Chapter 3

The car sped down the street. I had never seen Dakota so agitated after that one time I got hurt saving her.

We arrived at an island.

Several of Dakota’s friends immediately came over. “Pierce is over there, Dakota!”

Following their gazes, I saw Pierce tied up on a rusting metal rack. He was unconscious.

Her friends continued, “We’ve looked around. The abductors have escaped.”

As they spoke, they looked at me in confusion.

Pierce was very quickly released and brought down. He looked at Dakota weakly. “I knew you would come and save me, Dakota!”

As he spoke, he looked at me with a wronged look on his face.

“If you can’t accept me, Jackson, I could leave. Why did you have to do this? What if Dakota loses the baby from getting agitated?”

I shook my head furiously. “It wasn’t me. I didn’t do anything—”

Before I could finish speaking, Dakota slapped me.

She picked Pierce up and looked at me haughtily.

“You’ve gone too far this time, Jackson. Stay here and reflect on your actions!”

After saying that, she turned away and left with Pierce.

Pierce turned to shoot me a challenging look.

A piercingly cold breeze blew in from the sea, and I shivered with cold.

The island was deserted. Staying there would only spell my death.

Just then, the system’s notification tone rang in my ear.

[Five days until universe departure!]

I let out a bitter laugh. That was good. I would be gone in five days anyway. It would be better to disappear without a trace.

However, after some time, just as I was about to lose consciousness, Dakota appeared.

Dakota caressed my face with heartache plain in her expression. “What am I going to do with you, Jackson?”

I looked at her weakly, but her blurry face would not come into focus.

The system pinged again. [Two days until universe departure!]

I grimaced before losing consciousness.

When I next awoke, Dakota was sitting vigil beside me. She clasped my hand and said gently, “Jackson, you’re finally awake.

“That was just a little lesson for you; I hope you’ve learned it. But whatever happens, I will always love you.”

“No, I didn’t do it! I wasn’t at fault!”

Ice ran through my veins. I shook as I tried to escape from Dakota, but no matter how I struggled, I could not do it. It felt like my feet had been bound together.

I threw off the blanket and stared in shock.

My feet were shackled by heavy metal chains. They made it very hard to move around.

Dakota’s voice was cold as she said, “I knew you wouldn’t admit your wrongs so easily. You will remain in this room, Jackson. I’ll let you out once the baby is born!”

I had not eaten in three days and had gone through days of emotional turmoil. I suddenly tasted blood in my mouth, and I spat out a mouthful of blood.

Dakota panicked and hurriedly leaned forward to hug me. “Are you alright, Jackson?”

Right then, Pierce walked in.

He covered the wounds from his abduction as he cried. “Dakota, my arm hurts so much!”

Dakota instantly forgot about me and pulled Pierce outside.

Before he left, Pierce turned and looked at me. He feigned concern and said, “But Jackson…”

Dakota interrupted before he could say more. “Ignore him. He’s always playing it up for sympathy! You wouldn’t have been abducted if not for him, and your arm wouldn’t be tormenting you so much!”

I watched them both leave and closed my eyes in disappointment.

It seemed that, to Dakota, I was someone who only faked my pain and grief, but every tear Pierce shed was real.

The system sounded again just then.

[One day until universe departure! The system will grant you one wish before departure.]

I groaned.

“I want Dakota to know the truth!”

I wanted to see how Dakota would react once she knew what had truly been happening.

The robotic voice of the system was cold.

[Acknowledged. Truth-revealing procedures activated.]