suffer endlessly because she knew he was devoted to her. And you could say she didn’t love the hero, but after he died, she completely lost it, tormenting her childhood sweetheart until he was a shell of a man, wishing he could join the hero in death. Her whole deal was not cherishing what she had until it was gone, then wallowing in regret. And for some reason, readers ate it up. But the one saving grace was that in this kind of story, the villainess truly does love the hero—me, Ethan. Which meant that when I started treating her exactly how she was supposed to treat me, it would actually break her. So I thought, why should I be the one suffering to rack up heartbreak points? I wasn’t about to put myself through that kind of hell. My new motto: Protect myself at all costs and drive everyone else insane. I’d just beat her to the punch. System: {Damn.} Me: {Never mind that. What’s the Heartbreak Meter at?} {10%. When you defended Sophia just now, she genuinely felt a pang of pain.} I smiled, a wide, brilliant smile. {Oh, we’re just getting started. There’s a whole lot more pain where that came from.} 4 A villainess is a villainess because she’s completely oblivious to how inappropriate her actions are. Without my vintage watch to show off, Lily gave Caleb a different set of accessories for the gala: an imperial emerald brooch she’d won at a high-end auction, complete with matching cufflinks and a tie clip. Caleb, a spoiled heir who coasted on his family’s connections, became the center of attention with that set. He was the talk of the town overnight. After the gala, Lily personally drove him home. Unfortunately for them, they were snapped by the paparazzi. Suddenly, rumors of a love affair between the spoiled heir and the beautiful CEO were everywhere. Caleb’s fame shot up another notch. In the original story, Lily’s explanation was lazy, a simple dismissal of the rumors as a “misunderstanding.” The hero was so angry he couldn’t sleep all night. I figured she was planning to give me the same tired excuse. But she couldn’t find me. Because while she was dropping Caleb off, I was at Sophia’s art exhibition. Sophia was a renowned painter, a graduate of a prestigious art school abroad with a string of successful exhibitions to her name. In the art world, her reputation dwarfed that of a trust-fund brat like Caleb. After her exhibition, I took her to a romantic dinner, and a picture of us was “accidentally” taken by a bystander. And because of the angle, the way I was leaning in to talk to her… it looked exactly like we were kissing. The photo went viral the moment it hit the internet. The buzz completely overshadowed the gossip about Lily and Caleb. And just like them, neither Sophia nor I bothered to issue any clarification. The whole situation was wonderfully chaotic. When I got home, slightly buzzed, Lily was sitting on the sofa in the dark. An ashtray on the coffee table overflowed with cigarette butts. I frowned, waving a hand through the acrid, stale smoke. “It’s late. What are you still doing up?” Thud. She tossed her phone onto the table. The screen was lit up with the picture of me and Sophia, caught in our “kiss.” “Care to explain this?” I calmly set my keys down. “We were having dinner. It’s called socializing.” “Socializing involves kissing now?” Lily shot up from the sofa. “Ethan, do you think I’m an idiot?” I looked up. Her lips were trembling, her breathing ragged. The corners of her eyes were red, as if she was on the verge of tears or rage. “It was just the angle of the photo,” I said, my tone puzzled. “We were just talking. The media is blowing this way out of proportion. Why are you taking it so seriously?” “Honestly, can’t you stop being so sensitive?” Her eyes widened. “Sensitive? My husband is trending online for kissing another woman, and you call me sensitive?!” “Well, yeah,” I said smoothly. “It’s just like those rumors about you and Caleb, isn’t it? Wild speculation.” The mention of her childhood friend stopped her cold. Her face stiffened. I felt a thrill of victory. Pissing off a narcissist was just so satisfying. I softened my voice. “You know Sophia just got back. We’ve known each other forever. It’s only natural I’d go support her exhibition.” “Getting photographed was an accident. It’s not what it looks like. Don’t get the wrong idea.” Lily’s lips were pressed into a thin, white line. Her eyes were red-rimmed as she stared at me, speechless. I walked over to her and, suppressing my disgust, wrapped my arms around her. “Alright, stop it. No more fighting.” “Your birthday is in a couple of days. I’ve already planned the whole party.” “And I got you a special gift. I know you’ll love it.” You had to keep them on the hook, after all. Otherwise, the real fun couldn’t begin. Lily stared at me for a long moment, then asked, her voice tight, “You and Sophia… there’s really nothing going on?” I raised my hand in a solemn oath. “Absolutely nothing.” After a heavy silence, she sighed, the fight draining out of her. “I’m tired. I’m going to bed.” She rose unsteadily and walked toward the bedroom, her silhouette lonely in the dim light. I pulled up the System panel. Heartbreak Meter: 20%. Nice. 5 I planned Lily’s birthday party exactly as it was laid out in the novel. Grand, elegant, no expense spared. On the day of the party, I stood at the entrance in a custom-tailored suit, greeting guests. I glanced back to make sure everything was in place. The six-tier cake and the champagne tower were positioned exactly where they needed to be. The distance between them was perfect. Flawless. It wasn't long before I heard a sickeningly cheerful voice. “Lily! What do you think of my suit? It matches your dress perfectly, don’t you think?” Caleb, dressed in a sharp navy blue suit, strode up to Lily and casually draped an arm around her waist, drawing stares from everyone around them. “You’re a grown man now, stop being so clingy,” Lily said with a soft smile, gently tapping his arm but letting him stay pressed against her side. He looked less like a guest and more like the host of the party. “Oh, oops, I almost forgot to say hi to Ethan. Hey, Ethan!” he said with a fake smile. “Thanks for throwing such an amazing party for Lily. You must be exhausted. You’ve really outdone yourself.” I didn’t get angry. I just crossed my arms, a smirk playing on my lips as I looked him up and down. “Why are you looking at me like that, Ethan? Did I say something wrong?” Caleb asked, his lip trembling in a pathetic attempt at innocence. Just as Lily was about to defend him, I cut in. “Of course not. I was just admiring your suit. It looks great on you.” A real shame you’re about to ruin it in a pile of cake. Suddenly, a clear, melodic voice called out from behind me. “Ethan.” I turned to see Sophia. Lily’s face froze. “You invited her?” “I did. Is that a problem?” I flashed a brilliant smile and eagerly went to greet her. Right in front of Lily and Caleb, I opened my arms and gave Sophia a huge hug. And I didn’t stop there. I leaned in and affectionately pressed a kiss to her cheek. Instantly, a hand clamped down on my wrist. A powerful force yanked me back several steps. Lily’s relaxed composure was gone, replaced by a mask of sheer disbelief, her brow knitted in a tight, furious knot. “Ethan, what the hell are you doing?!” 6 “What am I doing?” I asked, feigning confusion. “You’re all over another woman right in front of me, and you still claim there’s nothing going on between you? You…” “That’s enough, Lily,” I cut her off, my voice sharp. “Can you stop being so crude? This is just a normal greeting, a custom from her time abroad. Don’t twist it into something ugly.” “And another thing—this is your birthday party. Are you really trying to make a scene and embarrass yourself in front of all these people?” My harsh words stunned her into silence. Her lips trembled, and her voice dropped to a low, dangerous tone. “I’m being crude? Show me one wife who would be okay with her husband getting all touchy-feely with another woman! Do my feelings mean nothing to you?” “What’s the big deal?” I scoffed, my eyes flicking pointedly to where Caleb was still standing far too close to her. “If we’re going down that road, what about you and him? You two have been attached at the hip all night. Did I say a word?” That shut her up. After a long pause, she awkwardly pushed Caleb away. “That’s different. Caleb sees me as a big sister.” “And I see Sophia as a little sister. So what’s the difference?” She was speechless. Seeing his chance, Caleb sidled back up, taking Lily’s arm again and speaking in a high, mocking tone. “Don’t be angry, Lily. Ethan was just saying hello. I’m sure a respectable man like him wouldn’t have an affair, right?” His tone was dripping with sarcasm, but I played along. “See? Even Caleb is more reasonable than you are. I really don’t know what you’re so worked up about.” Caleb, who clearly hadn't expected me to agree with him, was momentarily stunned. Lily was even more furious. She shot me a glare, shook off Caleb’s hand, and stormed off without another word. Pathetic. Once Lily was gone, Caleb dropped the act. He leaned in close, his voice a low whisper only I could hear. “I thought you had some special power to keep Lily interested. Turns out you’re nothing special at all.” “Tell me,” he sneered, “who do you think she cares about more? You, or me?” I laughed lightly. “Is that even a question? She’s crazy about me. Look, I just said hi to someone and she’s already green with envy. Can’t be helped.” My words twisted Caleb’s smile into a grimace. He gritted his teeth. “Is that so? We’ll just have to wait and see, won’t we?” With that, he straightened his tie and hurried after Lily. Sophia stepped up beside me. “Are you okay?” “I’m fine.” I picked up a champagne flute and swirled the golden liquid. “The show is about to begin.” 7 Every trashy romance novel needs a scene where the rival frames the hero. And tonight’s party was the main event, the climax of the hero’s suffering in the original story. The plot was old and tired: a fake push, a feigned injury, a plea for sympathy, the heroine’s rage, and a forced apology. I knew the script by heart. And I was ready. Lily was chatting with some friends across the room when Caleb sauntered over to me. “Ethan, Lily hasn’t said a word to you all night. Looks like she’s really mad,” he taunted. “You think she’s starting to hate you?” I raised an eyebrow, silently daring him to continue. “And what if she found out you were bullying me? Would she hate you even more?” he whispered. “Should we find out?” Before I could answer, Caleb’s expression changed dramatically. He let out a cry of alarm and pretended to be pushed, stumbling backward toward the massive birthday cake. I just watched. I didn’t try to catch him. I didn’t move. Just as he was about to make contact with the cake, Sophia appeared at his side. She slammed her body into his, knocking him upright. The force sent him stumbling away from the cake, but the momentum carried her in the opposite direction—straight toward the champagne tower. With a tremendous crash, the tower of glasses collapsed, shattering into a thousand pieces on the floor. Sophia fell among the broken glass, a long, deep gash opening up on the back of her hand. “Sophia!” I cried out, my face a mask of worry. I rushed toward her, deliberately shoving past Lily who was on her way to check on Caleb. Seeing the blood pouring from Sophia’s hand, my fists clenched, and I turned on Lily, my voice trembling with rage. “When did you become so vindictive? I told you there was nothing between me and Sophia, but you still had to pull a cheap stunt like this?” My accusation left both Lily and Caleb completely stunned. “What are you talking about? What do you mean, I did this?” Lily stammered. “Don’t play dumb! You put him up to it, didn’t you? Caleb has no reason to hurt Sophia, so why would he push her? It’s because you can’t stand her, so you had him do your dirty work!” I pressed, my voice rising with righteous fury. The long-silent System suddenly piped up: {…You’re a special kind of genius. You’ve mastered the art of flipping the script.} I hummed a cheerful little tune in my head. {You know it.} On the floor, Sophia grabbed my arm with her blood-soaked hand. “Ethan, don’t blame them. I’m fine. It was my own fault for not being careful.” “How can you be fine?” I snapped, my face etched with panic. “Your hands are your livelihood! You’re a painter! How are you going to hold an exhibition with an injury like this?” Caleb, completely blindsided by this turn of events, could only stammer that he hadn’t pushed her. I whirled on him. “Shut up!” Then I turned my glare back to Lily, my voice cold and hard. “Apologize to Sophia.” System: {Damn. Heartbreak Meter is skyrocketing.} Lily’s face was pale, her expression one of utter disbelief. “I didn’t do anything. You want me to apologize to her?” “Ethan, this is my birthday party. You want me to apologize to your childhood friend… at my own party?” My face was a mask of impatience. “When you do something wrong, you apologize. Is that really so hard for you to understand?”
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