Chapter 1

"I told you I'm with Grayson. Stop making a scene," Stephanie Chelle snapped.

After the call ended, I looked up at the clock on the wall. It was already past midnight.

I blew out the candles on the cake and dumped every carefully prepared dish into the trash.

Today was my wedding anniversary with Stephanie. I had started early, pouring my heart into a whole table of food while I waited for her to come home.

She had promised me she would be back. Yet there was still no sign of her.

I knew Stephanie had only married me out of spite. She had never loved me.

It just hadn't been so obvious before Grayson Knapp came back from abroad.

But ever since he returned, everything had changed.

Stephanie started staying out night after night. Even when she did come home, it was only to grab clothes or documents.

I tried talking to her, but she wouldn't listen. She would even tear into me for Grayson's sake.

When I stepped out of the shower, I found Stephanie sitting on the couch. I had no idea when she'd come back.

The moment she saw me, she tossed a stack of papers onto the coffee table. "Sign these. Find some time and let's get the divorce done."

I didn't ask any questions.

I had seen this moment coming for a while. I just hadn't expected it to come so soon.

When I didn't move, Stephanie pressed, "Stop dragging your feet. Grayson has cancer. I promised him I'd marry him and stay with him for the rest of his life."

I knew nothing I said would change anything, but I still had to ask, "What if I told you that once we divorce, I'll be punished?"

Stephanie frowned. A moment later, she let out a scoff and looked at me with open mockery.

"Do you think this is some TV drama? Punished for getting a divorce? That's hilarious. Do you have any empathy at all? Now you're even lying just to compete for my attention."

I wasn't lying.

When I crossed over into this world ten years ago, I was bound to a Conquest System.

As long as I succeeded in winning Stephanie's heart, I would get to live. If I failed, I would be punished. Maybe that meant death, maybe something else.

Now she was asking me for a divorce. The moment I agreed, the punishment wouldn't be far behind.

Five years ago, when Stephanie confessed her feelings to me, I was happier than words could say.

It wasn't just because of the mission. It was because I had fallen hopelessly in love with her.

Back then, I thought we would live happily ever after. I never imagined Grayson would suddenly come back.

Grayson was Stephanie's first love, and the one person I feared most.

I looked up at Stephanie, who was already growing impatient, and stubbornly asked, "Stephanie, if you never loved me, why did you marry me in the first place?"

I could more or less guess the answer, but I still wanted to hear it from her own mouth.

But when Stephanie heard the question, her eyes darted away. She didn't seem to have any intention of answering.

She just threw the divorce agreement in my face. "Enough talk. The sooner we divorce, the better for both of us!"

I picked up the divorce agreement and asked, "Do you even remember that yesterday was our wedding anniversary?"

Stephanie's brows knitted together. "So what? Grayson is suffering through the torment of his illness, and you're selfish enough to want me to celebrate our anniversary with you? How can you be so selfish and heartless?!"