Chapter 5: The Watch That Wasn’t Mine

I passed the study. Glass of milk in hand.

Their voices drifted out. Sharp. Accusing.

“Is this what you call love? I see right through you—you’re a liar!”

Her voice shook. Fists clenched.

“You think I don’t care about Carter? But it’s the system! If I didn’t switch their rooms, the score would keep dropping. I can’t just die over this!”

His voice went high. Desperate.

“I told you to ignore that stupid system! Carter hates Nathaniel—we never should’ve brought him back.”

She slammed her fist on the table. Eyes blazing.

She tossed her hair. Defiant.

Her voice was sharp. Cut through the tension.

“You’re just selfish! The second you get scared, you throw away your own son!”

Her words hung in the air. Mr. Ellison flinched.

“If it were me, I’d die before letting Carter suffer!”

She wiped her eyes. Voice trembling.

“So what if there’s a system? That foster kid’s not even fit to shine Carter’s shoes.”

She rolled her eyes. Voice dripping with disdain.

I chuckled. Went to Carter’s old room.

The bed was soft. Sheets crisp.

The house buzzed with excitement.

They threw him a party at the fanciest hotel in town.

Crystal chandeliers. Live music. Cake big enough for a football team. The guest list read like a who’s who of the city’s elite. For Carter, nothing less would do.

Carter and I shared a birthday. They had to buy me a suit.

They resented every dollar. Every minute of attention.

Mr. Ellison rushed to buy me a suit. Desperate to raise his affection score, he spared no expense—brand-new designer, just as flashy as Carter’s.

He fussed over every detail. For a second, he almost looked like a real dad.

Carter saw the suit. Lost it.

He shouted. Stomped. Locked himself in his room.

Mrs. Ellison and Charlotte sided with Carter.

The three of them stood together. Mr. Ellison’s face went red.

He cursed them all. Slammed the door.

His voice echoed. Sharp. Bitter.

She gave Carter a Rolex, limited edition, studded with diamonds that nearly blinded me.

She slipped it on his wrist. The room erupted in applause.

She looked at him like he hung the moon.

She hugged him. Whispered words of love.

Then the system chimed in.

[Host, please begin the strategy. You may give the target a birthday gift. If the target is happy, the affection score will rise.]

Mrs. Ellison’s smile faltered. Eyes darted to me.

Just like before. Numbers. Missions.

Erased. Gone.

[Reminder: if it falls below -50 at once, the host will receive a one-minute electric shock penalty.]

The numbers kept dropping.

Numbers flashed. She bit her lip.

She turned to me, finally.

She grabbed a watch from the dressing room. Handed it to me.

She held it out. Forced smile.

I didn’t take it. Just stared at Carter’s watch.

Her voice was sweet. Almost apologetic.

“You’re a good kid. You’ll understand, right?”

She leaned in. Whispered.

In my last life, I fell for it.

This time, I was done.

Not once.

Not a hug. Not a kind word.

She shoved the old watch at me.

Her voice was flat.

I wore it every day.

Now it felt like a shackle.

I let the silence stretch.

I watched her squirm.

What can I say? I don’t like it.

The room fell silent.

She forced herself to stay calm.

Her voice trembled. Hands shook.

I want that new watch. The one on Carter’s wrist.

Carter’s eyes went wide. Mrs. Ellison went pale.

“Absolutely not! Don’t even think about it!”

She clutched Carter’s arm. Eyes wild.

The system’s voice blared. Countdown started.

A jolt of fear crossed her face. Hands trembling.