Chapter 1

My mom transmigrated here from another world. She struck a deal with the System: as soon as my dad's Regret Points reach 100, she'd be able to break free from this world.

To make that happen, she had me fold ten thousand paper stars for my dad's birthday, and then made me climb three thousand steps to a church to pray for him when he caught a cold.

But the Regret Points didn't budge. At her wits' end, Mom forced me to donate 1000cc of my blood to my dad's first love, Claire Frost.

Mom took the recording of me barely hanging on and went to see my dad, her eyes wild with madness as she kept muttering to herself. "Perfect. Our daughter's about to die.

"Edward, you'll finally regret it this time, right? I can finally get out of this hellhole!"

Mom didn't know that just half an hour after she left, I died.

I was the true host of the System. When I died, it automatically disconnected from me, and Mom could never leave this world again.

*****

I murmured, "Mom, I don't really know what love is, but seeing the way you suffer because you can't get Dad's love, I think it must be really important to you.

"The box under my bed holds all my treasures. Can it make up for the love you never got, so you won't leave me?

"Mom, I can't wait for you to come back. I'm sorry, but I'll turn into a star in the sky and always stay by your side.

"I'll try my best to be the brightest star. Please, look up and find me."

That was the recording I left for Mom before I died.

Sadly, I was so weak that I couldn't even manage to hit the record button. In the end, nothing was saved.

Thirty minutes after Mom left, I died.

My soul hovered above, watching as Mom dashed to Dad's office, only to be blocked by his assistant, Wendy.

She was yelling Dad's name desperately. "Move away! This is really important. Don't you dare stop me. Edward, Edward! I know you're in there. Come out, now!"

The CEO's office was soundproofed to perfection.

No matter how much chaos Mom was causing outside, Dad remained completely unfazed. He squatted down and treated Claire's wounds with gentle hands.

By the time Mom finally got to see Dad, her hair was a mess and her face was streaked with dirt.

She let go of the blood bag she'd been clutching so tightly and handed it to Dad. "Didn't you blame Erica for hurting Claire's leg? Is this enough to pay it back?"

Mom wiped at her eyes, though there were no tears, her voice trembling. "Erica knows she messed up. She's sorry. Look."

She showed Dad her phone, and on the screen was a photo of me, looking pale and barely hanging on in bed.

Mom said, "Erica really misses you. Can't you go see her? She wants to apologize to you herself. Is that okay?"

Dad didn't even look at the photo. He glanced at the blood bag, frowned, and knocked it to the floor with a wave of his hand.

The blood bag burst, splattering his pant leg.

He moved Claire behind him and stepped back, his voice dripping with disgust. "Disgusting."

Yesterday, Claire spent the night at our house with Dad. She ran into me at the corner and ended up tripping by accident.

The glass she was holding shattered, and a piece cut her calf. She started bleeding instantly.

Dad was clearly upset and gave me a stern lecture.

Mom stood quietly in the corner sullenly, not saying a single word the whole time.

She figured this was her golden chance to make Dad feel regret. So she stuck a needle in my arm, took 1000cc of my blood, and went straight to him, totally sure she'd finally get what she wanted.

Mom never expected Dad to react like this. "Edward, this is your own daughter's blood. How can you say that?

"She's so young, but she's never had her father around. She never had a real family, all because of you. And still, she loves you more than anything."

Mom clutched her hair, shouting herself hoarse. "She admires you so much, so why—"

"Because she has a mother like you." Dad shot Wendy a cold look, his tone even harsher. "Where are the security guards? Drag this lunatic out of here, now."

Two security guards seized Mom, each taking an arm and hauling her away.

She struggled, completely powerless. Then, her eyes suddenly lit up with hope. She tapped her phone and played the recording.

"Dad, I was wrong. I shouldn't have hurt Claire. I've paid the price. Will you forgive me?" That was my voice.

Mom had me record this before she left.

After I lost so much blood, my head was spinning. I felt so cold, and I could barely move my lips or speak clearly.

Even with the volume turned all the way up, they could barely make out my voice.

"Edward!" Mom screamed, her voice cracking. "Doesn't this break your heart?"

Dad walked away, leaving her with nothing but his cold, indifferent back.

Claire finally spoke up, her brows furrowed. "Olivia, if Erica really did give blood, you need to take her to the hospital.

"She's just a kid. Losing that much blood could kill her."

Mom refused to believe her, thinking Claire was just playing the saint. She snapped, "Stop pretending. You're jealous that Erica is Edward's only child, and you're cursing her on purpose."

I fidgeted with my fingers, lips pressed together, feeling a bit aggrieved.

I murmured, "Sorry, Mom. I really died.

"I didn't mean for this to happen. I was just so cold and exhausted that I couldn't help but close my eyes."