Chapter 2

When Charlotte looked at me again, her face was filled with panic as she said cautiously, "Alan, I'm so sorry. I didn't think he'd just run over like that. Bradley's completely spoiled. I'll talk to him when I get back, I promise. Please don't be mad."

I shook my head. "It's fine."

I'd seen far worse than this. The sting had worn off a long time ago.

Charlotte studied my face, relaxing only when she was sure I wasn't upset.

Her eyes drifted instinctively toward her car, and she said softly, "Alan, don't worry. I won't let Bradley cross your path again. It's just… we should probably speed up the move…"

Her voice was faint and heavy with guilt.

A minute ago, she was saying there was no rush and that she wanted to spend the day with me. Now, one look at Bradley, and she was ushering me out the door.

I swallowed the bitterness rising in my throat and nodded.

As expected, I didn't see Bradley again on the way back. Charlotte and I returned to the villa together.

I started packing right away. All I had was a small suitcase and a cardboard box filled with mementos of my happy times with Charlotte.

There were handwritten letters from her, matching ceramic mugs we'd made together, keychains, and more.

As I was debating what to do with them, Charlotte walked in. Impatience flickered across her face as she said, "Alan, just toss the old stuff. We can always buy new replacements later."

She was right. Old things should be replaced. People were no different.

I let out a quiet smile, carried the box outside, and dumped it into the trash truck.

When I grabbed my suitcase to leave, Charlotte looked at me with a flicker of concern. "Alan, give me a hug."

She opened her arms, but I stepped back.

Before she could say anything, I forced a smile. "It's only seven days. Don't go giving Bradley a reason to be jealous."

I knew he was already waiting right outside, ready to take my place.

Charlotte froze for a second, then gave a nod with a smile. "Right. You'll be back in seven days anyway. Thank you, Alan."

I nodded, got in my car, and hit the gas.

As I pulled away from the villa, a mechanical voice rang out in my head. "Alan, the system has detected your divorce and separation from Charlotte Cooke. You've failed the task. In seven days, you will die in a car crash and leave this world."

…

About ten years ago, I was in a car accident in my original world.

To survive, I bound myself to a companion system and was sent here to Charlotte's side.

My task was to stay by her side and remain married to her for ten years. If I succeeded, I'd get to stay in this world and spend the rest of my life with her.

But with only seven days left, Charlotte had asked for a divorce.

I had failed the task.

Now, I had to return to my original world and face whatever fate was waiting for me there.

I checked into a hotel to lay low for the remaining week.

On the drive over, I noticed that every billboard along the road featured the same young man.

Beneath the picture, the words were written in stylized lettering. "Happy 19th birthday to my boy. From Lottie."

It was Bradley. I recognized him instantly.

And Lottie was Charlotte's nickname.

It all made sense now.

No wonder Charlotte was in such a hurry to divorce me. She wanted to surprise her boy toy.

My mind drifted back to when I first arrived here. I pursued her first, but she was the one who fell harder.

Back then, she always went out of her way to surprise me, not just on birthdays and anniversaries, but on ordinary days, too.

She learned how to cook for me, knitted sweaters for me, and rented out massive billboards just to tell the world she loved me.

When her family opposed our relationship, she knelt for three straight days just to get their blessing.

"Alan, I'll love you forever, in this life and the next."

That was her promise to me.

But later, she forgot.

Shortly after I settled into the hotel room, my phone rang. It was the hospital, asking me to pick up my in-laws' latest checkup results.

Charlotte was always too busy with work, so taking care of her parents had fallen on me all these years.