Chapter 1
Charlotte Ryan's ex, Lucas Quinn, showed up at our reunion and proposed with the same cheap plastic ring from high school. She said yes.
A roomful of eyes locked on me, faces frozen in awkward silence.
I was her supposed fiancé, yet I was utterly invisible—a backdrop prop. Forcing a smile, I raised my glass. "My best wishes to you both."
That single "yes" destroyed everything. My mission to win her heart failed.
The System purged me of all feelings, every last trace of desire.
Eventually, I found myself alone, wandering from country to country.
Charlotte tracked me down to Aegyra, crying, begging to know why I'd changed.
Sand whipped around us. I just stood there, hollow.
Nobody could bring back the man she'd lost.
Not even me. I couldn't remember who I used to be.
*****
The moment Charlotte said "yes," I faded into the crowd, a silent witness to their embrace and the chorus of congratulations.
I became the joke of the reunion.
I'd spent ten whole years following Charlotte, always the one waiting in the wings.
From school, to college, right up until she landed her big anchor job.
When she'd made it and we got engaged, everyone just figured, "Well, that's that. She's ending up with him."
Then Lucas came back to town, and suddenly she said yes to him instead.
My old classmates threw me pitying looks mixed with barely hidden smirks.
I kept my face blank, watching this second-chance romance play out like bad reality TV.
The irony was almost funny.
Charlotte—proud, ambitious Charlotte—actually chose the guy who'd dumped her years ago.
Me? I'd been her doormat from day one. Supported her when she was nobody, helped her become a star, stayed in the background while she shined.
And for what? Nothing.
I felt destroyed and weirdly free at the same time. Then the System's warning hit.
[Warning: Mission failed!]
[Host failed to secure target's commitment. Punishment: All emotions will be erased. Are you prepared?]
I watched Charlotte trace that plastic ring with her thumb, eyes wet with tears.
Everyone was impressed Lucas kept it all these years. Such a romantic.
All at once, I just felt exhausted.
The System wanted me to win Charlotte over. But somewhere along the way, I'd actually fallen for her.
If the System erased everything I felt, would any love remain?
Would I finally stop overthinking, stop hurting every time she crossed my mind?
If this was the inevitable outcome, maybe this was mercy.
I straightened up. "Yes, I'm ready."
The System didn't choose me randomly.
I was the Sterling family's only child—born when my mom was much older. Their sole heir.
Spoiled rotten as a kid, I never took no for an answer and did just as I pleased.
Then Mom got sick. Some brutal autoimmune disease that left her barely functional.
We tried every specialist. When that failed, we tried mystics and faith healers.
One psychic set up this elaborate altar, chanted for hours, then whacked me with his staff and declared I was the family curse.
The hit knocked me out. When I woke up, Mom—weak and fragile—was stroking my hair, telling me I'd always be her precious boy.
I prayed then. If magic existed, I'd trade anything to make her healthy again.
That was when the System found me.
It said my sincerity moved the divine. They'd give me one chance to save Mom.
The mission was simple—Make Charlotte fall for me, help her become lead anchor, and get her to choose me as her fiancé.
I said yes instantly.
I couldn't watch Mom suffer anymore. I wanted her to stay healthy.
"Hold on," the System interrupted. "I haven't told you the price of failure.
"If you fail, I'll take something from you."
"Then take my feelings," I said.
Even numb and empty, I could still be there for Mom.
After that, Mom improved steadily. No more hospital rooms reeking of disinfectant.
The day she fully recovered, I cried like a kid.
Mom wiped my tears and teased, "Oh dear, such a crybaby. What girl would ever want to marry you?"
In my heart, I knew: Charlotte. She was the only one who would be my bride.
Little did I know then what fate had in store for me.