Chapter 1

The night before the wedding, at my bachelorette party, my best friend Nadia Cobb suggested we play Truth or Dare.

Last round.

Everyone had to reveal a secret about themselves.

My fiancé, Aaron Chandler, spoke first.

"I'm not from this world."

Nadia stared at him.

"We're going back to our original world together."

Neither of them looked like they were joking, and the whole room froze.

"You two have been watching way too many web dramas. What is this nonsense?"

"Aaron, if you're not from this world, then how are you marrying Ginny?"

"Right, quit messing around."

The next second, a panel appeared in front of my eyes.

【Conquest progress: ninety-nine percent. Countdown to return to original world about to begin.】

【Final task: Aaron marries the female lead, Nadia serves as her bridesmaid.】

That was how I found out.

They were players from another world, and both of them had been targeting me.

When it came to my turn.

I opened my mouth slowly.

"I can stop the two of you from going back to your original world."

1

Aaron's hand froze around his glass, and he turned his head toward me.

Fear flickered in his eyes.

"Ginny?"

Nadia shot to her feet.

"Virginia Donaldson, what do you know?"

The bitterness churning inside me was overwhelming, but the smile stayed on my face.

"I was just playing along with your joke, wasn't I?"

"What am I supposed to know?"

Only then did Nadia notice everyone's puzzled looks.

"I was just trying to get a rise out of Ginny, and she didn't fall for it. So boring."

"It's getting late. Everyone head home."

With that, she signaled Aaron with her eyes to go get the car.

The car pulled up at the door.

Nadia's face was cold as she stepped past me and opened the front passenger door.

Only after catching the hint in Aaron's eyes did she turn back to me.

"Ginny, I drank a little too much tonight and I'm not feeling great. Can I sit up front?"

I glanced at her hand gripping the door and nodded.

She pouted at me.

"My Ginny is the best. I really can't stand the thought of you marrying that jerk Aaron."

Aaron rolled his eyes at her.

"Don't even think about it. In three days it's my wedding with Ginny, so you'll just behave and be the bridesmaid."

Then the two of them exchanged a smile.

I climbed into the back seat.

Before tonight, I would still have been wrapped up in the happiness of having my love and my best friend beside me.

But now I understood that this world was nothing more than a string of code.

The two of them were living, breathing people.

And in their eyes, I was just an NPC there to help them finish a task.

I rolled the window down and looked out at the bright lights and neon.

Everything in front of me no longer felt real.

Back home, Aaron went to the kitchen and poured a cup of warm water for Nadia.

He explained to me.

"Nadia's had a bit too much. I'm worried something might happen to her in the night, so I'll stay in her room and keep an eye on her tonight. You go ahead and rest."

He helped Nadia into her room.

I stood there, frozen.

Not long after Aaron and I moved in together.

Nadia got scammed on a rental and came to stay with us for a while.

She hugged me, looking so pitiful.

"Ginny, they cheated me out of all my money. You're the only one who can take me in."

She said she'd move out once she got her paycheck and found a new place.

But that wait stretched into three whole years.

Aaron even comforted me, saying,

"I'm busy with work most of the time. With Nadia home to keep you company, you won't be so bored."

Back then I really believed he was thinking of me.

Now I could see it was all part of their plan.

They were conquering me together.

Going home together.

After my shower I lay down in bed, and Aaron came in carrying a cup of warm milk.

"Ginny, remember to drink your milk before you sleep."

He set the milk down and went back to Nadia's room.

I stared at the milk in my hands.

I'm a light sleeper, and to help me rest, Aaron warmed a cup of milk for me every day.

Three years, and he never once missed it.

But tonight I didn't want to drink it.

I poured it straight into the toilet.

I lay awake late into the night.

I pulled a coat over my shoulders and stepped out of the room.

Nadia's door was open a crack, warm yellow light spilling through.

She was leaning against Aaron's chest.

Both of them looked relaxed.

"Aaron, it's been three years. Once the wedding's over, the task is complete."

"The system said we can stay in this world too. You'll leave with me, right? You will, won't you?"