Semua Bab Back to Reality: Bab 1 - Bab 10

I could not help but wonder if the protagonist's halo was really that powerful, enough to erase everything I had done. Or perhaps it was simpler than that. Maybe it because I was cast as the villain of this story, nothing I did would ever be right.When Corinne first brought Malcolm home, I had not thought much of it, not until I discovered they were seeing each other behind my back.That was when I learned the truth. In her heart, I had always been Malcolm's stand-in.Once Malcolm arrived at the Cavell household, the protagonist's halo did its work. It did not take long for him to change the way the entire family saw him.My son and daughter had already grown resentful under my strict discipline, tired of studying, tired of being pushed. Malcolm picked up on it, gave them the right nudges at the right moments, and they turned to him completely.As for Corinne, she had shown me some degree of respect at first, but shortly after Malcolm moved in, someone slipped him a laxative. The

Landon's round face was scrunched up with disgust, his brows furrowed so tightly they nearly met. He would not even look at me."Dad, you're seriously the worst!"The worst? I nearly laughed.Landon had been a handful since he was small. I had spent a fortune bringing in the best tutors to teach him discipline and basic decency, to make sure he understood where the boundaries were.I looked at the children standing beside him, sons and daughters of household staff who had grown up alongside Landon as his companions. They used to get along well. Now their faces and arms were covered in scratches from ballpoint pens.Malcolm followed my gaze and chuckled."Landon's just being a kid. He and his friends like playing this little game where they draw on each other. Boys will be boys. You're way too hard on him, Gavin."Landon nodded eagerly at that, grinning so wide the baby fat in his cheeks bunched together.Landon had never had much self-control. I had monitored his diet from a yo

I tried to open my eyes. Through the blur I could make out three figures moving toward me at a half-run, a mother and her two children.Corinne saw the ice crusted over my down jacket and her eyes went red in an instant, but then she seemed to remember that I had been defying her, and she slowed her pace, removed the emotion from her face, and came to a stop in front of me."The kids are right here. Drop the act. I know you're still trying to spite me."When I did not respond, Corinne looked uncomfortable, as though my silence was making her look foolish. She crouched down and reached for my arm to pull me up."I already told you..."Her fingers touched mine and she froze. They were ice-cold. A wave of panic, enormous and uncontrollable, swept through her.Her breath was caught in her throat. Her hands were shaking as she lifted my rigid, stiffened body off the ground.In the last moments before my soul left, I saw a single tear slide down her face."Daddy, why isn't Daddy gett

Something about the scene made my skin crawl. I told the System to shut it off."We had a deal. I finished the storyline. I completed the mission. You never said anything about aftercare. I'm not going back."All three of them were clearly unhinged. Going back would be walking straight into my own grave.The System pleaded with me."Gavin, I know you think the last bonus was low. If you agree to go back and fix the storyline, I'll request another 30 million from headquarters."Only 30 million? The 20 million I already had was more than enough to live comfortably for..."Gold bars.""Well, seeing as I'm such a generous person, I suppose I could do you this favor."The System let out a sigh of relief and began walking me through the details."Gavin, once you're back, your only objective is to keep the novel world stable. As long as the protagonist survives, the mission is complete."I was about to nod when the System yanked me back into the novel world before I could even finis

The only reason I had married into the Cavell family in the first place was because I had fallen for Corinne, but now I felt nothing for her at all.Life after the divorce would be just as comfortable, so why should I not enjoy it on my own terms?Corinne stood frozen, staring at me for a long time. Finally, as though she were surrendering, she lowered her head and parted her pale lips."I'll agree to the divorce, but you have to promise that the children can see you at least once a week.""Once a week is too much. Once a month, at most."If I was being honest, I did not even want to agree to that. These two had gotten me killed. My instinct was to put as much distance between us as possible.However, I knew Corinne. If I refused to let her confirm with her own eyes that I was still alive, she was possessive enough to lock me up and never let me leave."Fine. Let's get it done."We went to file the divorce quietly, without telling anyone.Corinne was unusually generous for onc