He Dumped Me Before Deadline

My throat suddenly burned, and I started coughing up blood.

Yesterday's punishment from the System had damaged my organs.

Even with my hand over my mouth, a drop of blood splattered onto Calvin's neck.

He instantly lost it. "Do you have a death wish? You coughed on my neck? That's disgusting. Wipe it off."

I wiped the blood from my lips, turned his head forward, and spoke calmly.

"Watch where you're going. Not me."

Calvin picked up his pace and carried me into the family court office.

Before he could set me down, I hopped off and grabbed a tissue to wipe his neck.

He still looked annoyed, yanking out tissue after tissue like I'd gotten something disgusting on him.

I looked at him.

"If you're choosing Molly, then don't screw her over."

He frowned and finally looked at me.

"What are you even talking about? It's one day. You seriously can't handle that? Relax. Once this game's over, I'll give you the luxury wedding I promised. I don't go back on my word."

A weak smile pulled at my lips.

I reached for the paperwork, feeling around for the signature line.

My eyesight had taken the worst hit once my organs started shutting down.

Calvin grabbed my hand and moved it to the right spot.

Then he smirked.

"What, are your eyes messed up now? Divorcing me got you crying yourself blind?"

I let out a quiet laugh.

"No. Watching you and Molly together was so gross my eyes tapped out."

For a second, it felt weird.

It had been a long time since we'd talked like this.

Calvin shoved me. "You seriously never say anything nice."

A groan slipped out, and I had to steady myself for a second.

His expression shifted. "Are you actually sick?"

I answered lightly, "No. Just hurry up and finish this. I'm going overseas for a while. Plenty of fish in the sea, right?"

The people behind us snickered, not even trying to hide the contempt on their faces.

Calvin's expression darkened.

Then he suddenly stood up.

"We're not getting divorced."

"Not getting divorced?" Molly cried out. Her eyes instantly turned red. "Calvin, if you can't let her go, it's okay. I'm willing to take the punishment. I only have a mild alcohol allergy—I won't die. I'll go buy the drinks right now."

I just stared at him.

I had no clue what he was doing.

So I pushed him. "Cut the act. Or what? You actually can't let me go?"

Calvin took the bait.

He snatched the papers and signed them fast.

"If I hadn't seen how pale and pathetic you look, I—"

He cut himself off.

***

Calvin's lawyer had already pulled some strings, so our uncontested divorce went from filed to finalized that same morning.

Calvin took his copy of the divorce papers, and we walked out of the family court office.

The second we stepped into the hallway, his friends crowded around him, practically buzzing with excitement.

They were heading straight for the county clerk's office.

None of that had anything to do with me anymore.

I turned to leave when Calvin suddenly called after me.

"Don't go. Once Molly and I get the marriage certificate and post it online, I'll remarry you right away."

Divorce, then remarry me?

Did he seriously think this was some game?

I gave him a half-hearted response and walked out of the courthouse.

On the virtual screen, the countdown showed thirteen hours left.

Enough time to wrap everything up.

Then my vision suddenly flashed red.

[Rhea Reid—mission failed. Divorce confirmed. Countdown reset to zero.]

I never saw that coming.

The System still had one last move.

I grabbed the courthouse doorframe and dropped to the floor.