Reborn With The Forbidden System

Chapter One: The People Who Betrayed Me

Camile's POV

“Please, Camile. I love you. Don’t marry him tomorrow.”

Lucien’s desperate voice came through my phone, making my heart ache.

I closed my eyes and held the phone tightly against my ear. “You know I don’t want to marry him,” I whispered. “But I don’t have a choice. My family has already decided everything.”

“Then leave with me. We can go somewhere else, and start over”

Tears rolled down my cheeks, if only things were that simple, my  family was one of the wealthiest in the country. They had spent years building their business empire, and they weren’t about to let me throw away their plans for a man who had nothing.

To them, Lucien was nobody, to  me, he was everything.

We had loved each other for years, but no matter how many times I begged my parents to accept him, their answer remained the same.

He wasn’t good enough for me and tomorrow, I was supposed to marry Asher Blackwood, the son of another powerful family.

“Camile, please say something.”

I covered my mouth, trying to stop myself from crying harder.

What could I say? That I was sorry? That I wished I could choose him?

That I would rather spend my life struggling with him than stand beside another man who meant nothing to me?

“Lucien, I have to go.”

“No. Wait. Please, just listen to me…”

I ended the call.

The moment his voice disappeared, I broke down.

I hated myself for doing it, but hearing him beg me to stay with him only made the pain worse.

We had been together for years. He had been there when I needed someone, even when my own family refused to understand me yet  I was going to marry another man because my parents said so.

I wiped my tears and stared at my reflection in the mirror.

Tomorrow, I would become Asher Blackwood’s wife.

I had to accept it.

Taking a deep breath, I fixed my makeup and walked out of my room.

If my family wanted me to marry Asher, I would play my part but they couldn’t force me to love him, not when my heart already belonged to someone else.

****

Asher was waiting in the sitting room with Fiona when I arrived.

He stood beside the large window, dressed in an expensive shirt and trousers, while Fiona sat on the sofa, scrolling through her phone.

“There she is!” Fiona exclaimed when she saw me. She jumped up and hugged me. “Our beautiful bride-to-be!”

I forced a smile. “You sound more excited than I am.”

She laughed. “Of course! Tomorrow, you'll be Mrs. Blackwood.”

Asher walked over and wrapped an arm around my waist.

“That's right,” he said, kissing my forehead. “Tomorrow, you'll be mine.”

I stiffened but quickly forced myself to relax.

“Of course,” I replied.

My heart wanted to scream, but I kept smiling.

Fiona glanced between us before grinning. “I still can't believe you're finally getting married. Remember how you used to complain whenever your parents mentioned Asher?”

I shot her a look.

“Do you have to remind me?”

She laughed. “Come on, Camile. You're about to become the wife of one of the most powerful men in the country. You should be happy!”

Asher chuckled. “She'll be happy with me. I promise.”

He lifted my chin, forcing me to meet his eyes.

For a moment, I wondered if he believed his own words.

“I hope so,” I murmured.

Fiona suddenly jumped up. “Oh! I almost forgot!”

She grabbed a garment bag from the sofa and pulled out my wedding gown.

“Your dress arrived this afternoon. Look how beautiful it is!”

The white gown glittered under the lights, its delicate crystals shining against the fabric.

“It's perfect!” Fiona exclaimed. “You're going to look like a princess tomorrow.”

I stared at the dress, imagining myself walking down the aisle to marry a man I didn't love.

Somewhere out there, Lucien was probably heartbroken, knowing he had lost me.

“Camile?” Fiona waved a hand in front of my face. “What do you think?”

I forced a smile. “It's beautiful.”

Asher rested his hands on my shoulders.“My beautiful bride.”

Before I could respond, the floor shook.

Fiona dropped the gown. “What was that?” she cried.

“Beautiful?” She laughed. “It’s perfect!”

Another tremor rattled the windows, and the lights flickered.

Asher frowned. “Was that an earthquake?”

The shaking stopped, but before any of us could speak, a bloodcurdling scream came from outside.

We turned toward the window.

A man was running desperately across the street, but something was chasing him.

It was a terrifying creature with dark, rough skin, sharp claws, and rows of teeth.

Before the man could reach safety, the creature caught him.

His scream ended in a horrible crunch.

I stumbled backward.

“What the hell is that?” Fiona screamed.

Asher grabbed my arm. “Get away from the window!”

But more creatures were already appearing on the street.

Cars crashed into one another. People ran for their lives, while others fell beneath the monsters' claws.

Then every phone in the room rang at once.

I pulled mine out, and my blood ran cold when I saw the notification.

[GLOBAL APOCALYPSE SYSTEM ACTIVATED.]

[THREE PARTICIPANTS HAVE BEEN SELECTED.]

My blood ran cold as three names appeared.

Camile ASHFORD.

Asher BLACKWOOD.

Fiona STERLING.

“What is this?” Fiona whispered.

I tried to close the notification, but it wouldn’t disappear.

Another message appeared.

[SPECIAL SURVIVAL TRIAL INITIATED.]

[ONE PARTICIPANT MUST BE SACRIFICED FOR THE OTHER TWO TO SURVIVE.]

[TIME REMAINING: 60 SECONDS.]

I stared at the words. “No. This can’t be real.”

A countdown appeared.

59.

58.

57.

Asher released my arm, I turned toward him, expecting him to tell me everything would be fine.

Instead, he looked at Fiona, she  looked back at him, something  passed between them.

Something I couldn’t understand, then  Fiona rushed into his arms, he  held her tightly.

My  breath caught. “Fiona?”

She buried her face against his chest.

Asher wrapped both arms around her as if he were afraid someone would take her away.

I stared at them, my mind refusing to accept what my eyes were seeing. “What are you doing?”

Neither answered.

“Asher?”

He slowly lifted his head, his  expression changed when he looked at me. The tenderness disappeared, replaced by something cold and distant.

“Camile, I’m sorry.”

My heart began to pound. “Sorry for what?”

The countdown continued.

35.

34.

I took a step toward him. “Asher, what’s going on?”

He tightened his hold on Fiona. “I’m choosing her.”

For a moment, I couldn’t breathe.

“What?”

“The system says one person must die. Fiona and I are going to survive.”

Fiona buried her face in his chest.

“Don’t worry, Fiona. I’ll always choose you,” Asher whispered.

Always. I stared at them in disbelief. My fiancé and my best friend? “You two are together?”

Neither answered. Their silence told me everything.

“How long?” I whispered.

“Camile, please. Don’t make this harder than it already is,” Fiona said.

I laughed bitterly. “You’re choosing to kill me, and you expect me to make it easy for you?”

Asher’s face hardened.

“We’re getting married tomorrow!” I cried. “Our families have planned this for years. You promised me—”

“I never loved you, Camile!” he snapped. “My family needed your family’s connections. That’s all this marriage was ever about.”

My heart shattered, all  those years. All those promises. Everything had been a lie.

I turned to Fiona, tears streaming down my face.

“You were my best friend.”

She lowered her head. “I’m sorry.”

“Then choose me instead!”

She tightened her arms around Asher. “I can’t.”

The countdown reached its final seconds.

10.

I rushed toward Asher and grabbed his arm. “Please! You can’t do this to me!”

He pulled away. “Don’t touch me.”

7.

I fell to my knees, for  the first time in my life, I didn’t care about my pride.

I didn’t care about my family’s wealth or reputation.

I only wanted to live. “Asher, please. I don’t want to die.”

He turned his back on me.

3.

“Please!”

2.

Fiona closed her eyes.

Asher held her tighter.

1.

[SACRIFICE CONFIRMED.]

A blinding light swallowed the room.

I screamed, reaching for anything that could save me but  there was nothing.

The last thing I saw was Asher kissing Fiona’s forehead.

Then the world went dark and  I died.