Seven years into my new life in this novel, I married the man I was sent to conquer. He loved me, and I... I genuinely loved him back. But for a "Player," winning the game meant it was time to go home. The System said I could choose to stay. I missed my parents. But I loved Julian. I was agonizing over the choice when I overheard him talking to his best friend. "It was genius, man," his friend Carter said. "Using tech to plant a chip in Chloe's brain, making her think she was transported into some fantasy world." "Telling her the only way home is to 'conquer' you?" Carter laughed. "Making your lifelong obsession actually chase you? Brilliant." Julian's voice was smooth, arrogant. "What can I say? I'm just that crazy about her." "If she chooses to stay," Julian said, "I'll take her home. Deactivate the chip, let her see her parents." And if I chose to go home? "Then the System glitches," he said, his voice turning cold. "She stays. She just has to keep trying to 'win' me." He glanced at his secretary, Sarah. "Of course... as punishment, I'll just have to give her a little more insecurity to deal with." In that instant, our seven-year marriage felt like a sick joke. But I didn't burst in. I didn't scream. Because starting right now... we were playing a new game. And this time, I was setting the rules. I'd been agonizing. I knew I had to leave for my parents, but I felt like I was betraying Julian. I decided to pour everything into compensating him. He loves this incredibly complicated beef bourguignon, a secret recipe from his childhood housekeeper. I spent weeks learning it in secret, finally nailing the flavor. I wanted to surprise him. Julian's office is on the penthouse floor of his high-rise. CEO level. No one gets up there except him and his executive assistant, but I have a key card. He insisted I have one, so I could see him anytime. I rode the private elevator up, not telling a soul. The door was cracked open. I could see Julian on the sofa with his best friend, Carter. His assistant, Sarah, was standing nearby. Sarah's gorgeous, capable, and totally into him. But I'd never worried. I trusted him. Our love felt that real. I was about to knock, but I paused. They were talking about me. "Julian, the deadline's almost up," Carter said. Julian nodded, his smile tight, worried. "She's loved you for seven years, man. It's real," Carter added. That caught my ear. Were they talking about... me? Did Julian doubt my love? Before I could process it, Carter laughed, that lazy, rich-boy drawl. "Still, it was a hell of a plan. Planting a chip in Chloe's brain, making her think she's in a novel? Telling her the only way home is to 'conquer' you?" He shook his head. "Making your lifelong obsession actually chase you? Brilliant." My blood ran cold. What? Chip? Making me think I was in a novel? Was this all... fake? It all came rushing back. Seven years ago, my life was simple. I'd just graduated college, was working at my family's company. We weren't billionaires, but we were comfortable. My parents wanted me to marry well, someone from our circle. I had plenty of guys I'd grown up with. I hadn't felt that "spark" for anyone, but I'd picked one. It was fine. A good match. Then, right before my engagement party, I went on a trip. A car crash. And I woke up here. In this... world. I was still Chloe, but I was an orphan, alone, struggling. A voice in my head told me it was "The System." I was a "Player." To get home, I had to conquer this world's "male lead." I had to make him fall in love with me, and I had to fall in love with him. Love had to be mutual. I thought it was insane. I tried everything. I looked for my parents. I went to the police. No records. No trace of my old life. The voice in my head kept buzzing. I had to accept it: I was trapped in a story. The target was Julian. The billionaire heir, impossibly handsome, powerful. For a second, he looked familiar, like someone I'd seen before... but the System said he was just a character. I pushed it aside. I had a mission. But... his love felt real. Pure. Fiery. I once joked that a man who could cook was sexy. He burned his hands learning to make me that beef bourguignon. I said I wanted to see fireworks. He staged a private symphony of them, just for me. For seven years, he treated me like I was treasure. The happier I got, the more terrified I became. I was dreading the day I'd have to leave. Then it came. [Player status: 100% Conquered. You may now choose: Stay in this world with Julian, or return to your original world.] I hesitated. My parents... or Julian. It was an impossible choice. The System gave me three months. The guilt was eating me alive. Julian was so good to me, and I was a liar. I started crying all the time. I was a wreck. A doctor diagnosed me with severe depression. I hid it from Julian. I didn't want him to worry. These last three months have been hell. I felt like the worst person on earth. And now, I find out it was all the lie. The guilt? It was a joke. Back in the office, Carter was still talking. "I mean, a multi-billion-dollar budget? Building this entire city from scratch, hiring thousands of actors, just to create a bubble for her?" "She was always obsessed with her parents," Julian said. "I had to know. Would she choose me over them?" He paused, and his voice softened. "I love her. I can't let her be sad. Her mother... her mother's been sick with grief since she 'disappeared.' If Chloe chooses to stay, I'll bring her home. Let her see them." "And if she chooses home?" Carter asked. Julian's voice went flat. "The System glitches. 'Error. Player must try again.' She's not leaving me." He looked over at Sarah, his assistant. "I'll just... give her a little punishment. A little more insecurity. Keep her on her toes." A joke. Seven years of my life, a sick, twisted joke. He knew I was missing my family. He knew I was in pain. And he just watched. He's disgusting. My heart was pounding, a cold, hard knot of rage. I didn't burst in. I just stood there, counting down the seconds. Today was my deadline. The voice in my head buzzed. [Player, you must choose.] I took a silent, steadying breath. "I've made my choice," I thought, my voice clear in my head. "I want to go home." The game was on. But now, it was my game.
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