Chapter 1

On my birthday, Sebastian Hernandez ran off for the 99th time to rescue his first love, who was making another suicide scene.

I told the System, "I'm giving up on this romance quest. I'm exhausted."

I pulled out every trick in the book for 12 whole years, but Sebastian's heart stayed as cold as ever.

The System said if I died in this world, I'd go back to my own.

The first time, I slit my wrists in the bathroom. Sebastian kicked the door down, rushed me to the hospital, and accused me of using self-harm to manipulate him for attention.

The second time, I swallowed an entire bottle of sleeping pills. He broke in at the last second, held me as he sobbed, saying he was sorry.

Hold on.

There would be a third time, a fourth time...

*****

On my birthday, Sebastian had time to spend with me for once.

I was about to cut the cake when his phone started buzzing.

"I'll take this," he said with a smile, his voice still soft from a moment ago.

I nodded and watched as he picked up the phone. "Hello?"

I heard Jessica Green's voice on the other end, her tone shaky and desperate. "Sebastian, Sophie's about to jump. She's freaking out and yelling for you. No one can get close to her."

There was a burst of harsh static, then Sophie Lane's hysterical screaming and crying. "Sebastian, please... are you with Avery? Are you leaving me?"

Her voice was so shrill it could pierce my eardrums. "I knew it. I knew that bitch..."

Sebastian's face turned pale in an instant. He spoke into the phone, panic clear in his voice. "Sophie, calm down. I'm on my way."

Instinctively, I grabbed his wrist. "Sebastian, the Lane family has a psychologist on duty around the clock, and a full security team..."

Suddenly, Sophie screamed, and in the background, I heard glass shatter. "Why does Avery get to steal you away from me? Today marks 15 years since we first met."

Jessica's voice shot up. "Is Avery holding you back? Sophie's on the edge, yet she's—"

"Stop it." Sebastian frowned at me, his tone sharp with irritation. "Sophie's in real danger right now."

But then his voice softened, and he reached out, trying to brush my cheek. "Be good. I'll be back soon."

I turned away, dodging his hand.

Jessica's voice came again. "Sebastian, hurry up. Sophie's already on the edge of the rooftop. She says... she says if you don't come right now, she'll—"

Sebastian's eyes reddened instantly "Avery, your birthday can wait. Sophie's everything right now. If anything happens to her, I'll never forgive myself."

He rubbed his temples, exhaustion written all over his face. "I promise, I'll make it up to you after this."

I sneered. "You said the same thing last time, and the time before that."

"This time, I really mean it." He gripped my shoulders, but his eyes kept flicking toward the door. "I swear, once Sophie is safe, we'll go on an island vacation."

Before he could finish, Jessica's angry voice exploded from the phone. "Avery, you bitch! Why do you have to do this to Sophie right now?"

Then came a bout of harsh coughing. "Sebastian... my... my head... it's spinning..."

"Sophie, Sophie, hang in there!" Sebastian shouted into the phone, completely losing his usual calm.

Then came Sophie's blood-curdling scream, followed by a heavy, sickening thud, like a body hitting the floor.

Jessica's panicked voice came through. "Sophie slit her wrists. There's blood everywhere. You have to get here now."

"Sebastian... help me..." Sophie's voice suddenly grew weak.

Sebastian took a deep breath. "Be good and stay home. I'll be back once I finish."