Chapter 4Erasing the Substitute: A Script Unwritten

Arthur truly couldn't wait a single second.

He completely bypassed the mandatory thirty-day "cooling-off" period for divorce and went straight to litigation.

After getting the final divorce decree, I packed a few clothes.

As I was about to leave the Sterling mansion, I couldn't help but ask Leo, "Leo, if you never see Mommy again after today... will you be sad?"

Leo was playing with his blocks and didn't even look up. "Mommy, why are you starting this again?!"

"You used that exact same line to chase Auntie Chloe away and force Daddy to stay with you! Are you trying to force me now too?!"

My entire body went rigid.

Right.

I was the one who told them that if the plot deviated too much, I would die.

But I never told them that if the plot became completely illogical, this entire world would cease to exist.

Because of that, the Host and the characters were supposed to rely on each other to survive.

But I didn't want to burden Arthur and Leo, so I kept that part a secret.

"Leo... I'm sorry. Mommy won't say it again," I said softly. "But... Mommy is truly going to disappear."

"You're so annoying!" Leo suddenly grabbed a wooden block and hurled it at me. His little face was scrunched up in deep irritation. "Disappear! Disappear! Then just go disappear!"

I couldn't dodge in time. The block hit me squarely on the bridge of my nose.

A flood of complex, agonizing emotions rushed over me all at once.

Clutching my nose, I suddenly felt my body grow light.

My five senses blurred for a fraction of a second.

The plot had deviated again.

I took a deep breath, reaching out to stroke Leo's hair.

He dodged my hand, moving to another spot to continue playing with his blocks.

I sighed. "Fine. You have Chloe anyway. She'll be with you."

Walking out of the Sterling estate, I stood by the curb waiting for a cab.

A bright red sports car came roaring down the street.

It slammed on the brakes right next to me.

The window rolled down, revealing a face remarkably similar to mine, but far more vibrant and beautiful.

It was Chloe.

Arthur's childhood sweetheart, the 'white moonlight' supporting character.

Originally, as the substitute female lead, my role was to erase her influence and make Arthur fall in love with the real me.

But obviously, I failed.

Instead, I was completely played by their united front.

"Elara, long time no see." Chloe's smile was arrogant and radiant. She flashed the massive pink, heart-shaped diamond on her finger. "Arthur and I are getting married the day after tomorrow. You have to come."

Seeing that familiar diamond, my heart skipped a beat.

When I married Arthur, the plot required me to wear that exact pink diamond ring.

But Arthur felt the ring didn't suit me.

I thought it was a trivial detail.

So I broke the plot rule and wore the square-cut diamond he gave me instead.

The very next day, I was hit with a plot penalty.

I "accidentally" fell down the stairs and was bedridden for three months.

I was so confused back then. It was just a minor descriptive deviation; the penalty shouldn't have been that severe.

Looking at it now, the pink diamond was definitely a crucial plot point.

It wasn't that the ring didn't suit me.

It was that I didn't deserve it.

"Congratulations," I said coldly.

A flash of blinding white light crossed my vision.

That uncontrollable sensation of weightlessness hit me again.

At this rate, I wouldn't even need seven days. I'd be forcibly ripped from this world much sooner.

"Arthur told me you were using that 'disappearing' threat again," Chloe said mockingly. "But since the plot is over, don't you think trying that trick now is a little too fake?"

I ignored her.

The plot deviation was irreversible anyway.

This world was on the brink of annihilation.