Charles Reed was the hero sent to save me, the supporting female character, but he fell in love with the heroine, Emily Lane.

For her, he repeatedly missed the critical moments to save me.

Each time I died, he spent his accumulated points to resurrect me.

After eight times, I heard his system say to him, "Host, you only have enough points to revive Sophie Grant one last time. Fail again, and you'll lose the chance forever."

Charles' reply was unwavering. "I won't fail. I have this under control."

But when the kidnappers captured Emily and me together on a cruise ship, with a pale face, Charles declared, "I choose Emily."

As I plunged into the deep sea, I screamed out to Charles' system, "Bind me! I don't need a savior. I will save myself!"

*****

What Charles never knew was that ever since my first resurrection, I could hear every word he said to that Rescue System.

Over the years, I'd died eight times.

The first time was when the office caught fire. Emily Lane and I were trapped inside.

Charles rushed in, grabbed Emily, and left me to burn.

When I woke up again, I heard the Rescue System complaining, "Host, Emily's the heroine. Even if you don't save her, the hero, William Hart, will step in."

"But if Sophie Grant dies, she's gone for good. Don't forget who you're supposed to save," the Rescue System reminded.

Charles ran a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated. "You're just a system. You wouldn't understand."

"When it's life or death, I just want to save the woman I love most. Is that really so wrong?" he said.

Still reeling from the pain of being burned alive, I finally saw the truth.

The man who had once said he loved meit had all been fake. Every word, every promise, was a lie.

The second time, a runaway car came speeding down a busy street.

Charles shoved Emily out of the way and let me get hit instead.

The third time, during a camping trip, an earthquake struck. He pulled Emily to safety while I was crushed under a falling boulder.

The fourth, fifth... it just kept happening, again and again.

The eighth time, Emily's heart began to fail. She needed a transplant, but there wasn't a matching donor anywhere.

The Rescue System told Charles that William would find a way, but Charles was too desperate to listen.

He forged my name on the donor consent form.

"Are you crazy?" the Rescue System yelled.

Charles just said, "Soph's time is almost up anyway. I'm not saving her this round. Once she's gone, I'll have her heart transplanted into Emily."

"Next time," he muttered, "I'll make it up to her."

Then, while we were walking past the bank, a man pulled out a gun and aimed right at me.

Charles yanked me aside just enough for the bullet to miss my heart.

He couldn't risk damaging the heart he planned to give Emily.

After watching me die so many times, he'd grown numb.

He used to panic every time, but now, he acted like he'd figured everything out.

After all, I always came back.

When I woke up again, I was clutching my chest, drenched in sweat.

It hurt so much.

Every death was seared into my mind, driving me to the edge of madness.

The Rescue System's voice rang in my ears, irritated. "This is your last chance. Mess up again, and Sophie's gone for good. The Rescue-the-Supporting Female-Character System will be dismantled. All your points, skills, and everything will be gone!"

"I got it, all right?" Charles snapped. "This time, I won't fail. I promise."

When he saw me stir awake, he leaned down and wiped the sweat from my forehead.

"Soph, bad dream?" he asked softly. "You're soaked in sweat."

His every move dripped with concern and tenderness.

I pulled away, my voice distant. "I dreamed someone shot me."

Charles froze for half a second, then forced a relaxed smile. "You must just be overworked. That's why you're having nightmares. But with me around, no one's going to hurt you."

He held up a beautiful dress. "Come on, get ready. We're going to Em's birthday party tonight."

Emily was engaged to William, the hero and CEO of the company.

As the deputy CEO, Charles had to attend.

And as his girlfriend, I had to go with him.

On the way to the party, the Rescue System sighed. "Host, you've reset this story so many times that it's completely off track. No one knows what's going to happen next."

Charles squeezed my hand. "Relax. This time, I won't let anything happen to Soph."

Emily, in a pure white dress, looked like a white rose blooming in the spotlight, nestled close to William.

The moment we stepped into the party hall, Charles froze.

When I glanced at him, I caught the look in his eyesresentment mixed with jealousy.

Emily's gaze swept the room and locked onto his. Immediately, Charles dropped my hand like it burned him.

The irony hit me hard. He'd risked his life for her countless times, but after each reset, all those memories vanished like smoke.

To Emily, Charles was just another acquaintance.

She lifted her skirt slightly and walked toward us, every step graceful.

"Charles," she said with a charming smile. "I've been waiting for you."

"Waiting for me?" Charles looked startled but thrilled, completely forgetting I was standing beside him.

Emily's voice dropped to a whisper. "Last night... I had a dream. My heart was failing, and you came to save me."

Charles' expression changed in a flash, his excitement hard to hide. "You really dreamed that?"

Before she could answer, the chandelier above us came crashing down without warning.

Emily and I were directly beneath it.

Just moments ago, Charles had sworn he'd protect me. But when it mattered, his instincts kicked in. He grabbed Emily and pulled her to safety.

I was a second too late.

Screams erupted as the chandelier slammed into my leg.

"Host! You were supposed to save the supporting female character, not screw up again," the Rescue System shrieked. "How many times do I have to say it? Emily won't die!"

Pain shot through me like fire, blinding me white.

Through the haze, I saw Charles gently comforting a trembling Emily.

I managed a bitter smile before the world went dark.

When I came to, I was in a hospital bed.

Two nurses were tending to my leg, whispering as they worked. "Ouch, that's a nasty cut. She'll have a scar for sure," one remarked.

"Wasn't Mr. Reed supposed to be crazy about Ms. Grant? Why'd he go save someone else?" the other asked.

"Who knows? Ms. Lane's fine, and Mr. Hart's right by her side. Meanwhile, poor Ms. Grant got left behind," said the first nurse.

They walked out still gossiping, and as the anesthesia faded, the pain hit hard enough to make me break into a cold sweat.

After what felt like forever, Charles finally walked in.

"Soph, does it hurt a lot?" he asked, eyes full of guilt when he saw how pale I was.

"This is my fault. I only had time to pull Em away. You got hurt because of me," he added.

The Rescue System sneered, "Well, looks like the supporting female character was lucky. She dodged death again. Otherwise, you'd be done for good."

Lucky?

Not a chance. The second that chandelier fell, I'd moved on instinctthat was the only reason I survived.

After so many deaths, I'd stopped believing in Charles a long time ago.

"Enough," Charles snapped at the Rescue System. "Soph's just a little hurt, but Em's traumatized!"

Suddenly, my strength left me. Before I knew it, tears slipped down my cheeks.

I knew I'd never be his first choice, but I still couldn't stop hoping, like a fool.

Charles wiped my tears and pulled me close. "I'm sorry. I'll take care of you from now on."

There was a rapid knock at the doorEmily stood in the doorway, looking a bit flustered.

Her face was flushed as she said, "Charles, I... just came to thank you."

Charles quickly released me and stood up. "E-Em!"

They stepped out into the hallway, but their hushed voices still floated back to me, every word crystal clear.

"You saved me again," Emily murmured. "If I count all the dreams where you saved me, that makes nine times."

Charles looked stunned. "Wait... You dreamed all that?"

Emily sounded a bit lost. "Yeah, I've had so many dreams about you saving me, I can't tell what's real anymore. And in my dreams, I never call you Charles. I call you Charlie."

Charles' voice trembled. "If you want, those dreams can be real. You can call me Charlie."

They were so wrapped up in each other, Charles didn't even notice my IV had run dry.

Gritting my teeth against the searing pain, I forced myself to sit up and reach for the call button.

But I slipped, and before I knew it, I tumbled right off the bed.

By the time the nurse rushed in, my freshly bandaged wound had split open again.

Blood was everywhere, the sight of it raw and brutal.

Emily, trailing after Charles, took one look at all the blood and instantly fainted.

Charles didn't even hesitate. He scooped Emily into his arms, panic in his voice. "Nurse! Hurry! Em fainted!"

The nurse glanced over at me, clearly torn. "But Ms. Grant's injury is worse"

"Get over here, now. Or I swear you'll be fired," Charles barked.

With no other option, the nurse rushed after Charles, abandoning me in my misery.

My heart felt just like my woundsplit open again and again, bleeding until there was nothing left to heal.