The Game Is Mine

"Alright, you can go now. I'll go see you later."

Seeing my lack of a reaction, he thought I was unhappy.

"I have to stay by Eve's side because she just got here, but don't think too much about it. The one I love most is still you."

I would have gotten happy in the past, thinking that he still thought of me fondly, but now I just turned around and left.

-

After warming the milk, Eve came out of the bathroom wearing my pajamas, lazily leaning against the armrest.

"How pitiful. You're basically a servant for a man who doesn't love you, and you even need to serve his new lover."

I didn't know what she was trying to do, but seeing how I didn't react in the slightest, she stormed over and raised her hand, slapping me across the face.

The sharp sound caught Shane's attention.

"What are you doing?!"

Even looked startled for a split second, then quickly regained her composure, slipping effortlessly into the role of the victim as she began to sob.

"I-I just wore her pajamas, and she called me a disgusting, shameless witch!"

The moment those words left her mouth, Shane frowned and looked at me.

My heart sank.

I was just about to explain when Eve hurriedly cut me off. "I couldn't help but try and defend myself, and she slapped me! It's all my fault for wearing her pajamas, so I'll take them off and apologize…"

The concern in Shane’s eyes nearly overflowed. For a brief moment, it even made me feel jealous.

Smack!

Before I could react, my left cheek was burning with pain.

I stared at Shane in disbelief as his hand hovered in midair again, only for him to lower it when he saw my reddened eyes.

"She didn't bring any sleepwear, so what's wrong with her wearing one of yours?"

Finally, I couldn't hold it in anymore.

"Shane, so whatever she says is the truth now?! Am I really that petty in your eyes?

"I don’t owe you anything for coming to this world!"

He had never seen me lose control like this before. A flicker of uncertainty crossed his face, but he quickly resumed his superior stance.

"Well, it doesn't matter! No matter what she does, endure it!

"You want to clear your mission and save your sister, right? Then isn't it alright if you apologize for something as petty as this? I won't make things too difficult for you if you do."

Shane looked at me with contempt, as if to say this was already the greatest mercy he could offer, that I should hurry up and comply,

I nodded slightly, a cold smile on my face.

Was there any use in explaining if he wasn't going to believe me, anyway?

"I won't apologize, so punish me however you want."

Upon those words, anger flared in his eyes.

I knew this would anger him. I treated it as the last time I would ever endure his humiliation, and the final blow to completely kill any lingering feelings I had.

"Get two people in here and strip her!"

I stood there numbly as I was stripped completely naked. He ordered me to stand there as punishment, before leading Eve away by the hand.

The calmer I became, the more memories came up in my mind.

Calmly, I closed my eyes and called upon the System. "Help me get rid of the child."

"It’s still a life. Are you sure?"

Since I had decided to leave, this child no longer had any reason to exist other than as a reminder of my past.

"Yes, I'm sure."

The System hesitated. "If we do it now, you’ll suffer severe backlash. It would be better to wait until tomorrow and go to the hospital."

However, seeing how resolute I was, the System carried out my commands, clearing the baby from my womb.

I clutched my stomach and wailed in agony as blood drained down my legs, but my heart had never felt so light.

Now, our final tie had been severed.

At some point, Eve appeared to watch the spectacle. She picked up a basin of cold water and poured it over my head.

As I shuddered violently from the cold, she said, "You looked like you were in pain, so I helped you cool down a little. Do you feel better now?"

She looked at me sideways, a mocking smile tugging at her lips.

"Seeing you like this puts me in such a good mood, so I'll let you in on a little secret.

"I'm the one who advised Shane to drag some random man to sleep with you, you know? He didn't hesitate at all, clapping his hands as he agreed…

"Why, he even said that the punishment sounded very interesting!"