The System's Return

When the system returned, I had just finished arguing with John. The bedroom was in shambles, torn paper and glass shards making it difficult to even walk.He had just returned from a trip with a mistress he was meeting outside, and the first thing he thought of doing upon returning home was to have his way with me.He pulled me into his arms, pressed kisses upon my body, and allowed his hands to wander, yet when I pushed him away with disgust in my eyes, he reacted like a provoked beast, his eyes becoming red in anger.He glared at me. "Do you know how they suck up to me outside? What's the act for, huh? Didn't you say you always wanted to be with me? Why are you acting like a nun now?"I stared at him in disbelief, unable to believe the comparison he was drawing. He was the one who was cheating, yet he was standing there and berating me for not going along with him.I couldn't bring myself to do something so vile, to endear myself to him at my expense. Had he even thought about

After realizing that I would be leaving this world very soon, I stopped caring about how John treated me. Whether he loved me or not was the least of my concerns. The answer to that question was not important to me anymore.He and Ivy were probably together. He'd already been away from home for four days, and it would be three days until our fifth wedding anniversary, and also the day I would leave this world.I didn't have many belongings, and I couldn't take them with me anyway. As for what John had asked of me, I still hadn't said a word, leaving it for the system to handle.When he left, John took away the first necklace he had given me. It was something I treasured deeply. It was a gift from when he confessed to me at an amusement park, taking out the necklace as fireworks filled the sky."Elodie, I haven't officially taken over my family's business yet. I could only use my allowance to buy you something affordable. But in the future, I'll replace it with something better, s

After John witnessed Elodie take her own life right in front of him, he never once went to see Ivy again.All he wanted to do was to make Elodie regret, not to force her to end her own life. Not once had he thought that things would end up this way.Several times, Ivy had asked to meet him, but he rejected her each time.In truth, he did not love Ivy. He'd gotten close to her in the first place because she resembled Elodie the way she was in the past, full of vitality, young, and spirited.After Elodie married him, she seemed to grow quieter. He could feel her dependence on him. He liked that, yet at the same time, he felt that life lacked excitement.It was too bland.Not only in their relationship, but in every aspect of life, nothing felt as smooth or exhilarating as when they were still in love. Elodie was like a plain, emotionless machine.She loved him, but she could no longer bring him stimulation.Before he had fully taken over the family business, he had genuinely love

After Elodie returned to the real world, it took a while for her to accept that she'd returned to reality.The events with John felt like a dream, yet no matter what, she could not forget them."Host, your mission reward has been deposited in your account, so you can live the rest of your life without any problems. Go and live your life the way you want."The system's voice appeared out of nowhere, and Elodie nodded."Also, there's someone who wants to see you, so I've arranged for you to meet."Elodie didn't understand. How could anyone want to see her?Then, in a daze, she saw John wearing his school uniform.It was eighteen-year-old John.He looked at Elodie with gentle eyes, so much so that she was momentarily thrown off, having not felt such a focused and kind stare in what felt like an eternity.In any case, she didn't know what to say, so she just pursed her lips and waited for him to speak instead."You've become so thin, and you're not as happy as you were in the pas