Chapter 2My Husband Killed Me Ninety-Nine Times

Three years ago, Clara had a car accident. When I rushed to the hospital, Declan was kneeling outside the operating room. His eyes were bloodshot, and he was grabbing the doctor's white coat, roaring, "Save her! Whatever the cost, save her!" The doctor merely shook his head helplessly. Declan's back slumped, and he crumpled into a defeated heap.

Only then did I realize that he valued his beloved more than me, more even than his own life. But before I could even leave, a cold, mechanical voice simultaneously sounded in both our minds.

[Detecting strong life prayer.]

[Life Transaction System activated.]

[Contract target: Clara Thorne.]

[Contract condition: In exchange for the designated subject Nina Thorne's ninety-nine deaths, the life signs of Clara Thorne will be restored and maintained.]

I was utterly stunned. What system? What transaction?

Declan abruptly looked up, as if clutching a final lifeline. He confirmed almost impatiently, "You mean, as long as Nina dies ninety-nine times, Clara can live?" The system responded coldly: [Yes.]

"I agree!"

He roared the words, without a hint of hesitation, not even glancing at me, as if afraid the system would back out a second later. In that moment, colder than the operating room lights, was my heart. I didn’t even have time to protest before the system's voice sounded again: [Contract generated. Phase one: Restore Clara Thorne’s critical life signs. Requires Nina Thorne's first life sacrifice.]

[Execution method: Suffocation.]

[Executor: Declan Martin.]

I was frozen, backing away involuntarily. "Declan, listen to me, the system is nonsense, don't believe its lies, don't..." But Declan was beyond my pleas. His eyes were bloodshot, stained with an almost insane stubbornness.

"Nina…"

He walked towards me step by step, cornering me against the wall. "I'm sorry." He reached out and choked me.

Suffocation instantly overwhelmed me. I struggled desperately, looking at his face so close to mine. Tears streamed from his eyes, and he choked out, "I can't lose Clara… I truly can't…"

My mouth was open, but no sound came out. My vision began to blur, and the air was sucked from my lungs. I stared fixedly at him. I wanted to ask, why me?

Declan seemed to understand my gaze; he avoided my eyes. "The system chose you. This is your fate." He didn't dare look into my eyes, only increasing the force of his hands. That was my first death, accompanied by his tears and that fleeting 'I'm sorry.'

When I woke up, I found myself in my bed at home. Declan was sitting on the edge of the bed, gazing at me gently, as if the person who had strangled me last night was just a hallucination. At the time, I still harbored a foolish hope, believing it was just a nightmare.

Until a few days later, news came that Clara was out of danger. And the system's voice sounded again, reminding Declan that Clara's body still needed subsequent life force maintenance, requiring a second sacrifice.

This time, it was in our basement. He tied me to a chair and turned on the gas valve. His hands still trembled slightly, but his gaze was already much calmer.

And later.

The third time, he drove me to the beach, then crashed me into the sea.

The fourth time, he poisoned my dinner.

The fifth time, he pushed me from the top floor of the company, making it look like a suicide.

…

The twentieth time…

The fiftieth time…

His actions became more practiced, his eyes growing colder. From an initial apology, to later silence, and now to outright impatience. Each sacrifice's reason was connected to Clara's condition.

"Clara's heart is rejecting, needs life force to suppress it."

"Clara has a lung infection, needs life force to purify it."

"Clara needs stronger life force to fully stabilize…"

And I was the sacrifice providing that life force.

Ninety-nine times, like a curse, etched into my soul. I couldn't break free, couldn't escape. I could only hope to quickly complete these ninety-nine tasks, and finally be free…