Chapter 4

Octavia's POV

Another sleepless night. I tossed and turned in bed, unable to find peace.

The humiliation from dinner kept replaying in my mind—Cassius's fury, Lysander's cruel smirk, and Zephyr's look of disappointment.

But what cut deepest was Zephyr's words: "I don't even recognize you anymore."

I went to the window for air. Moonlight flooded the garden below, illuminating every detail.

That's when I heard it—the soft creak of a door opening downstairs.

Who could be going out at this hour?

I leaned against the windowsill and peered down. A familiar figure slipped stealthily through the back door.

Zephyr.

My heart lurched. Where was he going in the middle of the night?

He moved quickly toward the small cottage at the far end of the garden—an old tool shed that no one ever visited.

Curiosity pulled me from my room. I crept downstairs and followed him into the night.

One voice in my head whispered a warning: Maybe you don't want to know. But another voice was stronger: You have to know.

The garden was silent except for my racing heartbeat and careful footsteps. I ducked behind the rose bushes as a dim light flickered on inside the cottage.

Through a gap in the curtains, I saw something that would be burned into my memory forever.

Zephyr was holding Delphine in his arms.

I nearly gasped aloud, clamping my hand over my mouth just in time.

"I'm terrified Octavia will find out about us..." Delphine's voice was soft, but it carried clearly in the still air.

"Don't worry. I'll protect you," Zephyr's voice was so tender it made me sick. "I never really loved her anyway."

The words hit me like a physical blow.

My hands shook as I pulled out my phone and hit record. I needed proof. I needed everyone to see the truth.

"But she's always suspicious. What if she actually finds something?" Delphine sounded worried.

"She won't be able to prove anything," Zephyr stroked her hair gently. "Besides... she was just a stand-in. You're the one I love."

Just a stand-in. That's all I'd ever been to him.

"I hate all this sneaking around," Delphine murmured against his chest. "I just want to be with you openly."

"Soon," Zephyr kissed her forehead. "Once we deal with all the complications, we can—"

I couldn't listen anymore.

I stood on trembling legs, nearly knocking over the rose trellis behind me. I caught myself, but my heart was already in pieces.

All those sweet words, tender moments, what I thought was love... it had all been a lie.

I slipped back to my room, and the moment the door closed, tears finally came.

Sitting on my bed, I thought about every moment Zephyr and I had shared.

His gentle smile when we first met. His passionate proposal. His solemn wedding vows.

All of it an act. All of it fake.

What had I sacrificed for this false love?

I thought about the system's mission. To stay in this world, to be with him, I'd refused to complete it again and again.

Then the familiar system voice echoed in my mind:

"Detecting severe emotional distress. Mission system reactivating."

"Current progress: 99%"

"Complete mission and leave current world? Reward: $10 million in real world."

I laughed bitterly.

I'd come here for that money originally, but I thought I'd found true love. So I kept refusing the mission, over and over.

I looked at the audio file I'd just recorded. This was the truth of my marriage. The truth of my so-called love story.

My phone screen showed a photo of Zephyr and me. He was smiling so brightly, his arm around me so strong and sure.

I remembered what he'd said when we took that picture: "Octavia, you're my whole world."

I deleted the photo but kept the recording.

This was evidence—the only proof I had that I wasn't losing my mind.

Thinking about tonight's dinner, my family's accusations, the smugness in Delphine's eyes...

Suddenly, I understood.

None of this was coincidence. Wren's death, my isolation, this betrayal—it was all connected.

This was an elaborate trap.

And I was the prey caught in the center.

But they'd made one mistake.

I wasn't going down without a fight.

I stood and walked to my vanity, staring at my reflection. Swollen eyes, pale skin, tangled hair...

This was love's gift to me.

"System," I whispered. "I have a question."

"Please proceed, host."

"If I complete the mission and die, what happens to this world?"

"Current world will continue on its predetermined path, unaffected by host departure."

So if I left now, Delphine would get everything. She'd be with Zephyr forever, and no one would ever know what she'd done.

I clenched my fists until my nails bit into my palms.

The pain cleared my head.

I couldn't just walk away.

Not only because Wren's death still needed justice, but because I couldn't let Delphine get away with everything.

I would make them all pay. Everyone who betrayed me, who hurt me.

Since they'd all chosen Delphine's side, since they all thought I was disposable...

I'd show them exactly what losing me would cost.

I opened my phone and began planning.

First, I needed more evidence. Tonight's recording was just the beginning.

Then, I'd expose the truth to everyone. Not through tears and accusations, but with cold, hard proof that would slap them all in the face.

And finally...

I glanced at the flashing mission prompt.

Finally, I'd complete the mission and leave this fake world behind.

But not before making sure every single person who hurt me got exactly what they deserved.