After I Gave Up on Life

The city's golden-boy and I had just signed our marriage certificate in the morning, and by the afternoon he was bringing me the divorce papers.

I stood frozen, clutching the certificate, surrounded by the merciless laughter of his friends.

Caleb Whitman, you actually married the heiress only to divorce her for Lily's sake? one of them sneered.

"Ha! Look at her face she's white as a sheet. Gonna cry now?" another jeered.

Caleb, however, wrapped an arm around his foster sister Lily Ashford and spoke softly:

"Now we got the papers. Will you smile for me now?"

Lily let out a soft giggle, a smile bloomed on her cool face.

I wanted to step forward and demand an explanation, but my three brothers held me back firmly.

The eldest, Ethan, frowned:

"Only Calebcan make Lily smile. Have some decency."

Lucas, the second brother and movie star, shoved me to the ground:

"She's had a hard life. You're well-off you don't need to cling to one man."

Ryan, the third brother and biology professor, set his jaw:

"Caleb should have married her a long time ago. Stop interfering."

They forced me into a car and wouldn't let me disrupt Lily's happiness.

The missing system finally pinged to life:

[Host, the mission is completed! Return to the real world now?]

I sat in the backseat and stared out the window, almost laughing aloud.

This heart-wrenching melodrama for the mission was finally over.

From now on, I would have no part in their tangled loves and hatreds!

[Detection: The Moore brothers' and male lead's affection level reached 95%! Marriage to Caleb Whitman mission completed! Congratulations, host!]

[Host must die to return to the real world and claim the 0-000 million reward! Bone cancer cured upon return!]

I swallowed the wild joy surging through me.

I could finally go home.

Ethan and Ryan stayed behind to accompany Lily while Lucas was ordered to escort me back.

My eyes slid to Lucas.

He'd been wearing a grim expression since getting into the car, clearly unwilling.

It wasn't until a message from Lily arrived that his face finally brightened.

Noticing my stare, he immediately pocketed his phone and frowned.

"What now? Still not giving up? Trying to ruin things for Caleb and Lily again?" he snapped.

"Lily's young and she's been through so much. Why can't you let her be?"

I dug my nails into my palm and forced a bitter smile. I was actually a year younger than Lily.

Seeing my expression, Lucas sighed suddenly.

"Just apologize to Lily. Don't be so stubborn."

He reached out as if to pat my head but I dodged his hand:

"Why should I apologize? What did I do wrong?"

Lucas' hand froze, irritation flaring in his voice:

"Hannah Moore! Don't be ungrateful!"

I closed my eyes.

Even if it had all been for a mission, over the years I'd developed some real feelings.

Their attitudes had actually hurt me.

But now, it was over.

"After Lily's competition ends, you'll go with us and apologize to her," Lucas continued.

I didn't answer.

Instead I checked with the System in my mind:

[If this body dies, I can go back, right?]

[Yes.]

I breathed slowly and scanned the area through the window.

Making sure no one else would be hurt, I opened the door and yanked it wide.

Lucas, who had been ranting, screamed:

"Hannah! What are you doing?!"

I ignored him and jumped out without hesitation.

The cold wind slapped my cheeks and a dizzying weightlessness hit me.

I shut my eyes and felt no fear.

But the next moment, I felt an arm wrap tightly around my waist.

Someone shielded me in their embrace as we toppled into the roadside bush.

Amid the dizzying spin, I heard a muffled groan.

We rolled awkwardly and finally stopped.

The man holding me was cut and bleeding by branches while I was untouched.

I opened my eyes to Lucas' terrified face and spoke calmly:

"Let go."

Lucas stared at my unreadable face and shouted:

"I only warned you a few times! You'd jump out of a car over such a trivial thing? We've spoiled you rotten!"

"Are you just after attention? Stop playing these games."

I pulled his hand away and stood up, scanning my surroundings.

My eyes caught a black car racing toward us at high speed.

"I'll say I walked into it. Tell them to get the bumper fixed," I tossed over my shoulder, then threw myself toward the car.

"Hannah!" Lucas screamed in disbelief and scrambled to his feet, but he was too slow.

Filled with hope, I anticipated death.

Even if I would soon die after returning to the real world, I didn't want to spend another second in this world.

The screech of tires punched the air the black car slammed to a stop with a wrenching skid.

I faltered back and stumbled into Lucas' arms.

"You're insane! Hannah, are you really insane?" he cried, fingers trembling as he brushed my face and shoulder.

"Did it hit you? Are you hurt? Say something!"

Still alive. Disappointment washed over me as I lowered my eyes.

I noticed Lucas' pant leg soaked and dark with blood trickling down.

He was badly hurt.

In the past, I would have collapsed into tearful panic and begged to bear his pain.

Now I turned my face away with cold detachment.

"So what? Do I even need your permission to die?"

Lucas stood there stunned.

I laughed coldly and walked around him toward the cursing driver of the black car.

"I'll transfer the compensation for the driver to you later." I said.

Lucas clenched his fists until the knuckles whitened, the rims of his eyes reddening.

I blinked, then realized:

"Oh I didn't use the Moores' money. I used my own..."

"Hannah!" he cut me off, unable to bear it.

I saw a flash of wounded hurt on his face.

"You're the only heiress left of the Moore name," he grated.

"If it were up to me, I'd give everything to you without a second thought."

I found the whole thing ridiculous and looked him straight in the eye.

"Really?"

He shuddered, as if only just catching on.

Officially, the honored heiress of the Moore family was Lily Ashford.

I the real Moore daughter was a scandalous pretender in everyone's eyes.

I laughed wild, then tears slipped down my face.

Lucas and I used to be inseparable. He even brought me with him to movie sets.

Now all he did was wearing a cold face and commanding me to step aside for Lily.

He hauled me back into the car.

Head down, he muttered:

"When Lily wins that physics award, we'll declare you the true Moore heir... Everything before that was a misunderstanding..."

I couldn't be bothered to reply, turning my head to the window.

The scenery rushed past in a blur.

Before being transported into this world, I'd been an orphan.

During a medical checkup, I was diagnosed with bone cancer.

I lay in a hospital bed, slipping into unconsciousness from the pain.

When I opened my eyes again, the System had sent me into another world as a six-year-old child.

A voice filled my head:

[Reach 80% affection level with the Moore brothers and Caleb Whitman, marry Caleb Whitman you'll receive 0-000 million and return to the real world.]

A static hiss followed. I almost thought I'd hallucinated it.

Still to get another shot at life, to have a healthy body again that wasn't a bad deal.

The car hummed on, Lucas gripping my wrist tightly.

His fingertips stroked the back of my hand like he used to soothe my insomnia.

As an orphan, I had clung to that kind of affection.

I even nearly wanted to stay and give up the mission.

But then Lily arrived the orphan I'd brought into the family and every ounce of warmth suddenly belonged to her.

I went from coy and sulky to desperate and hysterical, and my pain only earned me one line:

"Stop acting up, look at what you've become."

The car stopped at the Moore estate gate. I tore my hand free and got out.

Lucas called after me in disbelief:

"Hannah I got hurt because of you..."

I cut him off flatly:

"If you're hurt, go see a doctor. What good is telling me?"

Pushing open the grand door, the first thing I saw was Lily Ashford being fawned over on the sofa like a princess.

Ethan's face was stern, punching Caleb lightly on the shoulder.

"Lily hasn't eaten or slept properly for three days because of you. How did you treat her?"

Lily hurried to defuse it.

"Ethan, Ryan, I'm really fine. It was a misunderstanding. It's all cleared up now."

I lingered in the doorway and watched their display of sibling devotion.

[Host, dopamine levels detected as low...]

The System's hollow voice sounded slightly flat.

[So, host are you feeling sad now?]

The System's words almost drew tears.

I hastily wiped away the dampness at the corners of my eyes.

Lucas moved to my side and just as he opened his mouth, Lily cried out and lunged over:

"Lucas how did you get so badly hurt? You"

Before she could finish, I slapped her across the face.

Lily clutched the reddened cheek in disbelief as a sharp slap knocked me to the floor.

Ethan pointed at me, furious:

"Hannah Moore! You've been spoiled rotten! Apologize to Lily!"

I lay on the floor, spitting out a trace of blood

"Apologize? For what? I'm a twice-married castoff now am I not allowed to hit the other woman too?"

Ethan's anger rose.

"What nonsense are you talking about? Lily and Caleb belong together. You're the one who forced your way in!"

"How could you be my sister with such shamelessness?!" he barked.

I laughed, incredulous:

"Shameless? Caleb was my fianc. Now I'm the one who barged in?"

Caleb coldly stared at me.

"Our engagement was over. The Whitman family would never accept an infamous woman like you," he said.

Ryan hauled me to my feet.

"Hannah apologize!"

I said nothing, surveying the faces in front of me.

Ethan's eyes were icy. Ryan's face was twisted with disgust.

Caleb looked like he wanted me dead.

Lucas frowned, lips moving, but said nothing.

A year ago, Lily's frequent contact with Lucas had been fuel for their fans.

Unable to bear it, Lucas had revealed Lily's status as the Moore heiress on social media.

I, the real heiress, took the blame and the scorn for Lily.

"You have bodyguards wherever you go! Lily had only herse!"

I rebelled, I fought, I screamed.

Back then, the way everyone looked at me was exactly like today.

Exhausted beyond words, I had no strength left.

I jerked my hand away from Ryan and bolted into the living room, grabbed the fruit knife from the table.

Lucas, panicked, tried to stop me, but Lily clung to his arm.

"Hannah what are you doing?!" Lily cried.

I smiled bitterly at Lily.

"I'm apologizing," I said.

Then, ignoring the hostile brothers and Caleb, I plunged the knife into my chest.

Screams erupted around me. I laughed, and I cried.

"I'll pay with my life. Is that enough?"

"Happy now?"

Warm, thick blood gushed out wildly.

The dizziness from the blood loss made my knees give.

Amid indistinguishable shouts, my darkening vision caught the terror on the men's faces.

Lucas crashed forward, cradling my body and howling desperately:

"Call an ambulance!"

I came to with the scent of antiseptic in my nostrils.

White walls swam into focus. Was I really back?

I turned my head and met Ethan's bloodshot gaze.

Annoyed, I closed my eyes again.

His hoarse voice, which once might have concerned me, now felt grating.

"Hannah! Who taught you to use suicide as a way to get attention?!"

My irritation grew.

Something sharp pressed under my head.

I grabbed it and found a worn safety charm.

When I was twelve, I had a week-long fever, The hospital gave three critical notices.

Ryan had climbed a thousand temple steps and prayed for me to get me this charm.

Later, when Lily was injured, Ryan had given it to her.

Now the charm was back in my hand.

But it felt like a nuisance. I tossed it away.

Ryan came into the room just as the charm hit the floor.

He stared at my face and hissed:

"You just threw away that charm?!"