Chapter 1

That morning, I, Caroline Bergling, had just gotten a marriage certificate with a scion of Heidorot's elite. But on that same afternoon, he took me straight to get a divorce.

There I was, stiff and speechless with the papers in hand. Meanwhile, his friends laughed freely at my expense.

"Seriously, Nathan? All it took was one word from Eveline for you to marry the heiress and dump her on the same day?"

"Hah, look at her. She's as white as a sheet. Do you think she'll break down in tears?"

However, Nathan Rodgers wrapped an arm around his adoptive sister, Eveline Garrix. "Now that both certificates are here, will you finally smile at me?" he gently said.

Hearing that, Eveline let out a soft laugh. The cold, aloof look on her face bloomed into a smile.

I wanted to step forward and confront them, but my three brothers wouldn't let me go.

My eldest brother Martin, the CEO, frowned. "Nathan is the only one who brings Eveline joy. Do the right thing," he said.

An A-list actor, my second brother Oscar, knocked me off my feet. "She's had it rough. You have a good background, so let this one go," he added.

My third brother, Albus, a biology professor, saw his face turn grim as he sternly said, "Nathan should have married her years ago, so let this go."

Then, they forced me into the car. They refused to let me ruin their beloved muse's happiness.

At that moment, the dormant system finally rebooted. Its voice suddenly echoed clearly, "Host, mission accomplished! Initiate return sequence to the real world?"

Seated in the back seat, I gaze out the window pensively, barely holding back a smirk.

That's it. The tragic act required by the mission was over. I'm done with their soap opera for good!

…

"Congratulations, host! You've secured 95% favorability from the Berglings brothers and the male lead, Nathan. Mission objective of marrying the male lead has been achieved!

"Exit protocols are as such. Host body expiration required. Your reward upon returning to the real world is 100 million dollars and complete bone cancer remission."

Barely containing my excitement, I focused on one thing.

That's it, I'm going home!

With Martin and Albus keeping Eveline company, my second brother was ordered to send me back.

Instinctively, I glanced at my second brother, Oscar Bergling. Ever since we'd entered the car, he wore a dark and unwilling expression on his face.

When Eveline sent him a text, he finally smiled. Noticing my gaze, he immediately turned off his phone and frowned. "What? Are you still clinging to hope? Are you planning to go back and destroy what they have? Eveline's suffered enough for someone so young. Why can't you just let her be?"

I dug my nails into my palms and smiled cynically.

The irony wasn't lost on me. I was, after all, a year her junior.

My pallor must have been obvious, because Oscar heaved a sigh, then said, "Just apologize to Eveline. Don't keep this up."

He reached out to pat my head, but I pulled away gently.

"Why should I apologize? What did I do wrong?" I countered.

At that, his hand stilled. His tone turned sharp with annoyance as he said, "Caroline, that's enough! Don't push your luck! We'll apologize to Eveline once her match ends."

Hearing that, I stayed quiet. Silently, I checked with the system. "As long as this body dies, then I can go home?"

"Yes."

Slowly, I let out a breath and observed my surroundings through the window. After making sure no one else would be harmed, I opened the door and yanked it open.

Oscar, who had been chatting nonstop, screamed in alarm, "Carol! What are you doing?"

I ignored him. Without hesitation, I jumped.

A biting gust whipped past my face as I fell with the pull of gravity. Eyes shut, I wasn't scared.

But then, an arm clamped around my waist. I was swept into someone’s hold, and together we fell toward the grassy margin of the pavement.

The world spun violently, and I heard a muffled groan. We rolled several times before finally coming to a stop.

Branches tore into the arms wrapped around me, leaving them bleeding, yet not a single mark touched me.

I looked up and met Oscar's terrified gaze, my voice calm as I said, "Let me go."

Eyes locked on my expressionless face, he roared, "You jumped out of the car just because I got on your case a little? God, we've spoiled you rotten! Is this all another attention-seeking stunt? Cut it out!"

I ignored him, prying his fingers off me.

After I stood up, I scanned the area and quickly spotted a black car speeding straight toward us. "I jumped into it myself. Remember to pay for their damages," I remarked.

At that, I lunged straight toward the vehicle.

"Carol!" Oscar screamed, struggling to get up, but it was too late.

I longed for the end. I knew my time was short either way, but anything was better than remaining in this world.

However, the shriek of tires ripped through the air as the black car slammed to a stop.

Off balance, I stumbled backwards and fell right into Oscar's embrace, as he lunged forward to reach me.

"Have you lost your mind? Caroline, have you really gone mad?"

His eyes reddened, and his hands shook as they skimmed my face and arms.

"Were you struck? Where does it hurt? Answer me!"

Once again, death had evaded me. At that, I looked down briefly in defeat.

My gaze fell on Oscar's leg. His pants were stained a deep, spreading red.

The wound was clearly grave as fresh drops continued to fall.

Before, I would've broken down in tears, desperate to suffer in his place. Now, I looked away without a word.

"What? Since when did I need your consent to die?"

Chapter 2

Oscar stood frozen in place. He stared at me in disbelief.

Then, I let out a cold laugh and walked past him toward the black-car driver, who was still cursing under his breath.

"I'll transfer the compensation money to you later," I said.

Hearing that, Oscar clenched his fists tightly, the corners of his eyes reddening.

Taken aback at first, I quickly understood. "Oh, I'll use my income, not the Berglings' money," I explained.

"Carol!" Oscar cut me off impatiently, but to my surprise, there was a trace of grievance on his face. "You're the sole heiress of the Berglings. If you were to have the Berglings entire fortune, I'd never protest!" he said.

I found it laughable and met his eyes, a trace of irony in my voice as I said, "Is that so?"

Hearing that, Oscar flinched. It was as if the truth finally clicked.

In name, Eveline held the title of the Berglings heiress, while I, the true heiress, had been reduced to a joke.

To them, I was nothing but a disgraced lunatic, a woman lost in her own delusions.

I laughed hysterically, the sound cracking as tears fell.

Oscar and I used to be inseparable. He took me everywhere, even to his movie sets.

But now, all his warmth was gone. He would glare at me with icy indifference, commanding me to play second fiddle to Eveline at every turn.

Then, he hauled me to the car. His head hung low as he said, "Once Eveline wins the physics award, we'll announce that you're the true Bergling heiress. We'll tell them that everything up until now was a misunderstanding."

I couldn't be bothered to answer. Instead, I turned my head and stared out the window.

Before I crossed into this world, I was an orphan. During a routine check-up, I was diagnosed with bone cancer.

Lying on the hospital bed, I had slipped into a coma from the agonizing pain. When I came to, the system had brought me to this world as a six-year-old child.

Then, a voice rang out in my head.

"Reach a favorability level of 80 with the Bergling brothers and the male lead, Nathan. Marry him and be rewarded with 100 million dollars and a ticket back to the real world."

Following the voice came a burst of static, like a radio losing its signal. I almost thought I'd imagined it.

Still, getting a second chance at life and a healthy body was enough of a win for me.

Back to the present, the car drove smoothly.

Oscar, on the other hand, gripped my wrist tightly. His fingertips brushed the back of my hand gently. It was the same way he used to soothe me when I couldn't sleep.

As an orphan, I craved the warmth of a family. I even considered abandoning my mission just to stay, but once Eveline—the orphan I had brought home—arrived, all that love became hers alone.

I started by acting like a spoiled child, then I tried sulking. Eventually, I just broke down into hysterics.

In the end, all my pain was met with a single, cold remark.

"Stop making a scene. Do you have any idea how pathetic you look right now?"

The car stopped at the gates of the Bergling residence. I shook off Oscar's hand and stepped out.

"Carol!" he said, his voice laced with disbelief. "I'm hurt, and I did it for you…"

I cut him off, indifference plastered all over my face. "If you're hurt, go see a doctor. Telling me is a waste of time."

I pushed open the Bergling residence's front door.

The first thing I saw was Eveline seated on the couch. She was being doted on by everyone in the living room.

My eldest brother, Martin Bergling, wore a stern expression as he threw a punch at Nathan's shoulder. "Eveline hadn't had a decent meal or a wink of sleep in three days because of you!" he said. "Is this your idea of looking after her?"

However, Eveline quickly stepped in to intervene. "Martin, Albus, please! I'm perfectly fine! This was just a misunderstanding. There's no need for this now that we cleared the air," she replied.

I stood at the entrance, watching their touching display of sibling devotion.

"Host, I have detected a significant drop in your dopamine levels…" the system said, its voice taking on a somber tone. "Tell me, host. Are you feeling a great sense of sorrow now?"

Chapter 3

A single sentence from the system nearly brought me to tears. Wiping away the tears at the corner of my eyes, I felt utterly humiliated.

Then, Oscar walked to my side. He was about to speak when Eveline suddenly screamed and rushed over.

"Oscar, how did you get hurt so badly?" she cried out, her voice sharp with panic. "You—"

Before she could finish, I stepped forward and cut her off with a slap. She clutched her swollen cheek, staring at me in disbelief.

At the exact moment, a fierce blow knocked me to the ground.

Martin pointed at me, his face twisted with anger as he shouted, "Caroline! We've spoiled you rotten! Apologize to Eveline!"

I lay sprawled on the ground. Spitting out a mouthful of blood, I countered, "Apologize? What did I do wrong? I'm a two-time divorcee, and you're telling me I can't even take a swing at the mistress?"

At that, Martin's anger boiled over. His voice rose sharply as he roared, "What nonsense are you spouting? Nathan and Eveline were a couple long before you decided to interfere! How did I end up with a sister as shameless as you?"

I gave a hollow laugh, then snapped, "So, I'm the shameless one? Nathan was my fiance, yet now, I'm the third wheel?"

"Our engagement was dissolved years ago," Nathan replied, looking at me with disdain. "The Rodgers family would never accept a woman with your reputation!"

My third brother, Albus Bergling, dragged me up from the floor. "Carol! Apologize!" he snapped.

But I stayed silent as my gaze swept over the people before me.

Martin looked indifferent, Albus looked disgusted, while Nathan looked as though he wished me dead.

On the other hand, Oscar frowned. His lips moved, yet he said nothing in the end.

The scene mirrored what happened a year ago. Back then, Eveline's frequent contact with Oscar led fans to label her a stalker.

Seeing her being attacked, he couldn't bear it. He took to Twitter and revealed that Eveline was the Berglings' heiress.

Yet I, the true heiress, took the blame for her.

"You always have bodyguards with you. Eveline is alone."

In shock, I protested. I broke down in tears and threw a tantrum. Still, the looks they gave me mirror the one I received now.

Inside, nothing was left but a hollow weariness. I couldn't even muster the energy to defend myself.

Pulling free from Albus' grip, I bolted for the living room and seized the knife lying on the table.

Seeing that, Oscar panicked and rushed over, but Eveline clutched his arm and cried out, "Carol, what are you doing?"

A twisted smile tugged at my lips as I stared straight at her. "I'm apologizing," I said.

I didn't spare another glance at Martin, Albus, and Nathan—all on high alert. In one swift motion, I raised my hand and plunged the knife into my chest.

Amid the chaos of screams, I smiled through tears. "I'll pay with my life. Will that do? Are you satisfied?"

Warm, thick blood poured from the wound. Lightheaded and unsteady from blood loss, I swayed where I stood.

Screams blurred together as my vision dimmed, but still, I caught glimpses of the men's horrified expressions.

Oscar lunged forward and held me, shouting as if he had lost his mind. "Call an ambulance!"

…

I woke to the strong smell of disinfectant. My heart leaped at the sea of white around me. Was I finally back?

Turning slightly, I met Martin's weary, bloodshot eyes.

Annoyed, I shut my eyes tight. For once, Martin's raspy tone felt unbearably shrill. "Caroline! Since when did you learn to pull suicidal stunts for sympathy?"

Upon hearing that, my annoyance deepened. There was something under my head that pressed painfully.

I reached up and pulled it out. It was an old, worn protective charm.

When I was 12 years old, I had a high fever for an entire week. Three critical notices came from the hospital.

For my sake, Albus made a pilgrimage of a thousand steps, pausing on each to recite a prayer. In doing so, he returned with this protective charm.

That very charm ended up with Eveline after she got hurt. Oscar took it and gave it to her, but now, it was mine again, and all I felt was resentment. I simply lifted my arm and threw it aside.

At that very moment, Albus entered the ward.

He watched the charm fall to the floor. Lifting his head, he looked me straight in the face and asked, "Caroline, did you just throw that protective charm away?"

Chapter 4

Frowning, I steadily said, "It's a filthy thing. Am I not allowed to stop wanting it?"

At that, Albus' breathing turned ragged. His gaze burned with hurt and fury.

In one abrupt move, he brought his foot down on the charm, grinding it underfoot.

"Caroline, you're spoiled rotten! You're nothing but a heartless, ungrateful wretch!" he sneered, laughing bitterly. "The fact that Nathan chose Eveline over you makes perfect sense. You—"

"Albus!" Martin cut him off, his tone heavy.

Albus watched me with reddened eyes. He studied me closely, searching for the slightest trace of remorse or regret in my features.

Yet, as he looked, all he found was a mask of unsettling stillness.

At that, he trembled with rage. Through gritted teeth, he snarled, "Caroline, that charm isn't even yours to begin with. It was Eveline's. She merely placed it in your care, so who gave you the right to discard it?"

Unexpectedly, I felt oddly at peace. "I'll compensate her, then," I said flatly.

My indifference ignited Albus' fury. He jabbed a finger toward me and shouted, "Enough pretending! Fine, if that's how you want to be, then grab another protective charm yourself. You'd better climb every one of those thousand steps!"

Martin wanted to speak up and intervene, but a single stare from Albus held him back. To them, this was a fitting way to humble me.

Since the stab wound wasn't life-threatening, they dismissed it as yet another attention-seeking stunt.

…

It began to rain when I got to the hillside church.

The downpour had turned the stone staircase—all thousand steps of it—into a treacherous, slippery path. I lost my footing and fell to my knees.

Rainwater soaked into the wound, and the sharp pain spread through my body. But I shut the feeling out and kept telling myself one thing.

"This is the last time I'm doing this. After this, I owe Albus nothing."

I don't know how long I prayed, but at long last, the new protective charm was mine.

Drenched and shivering, I felt a heavy, feverish fog cloud my mind.

…

When I pushed open the Bergling residence's front door, I found a celebration in full swing. Eveline was at the heart of it, smiling brightly with a physics trophy in her hands.

My arrival broke the festive mood at once.

Martin was the first to frown, then he rebuked me sharply, "Caroline! Have you seen the state you're in? Is this how an heiress of the Berglings should look?"

Everyone's gaze toward me in unison. There was scorn and impatience, but not a single trace of concern.

Paying the onlookers no mind, I walked straight to Eveline and placed the protective charm in her hand.

At that, Eveline pulled her hand away with feigned shock. However, a glint of triumph shone in her eyes. "Carol, please… You mustn't," she said. "I don't blame you in the slightest."

I had no patience for her act. Without another word, I turned and left.

Martin and Albus' angry shouts trailed after me, but I acted as if I hadn't heard them. I went into my room and locked the door behind me.

Then, I retrieved the razor I'd hidden away long ago and drew it cleanly over my wrist decisively. As blood welled up, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief that I'd never known.

At that moment, Oscar's knocks sounded through the door. "Carol, open up. I need to talk to you," he said.

But I was already slipping away. I didn't even have the strength to speak.

Then, Albus impatiently cut in, "Let her be! She's just acting out again! This is what comes from coddling her!"

Finally, Oscar gave up. His footsteps gradually faded away.

At long last, I closed my eyes as I had wished. I felt my soul drift free, light as a breath.

My soul had barely risen from my body when the door was suddenly slammed open.

Martin stormed into the room, his features stark with fury. Oscar and Albus trailed behind him. "Caroline, you—"

He went silent, stunned by the expanse of crimson soaking the floor.