As soon as I've registered my marriage with Sophie Walker, the heiress of the most distinguished family in the upper echelons, in the morning, she takes me to the courthouse, where we file for a divorce in the afternoon.

I hear Sophie's friends laughing at me mockingly.

"Wow, did you seriously marry and divorce Adrian on the same day because of something William said?"

"Look at how pale Adrian is! Don't tell me he's about to cry!"

Sophie rushes into my adopted younger brother, William Reed's arms at that moment. She whines to him coquettishly, "Now that I've done as you said, this means you'll smile at me, right?"

Soon, a smile blooms on William's cold-looking face.

I want to demand answers from Sophie, only to feel my sisters pinning me on the spot.

Emily Parker, my oldest sister who's a CEO, frowns at me.

"Sophie is the only one who can make William smile. Can't you be nice for once?"

Scarlett Parker, my second sister who's a top actress, shoves me to the ground.

"William comes from a sad and pitiful background, whereas you come from an extremely comfortable one. There are plenty of fish in the sea, so you don't have to cling to Sophie."

Iris Parker, my third sister who's a biology professor, wears a stormy expression.

"Sophie is supposed to marry William, to begin with. Don't you dare pester them anymore."

Then, my sisters stuff me into a car by force. They refuse to let me be a hindrance to William—also known as their true love—and Sophie's happiness.

That's when the System, who has gone missing for a long time, finally reconnects with me.

"Adrian, it seems that your conquest mission is completed! Do you want to return to your world right now?"

As I sit in the backseat while gazing out the window sadly, I almost can't resist chuckling out loud.

Finally, the angsty drama that I've acted out for the sake of this mission is over. Now, I don't have to give a damn about these female leads' dramas anymore.

###CONTENT

####CHAPTER-NAME:

"The Parker sisters' and the heroine's affection levels have reached 95%! Your mission to marry the heroine, Sophie Walker, is complete! Congratulations on completing the mission! Once your body dies, you will be able to return to the real world and receive a reward of 100 million dollars!"

I suppressed a surge of excitement; finally, I could go back.

My oldest sister, Emily Parker, and my third sister, Iris Parker, would stay behind and keep William Reed company. They had sent my second sister, Scarlett Parker, to drag me back home.

I subconsciously glanced at Scarlett, who was beside me.

She had a foul expression on her face when she got into the car, as if she would rather be anywhere but here.

But then, when she received a message from William, she finally smiled.

Noticing my gaze, she quickly locked her phone and frowned. "What? Haven't you had enough? You're still thinking about going back and ruining Sophie and Will's relationship? Will is still young, and he's already been through so much. Why can't you just leave them alone?"

I clenched my fingers tightly and put on a self-mocking smile.

In terms of age, I was actually a year younger than William.

Perhaps noticing my grim expression, Scarlett suddenly let out a sigh. "Just apologize to Will for all this. Being stubborn won't do you good."

She reached out to pat my head, but I subtly avoided her and asked, "Why should I be the one apologizing? What did I even do wrong?"

Scarlett's hand froze. Then, she said in annoyance, "Adrian! Don't push your luck!"

I closed my eyes. Even if I were just completing missions, I still felt a bond with them after all these years.

I truly felt bad for them.

But now, it was all history.

"After Will is done with his competition, you are to come with us and apologize to him."

I didn't say another word. I simply confirmed with the System in my mind, "So I get to go back once this body dies?"

"That is correct," the System replied.

I slowly exhaled, then peered out the window at our surroundings.

After making sure that no bystanders would be harmed, I unlocked the door and threw it open.

Scarlett, who had been chattering away, let out a scream. "Ade, what are you doing?"

Ignoring her, I leaped out without hesitation.

The biting wind whipped against my face as a sudden wave of weightlessness hit me.

I squeezed my eyes shut, but I wasn't afraid at all.

But in the next second, I felt someone suddenly yanking me.

I found myself in that person's arms as we hurtled toward the bushes along the side of the road.

As the world spun around me, I heard a pained groan.

We tumbled a few times before coming to a stop.

The person holding me was bleeding from cuts from the branches, but I was completely unharmed.

I looked up, meeting Scarlett's terrified gaze as I said in a calm tone, "Let go."

Staring at my indifferent expression, Scarlett yelled, "Just a few remarks, and you're already jumping out of a moving car? We've spoiled you way too much! You're trying to get our attention again, aren't you? Stop playing those little games!"

I didn't respond as I peeled her hands off me.

Getting up, I looked around and spotted a black car speeding in our direction.

I said, "I was the one who got in the way. Please take care of the repairs."

With that, I threw myself in front of the car.

"Ade!" Scarlett screamed in despair. She struggled to get up, but it was still too late.

I was filled with hope as I anticipated my own death.

I knew that I would die not long after I returned to the real world, but even so, I didn't want to spend another second in this world.

The brakes screeched, and the black car came to a sudden stop.

I staggered backward, falling into Scarlett's arms. She had managed to rush over.

"You're crazy! Adrian, have you actually lost your mind?" Scarlett's eyes reddened as her fingers felt my face and shoulders. "Did you get hit? Are you hurt? Tell me!"

It was another failed attempt. I lowered my gaze in disappointment.

I caught sight of Scarlett's leg. The cuff of her pants was already drenched in blood.

Obviously, it was a severe injury, and she was still actively bleeding.

If it were before, I would've been so heartbroken that I would've wished to take her place.

But at that moment, I simply looked away without emotion. "What? Do I need your permission to die?"

####CHAPTER-NAME:

Scarlett stood frozen in disbelief.

I scoffed, then walked past her toward the driver of the black car, who was cursing. "I'll send you the money for the damages later."

Scarlett clenched her fists tightly, her eyes turning red at the corners.

I was shocked by her reaction, but I quickly understood what was going on. "Oh, I didn't touch the Parkers' money. I'll be using the money I earned myself—"

"Ade!" she finally snapped and interrupted me.

I was surprised to see a slightly wounded look on her face.

She continued, "You are the only son of the Parker family. I wouldn't even hesitate to give you all of our family's wealth!"

I found it a little absurd. Looking her in the eye, I asked, "Is that so?"

She shuddered as if she had just realized what she said.

Now, on paper, William was the son of the Parker family.

As for me, the real son of the Parker family, I was just a disgraced man lost in his delusions.

I was laughing, but tears streamed down my face.

Scarlett and I used to be inseparable, and she would even bring me on set when she was filming.

But now, she would only put on a cold expression and order me to always let William have his way.

After dragging me back into the car, Scarlett hung her head and said, "When Will receives the Physics Award, we'll announce that you are the real son of the Parker family, and it had all been a huge misunderstanding…"

I couldn't even be bothered to respond. I turned to face the car window instead.

The scenery outside rushed past in fleeting blurs.

Before I was sent to this world, I was an orphan.

During a physical examination, I was diagnosed with bone cancer.

I was lying on a hospital bed when I lost consciousness due to the intense pain.

When I opened my eyes again, I was already transported by the System into this world, and I had turned into a six-year-old.

A voice rang out in my mind, saying, "If your affection levels with the Parker sisters and the heroine, Sophie Walker, reach 80, and you marry Sophie, you'll get a reward of 100 million dollars and return to the real world."

There was a crackle of static after that, and I almost thought I had imagined it.

But it didn't seem too bad to get another chance at life, and with a healthy body, too.

The car moved steadily as Scarlett gripped my wrist tightly.

Her fingertips gently rubbed the back of my hand, just like she had done to comfort me when I couldn't sleep back then.

As an orphan, I used to cherish this special treatment.

I even wanted to give up on the mission and just stay here forever.

But when William, an orphan I brought home, came into the picture, all the love and attention were directed to him instead.

I started off trying to appeal to them, but it eventually turned into sulking and then despair.

In the end, the only response I received was, "Quit messing around. Do you even know what you look like right now?"

The car pulled up at the entrance of the Parker residence. Shaking off Scarlett's hand, I got out of the car.

Scarlett was in disbelief as she called out to me. "Ade, I got injured all because of you…"

I interrupted her emotionlessly, "Go see a doctor, then. What's the point in telling me about it?"

When I opened the door to the Parker residence, the first person I saw was William, who was seated on the couch as the others fawned over him.

Emily had a stern look on her face as she coldly grumbled at Sophie, "Because of you, Will hasn't been eating or sleeping well for the past three days! Are you telling me this is how you take care of him?"

William hastily tried to stop her. "Emily, Iris, I'm fine now, really. It was all a misunderstanding. I'm just glad we cleared it up."

I stood at the entrance as I watched the beautiful display of familial love in front of me.

"Reduced dopamine levels detected." The System's mechanical voice sounded a little low. "Does that mean you're feeling intense sorrow right now?"

####CHAPTER-NAME:

It was just one sentence spoken by the System, but my tears were already welling up.

I awkwardly wiped away the tears at the corners of my eyes.

Scarlett walked up to me. She was about to say something when William rushed over to her in shock. "Scarlett, how did you end up so badly hurt? You—"

Before he could finish speaking, I cut him off with a vicious punch.

Putting a hand to his bruised cheek, William stared at me in disbelief.

Almost at the same time, I was knocked to the ground by a powerful slap that caught me by surprise. I accidentally bit my tongue.

Emily was pointing at me, her face filled with fury as she said, "Adrian! We've spoiled you too much! Apologize to Will right now!"

I lay sprawled on the ground, spitting out the blood in my mouth as I challenged, "Me? Apologize? What exactly did I do wrong? He ruined my marriage, but I'm not allowed to hit him?"

Emily grew even angrier and suddenly raised her voice. "What nonsense are you spouting? Will and Sophie were already dating, but you just had to get between them! I can't believe I have a brother as shameless as you!"

I scoffed. "Shameless? Sophie is my fiancee, but now you're saying I'm the one who got between them?"

Sophie stared coldly at me. "Our engagement was called off ages ago! I will never marry a disgraceful playboy like you!"

Iris pulled me to my feet. "Adrian! Apologize right now!"

I didn't say a word as my gaze swept across the people standing before me.

Emily had a cold look in her eyes. Iris seemed disgusted, and Sophie looked like she wanted me to just die already.

Scarlett frowned. Her lips moved a little, but in the end, she remained silent.

The scene reminded me of something that happened a year ago. William had been in frequent contact with Scarlett, and her fans mistook him for a stalker.

Scarlett couldn't bear to see him mistreated, so she revealed on social media that William was the son of the Parker family.

But I, the actual son, had to take the blame for William.

They said things like, "You always have bodyguards with you when you go out, but Will is all alone!"

I was shocked, but I fought back and refused to give in.

At the time, everyone looked at me the same way they were doing right now.

Filled with nothing but unspeakable exhaustion, I didn't even have the energy to argue anymore.

Shaking off Iris' hand, I dashed into the living room and picked up the paring knife left on the table.

Startled, Scarlett tried to rush over to me, but William stopped her. "Ade, what are you doing?"

I looked at William, grinning. "I'm apologizing."

Looking away from Emily, Iris, and Sophie, who seemed to be on high alert, I lifted my hand and swiftly plunged the blade into my chest.

Screams rang out around me. I smiled through my tears as I said, "I'm compensating him with my life. That should be enough, right? Are you happy now?"

As warm, thick blood gushed out, the dizziness from the loss of blood made me lose my balance.

Someone was still screaming, and through my darkening vision, I could see the fear on the women's faces.

Scarlett rushed forward and held my body, screaming in a frenzy, "Call the ambulance!"

…

I could smell the intense scent of disinfectant when I opened my eyes.

White flooded my vision, and I felt a little excited. "Did I finally make it back?" I wondered.

I tilted my head only to see Emily's bloodshot eyes.

I closed my eyes in annoyance. For the first time ever, I found Emily's hoarse voice irritating. "Adrian! Who told you to get attention by ending your life?"

I grew even more annoyed. There was something hard under my pillow, which made me quite uncomfortable.

I reached in and pulled it out. It was a slightly worn-out protective amulet.

When I was 12, I had a high fever that persisted for a week, and the hospital even declared me in critical condition three separate times.

Iris had climbed a thousand steps to obtain this amulet for me.

Later on, William got hurt, so Iris took the amulet and gave it to him instead.

And now, the amulet was in my hands again.

It was nothing but a burden to me, so I lifted my hand and tossed it away.

Iris had just entered the ward, and she could do nothing but watch as the amulet fell onto the floor.

Raising her head, she glared at me. "Adrian, you're throwing away the amulet just like that?"

####CHAPTER-NAME: