Chapter 2

Ivy was at risk of heart failure.

Under the baking sun, she slumped to the ground. Her body jerked and convulsed. She was foaming at the mouth.

Alyse walked to Ivy’s side and impatiently kicked her. But Ivy did not respond.

Alyse let out a laugh. “Your acting’s really good. You really are Clinton’s mother. You’re just as shameless as he is! Well, if you like putting on a show so much, keep doing it! Lie there all day if you can!”

After that, Alyse turned and walked off in her high heels without hesitation. She went into another hospital ward.

In the hospital bed lay a handsome man. His face was pale, but he looked extremely frail.

It was Antoine Mercier, Alyse’s first love; the man she cared so much about.

When he saw Alyse, Antoine’s eyes lit up with hope. “Alyse, have you found Clinton?”

That was indeed the case. Alyse had expended so much effort to torment my family just for Antoine.

He had a terminal condition that had no cure.

I was the only one who could save him, with my Strategic System and its secret power.

However, three years ago, I had made my last transaction with the system.

I traded my life to bring Alyse back to life.

But Alyse did not know that I had done this.

When she saw her beloved so sick and weak, Alyse’s face was guilt-ridden. “I’m sorry. Clinton still won’t show up. But don’t you worry. I’ll find him even if I have to kill his whole family!”

Antoine’s eyes flashed. He faked a gentle expression and said, “Perhaps this is my fate. My only regret is that I let Clinton have you back in the day. But now that I’m close to death, I only wish that we could be together.”

I could not help but scoff.

Back in the day, Antoine gave up on pursuing Alyse because the Shannon Group had been in financial trouble.

Alyse totally bought his act!

She teared up. She held Antoine’s hand and said, “Clinton is nothing but trash. He said he wanted to spend his whole life with me, but he abandoned me after completing the missions on his Strategic System. He doesn’t deserve to be my husband! You’re the only one who’s good to me!

“We should get married now! Once I find Clinton and he makes you better, we’ll be together forever!”

One of the bodyguards came in just then. Respectfully, he said, “Ms. Shannon, a young girl barged in. She’s crying and saying that you must bring her mother back.”

I immediately started to panic. That had to be Linda!

Alyse had the same thought.

She raised an eyebrow and beamed at Antoine. “Clinton always loved that little wretch. With her here, Clinton will surely come running!”

For Alyse, I was willing to be killed by the system.

Yet, to save Antoine, Alyse had cruelly caused my parents’ deaths.

When that did not work, she was willing to harm young Linda, my little sister, whom I had raised myself!

I frantically lunged to stop them, but the bodyguard brought Linda in.

Linda was crying so hard that she was nearly out of breath.

She threw herself at Alyse’s feet and begged, “Alyse, give my mom back! Please, she’s very sick! She can’t stay out in the sun for so long!”

Alyse grabbed Linda by the hair and said frostily, “Don’t call me by my name! It disgusts me to hear you say it!”

She ripped some hair from Linda’s scalp, making her wail even more heartwrenchingly.

Antoine looked pleased as he watched the scene play out before him. He even faked concern as he said, “Oh, child, stop protecting your brother. Hurry and tell us where he is. There’s no need to defend such a selfish and heartless person!”

Linda could not respond. She cried harder and asked Alyse, “Do you really hate Clinton so much? If you do, why are you still wearing the bangle he gave you?”

The moment turned awkward. I looked at the bangle around Alyse’s wrist.

Alyse was the president of the Shannon Group. Everything she used and wore was of the highest quality. However, the bangle was obviously poorly made and stuck out like a sore thumb.

The bangle was my gift to her when I first confessed my feelings.

I had said, “Don’t assume that this bangle is worthless just because it looks a bit ordinary. It’s a gift from the system and can bring you good luck!”

I had never hidden the existence of the Strategic System, just as I had never hidden the fiery love I felt for Alyse.

That day, Alyse had blinked and said teasingly, “Got it! I’ll wear it forever!”

Yet, at this moment, she panicked as she looked at Antoine.

Antoine looked hurt. He asked, “Alyse, you still haven’t been able to let him go, have you? Even when he abandoned you after that car crash and never even asked after you for three whole years, you still care about him!”

Alyse gritted her teeth and took off the bangle. She threw it to the floor viciously.

The bangle, which held all my love and happiness, shattered easily. It shattered in the same way my feelings for Alyse did.

Alyse was furious as she said, “Of course I’ve let him go completely! I’d love to see him rot! Antoine, you’re the only one I love now!”

Antoine smiled and nodded happily.

Linda looked at Alyse in disbelief and cried even harder. “How could you do this to Clinton when he’s done so much for you?”