Willow would shriek that the System was going to drain her blood. Then she'd wail that it was going to strike her blind.
Each episode required me to pay the price to appease it.
The sea-view villa under my name? Transferred to her.
Every piece of jewelry in the house? Draped over her body to "ward off disaster."
Orson agreed to all of it.
Until the day of our tenth wedding anniversary arrived.
The same day Orson had promised to throw Willow her "wedding of the century."
To build hype for his precious Willow, Orson booked out the city's most luxurious hotel. He even chartered a private jet to fly in fresh flowers from God knows where.
The guest list read like a who's who of the city's elite.
He'd invited dozens of media outlets. The whole thing was being livestreamed nationwide.
In the bridal suite.
Willow sat before the mirror in my wedding dress—altered to fit her smaller frame. Her reflection stared back at her, eyes glittering with greed and triumph.
"You see, sister?" She drew out the word like poison wrapped in silk. "Orson is so good to me."
"He said he'd bankrupt himself if that's what it took to save me."
"Do you think... he's fallen in love with me?"
I leaned against the wall, eyes on my phone.
Thirty minutes until the deprivation sequence completed.
"Perhaps." My voice was flat. "After all, he's already given up his brain for you. Why not his heart?"
Willow's face twisted. She was about to snap when Orson pushed through the door.
He wore a crisp white suit, radiating self-satisfaction.
When he spotted me, he faltered. His gaze skittered away for a moment before hardening into defiance.
"Renata. When the ceremony starts, you'll go up as the... the officiant. Say a few words."
He wanted me to officiate my own husband's wedding to his mistress?
"No." I didn't hesitate.
Orson's expression darkened.
"Renata! There are dozens of cameras out there—don't you dare humiliate me!"
"If Willow doesn't complete this task, the System will erase her! Can't you just think of it as saving a life? Is that so hard?"
"After today, I'll throw you an even bigger ceremony. Will that satisfy you?"
Willow materialized at his side, clinging to his arm, her eyes brimming with theatrical tears.
"Orson... does sister hate me?" Her voice quavered. "If she won't do it, I'll just... I'll just die. That's fine."