7
Her words struck me like a physical blow. The world went cold, my heart stuttering to a stop. My phone rang. It was Perry. I couldn’t
bring myself to answer.
Bianca glanced at my phone, a smirk on her lips. “The System gave him a mission: win your heart. If he succeeded, I would wake
up.”
“When I woke up, I was angry that he was with you, so Hignored him. He staged that fake wedding just to force me to show up.” She leaned in, her voice a triumphant whisper. “Now tell me, who do you think he really loves?”
Time stopped. My mind was a roaring void.
Just then, Perry, following the sound of my ringing phone, found us. He heard Bianca’s last words.
“Zoe..” He froze, his lips turning white with panic.
I looked at him, a bleak, broken smile on my face. “Is it true?” I whispered. “You pulled me into this world just to save her? You knew what would happen to me if you were cold to me? You knew I would be erased if I didn’t marry you?”
Chapter 2
06.43 9
“Are you even human?” I shrieked, my voice cracking. “I was just a tool to you! To you, I’m just some NPC in a game, but in my world, I was a living, breathing person!”
I hit him, over and over, all my grief and rage pouring out of me. He just stood there, his fists clenched, taking it.
“What are you doing? Throwing a tantrum because you failed?” Bianca sneered, pushing me away from him. I was so weak, I stumb- led and fell to the floor.
“Zoe, are you alright?” Perry shoved Bianca aside and rushed to help me up, his eyes frantic with a worry that seemed all too real.
“Don’t touch me,” I spat, pushing him away.
The roiling emotions were too much. A wave of heat surged up my throat, and I coughed, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the pris- tine hospital floor.
My body was at its limit, yet I was still breathing. Why wasn’t I dead yet?
“System, why am I not dead?”
Tunclear, it replied instantly. The system is in a state of collapse. All data is irretrievable. However, an anomaly has been det- mission bonus has been triggered. If the Host can get him to ected. The male lead’s ‘love indicator‘ is now active. A limited–tim
confess his love now, the mission will be considered a success.J
I could see it, of course. I could see Perry’s feelings. But knowing the truth, I was filled with nothing but a profound, weary despair. I just wanted to die.
I rejected the bonus.
“Zoe!” Perry cried out in terror as he saw me spit blood. He ignored Bianca’s protests, shoved her away, and caught me as I fell.
