When they wheeled me into the trauma bay, my fiancé was transferring all my emergency savings out of my account. He was using it to buy vanity points for another girl’s system. The emergency monitors sounded a shrill alarm.

At that exact second, his social media updated with a video of citywide fireworks. His caption read: Congratulations to Summer on maxing out her progression system. Fighting the agonizing pain in my chest, I dialed his number to beg for help.

Garrett answered with cold, impatient irritation. "Summer has no one in this world," he snapped. "The system is the only thing that gives her security.

What's wrong with borrowing your money to help her clear a milestone?" "Can you stop faking illness to fight for attention at critical moments?" "I have to balance her survival tasks and your emotional drama every single day.

It’s suffocating." He hung up without hesitation. Right after, Summer sent me a photo of Garrett slipping a diamond ring onto her finger. Then she sent a voice note, her tone both innocent and gloating: Don't be mad, big sister.

Once I finish this final 'Cuckoo’s Nest' quest, I’ll give your man back to you. For three years, this girl from another world had used tears and helplessness to slowly drain Garrett’s love for me.

She had even turned my life into a bargaining chip for their flirtation. I stared at the ceiling lights. My heart was completely dead.

Right then, a line of floating text materialized in the air of the trauma bay: [MAXIMUM ALERT: Questuser violation detected.

Reverse displacement channel opened for native inhabitant.] [Do you agree to take over the questuser’s hundredbilliondollar fortune and healthy body in the real world, permanently stranding her in this baseline world?] Listening to the doctor’s approaching footsteps and the critical condition warning outside the curtain, I closed my eyes and answered in my mind: Confirm displacement.

I opened my eyes to find myself in a regular recovery room. In midair, a cold countdown only I could see was ticking backward: [Displacement Countdown: 71:50:00] The door was pushed open. Garrett finally showed up.

He showed no guilt, no concern, only undisguised annoyance. "Now that you're awake, stop making a scene," he said, pulling out a chair and sitting down, going on the offensive. "I asked the doctor.

It was just temporary shock caused by an emotional outburst. Your vitals are stable now. You're not going to die.

Did you really need to pretend it was so serious on the phone, even cursing yourself to death just to force me to come?" I quietly looked at this face I had loved for four years.

Four years ago, he had broken his leg when a car hit him while pushing me out of the way.

From his hospital bed, he told me: "I will always put you first." Now, he had taken my lifesaving money and given it to someone else. "You transferred the hundred and thirty thousand dollars for my heart surgery to Summer Reed," I said.

My voice was calm, so calm it surprised even me.

Garrett frowned, defending himself with righteous indignation. "I did that to save Summer!" "Her progression system triggered a 'Vanity Metric Evaluation' task last night." "If her ranking dropped, the system would hit her with a maximumlevel neural shock!" The more he spoke, the more justified he felt. "You just passed out, but Summer faced real, physical punishment from the system.

That kind of pain strikes straight at the nerves. How could a delicate girl like her handle that? When my company profitshare pays out next month, I’ll pay you back double.

Why do you have to nickelanddime over this at such a critical moment?" Listening to his twisted logic, my stomach churned with disgust. He saw my life as nickelanddiming. He saw another woman’s vanity as life and death. I didn't cry or scream.

I slowly raised my hand and yanked the IV catheter straight out of the back of my hand. Blood immediately spurted out, dripping down my pale skin and onto the pure white sheet. Garrett jumped up in shock. "Are you crazy?

What are you doing!" I looked right at him, my gaze freezing. "Give me my money back." "That is my surgery money to save my heart, not a chip for her leaderboard." "Transfer it back. Right now." Just then, hurried footsteps came from the hallway.

Summer stood timidly at the door, her eyes red.

She walked in holding a credit card, looking completely wronged. "Natalie, please don't be mad at Garrett." She held the card out to me, tears streaming down her face. "This is the authorized user card Garrett gave me.

It still has two thousand dollars on it. Take it for your medical bills, okay? I don't care about designer bags or jewelry. I don't need to finish the tasks.

Even if the system shocks me to death, I don't want to hurt your relationship..." She cried harder, swaying on her feet like she might collapse. Garrett’s protective instinct flared up instantly.

He pulled Summer behind him, pointing at me furiously. "Haven't you had enough?" "Summer has already said this much. How far are you going to push her?" "That hundred and thirty thousand is already locked into the system! It can't be pulled out!

Do you have to push her to death to be satisfied?" I looked at Summer smirking behind Garrett’s back, and at Garrett shielding her with everything he had. I gave a dry, cold smile.

The whole scene felt completely ridiculous. "Garrett." "That is my lifesaving money." "If you don't return it today, I'm calling the police." Hearing the word "police," Garrett completely lost his temper. "You are completely unreasonable!" He paced two steps in frustration, then raised his hand and yanked off the matching engagement band on his left ring finger.

It was the ring he had designed himself when we got engaged. He had once knelt and sworn an oath that he would never take it off unless he died.

Now, he threw it onto my hospital bed like a piece of trash. "Afraid I won't pay you back?" "This ring cost thirty thousand dollars when I bought it!" "Keep it as collateral!

Is that enough to buy your miserable life?" The ring bounced twice on the sheet and rolled next to my hand. Summer gently tugged at Garrett’s sleeve from behind, her voice soft and timid. "Garrett, that's your pledge of love to her.

How could you..." "Ignore her!" Garrett said coldly. "She only cares about money. She ruined this relationship herself!" I looked at the ring. I didn't break down crying as he expected. I didn't reach out to pick up his insulting collateral.

I reached over and swept the ring directly into the bedside trash can. "Fine. Collateral accepted." "Now get out." Garrett froze. He stared at the bottom of the trash can, his face turning pale and then red.

He hadn't expected me to actually throw the ring away. In my mind, a cold mechanical voice sounded: [Target emotional attachment severed by 10%. Displacement progress accelerated.] Garrett gritted his teeth, glaring at me. "Fine.

Don't regret this." He took Summer's hand, turned, and stormed out. At the door, he stopped involuntarily and looked back at me. I had my head down, pressing a tissue to the bleeding puncture on my hand. My face was pale, completely devoid of emotion.

No pleading. No tears. Garrett’s heart skipped a beat. A sudden, unexplainable panic seized him.

He opened his mouth to say something, but Summer clutched her head in pain. "Garrett, my head hurts so much... the system is punishing me again..." Garrett snapped back to reality. Pushing down that strange panic, he picked Summer up and hurried away.

The room fell dead silent again. I looked at the countdown on the ceiling: [71:40:00]. Garrett, you are about to lose me completely.

The next day, I didn't notify anyone and checked myself out of the hospital. My heart still ached, but I had to go back to retrieve the only heirloom my mother had left me. The countdown in the air ticked away: [48:00:00].

I took a cab back to the duplex Garrett and I had decorated together over four years. This was the home we had built brick by brick, piece by piece, through countless days and nights.

I stood at the door and pressed my thumb to the scanner. "Fingerprint error." Just as I was about to call a locksmith, the door was pushed open from inside. Summer stood behind it. "Natalie? Why did you leave the hospital early?

Come in, it's windy outside." Ignoring her hypocritical face, I walked straight past her into the apartment. With one look, my breath froze. The warm living room was completely rearranged.

The master bedroom door stood wide open, and Summer’s suitcases were piled right in front of our bed. All of my personal belongings from the master bedroom closet had been shoved into black trash bags. Garrett walked out of the kitchen.

When he saw me, the smile on his face froze. "Why are you back? Didn't I tell you to stay in the hospital a few more days?" "This is my home," I said. "Where is my passcode? My fingerprint?

Why are my things in trash bags?" Summer’s eyes welled with tears, and she grabbed Garrett’s sleeve. "Garrett, I'm sorry. I didn't know she was coming back today.

The system's final quest is 'Cuckoo's Nest.' It requires me to live in the 'True Love's Nest' and get the master’s approval.

I was just afraid of being wiped out if I failed, so I begged you to let me move in." Garrett patted the back of her hand with sympathy. Then he turned to me, completely selfrighteous. "Stop making that accusatory face.

It's just staying here for three days!" He put the steak on the table and walked toward me, trying to use his logic to convince me. "You know how brutal Summer’s system is.

In three days, once the system rules her 'Cuckoo's Nest' quest successful, she can leave the system completely and go back to her original world.

Then we can get married and live our lives in peace." He placed both hands on my shoulders, his tone carrying an uncompromising demand. "Give up three days of your comfort in exchange for a lifetime of peace.

You're a reasonable person, can't you do the math? Do you have to fight her to the death at such a crucial moment?" Looking at this familiar face, I suddenly felt he was a complete stranger. I pushed his hands off. My eyes fell on the dining table.

Under a coffee mug lay a few wrinkled sheets of paper. Those were the wedding dress sketches I had spent countless sleepless nights drawing for our wedding. Now, Summer had torn off a corner to balance a wobbly table leg.

I walked over to the table. "'Cuckoo's Nest,'" I said, murmuring the words, then turned slowly toward Garrett. "Since the quest requirements are so strict, if the system tells her tomorrow that she has to sleep in your bed, are you going to sleep with her too?" Garrett’s face darkened instantly.

He slammed the table and shouted furiously, "What nonsense are you talking about! Why is your mind so filthy? Summer is completely pure. I've always treated her like a sister. We are completely clean!

How dare you use such disgusting thoughts to judge us!" Summer let out a hurt gasp, covered her face, and ran into the master bedroom. "Garrett, she's terrifying.

She doesn't believe us at all..." Watching Summer run off in tears, the anger in Garrett’s eyes flared up.

He grabbed my wrist, completely ignoring my weak heart, and dragged me toward the guest room filled with trash bags. "You are completely unreasonable!" He shoved me inside hard.

Immediately, the sound of a key locking the door came from outside. "Since you're acting like a lunatic and can't be reasoned with, stay in there and cool off for the night!

Once Summer's quest window passes and your head clears up, I'll let you out!" Through the door, his voice was merciless and cold. The room was pitchblack. In the dark on the other side of the door, I calmly closed my eyes.

The blue screen appeared in my mind again: [Reverse displacement channel ready.] [Please sign the Full Asset Surrender Agreement.] [Once signed, your identity in this world will be completely erased and assumed by questuser Summer Reed.

You will inherit her hundredbilliondollar empire in her original world.] Without hesitation, I signed my name on the glowing blue agreement with my mind. [Agreement in effect.] [Final displacement countdown: 47:50:00.] Garrett.

Since you want to give her my home so badly, then take my life along with it.

The next evening, Garrett unlocked the guest room door.

Seeing me sitting quietly in the corner, a hint of guilt flickered in his eyes. "Don't be mad," he said, walking over and taking my wrist, his voice softening. "I made a reservation at that riverfront restaurant you always wanted to go to.

It's almost impossible to book a table there. Consider it my apology for last night." I didn't resist. I let him pull me out.

As soon as we reached the living room, Summer came over immediately. "Garrett, are you two going to the riverfront restaurant?" She put her hands together, pleading pitifully. "My system just gave me a random quest.

I have to check in by the river, or it will deduct my points again. Can you take me with you?

I promise I'll sit in the corner and won't bother you at all!" Garrett looked at me, then at Summer’s tearful eyes. "Let's go together then," he decided without hesitation. "It's just dinner, one more person at the table.

Don't be so petty." Inside the riverfront restaurant, the atmosphere was suffocating. I sat across from Garrett, and Summer sat right beside him. I looked out the window without saying a word.

A server walked over carrying a pipinghot stone pot of soup. Just as the server approached, Summer suddenly gave an exaggerated shriek: "Ah!

The system countdown!" She stood up abruptly, leaning violently outward, and collided heavily with the server’s arm. "Watch out!" the server yelled, losing balance. The boiling soup poured straight down toward Summer and me.

Garrett didn't hesitate for a split second. He turned around instantly, pulling Summer into his arms and shielding her completely. But he turned with so much force that he slammed hard into my weak body. I fell heavily to the floor.

The shattered ceramic and boiling soup poured all over my arm and shoulder. Garrett heard the crash and snapped his head around. Seeing my bleeding, burned arm, his pupils contracted sharply.

He instinctively moved to let go of Summer to help me up. "Are you okay?!" Summer clutched his clothes tightly, letting out a weak cry of pain.

Garrett froze in his tracks. "Summer has the painamplification punishment from her system!" he explained frantically, defending his bias. "If she gets hurt, her pain is ten times worse than a normal person's!

I'm not ignoring you, I'm just afraid she'll die from the pain! Bear with it, I'll take you to the hospital right away!" I looked at his frantic face. The burning pain in my arm made my mind clearer than ever before. I refused his outstretched hand.

I used the wall to pull myself up. I walked to the sink in the restroom, washing the raw, peeling burns with cold water, my face blank. Garrett stood nervously behind me holding paper towels. "Don't be like this. I really didn't mean to.

It was just a reflex..." I turned off the tap. I didn't take the paper towels he offered. I turned around and looked at him with dead, empty eyes. "Garrett." "For three years, you drained every bit of love you had for me to feed her.

You even turned my life into a chip for your flirtation and quests." A cold smile touched my lips. "I hope the two of you stay locked together in this world for eternity." Garrett was pierced by my dead gaze.

That terrible panic of losing everything flooded him again. "I swear!" he said, his eyes turning red, his voice shaking. "This is the last time! Once she finishes her quest tonight, I will send her away immediately!" I ignored them both.

The countdown in my vision was ticking away: [02:00:00]. Only two hours left.

Back at the duplex, only half an hour remained on the timer. Summer suddenly clutched her chest and collapsed onto the rug in agony. "Garrett!

The ultimate quest is here!" Her face was deathly pale, crying her eyes out. "For the final ruling on 'Cuckoo's Nest,' the system demands that you publicly announce on your social feeds and the family group chat right now that I am your fiancée!

And you must erase every trace of Natalie from this home! If it's not done within ten minutes, the system will wipe me out!" Garrett was horrified. He turned around, looking at me with conflict and pleading eyes. "No!

That's too much!" he instinctively refused. "Garrett, save me, I don't want to die..." Summer rolled on the floor in agony. Garrett’s eyes turned bloodshot with panic. He rushed over and grabbed my shoulders tightly. "Just one post!

Just let the family group see it!" he begged frantically. "I'll set it so only the system can see it! No one else will know! Just for three minutes, once the system confirms it, she's completely free!

I swear, first thing tomorrow morning I will take you to City Hall to get our marriage license! I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you!" I looked at his manic face and said nothing.

Ignoring the severe burns on my arm, he clamped his hands down hard over my injury. With his other hand, he pulled out his phone right in front of me. He quickly deleted every photo of me from his social feed.

He even changed my contact name to "Stranger." He forced me to watch him type the words: My one and only fiancée, Summer Reed. He looked at me, his eyes full of frantic pleading and pressure. "Just three minutes!

Please understand, she's going to die!" I looked at him and said one word: "Post it." Garrett breathed a massive sigh of relief. He hit send without hesitation. The moment that post went live, the countdown in my eyes hit zero.

A cold mechanical voice echoed in both our minds at the same time: [Reverse displacement channel complete.] [Native inhabitant has successfully assumed questuser's hundredbilliondollar empire and healthy body in the real world.] [Punitive protocol activated: Questuser Summer Reed, Accomplice Garrett Walsh—permanently stranded in this world.

All karmic fortune revoked.] Garrett heard the voice in his head. He didn't listen to the words at the end, assuming it was the notification of Summer's success. He let out a long breath, his body relaxing completely.

He tossed his phone onto the couch, turned around, and moved to hug me with relief. "It's over, honey. We can finally—" Before he finished speaking, his outstretched hands froze midair.