Chapter 2

After hanging up the call, Charlotte saw Eric leaning against the doorframe in a bathrobe, his expression unreadable but heavy with discontent.

"So, you want a divorce?" His voice carried a quiet menace. "Who's the man you've been eyeing?"

He moved closer, his large hand gripping her chin. The sudden force made her flinch, and she instinctively tried to pull away, but he tightened his hold, trapping her in an unrelenting embrace.

"But then again, I doubt you'd dare," he said, his voice a low drawl. "You weren't even afraid to die just to stay by my side. So, Charlotte, tell me—why do you like me?"

This time, it was Charlotte's turn to fall silent.

How could she possibly tell him the truth? That she didn't like him at all, that everything she did was for the sake of completing a mission?

She hesitated for a moment before typing four words on her phone: Love at first sight.

Eric chuckled. He didn't press further and turned away, leaving her alone.

The next morning, he was already gone when she woke up. She didn't bother to look for him. Instead, she pulled out her favorite journal and began drafting her plan for the final thirty days of her stay in this world.

The system's voice echoed in her mind.

[Host, as your task is nearing completion, your body will be programmed for a terminal illness to ensure a natural departure. Please prepare yourself for the pain.]

Charlotte closed the journal, her hands steady despite the words. She headed downstairs to have breakfast, only to bump into Brian storming in, his face flushed with anger.

"You've got some nerve, Charlotte! Hanging up on me last night? Tell me, what will it take for you to leave Eric?"

She raised her head, her gaze meeting the man who was, in this world, her biological brother. Bitterness swirled in her chest.

When she had first arrived in this world, she discovered her backstory—a misplaced heiress switched at birth. The girl who had taken her place, Emily, had lived the life of a beloved princess, basking in the unconditional affection of their family for years.

But her mission had demanded proximity to Eric, and it wasn't long before the Spencer family learned of her existence. A simple DNA test later, she was brought back into the family, though no one welcomed her except for her grandfather.

Not only was she forbidden from using the Spencer surname, but the family publicly announced her as an illegitimate child they had only recently acknowledged.

Emily, unable to accept the situation, had fled abroad in a fit of rage and hastily married.

Yet here she was again—back in the country for reasons unknown.

Charlotte didn't respond to Brian's question. She turned to leave, but he grabbed her wrist.

"If it weren't for you, do you think Emily would've married the wrong guy? Do you think she'd be back here, heartbroken?"

Weak and frail by nature, Charlotte lost her balance under his forceful shove. She stumbled, her body tumbling down the staircase until she lay sprawled on the landing, consciousness slipping away.

When she awoke, she was in a hospital room. Brian stood to one side, his expression defiant, while their parents sat nearby.

"Why should I kneel and apologize?" Brian's voice rose in protest. "It's not like I pushed her on purpose. She obviously did it to gain sympathy!"

"Enough!" Their father, Joe Spencer's voice cut through the room, sharp with irritation.

Their mom, Joyce Spencer opened her mouth as if to argue but ultimately swallowed her words, choosing instead to glare daggers at Charlotte.

"Brian is your brother, and you're not seriously hurt. Let's not make a fuss about this," Joe declared dismissively.

They all knew she couldn't speak, and as she frantically signed her protests with red-rimmed eyes, they acted as though they couldn't see her at all.

Charlotte glanced at her leg, now encased in a plaster cast. A dull ache spread through her chest, more emotional than physical.

In her previous life, she had been an orphan. She had always yearned for family. But the Spencer family had no place for her in their hearts. Especially Brian, who worshipped Emily and despised Charlotte for "taking everything" from her.

But who had taken from whom?

When the others left, Charlotte sat in silence, her thoughts adrift. Her time here was running out, and she needed to start letting go of everything in this world.

The sound of the door opening interrupted her reverie. Emily stepped inside.

Seven years had passed since they'd last seen each other. Emily's impulsive marriage had removed her from the Spencer family's plans, forcing them to push Charlotte into an arranged marriage with Eric to secure their alliance with the Lorvis family.

No one had cared about Charlotte's opinion. To them, a mute girl like her should have been grateful for such a "fortunate" match.