Chapter 3

[But if you don't earn enough points, your illness will never be cured,] the system said, worry clear in its voice.

[I just don't want to go too far, that's all.] I told the system, gently closing the bedroom door as I stepped out of Nolan's room. [There are still plenty of chances. I know I can beat this.]

Moonlight streamed through the curtains, wrapping Nolan's face in a silvery veil.

When the door closed, Nolan suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze fixed on the tightly shut door.

He glanced at the bow tied around his wrist, a smile blossoming at the corners of his mouth. "My fairy, you just can't bear to hurt me, can you?"

Before heading out to work, Nolan, just like always, reminded me to eat well and told me to reach out if I needed anything.

As usual, I shot him a glare and picked a few of the snarky lines the system suggested, keeping up my act as the vicious, brainless wife.

But then, out of nowhere, Nolan walked over, leaned down, and pressed a gentle kiss to my lips.

Before I could even react, he was out the door, leaving me standing there in shock.

[System, I'm starting to think Nolan's a total masochist. The more I roast him, the more he seems to get a kick out of it,] I muttered.

The system scanned Nolan's character profile and replied coolly, [No such kink detected for Nolan.]

[You must've messed up the scan. I've been throwing insults at him nonstop, and he still went and kissed me,] I protested.

System: [If it doesn't mess with the plot, I won't meddle in your life.]

*****

When Edward showed up at the house with a bunch of bodyguards, I was in the yard playing frisbee with Benny.

Benny, who was already fourteen, was starting to slow down. After just a few rounds, he was panting hard, lying on the grass with his tongue hanging out.

Benny had been Nolan's dog since he was down on his luck. He'd helped Nolan chase off bullies and even found food for him when he was hungry.

After Nolan's mom left, Benny was the only warmth left in Nolan's world as he walked the path of a villain.

As soon as Benny saw Edward and his crew walk in, he immediately ducked out of sight.

[System, what's Edward doing here with all those people?] I asked.

System: [Ever since Nolan took over the Sinclair Group, he's stopped doing everything Edward says.

[Edward's worried he can't control Nolan anymore, so he's here to give him a warning. Today, their target is Benny.

[While Nolan's not home, they're planning to hurt Benny badly, just to teach Nolan a lesson.]

My heart sank. I just couldn't wrap my head around why Nolan's life had to be so messed up.

It was obvious because he was the villain.

And he didn't get his mother's love. He didn't get a real family. Not even the childhood companion who stuck by him could be safe.

The system picked up on my mood swings and tried to reassure me. [Host, that's just the fate of a villain.

[He was ever destined to receive a shred of love from this world. Besides, this isn't your problem, so don't get involved.]

Edward walked in, barely sparing me a glance. He knew things were bad between Nolan and me, so he had no reason to worry I'd interfere.

He barked at his bodyguards, "Go find that dog and strip its skin off. Don't finish it off yet. Leave it barely alive.

"When my son gets home, I want him to see that pile of flesh twitching on the floor. Let him understand what happens to those who defy me."

Hearing their conversation, I almost threw up right then and there.

I couldn't even begin to imagine how Nolan would feel coming home to find Benny, his childhood companion, suffering and dying. And he was powerless to help.

Just like when he was a kid, forced to watch his mother die right in front of him, her body soaked in blood.

Damn it! If I were the villain, I would've wiped these people out ages ago.

Fury surged through me. I grabbed the high-pressure hose from the lawn and pointed it right at Edward.

I shouted, "Get out! All of you, get out!"

Why did the villain always have to end up alone, betrayed by everyone?

Why couldn't the world ever show him even a little kindness?

Why were our lives stuck being puppets in some dumb story?

I blasted them with the high-pressure hose, soaking the whole bunch until they looked like drowned rats.

Edward had no clue why I was losing it. He called me crazy and left with his bodyguards, grumbling all the way out.

I hugged Benny, sobbing uncontrollably, "Don't be scared, I'll chase every last bully away. We'll break free from this stupid plot together."

*****

"That mutt is stupid and slow, just like you. It annoys me just to look at it. Why don't you just send it to the countryside?" I said, glaring at Nolan with pure disgust as I stared at Benny in the cage.

Nolan reached in and patted Benny's head through the bars. "Didn't you used to like him?"

"When did I ever like him?" I sneered. "Anything that's so low-class, I don't even want to look at it.

"If you don't get rid of it, I'm leaving."

Nolan opened the cage and leaned his forehead against Benny's head. "I'll arrange for Benny to leave tomorrow morning."

Maybe Benny sensed he was about to be separated. He lay in the cage, whining softly, his eyes looking so aggrieved.

I held back the urge to pet his head, inwardly apologizing to him again and again.