Chapter 1

The base of a major crime syndicate was suddenly raided by the police, who were brought by my ex-boyfriend, Jonah Burnett.

The antagonist killed himself, and the only person who could prove I was a top-secret undercover operative had died two weeks earlier.

Jonah brought me before the court, insisting that my memories be extracted so I would stand trial before the public.

In any case, I had no desire to defend myself. "I plead guilty. I ask only for a quick death."

Public outrage boiled over, and they directed their hatred at me.

"You filthy traitor! You dare beg for an easy death after ratting out an undercover journalist? In this world, the harshest penalty for a guilty plea is euthanasia, but you don't deserve that. The court will judge you, and you'll be condemned to endless agony until death!"

"You're not worthy of a merciful death. You belong in hell!"

I was pelted mercilessly with rotten eggs and stones. Blood ran down my face, but I remained unmoving, wishing only for death.

Jonah fixed me with a cold glare.

"You exposed me. How dare you ask for a swift death? Your memories will be extracted, and you'll be judged before all. Only after enduring endless torment will you be allowed to die!"

"Yeah! She's a journalist herself, yet she betrayed the male lead, who was also undercover. She offered him up as proof of loyalty, then slept with the antagonist! Disgusting!"

"If not for her, the male lead would've long since exposed the antagonist's crimes with solid evidence, bringing him to justice. He wouldn't have ended up with his legs broken and endured torment!"

"Before she dies, she must suffer the pain of getting her legs broken. Only then will our hatred be appeased!"

"Exactly! And not just that, she should also be starved for three days and nights! That's how she tortured the trafficked children. She needs to be tormented before she dies. She can't be let off so easily!"

The crowd clamored, voices rising in a storm of hatred.

Bloodied and battered, I forced myself to lift my head despite the stabbing pain in my chest. That was when I met Jonah's icy gaze.

A flicker of emotion stirred in my empty eyes.

A year had passed since we last saw each other. He seemed more composed and mature now. Even so, there was still that lingering weariness in his eyes. Had he lost sleep again?

If I had known, I would have left him my prescription for insomnia. After all, trial or no trial, I wouldn't be alive much longer, while he still had a long road ahead of him.

My lips quivered. Instinctively, I wanted to call his name.

But Jonah turned away. Then, he stroked the head of the woman beside him.

She was Crystal Vega, my adoptive sister.

My awakening had come late, and I later learned that she was the female lead of this novel world. She and my ex-boyfriend, the undercover hero, were the destined pair.

Crystal tilted her head, slipped her ring-clad hand through his arm, and smiled sweetly. Her wedding ring gleamed, hurting my eyes.

Of course. I was the evil side character, bound to fall alongside the antagonist. The story was nearing its end, and the male and female leads were destined to marry.

My final verdict would be their wedding gift.

Jonah's face remained impassive. "Your Honor, let's begin the trial."

The judge, honoring the hero's decision, gave the order for my memories to be extracted.

A splitting headache tore through me, as though countless sharp claws were tearing open my brain. The next moment, my memories appeared on the massive screen.

Inside an office, I pulled a ring from a bouquet of roses. As my coworkers began to hoot and holler, my ears went red with embarrassment.

"What is all this, Jonah?" I asked.

Jonah, in his white shirt, gazed at me tenderly. "I had this ring custom-made for you. I'm afraid once we leave for this mission, I might not get the chance to give it to you."

For a second, I was stunned. Dropping my smile, I yanked his ear with one hand and stuffed the ring back into his palm with the other.

"Cut the nonsense, Jonah. We just have to make it out alive. I expect a proper proposal from you afterward. Got it?"

Jonah winced, but he laughed and relented. "Alright, alright. I got it. I'll give you the most romantic proposal and the grandest wedding. I'll make you my wife."

The office erupted in cheers. "Wow. They're the perfect couple. How nice! We're so jealous."