2
My foot slipped.
“Are you serious? It’s a miracle Jackson can even tolerate me today. If I ask him to go on a date with me, he’ll think I’m just messing with him!”
The System was cold. “Host has no right to question. You may choose to abandon the task and be eradicated.”
In the dead of night, I tossed and turned, thinking about the System’s task.
*Bang!*
Jackson kicked open the door, dragging me off the bed.
In the darkness, his furious eyes glowed eerily bright. “Are you happy now? Because of the scene you caused today, Ashley went home sick. I took care of her until past midnight before her fever broke!”
I pried his hand off me and forced a smile. “It was just a game. Couldn’t you have called it off? Who would actually take a CEO like you seriously?”
Jackson choked, then sighed softly. “It was just a game. Why wouldn’t you cooperate?”
I said carelessly, “The second thing is, tomorrow, you cancel all your work and spend the day with me.”
Jackson’s face instantly turned cold. “Chloe, are you pushing your luck? You’re really taking advantage!”
He slammed the bedroom door shut and left.
My mouth felt bitter.
I knew this would be the outcome.
The next morning, he still knocked on my door with a scowl. “I lost a million today because of you. What do you want? Hurry up and say it.”
Because of me?
More like because he wanted to get his marriage license with Ashley as soon as possible.
The System told me the date wasn’t important; the key was for Jackson to spend six continuous hours with me.
I took Jackson to the mall to kill time.
8.20
All the way, he was glued to his phone, never looking up.
Occasionally, he would stop at women’s clothing stores or luxury boutiques, waving his hand to bery a lot of things,
All of them were for Ashley.
In seven years of marriage, he had never bought me anything. The dress I was wearing was pilling from too many wadha
To retaliate against me, he even competed with my family’s business. My dad called me a traitor, and the indentry Macliedad me,
No one knew that despite my outwardly glamorous appearance, I lived on a meager salary from online frestance WOTL
By midday, Jackson was visibly impatient. I quickly took him to a hotpot restaurant,
Just as we ordered, his expression changed as he looked at his phone. He made a call, his voice filled with worry and urgency. “Wow can you not eat? You don’t have an appetite without me there? Okay, I’m coming back now!”
He turned, grabbed his jacket, and rushed to leave. “Urgent company matter. I’m heading cut”
I knew this had to be Ashley’s doing.
“Will you come back?”
My task wasn’t finished yet.
He thought for a moment, then nodded, “I will
But I didn’t expect him to come back with Ashley.
Jackson carefully looked after Ashley, feeding her and wiping her mouth, like he was nursing a bedridden patient.
They looked like an affectionate couple, and I was just a random person sharing their table.
Whatever I wanted to eat next, Ashley would point to and demand for herself.
I had no appetite and set down my forks.
She looked triumphant, saying with exaggerated sweetness, “The dishes Jackson feeds me taste exceptionally sweet…”
Under the table, she deliberately stepped on my foot.
I hissed in pain, but Jackson Ignored it.
Fortunately, we only needed to watch a movie to complete the six hours, so I endured her.
Who knew there were only two tickets left at the movie theater?
Ashley spoke first, her eyes red–rimmed. “Jackson, you and Chloe go watch. I know she’s deliberately using the divorce as an excuse to spend time with you, but it’s okay, I won’t be a third wheel! I’ll leave now!”
Jackson panicked, quickly pulling her back. “What are you talking about? Forget this stupid movie, I’ll spend the whole afternoon with you Instead, How about I make it up to you?”
I said patiently, “Jackson Hayes, just watch one movie with me, and I’ll let you go. I promise I won’t bother you anymore.”
But Jackson pushed me away violently, and the popcorn I was holding scattered everywhere.
“Chloe, stop acting! I’ve told you I could never like someone as selfish and conceited as you. Ashley is generous and kind and doesn’t blame you, but that doesn’t mean I’ll indulge you. I’ve already been more than generous by spending time with you at the mall today!”
He took Ashley’s hand and turned to leave.
“Warning! Host is neglecting mission. Electric shock punishment. Please persuade Jackson Hayes to return within one minuta”
8:21 PM
<
The next second, a powerful current coursed through my body.
0
I instantly collapsed, my knees hitting the ground with a loud thud, my whole body convulsing.
Almost biting through my tongue, I pleaded with all my might, “Jackson Hayes! Please, watch the movie with me, or I’ll die, please…”
Jackson whirled around, seeing me on my knees. His pupils contracted, and he instinctively took a step forward.
“Jackson, you go. Chloe is usually so healthy, b
she suddenly fainted. She must be really sick. Go with her, don’t mind me.” Ashley suddenly
spoke.
Jackson’s steps halted, his expression turning cold. “Chloe, now you’re faking falls? Don’t pretend to be weak. Don’t make me look down on you even more.”
He abandoned me. No matter how I called out, he never looked back.
After a long time, the System’s punishment ended. My face was deathly pale, like I’d just been pulled from water. Many people gathered around, offering to take me to the hospital.
The System warned me sternly, “Task Two completion is only fifty percent. If Task Three is not perfectly completed, Host, you will still be
eradicated.”
The panel changed, displaying only one line of text:
“Make Jackson Hayes propose to you.”
I gave a desolate laugh, losing all strength and collapsing to the ground.
This was an impossible task.
When I opened my eyes again, I was in the hospital.
Sarah rushed to bring me water, her eyes full of sympathy. “The doctor said your organs are failing, and you won’t live more than three days. Does Jackson know? Is this why you’re divorcing him?”
I knew this was a side effect of the System’s punishment.
Three days?
Only twenty–four hours left.
I didn’t want to beg and have Jackson pity me.
After all, I was once a privileged heiress; I had my pride.
I shook my head. “No, Sarah. As a best friend, I want to ask you something. After I die, just tell everyone I went abroad to travel and settle down. Don’t let anyone see how miserably I died.”
Sarah’s eyes turned red. She wiped her face. “When the avalanche happened, you saved Jackson Hayes’s life, but he thought Ashley saved him. He misunderstood and tormented you for all these years. You-”
My phone on the table rang urgently. It was Jackson.
Sarah answered, unable to help but blurt out, “Jackson Hayes, do you know Chloe is sick!”
