Chapter 1

Norman Walsh sat on the living room couch, his voice icy and distant. "Juliet, Iris has been targeted by a serial killer. So, you'll take her spot three days later and perform at the concert."

Juliet Lennon started to speak, but he lifted his hand, silencing her. "I'm telling you, not asking for your input."

When she didn't respond, Norman's expression turned stony. "You're immortal. You're not going to die. The killer would only take you for a little while. What's the big deal? You'll be back in three days. It's not like it's forever!"

Juliet lowered her eyes, a bitter smile flickering across her face.

The husband she loved with all her heart hadn't set foot in the house for a week. And now, the moment he finally walked through the door, he was ordering her to die in place of his first love.

All because Norman knew the truth—five years ago, she'd accidentally bound herself to the Immortal System and become an undying.

Even though she'd always come back to life three days after her death, the agony she suffered before dying was very much real.

As an immortal, Juliet's sensitivity to pain was 100 times sharper than an ordinary person's. Norman knew that too, but he conveniently left it out.

He didn't love her.

Norman was well aware that in just seven days, the serial killer had brutally taken the lives of six women. His methods were beyond cruel. The police had thrown everything they had into catching him, but every effort had fallen short.

Even though Norman knew that Juliet wouldn't survive if she went, he felt no sympathy for her.

"Juliet, you've had eight years as Mrs. Walsh, all because of that face of yours that looks so much like Iris'. Don't you think you owe her something in return?" he asked.

Juliet hesitated, her reluctance clear.

Norman's expression turned cold. "I'll count to three. If you refuse, I'll have someone take away Lenny, that cat your mom left you. You'll never see him again!"

Juliet stared at the man she'd loved for eight years, her eyes swimming with tears.

Years ago, Norman had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and abandoned by his first love, Iris Roth. In his darkest moment, he'd tried to take his own life with sleeping pills.

It was Juliet who'd stayed by his side, pushing him to keep going and giving him a reason to live. She'd found the best doctors, and eventually, they'd cured his ALS.

She'd stood by his side as he'd built his business from the ground up, even helping him take his company public. She'd gone out of her way to mend the broken ties between him and his family.

Juliet had held onto the belief that her unwavering devotion would eventually soften Norman's heart. But instead, she was faced with this—a man who callously threatened her using the one thing she cared about most.

He and Iris were the ones with the true love story. And her? She was nothing more than a stand-in, a sacrifice waiting to be made. The irony of it all was too much to stomach.

Juliet closed her eyes and called out to the system. "System, I request for mortality. I want to leave this world."

The system's voice held a note of surprise. "Are you sure about this, Juliet? You're immortal now. If you go through with this, there's no turning back!"

"I'm sure," Juliet answered, her voice weighed down with grief.

There was nothing left for her to care about. She had let go of the hope that Norman might ever love her. All she wanted now was to disappear from this world forever.

"Juliet, once the mortal program is triggered, there will be no turning back. You care for Norman more than anyone. Are you truly prepared to let him go for good?"

Her voice was unwavering. "Yes."

"Understood. Your request has been submitted. Approval will take approximately three days. Please wait patiently."

"Three!

"Two!"

Norman's countdown pressed on.

Juliet opened her eyes, her tone calm and even. "Fine. I'll do it. I'll take her place and die. Just give Lenny back to me. Stay away from him."

Norman had expected her to scream, fight back, or put up a struggle. Her quiet resignation threw him off. Something didn't feel right. He was about to push her further when his phone buzzed.

He answered the call and turned to go, but Juliet's voice made him stop.

"Can you come back tomorrow? There's something I need to discuss with you. Just five minutes. That's all I need."

She wanted to settle their divorce before she was gone.

Chapter 2

Juliet dropped her gaze, a cold smile crossing her face. She was about to die in place of Norman's first love, and even that wasn't enough to make him stay for five minutes. How heartless could he be?

But at last, she'd come to her senses. She was done with him. She went upstairs, drafted the divorce agreement, and began packing her belongings.

Suddenly, she realized she was running a high fever. Every time she ran a fever, her muscles ached as if thousands of ants were crawling beneath her skin. The pain was unbearable.

She went downstairs to get some medicine and bumped into her brother, Seth Lennon, who'd just walked in.

He was hauling several large bags of fabric, his tone brisk and authoritative as he said, "Juliet, you'll work through the night to make the most stylish and luxurious dress for Iris. She needs it for The Stellar Voices Awards Ceremony in four days."

Juliet hesitated. "I have a fever."

Seth frowned, clearly irritated. "Don't start with that. Are you pretending to be sick again? Just do what I'm telling you, or I'll throw out the watch you gave me!"

Juliet had believed her heart was too numb to feel any more pain, but his threatening words struck her deeply.

She'd lost both her parents when she was young, and it was Seth who'd raised her, showering her with love and care. But ever since he'd met Iris, he'd always sided with her and forced Juliet to do things for her.

He'd completely forgotten that Juliet was his own sister. No matter how hard she tried to win him over, she could never regain his affection.

If this was how things were going to be, Juliet decided to let go of Norman and Seth. She wanted nothing more to do with either of them!

"I won't do it," Juliet said, her voice firm and resolute.

She continued rummaging through the drawer for medicine.

Seth seized her wrist. "Since when did you get the nerve to disobey me? Get to work on that dress. Iris won first place in The Stellar Voices Competition and needs it for the awards ceremony!"

Juliet's voice turned sharp, dripping with sarcasm. "First place? The song she won with, 'Splendor,' was my composition. The recording she submitted was my voice. Does she even deserve that award?"

Seth's eyes widened in shock. Juliet had always been so obedient and willing to comply. How could she suddenly speak with such an edge?

He paused for a moment to collect himself before saying, "Iris comes from a broken home. She's had a hard life, relying solely on her mom. Isn't it only fair that you help her? Can't you show a little compassion?"

Juliet's eyes burned with fury at his twisted logic. "Compassion? Are you saying that refusing to help the woman who stole my husband makes me heartless? Why do you and Norman keep pushing me like this? Why should I have to die in her place? What do I owe you?"

Seth frowned, his expression turning stern. "Juliet, you're an immortal. You won't die. Why are you making such a big deal out of this? Iris is just an ordinary person with 100 years to live, at most. Can't you just let her have this?"

Juliet shut her eyes, overwhelmed by disappointment. All because she was immortal, her husband and brother—the two men she loved most—seemed to think they had the right to demand she sacrifice endlessly for Iris.

They didn't care if she lived or died. They didn't care if her heart was broken. To them, she was just a tool to get what they wanted.

Juliet turned and headed upstairs, her voice icy and detached. "Seth Lennon, I'm not making that dress. And from now on, I won't lift a finger for Iris."

Seth stared at her, stunned. It was the first time she'd ever called him by his full name. It left a dull, aching weight in his chest.

He stepped before her to block her path, his voice sharp and commanding. "Juliet! Have you forgotten everything I've taught you? I'm your brother. Are you seriously treating me like some stranger—"

"I haven't forgotten. But to me, you are a stranger," Juliet cut in, her face calm.

Seth's eyes burned with anger as he glared at her. "What's gotten into you? Don't even think about going to bed until that dress is finished!"

Chapter 3

Juliet's high fever had left her legs weak. She could barely manage to stand. When she forced herself to turn and walk away, a sudden wave of dizziness hit her.

As she collapsed, she thought she caught a glimpse of the villa door swinging open and Norman rushing in, his face tense with worry.

He'd always been cold and detached throughout their eight years of marriage. Now that she was useful to him, he was suddenly playing the role of the devoted husband. The irony cut deep.

A sharp, searing pain shot through Juliet. She curled into a ball, letting out a low, pained moan. She felt someone place a cool compress on her forehead, just like her mother used to do when she was still alive.

Lost in the fog of her fever, she murmured, "Mom, it hurts so much. I feel like I'm dying…"

Norman's cold tone sliced through her haze. "It's just a fever, Juliet. Do you have to act like it's the end of the world? You're really laying it on thick to make me feel guilty."

Juliet forced her eyes open, surprised to find that Norman was the one tending to her. She was too exhausted to explain yet again that as an immortal, her sensitivity to pain was 100 times worse than an ordinary person's.

Her voice came out dull. "Why are you back?"

Norman didn't respond. Instead, he gestured for someone to roll in a food cart.

"Get up and eat something," he said.

Juliet's eyes lingered on the beautifully crafted cakes on the cart, a pang of bitterness tightening in her chest. In all their eight years of marriage, Norman had never once paid attention to her, let alone remembered how much she despised cake.

"These cakes just came out of the oven. Go ahead, try a piece," Norman said, placing a slice in her hand, his voice uncharacteristically gentle.

Juliet turned her face away. "I don't like cake. It's too dense and heavy."

Norman didn't seem fazed. "I've tasted them myself. They're really good and will help you put on weight quickly."

The realization dawned on Juliet then. She was nearly five pounds lighter than Iris. To take Iris' place at the concert convincingly and avoid tipping off the serial killer, she needed to pack on the pounds as fast as possible.

For a fleeting moment, she'd foolishly let herself believe he might have actually cared.

"Eat the cake, Juliet. We only have three days until the concert. There's no time to lose," Norman said, his tone firm and commanding.

Juliet's voice turned icy. "And what if I say no? Are you going to threaten me with Lenny again?"

Norman looked at her, caught off guard. She'd always loved him, giving in to his every demand for fear of rocking the boat. But today, something had shifted.

He met Juliet's cold, distant stare, and a flicker of unease stirred within him.

He was about to speak when Seth burst through the door, demanding, "You're skipping the cake and avoiding weight gain because you want the serial killer to realize you're not Iris, aren't you?"

Seth's face was filled with unmistakable disappointment as he continued, "How could you be so heartless, Juliet? It's downright shameful!"

At that, Norman's expression darkened immediately. He opened a jewelry box, pulled out an emerald bracelet, and, without a word, clasped it around Juliet's wrist.

"Juliet, this is my way of making things right. Be reasonable and go along with this, okay? Don't push me to take drastic measures."

Tears rolled silently down Juliet's cheeks. "Fine, I'll eat."

She forced herself to choke down the three cakes in front of her, battling the wave of nausea rising in her stomach. Moments later, she rushed to the bathroom, dropping to her knees by the toilet and vomiting violently.

Suddenly, a glass of water appeared beside her.

"Here, drink some water. It'll help."

Juliet slapped the glass out of Norman's hand, her voice cold and sharp. "Stop pretending to care. Get out!"

Norman was caught off guard, and his white shirt was soaked in an instant. He stared at Juliet, whose face was etched with disappointment, and a strange unease washed over him, as though he'd done something terribly wrong.

But a moment later, he pushed the feeling aside and said, "Get some rest. We'll keep working on the weight gain tomorrow."

Juliet picked up the divorce agreement from the dressing table and thrust it at him, her voice empty and detached. "I'm not going to suffer for nothing. Sign these."

Chapter 4

The moment Norman saw the contents of the divorce agreement, he was struck speechless.

After a pause, his face hardened, and he said, "You've always sworn you'd never give up being Mrs. Walsh, and now you're suddenly asking for a divorce. Have you lost your mind?"

Juliet's voice stayed calm. "Not at all. I want 30% of our shared assets and Lenny. That's it. Sign the papers, and I'll meet you at the courthouse tomorrow at 9:00 am."

Norman gripped the agreement, his brow furrowed as he remained silent.

Juliet let out a bitter laugh at the sight. "What? After eight years of building everything with you, isn't 30% of what we've earned together fair?"

Norman's frown deepened. Juliet had always been compliant. She'd never been the type to behave this way.

It occurred to him that he might have pushed her too far by threatening her with the one thing she held dear. He simply tore the agreement and tossed it into the trash.

"You're still running a fever. Take your medicine and get some rest," he said.

Juliet printed another copy of the divorce agreement and handed it to him, her tone pleading but firm. "Norman, you've never cared about me anyway. Let's get this over with quickly so I can make room for Iris. If 30% is too much, I'll take 20%. Just sign it."

A voice came from the doorway. "Sign what?"

Juliet looked up to see a pale-faced Iris pushing the door open and stepping inside.

Iris looked puzzled as she asked, "What's going on between you two?"

Juliet's eyes stung when she noticed the bags of belongings Iris' assistant was carrying behind her. She wasn't even dead yet, and Norman was rushing to bring Iris into their home. How cruel of him!

But it didn't matter anymore. She'd be gone for good in two days.

"Ms. Roth, we were just—" Juliet began, but Norman cut her off.

"Ris, you'll stay in the guest room on the first floor for the next few days. Let me show you the way."

"Sure, Norman. You go ahead. I'll just have a quick word with Juliet and join you shortly," Iris replied, her smile gentle and warm.

As soon as Norman left, Iris' gentle façade vanished. She crossed her arms, her expression turning smug.

"Honestly, I never wanted you to take my place at the concert, Juliet. It was Norman's idea. He said you look the most like me, so you'd have the best chance of fooling the serial killer.

"He really does love me deeply, doesn't he? He doesn't care about your life at all. If I were you, I'd be too humiliated and furious to stick around, let alone cling to the title of Mrs. Walsh."

Juliet's voice was dripping with sarcasm. "If you're so eager to be Mrs. Walsh, why don't you bring it up with him? Why bother telling me? He loves you so much. It's not like he'd say no, right?"

Iris' face stiffened.

Juliet had always been so quiet and compliant. What had gotten into her tonight, making her so quick with her words? Could it be that Norman had…

Iris' eyes darted, and then, out of nowhere, she struck herself twice across the face, her voice cracking as she burst into tears.

"Juliet, I know you're upset with me because you have to fill in for me at the concert. I get it, and I don't hold it against you. Do you feel better now? If you're still mad, hit me a few more times. I won't take it personally!"

"Ris!" Norman shoved the door open and hurried to Iris' side, his expression stormy. "Juliet, how could you lay a hand on her?"

Juliet struggled to explain herself, but Norman didn't let her get a word in. "You've always treated Iris so well. I never imagined you'd turn against her the moment I wasn't around!

"I'll make sure you pay tenfold for every bit of pain you've caused her! You! Get over here and teach Mrs. Walsh how to behave!"

Chapter 5

The bodyguard's slap sent a searing pain across Juliet's face, her ears ringing like a swarm of bees had been unleashed inside them. The pain was so intense she worried her hearing might never recover.

Gritting her teeth against the pounding ache, she managed to say, "Norman, if I told you I didn't lay a finger on her, would you even believe me?"

Norman's expression was stone-cold. "The evidence is staring me in the face, and you're still playing innocent? If this happens again, I'll make sure your mom's cat disappears for good."

Iris broke down sobbing. "My face will heal in a few days, Norman. Don't take it out on Juliet. She still has to cover for me and handle the serial killer. That cat is her whole world. If anything happens to him, it'll break her."

"You've always been too soft-hearted. You never stop to think about what you've been through," Norman said, his chest tightening as he pulled Iris close and guided her out of the room.

Juliet leaned against the wall, struggling to get herself up, and began packing her things. She gathered every gift she'd given Norman over the past eight years, planning to auction them off. She also wiped her phone clean of every photo and closed all her bank accounts.

As she dragged her suitcase downstairs, she spotted Norman and Iris in the living room, tangled up in each other's arms. When Norman noticed Juliet, a flicker of discomfort crossed his face.

He pushed Iris away and barked, "You started this by going after Ris. I went easy on you by only giving you one slap. And now you're running away like some kid throwing a tantrum?"

In the past, seeing them like this would have shattered Juliet, leaving her crying herself to sleep. Now, she felt nothing, as though she were watching someone else's life unfold before her.

She ignored Norman and pushed open a door, scanning every corner of the room for Lenny.

"Lenny, where are you? Come on, we're getting out of here."

Norman's expression turned grim, his irritation clear. "Juliet, who said you could leave this house? You two, take Mrs. Walsh back to her room. She doesn't step a foot outside without my permission!"

Juliet fought back with everything, but her energy faltered, and the bodyguards dragged her up the stairs.

She called for Lenny over and over, but there was no trace of him. Sweat dotted her forehead as panic seized her.

Suddenly, her gaze landed on Iris, who was lounging on the couch, munching on grapes and playing with a small bell dangling from her finger.

Juliet recognized that bell instantly. It was the one Lenny always wore around his neck!

"Iris, did you let my cat out on purpose? He's quiet, well-behaved, and never caused you any problems. Why would you do something like this to him?" Juliet's voice was heavy with sorrow and anger.

Norman looked startled by her words. He turned to Iris, his tone firm. "Ris, have you seen Lenny?"

Iris' face fell, her expression wounded. "No, Norman. I didn't know this bell belonged to the cat. I found it by the windowsill—"

Juliet's voice sliced through the air, edged with accusation. "You're lying! That bell's strap is sturdy. It wouldn't just come off on its own!"

Iris hung her head, her eyes red and puffy. "Juliet, if you're set on believing I'm the one who let the cat out, then fine, I'll take the blame. I'm sorry. It's on me. I'll get you another cat tomorrow."

"It's not your fault the cat's gone, Ris. Why are you apologizing?" Norman pulled her into his arms, calming her, then turned to Juliet, his tone stern. "Juliet, come over here and apologize to her!"

Juliet turned to him, her voice trembling with tears. "Lenny's bell didn't just fall off on its own. Someone must have cut it! Norman, please, just let me go look for him. I've never asked you for a single thing in all these eight years. Just this once! He's all I have left from my mom, the only thing!"

Seeing Juliet on the verge of breaking down, Norman opened his mouth to speak, but Iris gently interrupted, "Norman, let Juliet go look for the cat. It's just a few accusations. I'm fine, really. What matters right now is finding the cat."

Recalling Juliet's earlier accusations against Iris, Norman's expression darkened. "Apologize to Ris first. Otherwise, you're not leaving your room!"