Chapter 1

[Host, are you sure?]

Before I could answer, voices drifted from the private room again.

"Apparently, if Archie's hand breaks one more time, he'll never be able to hold a painting brush again." The person glanced at Ruby Monroe, her voice hesitant. "Ruby, maybe… you should stop with the punishments…"

Ruby paused, her hand still swirling the wine in her glass as she pressed her lips together.

Ricky Smith lowered his head, his eyes falling on the custom-made watch around his wrist. "Ms. Monroe, I really appreciate your gift. The coming–of-age ceremony is just a formality. It doesn't matter whether I have one or not…"

His voice was soft. He spoke as if he had no regrets, yet every single word betrayed him.

Ruby's expression went dark. She slapped the woman and scolded, "I don't need you to teach me what to do!"

She took Ricky's hand in hers, acting like he was some precious treasure. "Even if Archie's hand were broken, it still wouldn't compare to Ricky's coming-of-age ceremony. A guy who sells pancakes thinks he can become a painter? That's one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard. What a joke!"

Ruby scoffed, striking me where it hurt most.

I still remembered how I almost gave up on my dream after losing that painting competition. It was Ruby who kept comforting me.

She used to tell me I was a fighter, like a vine that kept climbing no matter what got in its way. She told me that no matter how tough things got, I had to keep pushing forward and chasing my dreams.

But in the end, all her sweet words were just lies meant to get revenge on me. I was never a fighter to her. I was just a joke.

Everyone in the private room burst into laughter.

"Archie is quite something, though. If Ruby hadn't gone to the judges beforehand, he would've taken first place in that competition."

My ears started ringing, and my fingers trembled. I had poured everything I had into that competition, but Ruby ruined my dream with just a single word.

Were poor people's dreams really that worthless? How could she trample all over mine?

I clenched my fists hard, an unbearable ache filling my chest and making it hard to breathe.

The system asked me again, [Host, are you sure you want to erase your memory? You traded ten years of your life to extend this mission's time. Are you sure you want to give up now?]

Bitterness filled my heart.

A month ago, the system warned me that I was running out of time to complete this mission, and failure would mean losing all my memories of Ruby.

I didn't want to forget her or everything that happened between us, so I begged the system, trading my lifespan for more time.

It wasn't until yesterday that the system finally agreed to my request.

Yet now, I realized that the relationship I tried so hard to protect was all just a lie.

How ridiculous.

I closed my eyes as tears rolled down my face. I replied, "Yes, I'm sure!"

Just then, my phone rang.

"Archie, something happened to your dad!"