The Stand-In Walks Away

But I didn't want it.

"No need. Your husband is Kyle. Aren't you afraid he'll get the wrong idea if you throw me a birthday party?"

Emily didn't care.

"I told you before. No matter what our relationship is, I will celebrate your birthday every year. This year is no different."

Seeing that she insisted, I didn't refuse. After all, I was leaving soon. Consider this a farewell—a proper ending to this relationship.

Once we got in the car, Emily cheerfully pulled out a blindfold.

"Put this on. I've prepared a surprise for you."

Emily always loved these little romantic gestures. I didn't think much of it and put it on right away.

The car drove quickly and soon became bumpy.

When the blindfold was removed, I was out in the wilderness. Not far away, a group of burly men with clubs were staring at me menacingly.

Emily whispered apologetically in my ear.

"Kyle hit someone with his car. The other party won't settle for money. They insist on handing someone over, or else they'll report him for hit-and-run.

"He's not in good health, and he's easily scared. Something could easily happen to him. You're different. You're careful and brave. You can definitely handle a small situation like this.

"Chris, my baby can't grow up without a father. You'll just have to bear with it for now.

"Don't worry. This is a society ruled by law. They're just going to invite you for tea as a guest. They won't really hurt you. I will definitely come get you in three days."

With that, she shoved me toward those men.

"This is my husband, Kyle. I'm handing him over to you. I'll come get him when the time is up. If you dare hurt him, I'll make you pay."

So the so-called compensation was just me flattering myself. Her real goal was to make me take the fall for Kyle. After all, as a stand-in, I looked and acted a lot like him.

My heart was filled with mixed emotions. I couldn't even force a smile.

Emily knew perfectly well that if there were truly no danger, she wouldn't have been so unwilling to hand Kyle over.

The truth was simple. She didn't care if I, the stand-in, got hurt or died. But her Kyle couldn't come to any harm.

After delivering her threats, Emily left.

And sure enough, those men didn't let me off.

One of them punched me hard in the stomach.

"Kyle's trick really worked. We got this guy here without any trouble."

"Enough small talk. Kyle wants us to teach this guy a lesson. Trying to steal Kyle's girlfriend? He's asking for it."

"Beat him within an inch of his life. Make sure he never dares to covet Emily again."

So this was all a setup by Kyle. And yet Emily, who was usually so smart, had fallen for it.

I guess that's what they mean by love blinding you.

The men rained down clubs on my body. The pain spread through every part of me, making me wish I were dead.

That wasn't all. They starved me and tormented me every single day.

By the time the agreed-upon three days were almost up, I was covered in wounds and barely holding on.

Emily came to get me a few hours early. Her cheerful voice echoed from outside the building, "Time's up. I'm here to pick him up."

I heard the door slowly open.

I looked at the return portal on my system screen and clicked to activate it without a moment's hesitation.

A white light that only I could see rose up. A massive force pulled me into the vortex.

In an instant, the white light disappeared.

And this body died for good.