On my wedding day to Julian, his Shibari artist ex-girlfriend and “first love,” Chloe, quietly returned to the country. Since then, Julian was always out of reach. He was either finding people for her to practice her rope rigging on, or busy cleaning up her messy accidents. It went on until Chloe tied me up in those tight, brutal ropes, forcing a miscarriage that took the baby in my womb. As I was being rushed to the hospital, slipping in and out of consciousness, Julian gently touched my lower abdomen. “Chloe said real art requires sacrifice. Don’t worry, you’re incredibly fertile anyway. We can always have another baby.” “I’ve already spoken to the doctors. They’ll do everything they can to keep you healthy.” Before I was even wheeled into the operating room, his assistant rushed over, saying Chloe had tripped in a pool of blood and scraped her knee. Without hesitation, Julian left with him. He had no idea that the baby was the very last one I had risked my life to keep for him, defying my System’s warnings. It was also the sole condition for me to give up my mission and return to my original world.
Julian’s hurried footsteps faded at the end of the long hallway. I lay all alone on the cold metal gurney. The freezing metal frame pressed against my back, and the IV fluid slowly dripped down the tube. The nurse wheeled me toward the operating room in silence. The medical staff around us looked at my pale face, their eyes filled with pity. The fully-formed baby inside me had already stopped moving. The lead surgeon put on sterile gloves, his brows furrowed in deep sympathy. “Evelyn, your uterus was already severely damaged from previous miscarriages.” “Having to induce labor at this stage… the chances of you conceiving again are almost zero. You most likely won’t be able to have children ever again.” As his voice fell, a cold, mechanical sound suddenly rang in my mind. But this time, the usually emotionless electronic voice carried a hint of pity. “Host, you risked your soul and defied the System’s rules to have this baby. I can make an exception and save the fetus for you.” “After all, you were so stubborn about completing your mission with Julian, risking your life to get pregnant multiple times, only to end up with miscarriages. I don’t want you to leave with absolutely nothing.” I stared at the harsh, bright surgical lights above me and let out a dry, bitter laugh. “No need. You can’t force someone to love you.” The System was silent for a moment, as if wanting to persuade me further. But seeing the utter deadness in my eyes, its voice returned to its usual icy tone. “Understood. Proceeding with Host’s choice. However, the anesthesia will be blocked immediately.” “All pain during the surgery will be multiplied. This will serve as your final trial to leave this world.” The moment the anesthesia wore off, painful, shattered memories rushed into my mind. I remembered Chloe binding me with those thick ropes, pulling them brutally tight across my abdomen. The pain was so agonizing that I had curled up on the floor, screaming. “Julian, it hurts so bad! Please, untie me!” But he had only shaken his head. “Chloe’s rope art requires sacrifice. Just bear with it, Evelyn. Stop making a scene.” As I struggled in agony, my foot had accidentally brushed against Chloe. It was barely a touch, but Julian had immediately panicked, pulling her into his arms to check if she was hurt. Then, he turned around and personally tightened the ropes around me. That heartbreak had already carved itself into my bones. Compared to that, what was a little physical pain now? I slowly nodded. In the darkness, I felt the sharp scalpel slice through my skin. The sensation of cold surgical instruments stirring inside my abdomen was sharp and agonizing. Warm blood poured out of my body continuously. Wave after wave of excruciating pain washed over me, threatening to swallow me whole. When the long surgery finally ended, all my strength was gone. I felt like an empty shell that had lost its soul as the nurses wheeled me out. The System’s voice chimed in right on time. “Congratulations, Host, on successfully passing the departure trial. You will be transported back to your original world in forty-eight hours.”
I was taken back to a regular recovery room. Just as I leaned back against the pillows to rest, the door was pushed open. Julian walked in, holding a thermal flask. His eyes fell on my suddenly flat stomach. A fleeting look of guilt crossed his face, and he stepped forward, reaching out to pull me into his arms. I turned my head slightly, coldly dodging his touch. My hand instinctively protected my empty stomach. Julian froze, a look of shock flashing in his eyes. But he quickly masked it, his voice softening. “I know you’re still angry. I know you suffered this time. To make it up to you, I’ll stay here and take care of you.” He opened the flask and poured out a bowl of rich, thick herbal soup, holding it out to me. The heavy, greasy smell hit me, making my stomach churn. I frowned. Seeing my reaction, Julian’s brow furrowed, his tone turning annoyed. “Chloe made this herself and asked me to bring it to you. I’m even feeding you personally. What more do you want, Evelyn?” In the past, whenever he mentioned Chloe, I would lose control and scream at him. Because of those fights, he had stopped bringing her up, but he had also grown colder and more distant. But now, as I touched my empty belly, I felt absolutely nothing. I replied flatly, “I’m not ungrateful. I just don’t have an appetite after the surgery.” My calm reaction caught Julian off guard. He set the bowl down and grabbed my wrist, wanting to say something. But the door opened again, and Chloe walked in, wearing a delicate, elegant dress. She kept her eyes down, looking incredibly hurt. “Why won’t you drink the soup, Evelyn? Do you hate me that much?” “I know I’m clumsy. I even cut my hand while making it. It’s only natural you’d look down on it.” Julian immediately let go of my hand. He rushed over to grab Chloe’s hand, examining her tiny cut before calling for a doctor. Chloe giggled, gently tapping his chest. “It’s just a scratch. It’s already treated. As long as Evelyn finishes the soup, my hard work won’t be wasted.” Julian turned back, picking up the bowl and pushing it toward me again. I looked at the two of them acting so intimate. Since I only had two days left, there was no point in fighting anymore. I took the bowl, forced down the nausea rising in my throat, and drank the greasy soup in one gulp. Seeing me finish it, Julian’s face softened a bit. “Good girl. Get some rest. I’ll stay here with you.” The moment he said that, Chloe chimed in. “Oh, don’t stay here. Our rope experiment got interrupted because of Evelyn earlier. You have to make it up to me.” “Let’s just use the empty private room next door. That way, we won’t disturb Evelyn’s rest.” Soon, my room became dead quiet. My heart still ached for my unborn child. I wanted to ask Julian for a proper burial place for the baby, so I forced myself up and slowly walked to the room next door. The door wasn’t fully closed. I could see everything inside. Julian was lying on the bed, bound in layers of intricate ropes. Chloe’s fingers slowly traced his skin, her eyes full of desire. “Since I came back, I’ve wanted a baby that belongs to just the two of us. Will you give me that, Julian?” Their intimate whispers drifted into my ears clearly. I stood outside the door quietly. The very last shred of hope I had for this man completely shattered and turned to ash.
I turned around to go back to my room. But my body was too weak after the surgery, and the greasy soup made my stomach churn again. I gasped, my shoulder heavily bumping against the doorframe. Julian quickly untied himself and rushed out of the room. He patted my back to help me catch my breath. The scent of Chloe’s expensive perfume clung to his shirt. The strong fragrance triggered my nausea again. I pushed him away with all the strength I had left, leaning against the wall. Chloe walked out leisurely behind him. The passion in her eyes had completely vanished, replaced by her usual innocent, fragile act. She spoke softly, “I don’t have much time left to live, and I don’t want to get married. I just want a child of my own.” “Julian only agreed to help me because he saw how lonely and miserable I was. While you’re recovering from losing your baby, you can help us take care of our child to fill the void.” I knew she was mocking me, but my face remained completely blank. “None of my business. I was just passing by.” Chloe wouldn’t let it go. She stepped closer. “Evelyn, I know you think I’m disgusting. But I had no choice. You can understand me, right?” I looked up at her. “You are indeed disgusting.” My blunt words took her by surprise. Tears instantly filled her eyes, and she made a move to drop to her knees to apologize, sobbing. “Then I’ll just disappear. I won’t ruin your life anymore.” Julian immediately caught her, pulling her up. He glared at me with absolute disgust. “Evelyn! This is Chloe’s only wish. Why do you have to be so cruel and push her to the edge?” I wanted to laugh. Julian had always been so stingy with his warmth and tenderness when it came to me during our marriage. For him, I had gotten pregnant multiple times and suffered miscarriages, facing the pain of losing my babies all by myself every single time. A million emotions choked my chest, but I was too tired to argue. I turned to leave. But Julian suddenly picked me up in his arms and carried me back to my hospital bed. “The one I love has always been you. I’m only helping Chloe to fulfill her dying wish.” “Since you care so much about this, I’ll give you another baby. Will you stop throwing these tantrums then?” Before he could lean down any closer, I struggled with all my might, crying out in terror, “No!” But Julian ignored me, tightly grabbing my wrists. Driven to a corner, I gathered every ounce of strength I had left and slapped him across the face. The loud slap echoed in the room. Julian froze. Then, his eyes flared with rage. “Evelyn! You are getting completely out of hand.” “Since you don’t want it, I promise you will never have a child of mine again. Don’t you dare regret this!” With that threat, Julian slammed the door. Not long after, the playful, suggestive giggles from the room next door drifted into my ears. I lay on the bed quietly with my eyes closed. I only had one day left before I could leave this world. Nothing mattered anymore. The next morning, ignoring the doctor’s warnings, I checked myself out of the hospital. I went back to our penthouse, took off my diamond wedding ring, and threw it into the trash chute. I didn’t take a single thing that Julian had bought me. I only packed a small suitcase with my own belongings. Just as I finished, the front door was pushed open. Julian stood there, his brows furrowed as he looked at my suitcase. “Where do you think you’re going with that?”
The scent of Chloe’s perfume on Julian was even stronger now. Before I could speak, he stepped forward and snatched my suitcase away. His eyes were filled with impatience, assuming I was still playing hard to get. “Stop acting out. Chloe just came up with a new rope design. Go over and help her practice.” “If you behave well and make her happy, I might reconsider the baby thing.” I used to desperately want his baby because I loved him to death. But now, I looked him dead in the eye and said calmly, “I don’t want your baby anymore. And I will never be her guinea pig again.” “Since you love helping her so much, why don’t you go keep her company for the rest of her short life?” Right then, the System’s voice chimed in my head. “The twelve-hour countdown to departure has begun.” My rejection completely infuriated Julian. He violently kicked my suitcase, sending it sliding across the floor. His face was ice-cold. “I knew you wouldn’t listen. I’ve already sent men to pick up your mother.” Hearing the word “mother,” my heart seized. In this strange world, my mother, Sarah, was my only comfort. During the countless nights Julian had left me alone, she was the one who stayed by my side. She gently healed my loneliness and anxiety. She was the only person I cared about in this world. I rushed forward to stop him. “Don’t you dare touch my mom!” Julian grabbed my arm. His grip was like iron, his voice cold and commanding. “You don’t get a say in this.” He dragged me out of the penthouse and threw me into his car. The car sped through the city and finally stopped at the underground warehouse of Chloe’s private estate. The warehouse was dimly lit. When I looked up, I saw my mother hanging from the ceiling by ropes. Her limbs were tied tightly, and her face was deathly pale. I screamed, trying to run over to untie her, but Julian held me back firmly. “Chloe has no interest in hurting an old lady. If you want to save your mother, take her place.” Looking at my mother’s agonizing state, I bit my lip and nodded. A smug smile spread across Chloe’s face. “Smart girl. Once I’m pregnant with Julian’s baby, I’ll need to rest. This will probably be my last session.” With that, she began tying my limbs. Julian quickly pushed her aside, telling her not to exhaust herself and that he would handle the rest. Rough ropes were wrapped tightly around my skin, squeezing my waist and chest. My blood flow was cut off, and a suffocating feeling washed over me. My limbs gradually went numb and freezing cold. The torture went on for what felt like eternity. My face turned paper-white, and my body shook uncontrollably. Seeing this, Julian was about to call it off, but Chloe held his arm to stop him. “The time isn’t up yet.” Then, she pressed her hand to her forehead, looking weak. “Julian, I feel so dizzy and hot… Do you think it’s because of my illness?” All of Julian’s attention immediately shifted to her. Filled with worry, he carefully scooped Chloe into his arms and rushed out of the warehouse. He didn’t even look back at me. I was left hanging in the middle of the dark, silent warehouse. Just as the agonizing pain was about to make me pass out, the System’s voice suddenly rang in my head. “Warning: Host’s life is in extreme danger. Emergency departure can be activated immediately. Do you wish to return to your original world now?” I looked at my unconscious mother on the floor. “Yes,” I whispered in my mind. The next second, a powerful force pulled my soul out of my body. … Julian was too worried about Chloe’s dizziness. He drove her straight to the nearest hospital. But shortly after they arrived, his phone rang. It was his assistant. The voice on the other end was frantic. “Mr. Julian, the other volunteers who practiced Chloe’s rope art before are all having severe medical emergencies!” “The authorities are investigating. They need Chloe to come down and explain her techniques immediately.” Julian frowned. He was confident in Chloe’s skills, so he answered carelessly, “Don’t bother Chloe. Go to the warehouse and bring Evelyn to testify.” “She has always been obedient. She will tell them the technique is perfectly safe.” He was certain he had me wrapped around his finger. But a few minutes later, the assistant called back, his voice trembling. “Mr. Julian… we just went to the warehouse. We took Mrs. Evelyn down from the ropes… but she’s not breathing…”
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