Chapter 3: One Trash Down, Another to Find

The hall was filled with laughter, music, and the clinking of tea cups.. it is a breakfast party I had prepared specially for our 11th marriage anniversary.

I saw when Jasmine walked in looking all curvy and ravishing. I noticed Jake's eyes roamed all over her and immediately he stood up and walked over to her. I also stood up and walked to the stage.

I took the microphone in my hand, smiling brightly as I looked at the crowd.

“Hello, everyone.” The conversations slowly died down.

“I want to make a toast to my darling husband.” I turned toward Jake.

He was standing near the front table, looking handsome in his tailored suit, one arm casually resting beside Jasmine.

The sight should have hurt and it did. For one brief second, jealousy twisted painfully inside my chest.

Why couldn't he ever look at me the way he looked at her?

Then I remembered how they pushed me to the zombies.. that was enough to make my jealousy disappear.

“It has been eleven wonderful months with you, Jake. And all I can say is that you have helped me evolve into a better version of myself.”

The guests cheered.

“I toast to better days ahead.” Everyone raised their glasses.

“To Valerie and Jake!” Applause filled the hall.

I waited for the noise to settle before smiling again.

“But before I leave the stage, I have a special surprise package for my handsome husband.”

Jake's smile widened. I saw him fondly hold Jasmine’s hand, who looked equally pleased.

They looked like two people who had already won the jackpot.

If only they knew.

“But first,” I continued, “I'd love the media team to play a little video I prepared for my darling husband.”

“Awwww!”

“She is so sweet!”

“What a lovely couple!”

The compliments made Jake smile even wider.

I almost laughed, enjoy it while it lasts.

The lights dimmed. The giant screen behind me came alive.

At first, everyone expected to see our wedding pictures or some romantic memories.

Instead, a conversation appeared.

A text message.

Jasmine: When will you make her transfer ownership of the research and pharmaceutical center?

A few people exchanged confused looks.

Then Jake's reply appeared.

Jake: I'm working on her. If she does it before our one-year anniversary, I'll hand her the divorce papers on that day. You have nothing to worry about.

A collective gasp swept through the hall.

Someone whispered, “What the hell?”

Jake's face drained of color. “Valerie…”

I lifted the microphone. “Can you all see how sweet my darling husband is?”

The room erupted in murmurs.

“He was already planning my one year anniversary surprise.”

A few nervous laughs escaped from the crowd.

Jake looked furious. “These are lies!”

I smiled. “Are they?”

The next slide appeared showing a large image of divorce papers already signed by Jake.

The room exploded.

Jake pushed away from the table. “Valerie, what the hell are you doing?”

I tilted my head. “I'm accepting your gift.”

“You've lost your mind! You fat..” he stopped and started walking toward the stage.

Several cameras immediately swung in his direction.

Flashes exploded around him.

Of course there were journalists here.

Lazach Research world and our pharmaceutical company was one of the biggest names in Plateau-Ridge. Any major event involving us attracted the media.

Jake suddenly realized that every word he said was being recorded.

“Valerie, stop this!” he hissed.

I smiled. “Why? You wanted a divorce, didn't you?”

“This is fabricated!”

“Then why are you so afraid of it?”

He reached the stairs leading to the stage, but my security guards stepped in front of him.

Jake glared at them.

“Move!”

They didn't.

I turned back toward the screen.

“There is someone else I'd like to celebrate tonight.”

The room slowly quieted.

“She has been instrumental in bringing my marriage to where it is today.”

“Everyone, let's give a warm round of applause to Jasmine Stewart, my husband's cousin.”

The next slides started appearing.

The room went completely silent.

Photographs and explicit videos of Jake and Jasmine nude filled the giant screen.

Gasps erupted from every corner.

“Oh my God!”

“Is that his cousin?”

“That's the woman he called his cousin?”

Phones immediately came out. people began recording the screen.

Jasmine jumped to her feet. “Turn that off!”

I laughed.

“Valerie, please!” Jake shouted. He looked nothing like the confident husband who had threatened me that morning. He looked terrified.

He finally reached the edge of the stage, but my guards blocked him again.

“Val, please stop,” he pleaded. “You're ruining the image of our home. You will regret this.”

I laughed.

“No Jake. I only regret loving and trusting you.”

He pointed at me. “No one will ever love you or need you like I do.”

I almost believed him but not after what the apocalypse revealed to me.

Instead, I smiled and turned back toward the audience.

“Now, for the final part of my gift.” The room became quiet again. “I want to give my husband exactly what he has been longing for.”

I paused.

“Freedom.”

Jake's face fell.

“Freedom to be with his darling cousin.. the one he truly loves, Jasmine Stewart.”

I gestured toward Jasmine.

The crowd erupted.

Some laughed. Others cursed. Cameras flashed relentlessly.

Jasmine pushed through the crowd, covering her face as she hurried toward the exit.

Someone threw an egg. It hit the floor beside her, and another landed against the wall, while some landed on her.

Jasmine screamed and ran faster.

I watched Jake being surrounded by journalists, security, and furious guests.

For the first time in my life, I felt completely satisfied.

I handed the microphone to the stunned event host.

Then I walked down from the stage.

As I reached the exit, I glanced back one last time.

Jake caught my eyes, his face was filled with rage while mine was filled with a smile.

I raised my glass toward him.

“To better days ahead, darling.”

Then I walked out as the hall descended into complete chaos.

The moment I stepped outside and entered my waiting car, the noise from the hall faded behind me.

I took a deep breath. One problem solved, two piece of trash taken out.

A blue screen suddenly appeared before my eyes.

[Congratulations host: First mission successfully accomplished.]

[You just earned : 1000 points]

I smiled and felt super proud of myself.

[NEW OBJECTIVE UNLOCKED.]

[Find a better teammate.]

I stared at the screen. “A better teammate? Where on earth was I supposed to find one?

And more importantly, how would I know he wouldn't turn out to be another Jake?

I rubbed my forehead.

“Zeph?” A smile slowly spread across my face.

Of course. Zeph had always been there for me. He would never betray me.

[Assessment: Zeph is unsuitable.]

My smile disappeared.

“What?”

[Zeph is too weak for the assignment.]

I scoffed. “Excuse me? He's stronger than half the men I know.”

[Correction: Host's standards are dangerously low.]

I rolled my eyes.

“Then who exactly am I supposed to find?”

The blue screen flickered. For a moment, nothing happened, then a new message appeared.

[Hint: He is alive.]

I blinked.

“That's not helpful.”

Another line appeared.

[He is powerful.]

“Is that all?”

The system remained silent.

Then, just as I was about to dismiss it, one final message appeared.

[Warning: In the previous timeline, your teammate is someone no one wanted to associate with... like humanity's trash.]

My smile vanished and my heart skipped.

“What?”