Chapter 2The Villain's Captive: A Glitch in the System

Back when they were in school, Ezra was ostracized because of his sick mother, his abusive father, and his extreme poverty.

Leo was the only one who never abandoned him.

If Leo had a bite to eat, he'd give half to Ezra.

When fists rained down on Ezra, Leo took half the blows for him.

You could say very few people loved Ezra more than Leo did.

But simultaneously, no one hated me more than Leo did.

Because during those years, following the System's orders to "save the delinquent youth," I constantly interfered, trying to alter Ezra's life trajectory.

I tripped him up on the dark path he was choosing, desperately trying to pull him back to the right track.

During this process, I inevitably caused him a lot of pain.

Especially when I abandoned the mission and used a fake pregnancy to stage my death.

In the hours before my soul was pulled back home.

I saw it with my own eyes: the usually arrogant, untouchable Ezra.

Holding that fake lab report, crying so hard he collapsed to his knees and couldn't get back up.

Leo was right there beside him.

Perhaps, in that moment, a sliver of conscience had awakened within Ezra.

But by then, he had gone too far down a path of no return. Prison bars were his inevitable destiny.

My rescue mission was doomed to fail.

So I proactively told the System I was quitting, giving up the 100 million dollar prize.

I figured giving up the money was better than giving up my life.

Now that I was back, I knew Ezra wouldn't let me go. And neither would Leo.

I looked at Leo. "Ezra said everyone get out. Please move."

Leo shot me a glare.

His tone was ice-cold.

"The people leaving don't include you. Stay put!"

After three years apart, Leo's disgust for me had only deepened.

Knowing that reasoning with him was like playing the lute to a cow, I didn't waste my breath. I turned back to face Ezra.

Under the dim club lights, he radiated a wild, untamed arrogance.

Three years hadn't mellowed his pride at all; it seemed to have only intensified.

He muttered something to the guy who had offered him the drink earlier.

The guy immediately stood up and scurried out with an apologetic smile.

Once he was gone, Leo, knowing his place, also stepped out of the room.

Finally, it was just me and Ezra.