All Routes Leads to Chaos

[Attention player, according to system detection, your mission has failed. Since you did not complete any successful routes, the system will now erase you.]The system’s voice echoed in my mind as I stood in the shadows, secretly watching the wedding.Inside the grand hall, Michael Brosnan and Faye Summer exchanged a smile before kissing amid the playful cheers of the crowd.That wedding had been the final lifeline the system gave me.Now, it too had slipped through my hands.Back then, when I entered the body of a three-year-old child, I signed the system’s contract: within twenty years, as long as I captured the heart of any one of the three male leads, I would return to my original world.But twenty years had passed, and I had not succeeded.Perhaps this was the ending fate had arranged for me.I left the hall and walked toward the crowded overpass.The system told me that after reporting my failure to its superiors, it would erase me.I stared at the endless stream of car

I returned home and picked out a knife.I didn’t want to wait any longer. If I was going to die either way, it seemed better to go on my own terms.After all, there was no one else at home, so I wouldn’t be disturbing anyone.Lying on the bed, I stared at the ceiling.I traced imaginary lines in the air with the knife in my hand and couldn’t help but laugh bitterly at myself.I had spent twenty years playing this game, always hoping for an escape.Time, when you looked at it closely, wasn’t all that long. It passed in the blink of an eye, like a needle through fabric.But it wasn’t short either. I had experienced so many unexpected events.I remembered when Mother remarried, and I was brought into a stranger's home. Peter had been the one to approach me first, making me trust him completely.For the first time, I felt I had someone to rely on in this world. With him, I could live freely, carelessly, and he always had my back.So, to repay that kindness, I did everyt

Faye’s face turned visibly pale at my words.The others exchanged glances, their eyes betraying a flicker of surprise.“Why are you spreading rumors about me, Luna?“Today is supposed to be the happiest day of my life. Are you trying to ruin it again?”Tears began to fall from her eyes. It made her look rather pitiful.It was the same old act. She used such manipulative methods to steal their attention and sympathy.“Are you satisfied now, Luna?” asked Peter, his voice cold and unyielding.“You did something wrong, and now you want to smear Faye?“Come over here and apologize to her.”Collin, also clearly displeased, added, “Stop making a scene, Luna. Apologize and ask for Faye’s forgiveness. Let’s just move on from this.”As for Michael, he didn’t even bother to speak to me. Instead, he quietly lowered his head and gently comforted Faye.She embodied the role of the helpless protagonist really well.No matter what she said or did, as long as Faye moved her lips, they all

Michael turned my face toward him, forcing me to open my eyes and look at him.“Stop making that face. Look at me properly.“Are you trying to get my attention again? Did you bribe the doctor to alter your medical records? Tell me!”For the first time, I felt like my existence was nothing but a joke.They always found excuses to justify their actions.I remembered the first time I was misunderstood. I fought desperately to explain myself, gathering all sorts of evidence to prove my innocence.But the more I explained, the more suspicious they became.In the end, I became accustomed to being the scapegoat, to having dirt thrown at me.When Michael saw that I was still ignoring him, he clenched his fists and angrily stormed out of the hospital.Feeling reassured that I would remain in the hospital, Collin followed after Michael.Perfect. Now I can have some peace and quiet.In the afternoon, I was discharged and returned home, intending to close my eyes and wait quietly for

After spending a week in the psychiatric hospital, Faye came to see me.She found an excuse to send the nurse away, then clicked her high heels loudly as she walked toward me, her eyes barely concealing the smugness within.“You must be suffering here, right? You want to die but can’t.“I’ll give you some bad news. The torment you’re enduring here is all because of me. It’s just a pretext to make you believe it’s for your own good, and they bought it.”I had long grown accustomed to things like this.She often did such things just to see me grovel and beg for mercy.Seeing that I didn’t react as expected, she roughly yanked my hair.“Do you know how jealous I am of you?“You had a happy family in your original world, and even the man I liked preferred you over me.”For a moment, I couldn’t process her words.How did she know about my past life? I was sure no one else knew, so where did she learn it from?Unless, like me, she too was an outsider in this world—another player i