I took several deep breaths and slowly calmed myself down. Then, I looked at Alice indifferently and asked, "What system? You've been reading too many novels, Alice. I really never thought you'd be someone who steals your best friend's boyfriend!"

Everyone around us heard our voices and turned to look. Their eyes were filled with disdain as they glared at Alice.

"No, it's not like that. I don't want this either. I'm being controlled! You have to believe me!" Alice's eyes filled with tears as she kept trying to defend herself.

I immediately cut her off. "Enough! I was so wrong about you! From now on, I don't have a friend like you."

With that, I turned around and walked away, pulling out my phone to delete Alice's contact information as I left. This time, I made a clean break and cut ties with her completely. There was no way she could find out who I was dating or use the so-called system on me again.

When I got home, Colin was in the kitchen making dinner.

I met him at work, and since this was my first real relationship, I was extremely cautious. I spent a long time getting to know him before deciding to date him. From what I could see, he was always sincere and reliable.

I could not help but think that maybe I really had bad judgment and misjudged people. Nonetheless, now that I have completely cut ties with Alice, maybe the things that happened in my past life would not repeat themselves this time.

A few days later, Colin and I went out to the mall together. However, we ran into Alice there. I instinctively tried to pull him away from her, but she walked straight up to us.

"So, this is your boyfriend? You actually broke off our friendship over him? Don't tell me you've gone full lovesick."

I kept a blank expression and did not say a word. However, cold sweat broke out across my back because I could clearly feel that Colin's expression had changed.

"Let's just go. I have nothing to say to her," I said as I grabbed Colin's hand and tried to leave.

He yanked his hand away from mine and replied, "Lauren, let's break up."

My eyes widened, and what I felt more than anything was fear. I was afraid that my past life was repeating itself.

"Why are we breaking up? This is way too sudden."

"I don't like you anymore. I realized I've fallen for your friend. It's love at first sight."

Alice had a triumphant smile on her face, though she pretended to reject him. "Don't say that! I'm Lauren's best friend. We can't do this."

Colin left the mall, while I stood there frozen, unable to move.

Alice leaned close to my ear. "I told you, I have a system. Now you believe me, right?"

I clenched my teeth and still did not say a word.

Alice could see the fear in my eyes, and her smile grew even brighter.

When I got home, I immediately went online to search for information about systems. Every source said the same thing: systems did not exist in real life. They were nothing more than fictional plot devices made up for novels.

I was not willing to give up, so I posted about it online. All the internet users just made fun of me, saying the breakup made me lose my mind and that instead of admitting I was not attractive enough, I was blaming Alice for having a system.

I kept researching until late at night. When my stomach started growling loudly, I realized I had not eaten all day.

Oddly, the breakup did not make me feel sad. Instead, I was only terrified of this unknown system.

I ordered some takeout for myself, and when I saw the delivery guy, an idea suddenly popped into my head.

Early the next morning, I ran downstairs to find David Rogers, the security guard.

David lost his wife over ten years ago and desperately wanted to find a new companion. So, he always targeted the older ladies who did their morning exercises in the neighborhood.

However, those ladies all had children, pensions, and comfortable lives. None of them was interested in the old security guard living on welfare, and they found him completely annoying.

I walked up to him and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. "David, want me to set you up with a companion?"

His eyes lit up immediately. "Yes, of course! Who are you introducing me to?"

I smiled faintly and pointed at myself. "What do you think about me?"

David burst out laughing. "Hey now, you're pulling my leg! Get out of here! Stop messing around and let me work."

I chuckled. "I'm not joking with you at all. I really like men like you. You make me feel so safe and secure. I've always been attracted to older men."

I forced myself to say these disgusting words. Since Alice could use her system to steal all my boyfriends, I wanted to see if she would want this particular man.

Men were proud by nature. When he heard me say that, David straightened up with confidence. "Really? You're not playing me, are you?"

I insisted, "Really. My parents are pushing me hard to settle down. Let's just go ahead and give it a try."

With that, David and I exchanged contact information. He even tried to get a little handsy, but I dodged it by saying I had to rush to work.

As if finding a new lease on life, David sent me quite a few messages throughout the day. Naturally, I replied to every single one, making him fall into the illusion that we were in love.

During work, I could not focus on anything my employer said. I was just hoping Alice would not let me down.

When it was quitting time, I just walked out of the company entrance when Alice came charging out of some corner and slapped me across the face.

She hissed, "Lauren, are you out of your mind?! Why would you date that old man? Are you sick or something?!"

She looked completely unhinged as she climbed on top of me, pinning me down so I could not get up.

I quickly raised my hands to protect my face, but inside I felt absolutely thrilled. "Mind your own business! Who I date has nothing to do with you. I like older men. So what?"

My coworkers, who were also getting off work, saw me getting beaten up and immediately called the police.

Before long, the officers arrived and heard what happened between us. They did not really understand why I was dating an old man, but since it was not illegal, they could not say much about it. Instead, they turned to lecture Alice for attacking me.

"Who she dates isn't your business. You can't just put your hands on her like that!" one officer scolded.

Of course, Alice could not tell the police about her so-called system, so she had to make up excuses. "I was just worried about her! She's so young and doesn't know better. That's why she's dating an old man. As her friend, I was just trying to talk some sense into her."

I snapped, "I already cut ties with her, officer. She stole my boyfriend before, so we haven't been friends for a long time. And she just hit me. I feel really dizzy now and nauseous, and my teeth feel loose. I want her arrested!"

There were surveillance cameras right at the company entrance, so there was no way Alice could twist the truth. Facing the possibility of jail time, she finally got scared and started begging me to forgive her.

Seeing her like this made me feel incredibly satisfied. Finally, there was a day when she had to beg me. Nonetheless, I had no intention of forgiving her. In fact, I wished the police would lock her up forever.

Soon, the officers took her away.

Just before leaving, Alice dropped her pitiful act and glared at me viciously. "Don't think you can escape me. I told you, I have a system. You'll never get away."

The officers later informed me that she would be held for 15 days. Yet, I thought that was nowhere near enough.

After all, my entire life and work were rooted here. I was not about to abandon everything just because of some so-called system.

In the blink of an eye, 15 days passed. When Alice was released, she sent me a text message.

[You think dating some old man to disgust me is going to work? It's useless. Your sick mom is about to die, and her biggest wish before she goes is to see you get married. If she finds out you're deliberately with that old man, she'll probably die even faster.]

Alice was right. Mom was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago, and her condition worsened this year. The doctors said she had at most two years left to live.

Her greatest wish was to see me married, but not to just any random guy. If she ever found out I chose an old man just to prove a point, she would probably drop dead on the spot.

Alice knew exactly where my weak spot was, so she was using it to threaten me.

Not long after receiving that message, Mom called me, demanding to know if I was really dating an old man.

I assured her, "Of course not! Even if I never get married, I wouldn't date an old man. You know what kind of person I am, right? Don't let people trick you so easily. Anyone can say a few words and get you to believe them, but where's the proof?"

Since Alice had no evidence, it was just her word against mine. Hence, Mom was quickly reassured.

Then, I told her all about how Alice stole Colin, adding some extra details for effect. Mom immediately deleted Alice's contact information and took my side.

That said, I really was not getting any younger. My career was stable, and I really was at the age where I should think about settling down and having kids.

However, my work kept me busy, and I did not have time to meet men actively. Even so, I could not spend my whole life single just to guard against Alice.

So, I decided to go straight to a matchmaking service and found a matchmaker named Martha Lowe. I explained my requirements and asked her to help me find a suitable man.

Martha worked very quickly and soon found me an appropriate match, Brayden Cooke. Since we were both busy with work, we simply exchanged numbers, just chatting and getting to know each other.

There was actually another reason for this approach: I wanted to see if Alice's so-called system could work when I only knew someone online without meeting them in person.

After chatting for nearly a month, Brayden seemed normal, so we agreed to meet face-to-face. We chose a public park for the first meeting.

Martha and Brayden arrived before me.

I just got off the subway when I heard Alice's voice behind me. She was everywhere, like a ghost that refused to leave me alone.

My face darkened. "What are you doing here?"

She replied smugly, "I know you've got a blind date today, so of course I came to check it out. Didn't I tell you? I have a system. No matter who you date, I'll always know. Why won't you believe me?"

I sneered. "Don't tell me you're about to say Brayden's already fallen for you."

Alice nodded with certainty. "Of course. Why else would I bother showing up today? I want you to finally give up. You'll never win against my system. You're not worthy."

For once, curiosity got the better of me, and I asked, "Why do you even care if I get married? Me staying single doesn't benefit you at all."

Her eyes turned wild. "You dare ask me that? If it weren't for you, I'd already be married to Ronan Shaw, raising our kids together! Since I can't have the happiness I deserve, why should you get it?!"

At that moment, I finally understood why she hated me so much. However, I did not have time to argue with her because it was almost time for my appointment with Martha.

Being late for a first meeting would not look good.

When she saw me start walking away, Alice quickly followed.

After seeing clearly who was sitting on the bench, her expression changed dramatically, and she grabbed my neck viciously.

"Lauren! You set me up! I'm going to kill you!"