Chapter 3 · Wake‑Up System: I Took Back Everything

Eileen fainted, and the birthday party came to an abrupt end.

The place turned into total chaos. Ryan and Chloe scrambled to wake Eileen up and called for an ambulance, while the other guests watched the drama unfold, whispering and filming the whole scene on their phones.

No one bothered with me anymore.

I held Lily in my arms and made my way through the chaotic crowd, leaving this disgusting place behind.

On the way home, Lily drifted off to sleep in my arms, her cheeks still stained with tears.

A sharp pain stabbed at my heart.

Today was overwhelming for any five-year-old, but I had no other choice.

Better a short, sharp pain than a lifetime of hurt. I couldn't let her grow up surrounded by lies and deceit.

When we got home, I sat on the couch with Lily in my arms, waiting quietly.

Sure enough, Ryan showed up in an hour.

He looked completely worn out, his hair a mess, his suit all wrinkled. The confident guy from the party was long gone.

He glanced at me, looked like he wanted to say something, but in the end, he dropped heavily onto the couch across from me.

"My mom is fine. She just got too upset, so now she's at the hospital getting an IV," he said, his voice rough.

"I see," I answered, my tone flat.

He stared at me, searching my face, and I caught a hint of fear in his eyes.

"Emily, how did you get that video?" he asked.

I saw the red line above his head: [Lie: I need to know what else she's hiding before I can figure out my next move.]

I sneered inwardly but kept my face blank. "You don't need to know. Ryan, let's talk about getting divorced."

At the word "divorce," he jerked his head up, his eyes flashing with shock.

"I refuse," he shot back.

"It doesn't matter whether you agree or not," I said calmly. "You cheated on me, and the evidence is undeniable. Even if we go to court, the judge will grant the divorce. I'm only talking to you so you can keep a little dignity."

"Dignity?" He let out a laugh. "You caused such a scene at my mom's birthday party, embarrassed me in front of everyone, and now you want to talk about dignity?"

"Compared to all the dirty things you and Chloe did, I've already shown you more dignity than you deserve," I shot back.

He was left speechless, and the label above his head flickered again. [Lie: I can't let the divorce happen. If it does, she'll get half my company shares, and my parents will never forgive me.]

So it's all about the money.

Ryan's company was started after we got married. He always bragged about building it from the ground up, but honestly, most of the money came from my wedding funds and the cash my dad slipped me.

Over the years, the company took off, and now it's worth over 30 million.

If we divorced, I'd get at least half of it.

That would kill him inside, probably hurts more than losing his life.

Once I realized what he was truly worried about, I felt no rush anymore.

I settled comfortably into the couch. "Ryan, I know what's on your mind. You're afraid I'll take half your assets. Let me spell it out: if you want to keep things quiet and settle the divorce amicably, I'm open to that."

His eyes lit up. "Really?"

"I have just one condition," I said.

"What is it?" he asked.

I stared at him, enunciating each word. "You leave this family without getting any wealth, and then you can be with Chloe."

The line above him showed: [Rage: This bitch! How dare she? She wants to leave me with nothing.]

He shot up from the couch. "Emily, don't go too far."

"Me? Too far?" I stood up slowly and walked up to him. "Ryan, you know how the company came to be. If I hadn't put in everything I had, even begged my dad to invest in you, you wouldn't be where you are.

"I gave up my career for you, raised your daughter, kept the house running, so you could focus on work. And this is how you pay me back?

"You spend my money on another woman, and now you have the nerve to say I'm the one going too far?

"Listen. You and Chloe can leave without taking anything, and I'll take back everything that belongs to me. Or we'll settle this in court.

"And if it comes to that, I won't just ruin your reputation. I'll make sure you walk away with nothing. Believe me, I can knock you off your high horse and bury. You'll never crawl out again."

He was frozen, staring at me like he'd just been hit by a truck, completely speechless.

I knew I'd struck a nerve.

[Main Quest: 'Take Back Everything' has been issued. Requirement: Make the cheating couple leave empty-handed and reclaim everything that rightfully belongs to you.]

[Reward: 30 million dollars in startup capital for your business empire.]

Chapter 3

Eileen fainted, and the birthday party came to an abrupt end.

No one bothered with me anymore.

I held Lily in my arms and made my way through the chaotic crowd, leaving this disgusting place behind.

On the way home, Lily drifted off to sleep in my arms, her cheeks still stained with tears.

A sharp pain stabbed at my heart.

Today was overwhelming for any five-year-old, but I had no other choice.

Better a short, sharp pain than a lifetime of hurt. I couldn't let her grow up surrounded by lies and deceit.

When we got home, I sat on the couch with Lily in my arms, waiting quietly.

Sure enough, Ryan showed up in an hour.

He looked completely worn out, his hair a mess, his suit all wrinkled. The confident guy from the party was long gone.

He glanced at me, looked like he wanted to say something, but in the end, he dropped heavily onto the couch across from me.

"My mom is fine. She just got too upset, so now she's at the hospital getting an IV," he said, his voice rough.

"I see," I answered, my tone flat.

He stared at me, searching my face, and I caught a hint of fear in his eyes.

"Emily, how did you get that video?" he asked.

I saw the red line above his head: [Lie: I need to know what else she's hiding before I can figure out my next move.]

I sneered inwardly but kept my face blank. "You don't need to know. Ryan, let's talk about getting divorced."

At the word "divorce," he jerked his head up, his eyes flashing with shock.

"I refuse," he shot back.

"Dignity?" He let out a laugh. "You caused such a scene at my mom's birthday party, embarrassed me in front of everyone, and now you want to talk about dignity?"

"Compared to all the dirty things you and Chloe did, I've already shown you more dignity than you deserve," I shot back.

He was left speechless, and the label above his head flickered again. [Lie: I can't let the divorce happen. If it does, she'll get half my company shares, and my parents will never forgive me.]

So it's all about the money.

Ryan's company was started after we got married. He always bragged about building it from the ground up, but honestly, most of the money came from my wedding funds and the cash my dad slipped me.

Over the years, the company took off, and now it's worth over 30 million.

If we divorced, I'd get at least half of it.

That would kill him inside, probably hurts more than losing his life.

Once I realized what he was truly worried about, I felt no rush anymore.

His eyes lit up. "Really?"

"I have just one condition," I said.

"What is it?" he asked.

I stared at him, enunciating each word. "You leave this family without getting any wealth, and then you can be with Chloe."

The line above him showed: [Rage: This bitch! How dare she? She wants to leave me with nothing.]

He shot up from the couch. "Emily, don't go too far."

"I gave up my career for you, raised your daughter, kept the house running, so you could focus on work. And this is how you pay me back?

"You spend my money on another woman, and now you have the nerve to say I'm the one going too far?

"Listen. You and Chloe can leave without taking anything, and I'll take back everything that belongs to me. Or we'll settle this in court.

"And if it comes to that, I won't just ruin your reputation. I'll make sure you walk away with nothing. Believe me, I can knock you off your high horse and bury. You'll never crawl out again."

He was frozen, staring at me like he'd just been hit by a truck, completely speechless.

I knew I'd struck a nerve.

[Main Quest: 'Take Back Everything' has been issued. Requirement: Make the cheating couple leave empty-handed and reclaim everything that rightfully belongs to you.]

[Reward: 30 million dollars in startup capital for your business empire.]