When I Die, I'll Donate My Heart to My Wife's First Love

2

The moment the call ended, the skies opened up, unleashing a torrential downpour.

I stared at the wilted roses and the lopsided cake in my hands, unable to suppress a bitter chuckle.

"Guess I'm the one running out of time here."

Ariana had no idea that I was clinging to this strange world for her sake.

Six years ago, I was blind, given a chance to regain my sight.

That opportunity came with a mission: to win over Ariana.

But after I succeeded, I fell for her.

I sacrificed everything from my old life to stay by her side.

Yet, the System had its doubts. "Host, people's hearts are fickle. If Ariana ever changes her mind, you'll face erasure from this world."

At that time, I shrugged it off. "Ariana loves me too much to ever stray."

Later, I received the news about Marvin's heart failure.

Ariana became obsessed with getting a divorce, all to fulfill Marvin's dying wish.

Little did she know that fulfilling that wish would cost me my life.

Noticing my low spirits, the System chimed in, "As long as you haven't signed the divorce papers, you won't disappear. I think you still have a chance to change Ariana's mind."

I gazed out at the relentless rain, lost in thought.

I thought, "Can I really change anything?"

But when I saw a post from Marvin on social media, I felt my resolve crumble.

It was a candid shot.

Marvin, in a hospital gown, rested his head on Ariana's shoulder.

She looked at him with such tenderness, peeling an orange with a smile dancing on her lips.

The caption read: [Who says childhood friends can't compete with fate? Ariana has only ever peeled oranges for me.]

From the moment I met her, I knew Ariana despised peeling citrus.

The lingering scent annoyed her, which was why we never kept oranges at home.

If we ever bought some, it was always me who peeled them for her.

So, she could break her own rules after all.

She just wouldn't do it for me.

With that realization, I turned to the System and said calmly, "Forget it. There's nothing left to fight for."

My heart had already turned to stone.

From the moment Ariana decided on the divorce, my fate was sealed.

What difference did it make if it happened sooner or later?

The System's voice softened. "Alright, Host. But before you're erased, I can grant you one wish."

I couldn't help but laugh bitterly. "A wish? Can you make Ariana fall back in love with me?"

The System paused, contemplating.

"I can only do what's within my power, like deciding how you're erased."

"What does that mean? A terminal illness or an accident?"

"Something like that."

That method of erasure seemed to lift any burden from Ariana's conscience.

So, I thought long and hard.

"How about this? After I'm gone, donate my heart to Marvin?"

Marvin needed a heart transplant to survive.

An accident or illness would only sadden Ariana for a short while.

I wanted her to feel guilt, to regret how she treated me during this time.

I wanted her to hear my heartbeat every time she got close to Marvin in the future.

The System fell silent for a moment.

"Host, are you sure? What if Ariana doesn't care?"

I let out a resigned chuckle.

"She wouldn't. I know Ariana well. She'd be devastated even if she lost a pet," I said.

After all, I had donated my heart to her beloved.

I wanted her to regret it for the rest of her life.

"In that case, let me spice things up for you."

"Spice things up? How?"

"Let's make it so that the cause of death is a car accident on the way to an early diagnosis of stomach cancer, and Ariana is the indirect cause of the accident.

"So, if she knows you donated your heart, she'll feel even more guilty. She needs to understand that it's her fault you died. If it weren't for her, you wouldn't have had to leave this world."

"Alright."

I thought, "Becoming a doctor has always been Ariana's dream since her school days.

Her ideal is to save lives, but how will she feel if she learns she has indirectly caused someone's death, especially someone close to her?

And to make matters worse, that person has donated his heart to her beloved."

I couldn't help but smile at the thought.

Once she knew the truth, she'd be living in a state of despair and guilt for the rest of her life.