Chapter 1

It had been a year since I became Claire Young and married Lucas Sterling.

Today was our wedding anniversary.

I took a deep breath as I stared at my perfectly made-up face in the mirror.

“System, I’ve successfully married the target for a year. It’s time to end this.”

My voice trembled.

“Transfer the two billion in cash to my bank account now!”

The air fell silent for three seconds.

[Ding! The target, Lucas Sterling, currently had an affection rating of only 48%.]

[The passing score has not been reached. The bonus payout has been postponed.]

The lipstick slipped from my hand and clattered onto the sink.

I screamed.

“What?! Forty-eight percent?! Are you kidding me? We’ve been married for a whole year!”

[The system does not make mistakes.]

I sank onto the closed toilet lid.

For an entire year, I had approached Lucas under the identity of his sworn rival’s late wife’s aunt.

He proposed after knowing me for only three months.

I was overjoyed at the time. I thought the target would be so easy to win over!

It wasn’t until after our wedding that I learned he had married me purely to spite Gavin Blackwood.

He wanted to use our marriage to become Gavin’s uncle-in-law.

All for such a childish reason!

“Claire, come downstairs and eat.”

Lucas called up from downstairs.

I touched up my makeup, forced a practiced smile, and went downstairs.

In the dining room, Lucas’ foster sister, Ivy Sterling, was already sitting beside him.

My seat had been pushed all the way to the end.

Ivy gave me a sweet smile. “You look beautiful today, Claire, unlike me. I look so sickly that even makeup can’t hide how pale I am.”

Lucas immediately frowned. “Is your heart bothering you again?”

“Lucas, I feel a little dizzy. I can’t catch my breath…”

Ivy weakly leaned against his shoulder.

Lucas dropped his fork, swept her into his arms, and rushed outside.

“Get the car! We’re going to the hospital!”

When he reached the door, he glanced back at me.

“Eat by yourself.”

The door slammed shut.

I looked at the table full of food and gave a self-mocking smile.

I had grown sick of this routine over the past year.

Lucas’ parents adopted Ivy from an orphanage, making her his younger sister.

But she clearly didn’t see Lucas as her brother.

Unfortunately, Lucas was both blind and a hypocrite.

The way he looked at Ivy was so tender it could melt a heart.

When he looked at me, it was as if I were nothing more than a decoration in his house.

I thought back to three years ago, when the system first bonded with me and told me that my target was Gavin Blackwood, a powerful business tycoon.

I would receive a two-billion cash reward once I completed the mission.

My desperate need for money kicked in.

I spent two grueling years winning him over, and I finally made him fall in love with me.

The day after I married Gavin, I waited for the two billion to hit my account.

[Error alert! Incorrect target binding! Correct target: Gavin Blackwood’s sworn rival, Lucas Sterling!]

I nearly dropped dead on the spot.

I was already married, and now it was telling me it had chosen the wrong man?!

I had no choice but to make the system arrange a car accident and fake my death so I could escape.

I changed my identity, made minor adjustments to my appearance, and became Claire Young.

Then I started the mission all over again.

And now look at me.

A whole year had passed, and his affection rating was still at 48%.

I was so fucking screwed…

[System warning: An abnormal fluctuation has been detected in Sterling Group’s finances.]

I blinked.

What did that mean?

Was something about to happen to Sterling Group?

It had to be that bastard Gavin’s doing.

If Lucas went bankrupt, how was I supposed to live comfortably?

No, no. That wouldn’t do.

I had to find a way to keep him stable.

At the very least, I had to hold on until I got my money.