My husband came from a family renowned for its groundbreaking work in natural healing and herbal medicine. Before I met him, his adoptive sister, a prodigy in herbal remedies herself, had always been by his side. Their bond was incredibly deep; they’d spent every day together for over a decade. Until my husband rescued me from the brink of death and fell in love with me at first sight. For years, under the care of his adopted sister and my husband, my health had steadily worsened. I knew it all stemmed from Bella. Just as my husband was writing a new prescription for me, Bella called him away. He didn’t even notice that a crucial ingredient was missing from the new blend. A cold electronic voice chimed in my head at that very moment. “Congratulations, Host. You are about to achieve the death ending. Mission nearing completion.” Listening to the electronic voice in my mind, I couldn’t help but let out a relieved smile. This day, I had finally waited for it. Martha, the housekeeper responsible for my care, took the prescription and quietly asked, “Ma’am, would you like to brew the medicine now, or wait for Mr. Mason to return and supervise it himself?” “Preparing the herbal blend is especially crucial. Perhaps we should wait for Mr. Mason.” I looked at Martha, her eyes full of concern, and smiled. “No need to wait.” This blend wasn’t about the brewing; it was poison from the start. Martha started to say something else, but I had already closed my eyes, feigning rest. I don’t know how much time passed before my door was pushed open again. When I opened my eyes, I met Liam Mason’s gaze directly. His expression was one of doting affection, but to me, it was just another mask. He smiled, scooped up a spoonful of the brew, and spoke gently. “Bella and I came up with this blend together. It’s the only one that can do your body any good right now.” “That girl, Bella, she really cares about you, Alice.” My expression remained unchanged. Oh, she cares about me alright. *Deeply* cares about how to send me to an early grave. I didn’t want to waste any more breath on Liam. I took the bowl from his hand and drained it in one gulp. The brew was searing hot; it made my eyes water. Seeing my tears, Liam’s eyes filled with concern. He reached out, trying to pull me into his embrace. Just then, the bedroom door swung open, and Bella’s voice rang out. “Sister Alice, I just accidentally twisted my ankle, that’s why I called Liam away. You’re not mad, are you?” The moment her voice hit, Liam flinched, snatching his hand back as if he’d been burned. I saw his subtle movement and found it utterly pathetic. Bella saw my tears and exaggerated her expression. “No way, Sister Alice, you’re actually crying? You’re just way too sensitive. No wonder your health isn’t great.” Liam turned back, gently scolding her. “Don’t talk nonsense. Alice was just scalded, that’s why she cried.” Bella heard him and naturally leaned against Liam, smiling sweetly. “Oh, I was overthinking it. But before, Sister Alice never wanted you and me to be together. I thought she was getting a little jealous.” “Sister Alice, please don’t worry. Liam and I have a purely platonic sibling bond.” Hearing Bella’s words, Liam’s face fell a little. I pretended not to notice, speaking calmly. “My health has been getting worse lately. I’d like to go to the hospital for a check-up.”
I didn’t actually want to go to a hospital when I said that. I just wanted to test Bella. And sure enough, a flicker of panic crossed Bella’s face, quickly replaced by indignation. “Alice, what exactly are you trying to pull? You know the Masons are revered for our holistic health practices, and Liam has been meticulously tending to your recovery. Going to a regular hospital now? What do you think that says about us? If word gets out, other prominent families will laugh us right out of town! They’ll say Liam is incompetent!” Liam’s expression turned grim, and his gaze held a hint of reproach. “Don’t be ridiculous, Alice. Just rest easy. I’ll make sure you get completely healthy.” Perhaps because I was about to leave this world, I didn’t want to play the innocent, devoted wife anymore. My gaze swept over the two people in front of me, finally settling on Bella’s face. I spoke with a smirk. “Oh, really? But I somehow feel like someone *doesn’t* want me to be healthy.” Following my gaze, Liam and Bella exchanged a look. The next second, he frowned and spoke. “Are you letting your paranoia get to you again? You were like this when we first got married too.” “Bella and I are just siblings. Stop being unreasonable.” Hearing Liam’s words, I remembered how Bella had insisted on living with us after we got married. She claimed it was to better monitor my progress and perfect my regimen. But countless nights, I’d seen Liam and Bella in the study, heads bowed intimately together. I could feel that Bella’s feelings for my husband were far from platonic. I’d brought it up countless times, but Liam always dismissed it as my jealousy getting the better of me, just like now. He picked up the empty bowl I’d drunk from and took Bella’s hand. “Since you’ve finished your medicine, get some rest.” “I know you’re not feeling well because of your sickness, but you can’t just accuse people like that. Calm down.” With that, he pulled Bella from my room. Before they left, I caught Bella’s smug, triumphant glint in her eyes. Her eyes seemed to say, “See? My brother will always choose me.” But my heart was unmoved. I called out to the system in my mind. “When’s my final curtain call?” The electronic voice chimed. “Seven days from now. This incorrect blend, if taken for seven consecutive days, will lead to organ failure.” I lowered my gaze to the wedding ring on my finger and murmured. “Soon. I’ll be free soon.”
For the next three days, Martha the housekeeper would bring me a bitter brew right on schedule. And I, like a puppet on a string, numbly swallowed the liquid. Just as I thought nothing unexpected would happen, Liam, whom I hadn’t seen in three days, appeared in my room. His face was thunderous. He practically *threw* his phone at me. “I can’t believe how cruel you are, Alice! Bella is just a girl!” Confused, I picked up the phone. On the screen was a video. In it, a man was sobbing hysterically. “Mrs. Mason paid me. She said Miss Bella was too close with Mr. Mason, and she didn’t like it. So, she told me to *force myself on Miss Bella*, so she’d be too disgraced to ever bother Mr. Mason again.” After watching the video, I looked up and met Liam’s furious gaze calmly. “Don’t you realize I haven’t left this room for days? How could I have possibly paid someone to hurt Bella?” Liam scoffed. “You’re right. I truly can’t believe how utterly malicious you are.” “I don’t care how you bribed that criminal. All I know is you tried to harm the sister I grew up with.” “If I hadn’t gotten there in time, she would have been ruined.” “Alice, how many times do I have to tell you, from the day we married until now, stop causing trouble.” I thought my heart was already shattered, but hearing Liam say that, an uncontrollable pang of pain shot through me. I sat up straight, meeting his eyes. Perhaps my gaze was too intense, because Liam suddenly looked a bit guilty. I looked at him, questioning him word by word. “Liam Mason, honestly, ask yourself: are your feelings for Bella *really* just sibling affection? And her feelings for you? Are you truly so oblivious, or do you just *enjoy* the attention?” Hearing my questions, Liam, who had burst in, ready to accuse me, was instantly speechless. I watched his visibly guilt-stricken expression and couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh. I knew. I had *always* known. Liam was just that indecisive. He wanted too much. He loved me, but not *just* me. He also didn’t want to lose Bella, who had grown up with him. When this mission first began, I *had* thought about loving Liam wholeheartedly. But his repeated favoritism had eroded my trust and love for him. I stared intently at Liam’s evasive eyes, waiting for his answer. Time seemed to stretch on forever until Liam finally spoke, his voice dry. “What kind of question is that? My feelings for Bella are purely platonic; I’ve told you that a thousand times! It’s just you who refuses to believe me. Alice, am I really so untrustworthy in your eyes?”
It seemed that in his long silence, Liam had finally managed to deceive himself. I should have known. I should have known Liam was a man utterly devoid of responsibility. Instantly, I felt all the strength drain from my body. A sharp, stabbing pain tore through my chest. I knew. Perhaps the “poison” Liam himself had concocted was beginning to take its toll. I slid weakly onto the bed, feeling a metallic, sickly sweet taste flood my mouth. The next moment, a trickle of bright red blood slowly flowed from the corner of my lips, and I began to cough uncontrollably. Liam, who had still been feeling a bit guilty, saw the blood at my mouth and instantly forgot the purpose of his visit. He threw himself onto my bedside, his face panicked, grabbing my trembling hand and speaking anxiously. “What’s wrong with you? Haven’t you been drinking the medicine I prepared for you properly?” “You don’t need to hurt yourself just to try and break up Bella and me. Why are you doing this?” Hearing Liam’s words, I just found it utterly laughable. It wasn’t because I *didn’t* drink his concoction. It’s because I *did*! His “medicine” is what put me in this hell! Even now, he still believed everything I did was out of jealousy for his bond with Bella. Liam Mason, should I say you’re simply too arrogant? I felt my chest about to explode, taking several deep breaths to steady myself. Then, I forcefully shook off Liam’s hand and spoke in a cold voice. “Why bother with this pathetic pretense of concern? Weren’t you here to accuse me of my supposed ‘wrongdoings’?” Liam stared blankly at his rejected hand, seemingly shocked that I would refuse his concern. In his mind, my actions against Bella were always just a cry for his attention. Rejected, Liam’s expression turned furious again. He seemed to feel his authority had been challenged. “You still have the nerve to bring that up? I was worried about your health, and you not only don’t appreciate it, but you say such cruel things.” “Alice, don’t make me hate you. I want you to be the compliant wife you used to be.” Unfortunately, I no longer wanted to comply. On what might be the last day in this body, I wanted to live for myself. Before I could speak again, Bella pushed open the door, her face looking haggard. Her hair was disheveled, and her cheeks bore several bruises, big and small. Her expression was one of agony, of disbelief. I watched her stagger towards my bed. As she nearly stumbled and fell, Liam reached out and caught her. Bella leaned weakly into Liam’s embrace, letting his strength support her. Liam’s eyes were filled with pained concern as he looked her over. Their gazes seemed to cling to each other, as if they might kiss any second. I looked at their intimate actions and let out a bitter laugh. If *that’s* what they call innocent, then I must be a saint. “Brother, it’s all my fault. If I had just kept my distance from you, Sister Alice wouldn’t be jealous.” “But I didn’t want to sacrifice our decades-long bond. I’m sorry, I was too selfish.” Bella’s obviously manipulative words struck Liam right in the heart. He immediately turned to me, his eyes sharp. “Look how understanding Bella is! Can’t you learn something from her?” “Apologize to Bella. You owe her that.” “All these years, if she hadn’t been so generous, you’d have been utterly disgraced for your actions.” Bella didn’t give me a chance to speak. Her eyes welling up with tears, she turned to me. “Sister Alice, if you didn’t like something, you could have just told me directly. There was no need to resort to such underhanded tactics.” I looked at the two of them, standing united against me, and my smile grew wider and wider. I laughed louder and louder, almost hysterically. I laughed at my own foolishness for ever thinking I wouldn’t complete the system’s mission and would grow old with Liam. I laughed at myself for ever believing Liam’s grand vows, not realizing his heart could hold two people.
Perhaps my current state was too frenzied, because the expressions on their faces morphed into terror. I felt a continuous rush of metallic, sickly sweet fluid in my throat, but my laughter wouldn’t stop. Soon, the blankets on my bed were stained red. “Bella Mason, you know perfectly well whether I harmed you or not.” “I hope you don’t regret what you’ve done. Don’t worry, even if I really die, I’ll haunt you until the end of your days.” My expression was grotesque. Bella instinctively flinched, but still spoke defiantly. “Sister Alice, making mistakes isn’t scary, but it’s important to face them. I’m not cruel like you. Rest now, we can talk about this later.” My eyes were fixed on Bella, my resentment seemingly solidifying. Bella was so unnerved by my stare that she no longer had any desire to provoke me. She clung closer to Liam, whining. “Brother, Sister Alice’s eyes are terrifying. My heart feels a little pain. Let’s just go.” Liam’s gaze flickered between Bella and me for a moment, then he finally made up his mind and spoke. “We’ll talk about everything once you’re feeling better, Alice. Regardless, you owe Bella atonement.” “Don’t think you can escape responsibility just because you’re unwell. You went too far this time.” With that, his eyes didn’t fall on me again. He lowered his head and spoke softly to Bella. “Let’s go. Brother will examine you properly.” “Your brother here is a prodigy in natural healing. I’ll definitely restore your health.” A shy smile appeared on Bella’s face as Liam embraced her and led her out. After they left, Martha knocked and entered. Seeing the messy state of my bed, her eyes instantly reddened. She silently helped me change the bedding. After a long hesitation, she finally spoke. “Ma’am, your health is getting worse by the day. Should I talk to Mr. Mason?” I lay on the bed, my gaze fixed on the ceiling, murmuring. “No need. It’s too late.” Martha tried to persuade me a few more times, but seeing I remained unresponsive, she could only leave. Unknowingly, I drifted into sleep. In my dream, I saw the first time Liam and I met. He was a shy young man then, his eyes holding an undeniable, careful affection for me. How long had it been since I’d seen that look? I don’t know how long passed before I jolted awake. As soon as I opened my eyes, I met Liam’s bloodshot gaze. He held a tray in his hands, scattered with several herbs. I wanted to ask him what he was doing here, but a wave of exhaustion washed over me. I knew my time was short. Seeing me just quietly staring at him, Liam spoke, his voice trembling. “Alice, did you purposefully tell the brewmaster to omit one ingredient just to get my attention?” “Do you know? Missing just one ingredient turns this blend into a potent poison.” I finally managed a genuine smile, the corner of my mouth bleeding again. “You’re the one who wrote this prescription, every single stroke.” “Liam Mason, remember this: my death is all thanks to you.”
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