Valentine’s Day. It was my son’s birthday. It was also the fifth year of my mission to conquer my husband, Harrison Sterling. That night, my son, Noah, made a wish in fluent German, looking straight at his father. "I wish Dad and Mom would get a divorce. I want Aunt Bella to be my mom." Harrison smiled and replied in German, "Your wish will come true very soon." Aunt Bella. That would be my biological older sister, Bella. Ten minutes later, Harrison called me into the study. He slid a divorce agreement across the mahogany desk. "Let’s divorce. I’m giving you a billion dollars as a settlement. You need to retire from acting and move abroad permanently." I stared at the papers, my throat tight. "Harrison... did you ever love me?" He set down his pen and looked me dead in the eye. "Chloe, have you forgotten? You were just a stand-in for your sister." "Now that Bella is back, you need to exit the stage." His words were precise, surgical cuts to my heart. The light in my eyes finally went out. Five years ago, Harrison was in a car accident and ended up in a coma. His fiancée, Bella, refused to marry a vegetable and fled the country. The family forced me to take her place. I agreed because I had terminal cancer, and a "System" offered to cure me if I successfully made Harrison fall in love with me. For five years, I waited on him hand and foot. When he woke up, he protected me. He flew halfway across the world when I was sick. He even got jealous of our son. I thought he loved me. I was wrong. "Sorry," I said, my voice steadying. "I lost my composure." I picked up a pen. "I’ll sign." Harrison looked at my red-rimmed eyes. He remembered how I’d given up my career for him, how I’d run out at 3 AM in a blizzard just because he craved dumplings. His conscience pricked him. "As long as you don't disturb my new life, I’ll bring Noah to visit you abroad when I have time..." The room was warm, but I felt freezing cold. He left the door ajar when he walked out. through the crack, I saw Noah cheering. "Dad! My birthday isn't over yet! Let's go find Aunt Bella!" Noah shouted in German. "Aunt Bella plays the violin so well. She speaks different languages with me. She lets me eat ice cream. I love being with her." "Unlike Mom. She always makes that gross sugar-free chocolate cake. I hate it. Aunt Bella brings me imported Godiva." "Mom is so annoying. Why can't she be like Aunt Bella?" Every word stomped my heart into the dirt. Harrison laughed. "Let's go then. To Aunt Bella's." I closed the door emotionlessly. They didn't know I spoke eight languages. I understood every word. The son I poured my life into wanted me gone. I made sugar-free cake because his teeth were rotting. He forgot who carried him to the ER when his toothache made him scream. He forgot who stayed up all night telling stories when he was scared of thunder. Five years of devotion couldn't beat the three months Bella had been back. Ding. My phone buzzed. A special notification. It was Harrison’s Instagram post. #HarrisonSterling: The only one for me in this life. The photo showed him holding hands with Noah and Bella, standing in front of the Sterling family estate. In five years of marriage, he never took me there. He said his parents thought an actress was too low-class. Now, Bella had been back for three months, and she was the lady of the manor. The post trended immediately. And naturally, my name was dragged through the mud. #Ex-MovieQueenChloe Dream Shattered! I looked at the toxic comments. My heart finally flatlined. I logged into my account, tagged Harrison, and typed: #Congrats to the happy couple. Thanks for the billion-dollar breakup fee. I loved them with everything I had. If they didn't want it, I’d take it back. For the first time in four years, I summoned the System. "System, I request to leave this world permanently." Three seconds later, the mechanical voice echoed in my head. [According to mission parameters, the Host successfully completed the conquest four years ago upon the birth of the target's son. Request approved. You will be permanently deleted from this world in 10 days.] Chapter 2 I had actually completed the mission years ago. But because Noah was small, and because I truly loved Harrison, I chose to stay. Now, neither of them wanted me. The System tried to comfort me: [Host, nobody here loves you anyway. Take the billion dollars and live it up for the last ten days. Then I'll take you to a new world.] I teared up. It was pathetic, really. I had parents, a husband, a son. None of them loved me. They only loved Bella. When we were kids, Bella danced ballet. My parents bought her a condo as a reward. I practiced until my feet bled and won first place. I thought they’d praise me. Instead, Bella pushed me down the stairs. I broke my leg. My parents said, "You deserved it for stealing your sister's spotlight." That’s when I knew I was an orphan with living parents. I tried to build a new family with Harrison. It failed. Fine. I didn't want any of them anymore. ... One hour later. I walked into "The Olympus," the most exclusive host club in the city, carrying a black card with a billion-dollar limit. On the left, rows of "puppy dog" types calling out "Big Sister." On the right, "wolf types" smoldering. I waved the card. "Bring me your best-looking guys. I have a billion to burn!" Suddenly, someone grabbed my arm hard. I turned around. Harrison. His eyes were burning with anger. "Posting on social media wasn't enough? You followed me here? Are you trying to ruin Bella's welcome party on the 88th floor?" "She's your sister. Why must you always fight her?" Noah stood beside him, looking disgusted. "Mom, stop embarrassing us. You're so petty. Being jealous just makes Daddy hate you more." It stung. I shook off Harrison’s hand. "I don't have time to disturb your love nest. My schedule is open; if you find me annoying, stay out of my way." I turned and walked deeper into the club, ignoring them. Harrison watched my back, a strange irritation rising in his chest. ... I rented the VIP penthouse at The Olympus. I ordered bottles of Ace of Spades. I hired guys to sing, dance, perform magic tricks. I tipped $50,000 just for a smile. Laughter filled the room all night. But I didn't smile once. Soon, I was trending again. #HarrisonThrowsPartyForBella #ChloeHiresMaleModels #FallenStar: Chloe Spends Billions on Men! The comments were brutal. "She's disgusting. Look at those photos, surrounded by men. Does she have a disease?" "How can a classy artist like Bella be related to this trash?" "Die, homewrecker!" I didn't look at my phone. I just drank, glass after glass. The next morning, a call woke me up. My head was splitting. I answered, and my mother’s screeching voice drilled into my ear. "You ungrateful wretch! You have no shame!" "I..." "Shut up! You’re ruining Bella’s reputation with the Sterling family elders! Get out of that filthy place and go back to the villa! Fix your image or I’ll freeze your accounts! You’ll sleep on the street!" She hung up. Every word was a brand on my soul. I rubbed my temples. "It's okay, Chloe. You're leaving soon." I did go back to the villa, though. Not to apologize, but to get my ID and transfer the money to an account my mother couldn't touch. I had 9 days left. I was going to enjoy them. ... I arrived at the house I’d shared with Harrison for five years. It was quiet. I thought they were out. I went upstairs to the master bedroom. Through the door, I heard low, ambiguous moans. My heart felt like it had been stabbed. Shaking, I reached for the handle. Suddenly, a small body slammed into me like a cannonball. Noah blocked the door, glaring at me with hatred. "Bad Mom! You can't go in! Daddy said he's making me a new little sister with Aunt Bella. Do not disturb them!" Chapter 3 I stared at my son. He stood there, arms spread wide like a guardian of justice, protecting the people who were betraying me. I realized then what a failure my life was. I didn't say a word. I turned around and walked away. When you're sad, you have to buy happiness. I went to the bank, withdrew cash, and called The Olympus. "Send me seven of your handsomest guys. Top tier." "Make me happy today. Whatever you want to do, wherever you want to go, I'm paying." And so... We drove limited-edition sports cars. We ate at Michelin 3-star restaurants. We went drag racing on the cliffside highway. We bought out luxury stores. I did everything the internet said would make a person happy. Finally, exhausted, I parked by the beach and slept in the car. I woke up at 10 AM the next day to a call from Noah’s teacher. "Hello? Is this Noah's mom? It's 10 o'clock, why isn't he at school? is he taking another day off?" I said calmly, "Sorry, I divorced Noah's dad. Please call him for anything regarding the child." I hung up. Since Noah was born, I handled everything. School, health, playdates. Before Bella returned, he was a good kid. Three months ago, after Bella came back, Noah hit a kid at school. When I tried to discipline him, he screamed: "You just want me to apologize! Why?! Aunt Bella said kids should release their nature! People should be selfish! I hit him because I wanted to!" "You're useless! You don't deserve to be my mom!" He was poisoned. It didn't matter. I was leaving. Let Harrison clean up the mess. Seconds later, Harrison called. "Chloe! What kind of mother are you? Your son has a high fever at home! Even Bella cares more than you do—she’s crying her eyes out at the hospital right now!" "Even if we're divorced, don't take it out on the child!" He berated me like I was garbage. Three months ago, the first time he compared me to Bella, I cried into my pillow all night. Now? I felt nothing. "Wait," I said. "Weren't you and Bella with him yesterday? I wasn't even home. What were you doing?" Harrison choked. "I was busy with work! Bella has been at the hospital all morning. This is your job!" "Come to the hospital. Now." He hung up. I didn't rush to the hospital. I didn't panic. My head still hurt from the hangover. I decided to go back to the VIP suite at The Olympus to sleep. But at the entrance, a swarm of reporters blocked me. "Chloe! You're partying with male models while your son is in the hospital? Are you fit to be a mother?" "Sources say you stole your sister's husband because you look like her. The Sterling family never accepted you. Is it because you're cheap?" "Your sister is taking care of your son right now. Are you ashamed?" Buzzkills. I grabbed a microphone and smiled lazily at the camera. "Did Bella send you?" The reporters froze. Their questions were designed to lift Bella up and crush me. Fine. Let’s give Bella some PR work to do. "You guys are right," I said clearly. "I can't compare to Bella. She refused to marry her fiancé, ran abroad to study, forced her little sister to be a substitute bride, and then came back to steal her sister's husband and child." The crowd exploded. I ignored them and walked into the lobby, heading for the elevator to the 99th floor. The doors opened, and I ran straight into Harrison. He grabbed my wrist, furious. "Chloe! Who told you to say that nonsense? Do you know how much damage those rumors do to Bella?" I opened my mouth to speak, but a metallic taste flooded my throat. I vomited a mouthful of blood. Chapter 4 The bright red blood splashed onto the white carpet. I collapsed in my red dress, looking like a withered rose. "Chloe?" Harrison’s pupils constricted. He caught me, his voice trembling with a panic he didn't realize he felt. "Chloe!" My vision blurred. [System, what's happening?] [System: Host, your physical body still has terminal cancer. However, since the mission was successful, I have disabled your pain receptors.] I blinked, trying to clear my head. Harrison looked terrified. "What is this blood? Chloe, what are you playing at?" Oh. He thinks it's a trick. I pushed him away and stood up, wiping my mouth. I smiled. "Mr. Sterling, you can't tell?" I pointed at the floor. "It's fake. Ketchup. You aren't actually worried about me, are you?" If he knew I was dying, he’d probably say I deserved it. Harrison’s face went black instantly. "Stop using these stunts to get attention. No matter how jealous you are, you shouldn't slander Bella publicly." "Bella had her reasons for leaving back then. She's kind enough to forgive you. For the sake of our past, if you apologize publicly, I won't sue you." I laughed. "Sue me. Send the lawyers. I'm waiting." ... The next day was my birthday. My last birthday in this world. I spent a fortune renting out the Skyline Ballroom at the most expensive hotel in the city. I decorated it beautifully. A farewell party for myself. Before it started, I ran into Harrison and Noah in the lobby. Harrison walked straight up to me. "Chloe, cancel your party." I laughed. "Excuse me?" "I'm using this venue today to clarify the rumors about Bella." "And that concerns me... how?" Noah tugged on Harrison’s hand. In German, he said, "Dad, let's go. If Mom wants to embarrass herself, let her." Harrison glared at me. "Don't regret this." I turned away. Regret? The only thing I regretted was falling in love with him during the mission. At 8 PM, my party started. The giant screen played pre-recorded birthday wishes from industry friends. I drank wine, cheeks flushed, smiling brilliantly. "Thank you, everyone. I'm so happy today." Suddenly, the screen glitched. It cut to a livestream. My parents' faces appeared. "Chloe maliciously slandered her own sister. She is rotten to the core. From today on, we disown her!" Then, the screen switched to Harrison and Noah. "My mother, Chloe, abandoned me when I was sick to party with male models. I want to sever the mother-son relationship!" Noah declared. Harrison looked into the camera, ice-cold. "I have divorced Chloe. She defamed my fiancée, Bella. Effective immediately, Chloe is banned from all Sterling properties. Security, please remove her from the Skyline Ballroom."
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