Chapter 2The System of Letting Go

On the phone, Bianca stammered:

"But the System says... it has to be on an intimate spot..."

"I know you just got back with Jolie."

"She... has nothing but love in her brain. She won't care if you are saving my life. She only knows how to make a scene."

"Forget it. I don't want to make things hard for you."

Bianca sounded more and more aggrieved, ending with a sob:

"Just let the System erase me."

Julian's face darkened. His voice turned cold:

"Stop talking nonsense! I won't let anything happen to you!"

He hung up, grabbed his jacket, and rushed out.

I stood up too.

He paused, looking back, frowning:

"Jolie, what now?"

"She just wants to live—"

His words got stuck.

Because I just took his car keys from the hook.

And handed them to him.

Julian froze.

Like he was meeting me for the first time.

"You used to... react strongly whenever tattoos were mentioned."

"What's wrong today?"

"Never again," I said.

He stared at me for a long time, then scoffed.

"New tactic?"

"Playing the 'heartbroken and dead inside' card?"

I sighed wearily, wanting to explain.

But he snatched the keys and slammed the door.