Chapter 1
After Nathan Graves ripped out my heart for the ninth time, the system announced I'd failed the quest.
"Doesn't matter if you die. You'll just respawn," he said.
But this was my last chance.
As a soul, I watched Nathan drop to his knees, begging me to come back.
I stared down at him, emotionless.
*****
The sharp smell of hospital disinfectant burned my nose.
I lay on the cold operating table, unable to move.
Nathan had sedated me just to drag me here against my will.
I stared at him, agony twisting my face. "Nathan, why?"
His handsome face was cold. "Your heart can save Charlie."
My heart clenched. "But I'll actually die!"
"So what?" Nathan looked completely unfazed. "You're a player in this game. You'll just respawn. What's one more death?"
I stared at him, stunned. "Wait—you know? How long have you—"
Nathan scoffed, cutting me off. "Don't play dumb, Evelyn.
"You treated me like some trophy. So don't expect me to go easy on you."
My racing heart seemed to stop completely.
Pushing through the haze in my head, I asked, "You never got your memories back?"
Nathan gave a cold laugh. "Recover my memories? Please. I never forgot a thing. I remember every single moment from all nine lifetimes."
My face went pale. I couldn't speak.
You remembered everything from all nine lifetimes.
But you managed to forget that we once loved each other.
You were even the one who'd made me bind to this quest system in the first place.
Nathan checked his watch. "Time's up. You can die now."
His voice was calm, like he was commenting on the weather, not ending my life.
The anesthesia pulled me under, but just before I lost consciousness, I laughed.
Tears streamed down my face. "Nine lifetimes of 'devotion', huh? You really had me fooled, Nathan..."
All those lifetimes you promised to love me ended up being nine lifetimes of you loving Charlotte Reed instead.
I dug my nails into my palms, bit down hard on my lip, desperately clinging to the last thread of my sanity.
"Nathan, I really regret ever loving you!"
Then I slipped into unconsciousness.
Groggily, I opened my eyes—only to find myself hovering above my own body, just a soul now.
Wait, didn't I just die? What was going on?
The system had already told me—this was my final chance to clear the quest.
If I failed this time, I'd be erased for good.
The system's voice echoed in my mind.
"Yep, you're dead. Welcome to soul mode."
After the system explained, I understood.
After nine lifetimes of having my heart torn out, even the system couldn't take it anymore. So it gave me one final chance to watch from the sidelines as a soul.
Exhausted, I asked, "What's the point? Am I just supposed to watch them ride off into the sunset together?"
The system hesitated. "Maybe it won't end that way. After all, he's the one who forced me to bind to you."
I couldn't help but laugh. "You're saying he still loves me?"
That was hilarious.
But since the system gave me this chance, I might as well stick around and see.
So I watched Nathan take my still-beating heart and transplant it into Charlotte.
He really was an outstanding surgeon.
Even as a soul, I felt an excruciating pain tear through my chest, like my very essence was being ripped apart.
The surgery was a success.
Charlotte woke up soon after.
The moment she opened her eyes, she threw her arms around Nathan, voice shaking with tears. "Nathan, I thought I'd never see you again!"
Nathan stroked her hair with pure adoration in his eyes. "Never. I'll always be here for you."
I laughed bitterly.
Funny, Nathan. You used to say the exact same thing to me.
Charlotte, with my heart beating inside her chest, was curled up in the arms of the man I once loved.
"I wonder who donated this heart. I'm so grateful they gave me a second chance at life," Charlotte said softly.
Something flickered in Nathan's eyes as he stroked her hair. "I'm sure she'd be glad she could save someone, even after dying."
Yeah, sure.
Glad, really.
My heart was carved out while I was still alive, and now I was supposed to be grateful to the person who took it—and stole the man I loved!
Oh, I was just overwhelmed with gratitude for you both!
Nathan ran his hand through her hair. "You just woke up, so don't push yourself. Get some rest."
Charlotte nodded, letting Nathan tuck her in.
But the second Nathan left the room, that sweet smile vanished.
She clutched her chest, a twisted grin spreading across her lips.
"Evelyn, what a shame you died so soon. You won't get to see me marry Nathan or watch us start a family!
"Bet you didn't know why you died so fast—it was because I told Nathan my heart was failing!
"But don't worry. I'll take good care of your heart. And Nathan? I'll make sure he's happy with me."
I gaped at her, totally floored.
So Charlotte knew everything all along! And she was just faking it the whole time!
The system was just as pissed. "She's way too much! People like her belong in hell!"
Yeah. People like her totally belonged in hell.
But sometimes the bad guys lived the longest.
Hatred surged through me. I wanted to wrap my hands around Charlotte's neck, but when I reached out, my hand passed right through her.
That's when it hit me—I was dead.
Just a soul now. Powerless and invisible.
I couldn't stand being in this room any longer.
Watching my enemy right in front of me, knowing I could never get my revenge, was the absolute worst feeling.
I floated into another room.
The moment I entered, I saw Nathan standing over my corpse, his face twisted in contempt.
"Just thinking about how the worlds will overlap again in ten days and you'll be back, trying to complete your stupid quest with me... it makes me sick.
"Next time, I'll make sure you die even faster."
But there wouldn't be a next time.
Nathan, you'd killed me for good.