Chapter 2

I sneered at Nolan. "Are you really doing this for those reasons, or just for yourself? You know the answer. We both do. The second you leave, I'll die in here."

The room shifted. Eyes turned sharp, cold, judging.

No one wanted a cheating jerk and his side piece walking out alive, stealing someone else's shot.

Nolan went quiet. Bianca caught the vibe and stiffened.

She rushed over, clutching his arm, her eyes watering. "Nolan, Serena, please don't fight because of me. I know Nolan saved me out of gratitude. He cares about loyalty. When his parents died, my parents took him in like family. That's why he chose me. Serena, don't get the wrong idea..."

Nolan looked at her even softer.

In a few words, Bianca turned herself into the fragile, understanding angel—and Nolan into some loyal hero stuck choosing old debts over his wife.

And me? The jealous, unreasonable idiot.

People started pointing.

"He's just paying back a debt. That's not wrong. The people who raised you come first."

"Yeah, and that girl seems so sweet. She didn't mean to take the wife's place."

"Standing next to someone that considerate, the wife's being way too aggressive."

Every word hit like a punch.

In that moment, I was trash on the ground—anyone could step on me.

Nolan's voice was flat. "Serena, I'll come back and save you."

I smiled. No way he'd drop another billion on me.

Half a month ago, when he found out my treatment cost $100,000, he'd shrugged it off.

"Let's skip it. Heart surgery's risky. You've got a few more years without it. If it goes wrong, the money's gone too."

I knew what mattered to him—his money.

And now he could burn a billion on Bianca.

My heart went cold.

Bianca stepped closer. The smug, mocking look in her eyes didn't even try to hide.

"Serena, do your best in the levels. You don't have money to save yourself, so you'll have to grind to survive. Nolan and I will watch from home and cheer you on."

I let out a cold laugh, glanced at the tattoo on her arm, then at Nolan. "If you were the one trapped in there, you really think Bianca would lose everything to save you?"

Nolan snorted, grabbing her hand. "I trust Bianca. She'd spend everything on me. Stop trying to come between us."

I smiled, sharp and mocking. "Then that tattoo on her arm—did you tell her to get it?"

Nolan froze. Bianca instantly covered her arm, panic flashing across her face.

Nolan's gaze went cold. "Bianca. Let me see."

Tears streamed down as she slowly revealed the tattoo.

N.C.

"Nolan, I've liked you since we were kids, but I never had the guts to tell you. So I secretly got your initials tattooed. I thought... at least this way, it'd be like I had you once."

By the end, she was a sobbing mess. Nolan pulled her into his arms.

His voice softened. "Don't worry. I'm not leaving you. You love me this much—how could I let you wait all these years for nothing?"

Bianca sniffed. "What about Serena?"

Nolan looked at me, eyes cold. "Serena, I'll find a way to save you, but it'll take time. Once my company's cash flow settles, just stay alive in the game as long as you can. If you die before I get the money... then it's fate. And I hope you can give Bianca and me your blessing."

I almost laughed. I said nothing.

The tattoo on Bianca's arm wasn't Nolan's.

It belonged to her sugar daddy.

Nolan's uncle.

Nathan Cluny.

But if Nolan wanted to believe her, fine. Not my problem.