Chapter 3

I struggled to get up and stop her.

On the other end of the line, Jackson paused for a second, then scoffed coldly, “Did Chloe tell you to play along? What’s a fall going to do?”

“Tell her to hurry up and say the last thing she wants so we can get it over with. I don’t have time for her drama.”

Seeing how impatient he was, I took the phone and said seriously, “The third thing is very simple. You just have to propose to me.”

*Crash!*

A harsh noise came from the other end of the phone, as if something had fallen.

Jackson panicked. “Ashley, what’s wrong? Don’t scare me!”

The next second, he lashed out at me. “Chloe, are you crazy? Are you out of your mind? I’m not playing with you anymore. Go get the divorce certificate or don’t, I don’t care. Anyway, in thirty days, we’ll be automatically divorced. I’m not like you, I’m not desperate to live. I can wait!”

He hung up.

My heart ached.

I knew Jackson wanted to get rid of me, but I never knew he loathed me so much.

The System was still urging me to complete the task.

But now, I didn’t even have leverage over him. What else could I do?

Fatigue washed over me like a tide.

Even if I knelt and begged Jackson, he would just think I was pulling stunts.

If that was the case, I might as well die with dignity.

With that thought, I called him.

He answered impatiently. “If you’re still talking nonsense about wanting me to propose, just go die!”

He didn’t know he would speak a prophecy.

My voice was flat. “I was just kidding. See you tomorrow morning at the courthouse.”

Jackson sounded surprised. “That’s it? You’re being so straightforward? Are you really that kindhearted?”

“Don’t want to? Fine then.”

“No! You better not be playing games!”

He agreed hastily.

Nine o’clock in the morning, in front of the courthouse.

Jackson started yelling at me for being one minute late. “Chloe, what are you pulling now? You really were faking yesterday. They say bad apples never spoil, you’ll probably live to be a hundred!”

His buddies all looked on with mocking expressions.

They were all waiting for Jackson and Ashley to get their marriage license, specifically holding confetti ready to celebrate.

I found it amusing.

In the past, when Jackson and I had agreements, he was never on time, repeatedly breaking promises and intentionally watching me flounder for his amusement.

Today, I was only one minute late, and he was so agitated.

“Yes, I was on purpose. I’ve changed my mind. The third thing is, I want you to carry me inside to get the divorce certificate!”

It was less than a hundred yards from the entrance.

Jackson looked at me suspiciously. “That simple?”

Ashley still rushed out to object, as if I were committing some heinous crime. “Jackson is a CEO! How can you treat him like a servant and make him carry you? We don’t need this divorce certificate, I’ll wait for Jackson forever!”

Everyone else’s faces also turned ugly. “Chloe, you’re too shameless! This is clearly a deliberate obstruction! I think you just don’t want the divorce certificate!”

I curved my lips into a smile, perfectly at ease.

Jackson, however, said decisively, “Fine. But if you pull any more stunts once we’re inside, I’ll make your life a living hell.”

He walked up to me.

I jumped onto his back without a second thought.

Jackson let out a surprised “Hmm.”

I was too light. Frighteningly light.

Back then, I had a bold personality. I loved racing, hiking, rock climbing, and my muscle mass was not to be underestimated.

He subconsciously asked, “Are you starving yourself?”

I said faintly, “Just disgusted by you and Ashley to the point of losing my appetite.”

Jackson twisted his lips. “That’s enough, Chloe.”

When we got married, he was held down by ten bodyguards as he was dragged into the courthouse, forced to get the marriage certificate, his face filled with disgust.

Now, he walked steadily towards the courthouse, step by step, but it was to divorce me.

In a daze, I remembered seventeen years ago.

Jackson got caught in an avalanche while skiing.

I rushed into the snowfield regardless of the danger, my throat raw from shouting, until I finally found him.

At that time, he had snow blindness, and his leg was injured, making him unable to stand.

I half-carried, half-dragged him down the mountain for a day and a night, even cutting my wrist to feed him my blood to help him regain strength.

In a blur, Jackson’s hot tears dripped onto my neck. “You’re so good to me. I’m going to marry you!”

I chuckled, coaxing him not to break his promise.

By the time we reached the bottom of the mountain, I should have frozen to death from hypothermia.

That’s when the System bound itself to me.

It said that my love for Jackson was truly great. As long as I could stay married to him for seven years, it would grant me health and longevity.

I agreed, secretly thrilled, thinking it was a free pass, and that we would surely be happy.

But I didn’t expect that when I woke up again, I would see him confessing to Ashley in front of the entire school.

He said he would marry me.

But what I waited for was his endless gratitude towards Ashley.

I tried to explain, but he didn’t believe me.

“The one who saved me was gentle like a goddess. You’re so crude and overbearing, how could it be you!”

Snapping back to reality, I whispered into Jackson’s ear, “Jackson Hayes, we’re even now.”

He stopped walking. “What did you say?”