Chapter 3

I was the one who dragged Caleb back to the shore, after which I forcefully draped more clothes on him. His gaze was wary, and his voice was hoarse as he asked, "Why did you save me?"

"Because I can see the future," I had said simply. "I know that you're going to become a force to be reckoned with in the future—the type of person who can turn the entire world upside down."

I hadn't been lying. Caleb was a major antagonist in the book. As long as he managed to overcome the toughest period of his life, he would become even more powerful than the main character.

Caleb was naturally suspicious, but he chose to believe me. In the end, he only used three years to become the person that everyone referred to as the madman who would stop at nothing to gain power and wealth.

As for me, I was his only weakness.

I snapped back to my senses when I saw Caleb raise the carving knife. He didn't hesitate for even a second when he sliced his fingers, letting the fresh blood drip onto the wooden doll's lips as the finishing touch.

He smiled as he slid his bloodied fingertip across the doll's face, his eyes shining with satisfaction and obsession. "My Lena is so pretty. It's a shame that you're not her, no matter how much you resemble her."

My body trembled as I traced his line of sight, feeling the blood in my veins turn to ice. The wooden dolls that filled every nook and cranny in the villa looked exactly like me. They were extremely lifelike, showing how obsessed the sculptor had been—how much care he had placed into creating them.

It had been six years since I last saw him, but it seemed that Caleb had become even more insane.

"Ms. Rockworth, Mr. Finley has been locking himself in the villa all the time with the dolls ever since you left. He can't bear to be away from them for even a moment. Even when he's severely ill and vomiting blood, he'd still rush back here as soon as he can."

I pursed my lips, feeling the guilt fester in my heart.

There was a series of knocks on the door. The caretaker, who had just arrived, said carefully, "Mr. Finley, Ms. Westley couldn't get in touch with you, so she asked me to pass on her message. Another woman who looks like Mrs. Finley has appeared by Mr. Arthur's side.

"The new woman has Mr. Arthur wrapped around her finger thanks to her lies. He insists on acknowledging her as his mother. I'm assuming that he's missing Mrs. Finley because he just completed his surgery.

"I'm a little worried that the woman will trick Mr. Arthur into leaving with her. Why don't you visit him?"

Caleb's voice was colored with displeasure at being disturbed. "He can acknowledge whoever he wants as his mother. He can also leave if he wants to. Don't get in my way. Mrs. Finley and I are celebrating our anniversary."

The caretaker sighed before leaving quietly. The furrow between my brows deepened as the conflict in my heart grew. I wondered why Caleb acted so terribly toward his own son. What on earth happened between the two of them?

"I'm sorry. I was a little loud just now, wasn't I? Did I scare you?"

Caleb murmured as he ran his fingers up and down the doll's hair. His eyes were like two bottomless pits of despair and loneliness. "I miss you so much, Lena. When are you coming back to see me?"

Subconsciously, I held my breath, worried that he would notice me. I told the system, "He seems to have lost his marbles, but he still looks quite energetic. What did you mean earlier when you said something had happened to him?"

Before the system could answer, a flash of red popped up on the screen. Caleb didn't hesitate at all before slicing his wrist open. His gaze was cold as he watched the blood stain the wooden doll's skirt.

My pupils contracted as I exclaimed, "What is he doing? Is he trying to kill himself?"

The system replied, "This is a ritual. Apparently, if a person drops their own blood on a wooden doll during their wedding anniversary, their other half's soul will take over the wooden doll's body. Perhaps he's using this way to try to summon you."

"He's really gone mad," I said through clenched teeth.

There wasn't a single maid in the villa at the moment. The caretaker had been chased away by Caleb earlier, too. He continued to deepen the cut on his wrist. If he didn't stop, it was highly likely that he was going to die today.

Panic rose within me, and my voice trembled as I asked, "Didn't you bring me back to stabilize the world, System? If an antagonist of Caleb's caliber dies, the main character won't be able to show off his true prowess.

"The main character only seems strong when the antagonist is equally as strong. Hurry and think of something to save him!"

"Don't fret, Ms. Rockworth. There is a way."

In the next second, the photograph that had been hanging on the wall fell and crashed on the coffee table. It knocked the first-aid kit off the table, landing heavily next to Caleb's foot.