He Ditched Me in My Game

The world got swallowed by a massive game, and half the population walked right in.

Only the first person to reach the top of the spender leaderboard could bring someone back to reality.

Fail a level three times, and monsters tear you apart into code.

Nolan dropped a billion dollars and took the #1 spot.

Between me and his childhood friend Bianca, he didn't even hesitate. He picked her.

When Nolan saw me, his voice went ice-cold. "I already dumped everything I have into this. Wait till I recharge again. I'll bring you back."

I smiled. Didn't buy it for a second.

He'd never cared about me. Still didn't realize I was the one who built this game.

They had no clue staying on top meant constant recharges. Slip once, and you get dragged back in.

And every dollar he spent? Straight into my account.

When Nolan got pulled back again, he sneered at me. "Damn it. Still stuck with you. Bianca's coming to save me. You're pathetic. Without me, just stand here and wait to die."

I wondered if that childhood friend of his would ditch her rich sugar daddy and burn everything just to save him.

When Nolan Cluny hit #1 on the spender leaderboard, everyone thought he'd save his wife.

He walked right past me and pointed at his childhood friend, Bianca Horren.

In a flash, she was out—back in the real world.

They held each other tight. And me? I felt like a stranger, watching someone else's happy ending.

If the guy who dropped a billion to save the girl he loved hadn't been my husband on paper, I might've been moved too.

Nolan noticed I was still standing there. A wall of light split us.

Reality on one side. The game on the other.

Behind me, people dropped to their knees, crying. I was the only one calm.

Nolan frowned. "I already put all my money into this. I can only save one person at a time. Serena, be reasonable. Bianca's family goes way back with mine. She got dragged in because she came to see me. No matter how you spin it, I'm saving her first. You're my wife. You should back me up."

I let out a short, bitter laugh.

Ten years with Nolan. I gave him everything, ran myself into the ground. Even after heart surgery, I was still up all night clearing his levels and handling the company.

And I couldn't even get one honest word.

The rules were simple. Only the #1 spender could pull someone out.

Everyone else had to grind through brutal physical levels alone.

And me? Like this—I was just waiting to die.

I clenched my fists and forced a smile.

'Fine. I'll show you who really runs this game.'