On Valentine's Day, my daughter's birthday, I marked the fifth year of my mission to win over my husband, Flynn Caldwell.

That night, my daughter, Willow, made her birthday wish to Flynn in perfect German. "I wish for Mommy and Daddy to get a divorce. I want Auntie Evelyn to be my new mommy."

Flynn chuckled, replying in the same language, "Your wish will come true very soon."

The "Auntie Evelyn" she spoke of was my own sister, Evelyn Thorne.

A moment later, Flynn called me into the bedroom.

He slid a stack of papers across the desk. Divorce papers. "Let's end this. I'll give you a billion dollars. You quit your career and move out of the country."

I stared at the agreement, my throat tightening. "Flynn, did you ever love me?"

He looked up, his gaze like ice. "Celia, have you forgotten? You were always just a substitute. You married me in your sister's place."

"Now that she's back, it's time for you to leave."

His words were blades, each one sinking directly into my heart.

The light in Celia's eyes flickered and died.

Five years ago, Flynn was in a car accident that left him in a coma, a vegetable. His then-fiancée, my sister Evelyn, refused to marry a cripple and fled the country. My family forced me to take her place and marry into the powerful Caldwell family.

And I, needing to cure a terminal illness, had accepted a deal with a cosmic System: win Flynn Caldwell's heart. So, I agreed to the substitution.

Five years passed in a blur. After Flynn woke up, he cherished me, protected me. He would fly back from international business trips just to care for me when I was sick. He even got jealous of our own daughter, asking me who I loved more…

I really thought he had fallen in love with me.

Until today.

"I'm sorry," I said, my voice regaining its composure. "I lost myself for a moment."

Celia steadied herself. "I'll sign the divorce papers."

Flynn looked at her reddened eyes and felt a flicker of something. He remembered how Celia had abandoned her acting career to care for him, how she was always at his beck and call. He remembered the time she'd had a raging fever, but when he'd casually mentioned wanting a pizza from that place downtown, she had dragged herself out of bed in the middle of the night to get it for him…

His heart softened a fraction. "As long as you don't interfere with my new life, I'll bring Willow to visit you abroad sometimes…"

The heated room felt like a balmy spring day.

But his casual words stabbed into Celia's heart, carving out every last piece of affection until it was a bloody mess on the floor.

Flynn left the door ajar when he walked out.

Through the crack, Celia could see her daughter, Willow, cheering. She heard her excited voice, speaking in German again.

"Daddy, my birthday isn't over yet! Let's go find Auntie Evelyn!"

"Auntie Evelyn's violin playing is so beautiful, and she talks to me in different languages. She even lets me eat all the ice cream I want. I love being with her."

"Not like Mommy. She insists on making me sugar-free chocolate cake. I've wanted to tell her I hate it for so long. Auntie Evelyn brings me fancy Belgian truffles."

"Mommy is always nagging. She and Auntie Evelyn are sisters, so why is Mommy so annoying?"

Every word stomped Celia's years of devotion into the mud.

And Flynn just smiled. "Alright, let's go. I'll take you to see Auntie Evelyn."

Celia closed the door, her face a blank mask.

They had no idea. Celia was fluent in eight languages. She had understood every single word.

The daughter she had poured all her love into was hoping for her to get divorced, calling her annoying.

Celia made sugar-free cake because she was worried about Willow's cavities.

Willow had forgotten how she'd writhed in bed, screaming from a toothache, and it was her mother who had held her, heart aching, and rushed her to the hospital.

It was her mother who stayed up all night telling her stories when she was scared of thunderstorms.

It was her mother who nursed her, sleepless, through fevers.

For them, for this family, she had given up her brilliant career and all her passions.

But five years of her heart and soul meant nothing against the three months Evelyn had been back.

*Ding—*

A notification for a ‘special follow’ pinged on her phone. Celia snapped back to reality and picked it up. It was a new post from Flynn's social media.

#FlynnC. My one and only love, for all my life.#

The accompanying photo showed him gently holding hands with Willow and Evelyn, standing in front of the old Caldwell family mansion.

In five years of marriage, Flynn had never once taken Celia to the Caldwell estate.

He had always explained that the elders looked down on her as "just an actress," unworthy of him, and he was afraid she would be hurt.

Because of this, the world had always mocked Celia, the supposed Caldwell daughter-in-law who was one in name only.

Now, Evelyn had been back for only three months, and Flynn was already showing her off so publicly, taking her to the family home, posting a picture declaring his love.

Flynn's post shot to the top of the trending charts, and Celia's name was dragged right along with it.

#Former Star Celia Thorne's High-Society Dream Shattered!#

Celia scrolled through the vile comments, and her heart finally went completely cold.

She logged into her own account, tagged Flynn, and posted a single sentence.

#Wishing Mr. Caldwell and his true love a happy ending. And thanks for the billion-dollar severance.#

She had loved Flynn and her daughter with everything she had. Since they didn't want it, then to hell with it all.

For the first time in four years, Celia called out to the System again. "System, I request to leave this world forever."

Three seconds later, the electronic voice responded.

【As per the mission parameters, the host successfully completed the objective by giving birth to the target's daughter four years ago. Request to depart is approved. In ten days, the host will permanently cease to exist in this world.】