Ryan finally processed the situation and immediately ducked behind Jenny before putting on a clownish display of his own. "Daddy, is it just because I like Uncle Aaron more? You're such a selfish, cruel man!"

I simply looked at Aaron, who was acting like he'd made some righteous self-sacrifice. Snorting derisively, I said, "Stop pretending."

My voice wasn't very loud, but it was enough to silence everyone else in the room.

"Why are you acting like you got stabbed when it was the handle that was facing you?" I pointed at the perfectly spotless knife on the floor. "No matter how crazed I get, I would never kill my own child—unlike a certain someone."

This was something Hugo had mentioned in passing before. It'd been glossed over in the original story of this world.

Hugo told me that Aaron had worked at a bar once and gotten a young woman pregnant. The book claimed she'd miscarried, but in reality, the child had been born. However, thinking the child would only get in his way, Aaron choked it to death.

Aaron's lips trembled. His eyes flickered with panic. "W-What nonsense is that, Nathan? I never had a child."

"That's enough!" Jenny immediately stood protectively in front of Aaron. "That's enough! You can't slander Aaron just because you're jealous of him. Just you wait, Nathan. I haven't settled the score with you for calling Aaron this afternoon and insulting him!"

She immediately turned to Aaron and helped him up, her expression concerned. "Are you okay, Aaron? Don't be afraid. I'll arrange for you to get a full body checkup."

The three of them left in a hurry, and peace finally returned to the hospital room.

I spoke to the air. "System, when are you sending me back?"

After a long silence, the system replied in a clipped, nonchalant tone, "My apologies, Host. I've already discussed this with your wife. You'll just have to stay here."

I exploded. "Who the hell do you think you are? And who the hell does Jenny think she is? Who gave you the right to decide on my behalf?" I fumed.

The system didn't respond to my question. Instead, it said in a patronizing tone, "Host, isn't it great that you can stay here and continue living as a rich man? You'll have endless money and so many people to hang out with you. You should be celebrating how lucky you are!"

"Celebrating, my ass! You piece of shit!" I kept cursing at the system, only to find that I could no longer contact it.

The part of my mind that it usually occupied was now an empty void.

When Hugo saw me thrashing around on the bed in anger, he quickly held me down and said, "What's wrong? Who were you talking to?"

I couldn't take it anymore. Tears and blood both started streaking all over my face. "I can't go back anymore… The system sold me out! I want to go home! I want to go home!"

When I first transmigrated into this world, I was just the unfavored son of the Burke family. I had to pay an enormous price just to survive and get everything I wanted. Ever since I met Jenny, peace had been completely absent from my life.

And now, even my only hope was gone.

Hugo watched as I crumpled in despair. He hesitated for a while before abruptly saying to me, "Stop crying, Nathan."

In a voice only two of us could hear, he told me, "Perhaps my system… can find a way to send you home. It's not like yours. It listens to me."

I whipped my head up and grabbed Hugo. "What about you? What will happen to you?"