Chapter 4

That night, I barked like a dog in front of all the guests and the live-streaming cameras. Nathan sat on the couch, holding a wineglass. Not once did he look at me again.

It was almost midnight when the party ended. The guests left in groups of two or three. Some even snickered as they passed me.

"Isabel is pretty good at barking like a dog."

"No kidding. With that dog collar and maid's uniform, you'd think she really was a dog."

I'd been kneeling for so long that I couldn't feel my knees anymore. I used the wall to pull myself up and limped toward the guest room.

The moment I stepped inside, I heard a sharp click behind me. Someone had locked the door from the outside.

Almost at the same moment, the air conditioner overhead hummed to life. Freezing air poured from the vent, and the temperature began dropping rapidly.

There were no blankets in the guest room. The sheets were thin as paper.

I had no idea how low they'd set the air conditioner—the cold cut through me like knives, burrowing into my bones.

I curled up in the corner of the bed, clutching the ruined bunny to my chest. My teeth started shattering.

After two hours, the tips of my fingers turned purple. My lips went numb. My body was shaking uncontrollably, and my consciousness started to slip.

Suddenly, the system's voice rang out again. "Time remaining: 28 minutes. Abnormal drop in the host's body temperature detected. Vitals are critically low."

Any time now.

I closed my eyes and gave up struggling. Let this be my last breath. I was leaving anyway. It didn't make a difference whether I died now or later.

Just as my consciousness started to fade, I got a notification from the system.

"If you survive until dawn and complete the full departure, the Payback System will be activated."

I opened my eyes.

"Once the system is activated, everyone who has contributed to your torment will suffer the pain that was inflicted upon you a thousand times over."

The cold air continued pouring into the room. I stared at the ceiling, barely able to move my eyes.

"Everyone?"

"Affirmative. Everyone."

I bit through my tongue. The warm, metallic blood flooded my throat.

But that wasn't enough.

I pressed my wrist against the sharp edge of the metal bed frame and rubbed it back and forth until the skin split open and blood seeped from the wound. With my other hand, I caught the blood and smeared it over my arm, my abdomen, and my legs.

The blood was warm. Relying on that tiny bit of warmth, I continued to hold on to life. Each minute felt like an eternity.

There were several times when my consciousness almost faded for good, but the pain dragged me back.

My tongue was still bleeding. The flesh on my wrist was already turning outward. I had no idea how I managed to hold on for so long.

All I remembered was seeing the first ray of dawn appearing through the gap in the curtains when the system's voice sounded once more.

"Congratulations, Isabel. You have completed your mission. The Payback System has been activated. Final departure countdown: 5… 4… 3…"

My body started feeling warm again. Then I became incredibly light.

I felt myself rise from the bed, passing through the ceiling and through the roof. I floated back down and lowered my gaze.

I saw someone curled up on the bed in the guest room. Her figure was covered in blood. Her lips had turned purple, and her arms were wrapped around a ruined stuffed bunny.

It was me.

Or rather, it was my corpse.

Just then, Nathan's voice came from downstairs.

"My chest has been hurting terribly since I woke up this morning. I don't know why it's giving me pain." He paused, his tone slightly uneasy. "Maybe I was a little too harsh on Isabel last night... But she passed the test. It's all over now. I'm here today because I want to discuss the wedding date with her."

Ashton's voice rang out as well. "You know what? Same here. I woke up with my heart pounding this morning. It feels hollow for some reason, like something's missing. Anyway, we'll officially add Isabel to the family genealogy today."

"She went through a lot last night," Dalton piped up. "I need to make it up to her properly today."

Preston said to the family's butler, James Hall, "Tell her to come down. The test is over."

James went up to the guest bedroom and opened the door. "Ms. Isabel, your brothers are asking you—"

His voice came to an abrupt halt before a horrific scream ripped from his throat, one that echoed throughout the entire villa.

"Oh, my God! H-Help! Someone!"