The System's Return

I sat there on the ground, numbly picking up the trash haphazardly strewn around me, not even stopping when shards of glass drew blood from my fingers.

When I first started dating John, everyone around us told us what a good match we were, and we were admired by everyone around us.

His family background was unimaginably elite, to a point where I couldn't even reach it even if I had a ladder that stretched up towards the heavens.

I could have never imagined that someone that shone as brightly as him would fall for a girl from a regular background like me. That being said, his appearance in my life truly did save me, back then.

When someone as prideful as him was willing to do anything for me, it spoke to me more than any love letters ever could.

When I first arrived in this world, I didn't want to pursue him. I didn't want our relationship to start with lies and calculation, my life being filled with deceit as-was, ever since I was a mere child.

I hated that world, yet had no choice but to surround myself in lies and mistruths to survive, wearing a mask that hid my true nature every day.

I hated what I had become, and hated everything in the entire world.

However, John was different. He genuinely loved me, encouraged me, and showered me with the affection I always yearned for but never had.

I had always dreamed and hoped of building a family with him, to create a harbor where I could finally rest, a family filled with love.

But now, looking at the wrecked house around me, I couldn't help but think how it was similar to our relationship. Nothing but a wreck.

Our wedding photo hung on the wall of the bedroom, a smile radiating with happiness on my face, while his eyes held none of the disdain and disgust that he did now.

Since when did things become this way?

Burning with hatred and frustration, I stood up slowly and glared at the wedding photo, before throwing the glass of water in my hand at it. The glass shattered, along with any lingering hopes of being together with John for the rest of my life.

"How long until I go back, System?"

"Seven days. You have one week to bid farewell to this world."

I lowered my gaze, understanding.

Even if I didn't like my original world, I had no other choice. It took true betrayal from John for me to realize that there was no one more reliable in this world than myself. Rather than placing everything in someone else’s hands, it was better to take control myself.

Meanwhile, a trending topic suddenly appeared on social media.

It was footage of John and Ivy travelling together in Franconia. In the video, the two of them were inseparable, like newlyweds, their faces full of happiness.

John looked especially gentle, indulging the faux anger of the girl beside him as he whispered sweet nothings to her.

Evidently, one of the things he said worked, because the girl's angry expression soon melted into a smile. She hugged John closely, her smile as bright as the sun.

Watching this video, I felt nothing in my heart but a dull, ironic throb.

I was the only one he'd treated like that in the past, and now he had handed over that privilege to another woman.

At this point, I was already past having hopes for him.

A few moments later, John called me, ordering me to speak up and clear the air on his behalf. As the CEO of his company, the footage that was leaked impacted his shares greatly, so he wanted me to help me deflect the negative repercussions.

What a joke. He only thought of me when his interests were affected.

"I already told you that Ivy and I are just fooling around. If anything happens to the company, you wouldn't be able to continue living rich either.

"I want you to clear things up for Ivy as soon as possible. She's sobbing her heart out right now. Don't do anything unnecessary."

Even now, his tone was still filled with impatience.

How considerate of him to immediately go to another woman after arguing with me.

"I understand."

Perhaps it was because I reacted too calmly, or because it was the first time I hadn't fought with him over anything regarding Ivy, he seemed stunned for a moment.

"That's… That's good. If you'd always been so obedient, I wouldn't have fought with you in the first place. See, was giving in and being good really so difficult?"

His voice was filled with smug satisfaction.

I hung up on my end, not willing to continue talking with him. At this point, just hearing his voice was enough to remind me of how he cheated on me.

How disgusting.

Back then, after he got together with me, he announced it to the world. Our marriage was celebrated with a grand wedding, making many people believe that he was a rare man, one who was devoted and deeply affectionate.

I was one of the people who believed.

But the very first year we were married, Ivy came knocking at our doorstep. She looked at me smugly, her face girlishly sweet, and her eyes filled with provocation.

"Hi, I'm Mr. Linde's assistant. He said that he left one of his documents in his study, so he asked me to come fetch it."

Then, she looked down at me, almost judgingly.

I frowned, but still let her into the study. She, however, told me to wait outside.

"Mr. Linde said that it's a confidential document, and that outsiders can't see it. Sorry, but you're going to have to wait outside. I'll come out as soon as I'm done. He's in a hurry, see?"

Her words triggered a sense of unease in me, and when John came back, I couldn't help but complain to him.

With a smile, he explained, "She's the daughter of a business partner who asked me to take care of her."

Then, he told me that if I minded having her around, he could tell her to leave.

His voice was sincere, and our relationship had been smooth sailing up till that point, so I only thought about it briefly before shaking my head.

"It's alright. If she's related to a business partner, having her leave might affect your business. I'm fine, don't worry."

But I never imagined that this would be my first encounter with the woman he was keeping outside our marriage.

Later, I discovered that the two of them often went out behind my back. It wasn’t until I saw them kissing passionately in the underground parking garage that I finally realized how foolish I had been.

I never once doubted the lies he spun for me, wholeheartedly believing that he was working hard for our family.

One night, when John came home drunk, he hugged me tightly and muttered in my ear, "Ivy, why did you become so thin? Did you change your perfume?"

I felt as if I’d been struck by lightning, unable to believe it.

The man who once understood me and loved me sincerely was now holding me intimately while calling another woman’s name.

That was the first time we'd fought. It was heart-wrenching, and every frame of that fight was preserved in my memory. Even now, I couldn't forget a single moment.

After I found out, he started messaging Ivy while I was there, as if he was deliberately rubbing it in my face now that his lies were exposed.

He mocked, "If you were half as obedient as Ivy or half as passionate, I wouldn't have cheated in the first place."

From that moment on, I was completely dragged into the abyss.