After I Returned to My World, My Target Went Mad With Regret

I stumbled out of the room.

When I passed Fabian, he reached out to steady me. I slapped his hand away.

Back in my own room, I changed my clothes and got ready to leave.

Fabian and Athena were already gone from the house.

I didn't give it a second thought. I drove straight to the company.

The Delgado Group was something Fabian and I had built together, from nothing.

I went straight to my office.

But my computer and my desk were already gone.

Athena was sitting behind the desk instead, leaning back in the chair, looking thoroughly pleased with herself.

When she saw me, she rose slowly. No alarm on her face at all, only the urge to show off.

"Why are you here?"

Her voice was dripping with satisfaction.

Her hand drifted lightly across the desk.

"Fabian didn't want anyone giving me a hard time, so he made me vice president outright."

"I hear this used to be your office?"

"Pity. It's mine now."

I lowered my eyes.

"Where are the things that were in this office?"

Athena's voice curled with disdain.

"That stuff was hideous. Not fit to use."

"Who knows where it got thrown out."

I looked at her for a long moment, then turned to go.

Athena stepped in front of me.

"Winona, I've been using this office for three months now."

"The moment I came back, Fabian gave me everything."

"Oh, right. Did you know?"

"Those two years, honestly, I did just fine."

"Fabian wired me money every single month."

"It just got dull being on my own, so I decided to come back. Fabian agreed the instant I said it."

"There's a big company meeting tomorrow. Fabian is going to introduce me to everyone himself."

"If you know what's good for you, you'll leave on your own."

She finished and stared at me, daring me to react.

So that was it.

There had never been any two years away. No punishment. No hardship.

Fabian had taken care of Athena the whole time.

The only one being deceived was me.

And now he wanted to hand everything I had at the company over to her too.

Just then Fabian came jogging over.

"Winona, why are you suddenly here at the company?"

He shot Athena a nervous glance, and only once he was sure she was fine did he turn to explain himself to me.

"Winona, now that Athena's in the company, she can stand on her own from here on. I won't have to look after her anymore."

"I promise you, we'll live our own life, just the two of us."

There was sweat on his forehead, and his eyes were wary as they watched me, terrified I'd make a scene in front of everyone.

I looked at that hypocritical face and gave a careless nod.

The Delgado Group wasn't going to exist much longer anyway.

Company, no company, I couldn't have cared less.

I turned and walked toward the storage room.

The company's core patents were registered under my name.

Everything it ran on depended on those patents.

I dug out my old computer and plugged in a flash drive.

Fabian. The things that were never yours.

I was taking them back.

...

The next day.

Fabian stood in my dressing room with Athena.

"Winona, you won't mind if I borrow your necklace, will you?"

Fabian looked at her.

"It's fine, Athena. Take whatever you like. Today you're the star."

He turned his head toward me.

"There's a company party today. Athena has to look the part."

"Don't be petty about it. Worst case, I'll just buy you another one."

I cut him off.

"Fine."

Fabian froze. The words came out of him before he could stop them.

"Winona, you really don't mind? That was the one I gave you when we got married..."

I dropped my gaze. It was almost funny.

"Whatever she wants to wear, she can take it herself."

Then I turned and walked out.

None of it was going to exist much longer anyway.

...

That night, the empty mansion held only me.

The System spoke.

"Host, it's time."

I nodded.

"Burn it."

"Let none of it be left here."

I watched my soul lift free of my body.

The whole mansion began to burn, starting from this room of mine.

The System spoke again.

"The passage is about to open. There's still a little time."

"I can take you to see the party."

"Do you want to go?"

I nodded.

At the company party, Athena stood there in a gown and jewels, radiant.

She had her arm looped through Fabian's, all smiles and laughter.

"Now, everyone, let me introduce our company's new vice president."

"Athena Lawrence!"

"I hope you'll all give her your full cooperation going forward."

Applause filled the room.

Fabian looked at Athena, dazzling and lovely, and yet it was my face that surfaced in his mind.

Winona's manner seemed to have changed.

She hadn't cared about the company. She'd even given up the necklace she treasured most.

He felt suddenly restless, an uneasiness rising in him from nowhere.

Then his assistant came rushing over, drenched in sweat.

"Mr. Delgado, it's bad, the company's stock is crashing!"

Fabian frowned.

"What's the panic?"

"The market fluctuates. That's normal."

But the assistant looked ready to weep.

"It's gone. Completely gone."

"The company's patents have been released to the public for free. Everyone knows them now!"

"Mr. Delgado, the company is finished!"

Fabian's face went ashen.

Only he and Winona knew the key to the company's patents.

What was she playing at?

To think he'd just been standing there worrying about her.

This time he was going to punish her properly. No more indulging her.

His face black, Fabian pulled out his phone.

Before he could dial, the phone rang first.

"Am I speaking with Mr. Fabian Delgado?"

"Your mansion at Evergreen Estates is on fire. A woman's body has been found inside."

"We've made an identification. It's your wife, Ms. Winona Sanders."