Chapter 1 · Counting Down 20 Days

Mission Control had signed off.

There were only 20 days until I leave this world.

Photos of Janosch Ludke accompanying Irma Badur to her prenatal checkup were anonymously slipped under my door.

In the photos, he was carefully supporting the heavily pregnant Irma with a look of tenderness that I had never seen before.

*****

I signed the divorce papers impassively. But Janosch tore the papers to shreds before my eyes.

With bloodshot eyes, he bellowed at me, "Corinna Sonnenberg, do you have a heart of stone?"

*****

Three days after Mission Control signed off, I received an anonymous package. When I opened it, a stack of photos dropped onto the carpet.

The man in the photos was my husband, Janosch Ludke. And the woman next to him was his lover, Irma Badur.

They were at the hospital's Obstetrics Department. Irma's baby bump was quite obvious. Janosch was shown carefully supporting her with a tender, loving expression.

I picked up all the photos and stacked them together before tossing them into the trash can.

At this moment, my phone vibrated. It was a text message from Irma.

Irma: [Corinna, he said he'll divorce you soon. My baby needs his father.]

I replied with just one word: [Okay.]

Then I booted up my laptop and started drafting the divorce document.

There was no issue about splitting up the matrimonial assets. I didn't want anything, so I was prepared to leave this union without asking for a single cent.

After printing out the document, I signed both copies without hesitation.

Then I arranged for the signed divorce papers to be delivered to Janosch's office.

After I finished everything, I glanced at the pale blue control panel floating in midair that was visible only to me.

Control Panel: [Exit Countdown: 17 days left.]

I still had plenty of time.

*****

My name was Corinna Sonnenberg, and I was an undercover agent. My mission this time was to bring salvation to this world's mad villain, Janosch Ludke. I had to make him feel love and warmth, and stop him from turning evil and ending the world.

During my mission, Mission Control equipped me with the "Lovestruck Romantic" persona.

It made me love Janosch with everything I had. I washed his clothes, cooked his meals, and even shielded him from blades and bullets. I unconditionally offered him my heart that was full of love.

In the end, I managed to change him. He went from a dark, violent psycho to someone a little more normal. Eventually, we got married.

*****

Once the mission was accomplished, Mission Control signed off, and the "Lovestruck Romantic" persona was removed too.

Now, I had no feelings for Janosch at all.

I just wanted to quietly wait for the twenty days to run out, and then I could go home.

However, Janosch wasn't about to let me have any peace.

*****

That night, Janosch kicked open the villa door and barged in like a furious beast, reeking of alcohol.

He had the crumpled divorce papers in his hands as he glared at me with bloodshot eyes. "Corinna, how dare you?"

His broken voice was full of disbelief and rage.

I was lounging on the couch with a sheet mask on my face. Unperturbed by his grand entrance, I peeled the mask off leisurely and tossed it into the trash can before replying, "Why wouldn't I dare?"

He was momentarily stumped by my unexpected answer.

Back when I was still under the influence of the "Lovestruck Romantic" persona, if he so much as frowned, my heart would ache, and I would rush up to him and ask if something was wrong.

But now, I only looked at him impassively, like he was a stranger.

My indifference only infuriated him further. He shoved the crumpled papers into my face.

"What do you mean? Leaving without asking for anything? Corinna, what kind of sick mental games are you playing?"

I felt hardly any pain when the crumpled papers were shoved into my face. In fact, I didn't even blink.

"I'm not playing any games. You and your lover have a kid now. I'm just fulfilling your wish to be together with her," I replied matter-of-factly.

"Fulfilling my wish?" Janosch gave a scornful snort. He came closer until his tall figure towered over me.

"There's nothing between Irma and me!" he bellowed.

"I saw the photos," I replied flatly.

"It was just an accident! She fainted, so I took her to the hospital!" he protested.

"Ah, an accident at the Obstetrics Department." I nodded with a knowing look.

My unflappable demeanor only made him more incensed as his words fell on deaf ears.

He began panting angrily. Suddenly, he lunged at me and shoved his arms into the couch's backrest, trapping me between his arms.

"Corinna, you weren't like this before. You used to cry if I so much as spoke to another woman," he snarled through clenched teeth.

"Oh, that was in the past. Not anymore," I answered coolly.

"Why? What made you change so suddenly?" Janosch glared at me with bulging eyes, seemingly searching for signs that I was pretending.

Chapter 1

Mission Control had signed off.

There were only 20 days until I leave this world.

Photos of Janosch Ludke accompanying Irma Badur to her prenatal checkup were anonymously slipped under my door.

In the photos, he was carefully supporting the heavily pregnant Irma with a look of tenderness that I had never seen before.

*****

I signed the divorce papers impassively. But Janosch tore the papers to shreds before my eyes.

With bloodshot eyes, he bellowed at me, "Corinna Sonnenberg, do you have a heart of stone?"

*****

Three days after Mission Control signed off, I received an anonymous package. When I opened it, a stack of photos dropped onto the carpet.

The man in the photos was my husband, Janosch Ludke. And the woman next to him was his lover, Irma Badur.

They were at the hospital's Obstetrics Department. Irma's baby bump was quite obvious. Janosch was shown carefully supporting her with a tender, loving expression.

I picked up all the photos and stacked them together before tossing them into the trash can.

At this moment, my phone vibrated. It was a text message from Irma.

Irma: [Corinna, he said he'll divorce you soon. My baby needs his father.]

I replied with just one word: [Okay.]

Then I booted up my laptop and started drafting the divorce document.

There was no issue about splitting up the matrimonial assets. I didn't want anything, so I was prepared to leave this union without asking for a single cent.

After printing out the document, I signed both copies without hesitation.

Then I arranged for the signed divorce papers to be delivered to Janosch's office.

After I finished everything, I glanced at the pale blue control panel floating in midair that was visible only to me.

Control Panel: [Exit Countdown: 17 days left.]

I still had plenty of time.

*****

During my mission, Mission Control equipped me with the "Lovestruck Romantic" persona.

It made me love Janosch with everything I had. I washed his clothes, cooked his meals, and even shielded him from blades and bullets. I unconditionally offered him my heart that was full of love.

In the end, I managed to change him. He went from a dark, violent psycho to someone a little more normal. Eventually, we got married.

*****

Once the mission was accomplished, Mission Control signed off, and the "Lovestruck Romantic" persona was removed too.

Now, I had no feelings for Janosch at all.

I just wanted to quietly wait for the twenty days to run out, and then I could go home.

However, Janosch wasn't about to let me have any peace.

*****

That night, Janosch kicked open the villa door and barged in like a furious beast, reeking of alcohol.

He had the crumpled divorce papers in his hands as he glared at me with bloodshot eyes. "Corinna, how dare you?"

His broken voice was full of disbelief and rage.

I was lounging on the couch with a sheet mask on my face. Unperturbed by his grand entrance, I peeled the mask off leisurely and tossed it into the trash can before replying, "Why wouldn't I dare?"

He was momentarily stumped by my unexpected answer.

Back when I was still under the influence of the "Lovestruck Romantic" persona, if he so much as frowned, my heart would ache, and I would rush up to him and ask if something was wrong.

But now, I only looked at him impassively, like he was a stranger.

My indifference only infuriated him further. He shoved the crumpled papers into my face.

"What do you mean? Leaving without asking for anything? Corinna, what kind of sick mental games are you playing?"

I felt hardly any pain when the crumpled papers were shoved into my face. In fact, I didn't even blink.

"I'm not playing any games. You and your lover have a kid now. I'm just fulfilling your wish to be together with her," I replied matter-of-factly.

"Fulfilling my wish?" Janosch gave a scornful snort. He came closer until his tall figure towered over me.

"There's nothing between Irma and me!" he bellowed.

"I saw the photos," I replied flatly.

"It was just an accident! She fainted, so I took her to the hospital!" he protested.

"Ah, an accident at the Obstetrics Department." I nodded with a knowing look.

My unflappable demeanor only made him more incensed as his words fell on deaf ears.

He began panting angrily. Suddenly, he lunged at me and shoved his arms into the couch's backrest, trapping me between his arms.

"Corinna, you weren't like this before. You used to cry if I so much as spoke to another woman," he snarled through clenched teeth.

"Oh, that was in the past. Not anymore," I answered coolly.

"Why? What made you change so suddenly?" Janosch glared at me with bulging eyes, seemingly searching for signs that I was pretending.