Chapter 4

Days slipped by in numbness and humiliation.

Soon, a very special day for me arrived.

It was the anniversary of my grandmother's passing, the day I was inexplicably pulled into this book world.

My grandma was my only family. After she passed away, I was chosen by the system and thrown into this hellhole.

The only thing I brought with me was a simple wooden hair pin my grandmother left me.

For three years, it had been my most important emotional anchor.

Every year on this day, I would take it out, talk to it, and pretend my grandma was still here.

But this year, I couldn't even keep that last bit of solace.

Blake, wanting to throw a grand birthday party for Serena, had a sudden idea: a "treasure hunt game" at the villa.

He had the butler round up all the interesting little trinkets in the villa as prizes.

Then, he saw the small wooden box I kept by my bedside.

He opened the box, took out the hairpin, and twirled it in his fingers, a look of undisguised contempt on his face.

"What's this? A piece of junk wood?"

I rushed forward, trying to snatch it back.

"Give it back! It's my grandmother's keepsake!"

Blake was clearly startled, then his face darkened.

It was the first time in three years I had ever raised my voice at him.

Feeling his authority challenged, he shoved me to the ground, pinching the hairpin between two fingers and holding it up.

"A keepsake? Perfect. Since it's so precious, let's make it a prize."

"I announce that whoever finds it fastest at the party will get one wish granted by me."

"No! Please! You can't do this!"

I knelt on the floor, tears streaming down my face for the first time, begging him bitterly.

But he completely ignored me, preparing to hand the hairpin to his assistant.

I watched as my grandmother's only relic was about to be degraded into a mere prop for strangers’ amusement, a bargaining chip for their personal gain.

Three years of humiliation, and all the suppressed grievances and unwillingness, came crashing down in that moment.

My mind went blank.

The system was still screaming in my head.

【Host! This is a fantastic opportunity to integrate into his social circle!】

【It’s just a hairpin! Trading it for a chance to get noticed by his friends? That’s a steal! Hurry and say you agree!】

I didn't listen. I scrambled up from the floor, glaring at Blake.

The instant he turned to hand the hairpin to his assistant, I slapped him hard across the face!

"Slap!"

A crisp, loud sound echoed through the empty living room.

Everyone fell silent.

Blake’s head snapped to the side, a clear five-finger mark quickly appearing on his face.

He had grown up pampered, everything going his way, surrounded by admirers. This was the first time anyone had ever hit him.

He turned slowly to look at me, disbelief in his eyes.

"Cassidy, you dare hit me?"

The next second, he grabbed my neck, slamming me against the wall. His eyes were bloodshot.

"I guess I've been too lenient with you!"

My head spun with stars from the impact. The choking sensation made it impossible to breathe, and tears involuntarily streamed down my face.

The system in my mind instantly crashed, letting out an unprecedented, piercing alarm:

【Alert! Alert! S-class violation! Host has attacked core capture target! You’re done for! Termination sequence initiated…】

I closed my eyes, waiting for death.

Three years of torment, it was enough.

Not being able to go home, or being terminated, anything was better than staying here!

However, the expected searing pain didn't come.

Instead, a prompt I had never heard before sounded.

【Ding! Detecting unprecedented emotional fluctuation in capture target!】

【Congratulations, Host! Successfully triggered hidden core plotline – Chasing Wife to Cremation Grounds!】

【Blake’s Affection +20%! Current Affection: 25%!】