If this can complete the task, then I'm willing.
I nodded. "Okay."
Jack looked at me with approval. "This is what suits being my Mrs. Stephens."
He pulled me back to the dining table and gently wiped my hands for me.
Chloe stomped her foot. "Jack, let the nanny do it. Getting it on your hands is so disgusting."
"Enough." His voice turned cold. "You talk too much."
Chloe froze. Then she bit her lip, shot me a hard glare, and ran off.
Back in the room, I asked the system, "What task did that fake system issue?"
[Chloe also has a system.]
[She tried to hypnotize you into a tasker who just came over.]
[The task is still to win over Jack Stephens.]
[Then on the wedding day, it will tell you the task failed, and the target will ruthlessly abandon you.]
[In the end, it will strip you of your identity and make you an undocumented person in this world.]
[Speaking of it, the punishment for the host—I also borrowed it from them.]
A chill ran through me.
Stripping a person of her identity would make her unable to find a job. Even survival would become a problem.
When I was so hungry I was dizzy and seeing stars, the owner of a small diner took me in. Meals included—the food left over by customers. But even then, I didn't dare eat too much. Afraid that if I ate one more bun, I'd be kicked out.
Whenever I think of those days, I feel like living was worse than dying.
Jack Stephens, you're ruthless enough.
My determination to go back became even firmer.
Jack returned to the room, staring at me without blinking. "I've noticed you've changed a lot."
I met his gaze calmly. "Isn't that good?"
"Very good. Only like this are you worthy of being the mistress of the Stephens family." He stepped closer. "The previous you was too unsteady. If you hadn't made Chloe lame her foot, I wouldn't have agreed to her treating you like that."
"I've said many times, she fell down herself." My voice stayed even. "If you don't believe it, you can check the security footage from back then—"
He cut me off, his expression turning cold. "You're still lying. You targeted her for so long—if it wasn't you, who was it? Would a young girl really bet one of her legs just to frame you?"
I opened my mouth and realized there was no way to argue. When someone doesn't believe you, even if you put the truth in front of him, he still won't believe it.
He stood up. "Looks like this past year, you still haven't suffered enough."
[Ding, affection value 75%.]
I panicked. No, I have to go home.
I grabbed his sleeve. "I was lying. I'm sorry. It was all me. I was jealous that she was getting too close to you. I know I was wrong. Don't kick me out."
His expression eased. "Don't worry. I won't kick you out."
[Ding, affection value 80%.]
I let out a breath of relief.
The next day, Chloe started cooking—unusual for her—saying it was to celebrate my return.
I became wary. What was she up to?
She handed me a knife. "Rebecca, come help me chop vegetables."
Jack watched with a smile from the side. I could only take it.
While I chopped, his phone rang. He turned away to answer.
Chloe leaned in, her voice turning vicious. "Why didn't you die out there? Jack doesn't love you anymore. If you know what's good for you, get lost."
I smiled. "Whether he loves me or not isn't up to you."
