Chapter 1Six Years of Feigned Devotion

The day I decided to finally pursue Alaric Newlywed, he confessed his feelings for me.

Yet, the affection meter above his head clearly read '0'.

After we became official, he adored me beyond measure. On our sixth anniversary, he proposed publicly. Tears welling in my eyes, I was about to say yes, when a stream of comments scrolled across my vision:

【Poor secondary lead, pretending for six years with this villainess just to protect the heroine!】

【This stand-in is really into the role, LOL!】

My blood ran cold. No wonder the number hadn't changed in six years.

Simultaneously, a chilling system alert exploded in my mind:

“Final stage activated. Countdown to pursuit: Ten days.”

“Failure will result in your complete erasure.”

I smiled, pulling my hand back from his outstretched ring, wiping away my tears. "Sorry, this game? I'm bored of it."

* * *

The comments were still scrolling:

【Woah, the villainess's eyes just changed?】

【About time she realized, the secondary lead only cares about the heroine.】

【Waiting for her to snap and go crazy—】

Snap? No. I just suddenly remembered so many little things.

He never allowed me to meet anyone alone, claiming he "feared I'd make bad company." He always gently interrupted me when I mentioned my career, saying, "I'll take care of you, darling."

It wasn't affection. It was a cage.

I wandered back to the villa, throwing things into a suitcase mechanically. Passing his study, the comments suddenly surged:

【Look at the computer!】

【Oh no, if she sees the chat history…】

【Danger! Heroine protection mode initiated!】

A crisp notification chime echoed from the study.

I pushed the door open. The screen was lit, displaying a chat window between Alaric Newlywed and the main lead, Julian Vance. The latest message was from Alaric:

"She suddenly rejected the proposal. Keep Elara safe these next few days. Don't let Rowan Archer get near her."

Julian replied quickly: "Don't worry. It's been tough on you all these years."

I laughed out loud. How utterly ridiculous. Because of me, two sworn rivals, now united in purpose.

I scrolled up. The chat logs were like a blunt knife, slowly, deliberately slicing through my flesh.

Julian: "I remember, in the original story, Rowan Archer didn't just ruin Elara's face, she also hired someone to disgrace her."

"It must be agonizing to share a bed with that venomous witch every night."

Alaric: "As long as Elara is safe, none of it matters."

Julian: "She seems to be falling deeper in love with you. If she finds out the truth, won't she go even crazier?"

Alaric: "She won't find out."

"If she does, and dares to touch Elara—"

"I'll break her limbs, send her to a mental asylum, and keep her locked up for life!"

The last sentence had an exclamation mark. I stared at the screen, my fingertips icy. The comments section erupted:

【"It's all worth it"… the secondary lead is so in love! You know who I'm talking about!】

【Am I the only one who finds this conversation chilling? To manipulate someone for six years, just for the heroine?】

【Come on, that's the villainess! He's doing everyone a favor and protecting his true love, it's a win-win!】

【Look at the villainess's expression… is she about to snap?】

【Villainess, stop it and run!】

Run? I looked down at my slender wrists. Yes, I had to run.

As I dragged my suitcase out, the night was in full swing. I stood by the roadside, unsure where to go. The comments were anxious for me:

【Is she really leaving?】

【Go! Don't hold back our secondary lead and heroine's sweet moments!】

【Wait… is that the secondary lead's car in the distance?!】

Headlights pierced the darkness, and a familiar black sedan screeched to a halt beside me. Alaric got out, his shirt slightly rumpled, his breathing ragged, his face displaying a perfectly calibrated mix of panic and sorrow:

"Rowan, I'm sorry, I was too hasty… I thought you'd be happy."

He reached out, trying to take my hand, his eyes red-rimmed. "Don't go. Let's talk this over, okay?"

In the past, I would have melted completely. But now, I could only recall the chat log's chilling promise: "break her limbs and lock her up."

I stepped back, avoiding his touch.

"It's not your fault," I heard my voice, light and airy. "I'm just tired of it."

"Tired…?" His eyelashes fluttered as if he didn't understand the word. "You don't love me anymore?"

Under the streetlamp, his features were bathed in fragmented light, his acting so convincing it could win awards. A comment drifted by:

【Honestly, not everything he did for her these years was fake, right… kinda heartbreaking.】

That comment suddenly enlightened me. I looked up, meeting his eyes directly:

"Alaric Newlywed."

"These past six years, was there even a single second… when you truly felt happy?"

His pupils contracted almost imperceptibly. He didn't answer.

But the comments exploded:

【!!! She knows?!】

【OMG OMG high alert—】

【Secondary lead, what are you waiting for! Lie!】

The wind was cold. I gripped my suitcase and turned, disappearing into the night. No footsteps followed. Only the countdown ticking clearly in my mind:

9 days 23 hours 59 minutes.

The game wasn't over. But the player no longer wanted to follow the rules.