Chapter 3
518words
When he smiled, two shallow dimples appeared at the corners of his mouth, somehow making the ferocity in his eyes even more chilling.
It was far more terrifying than his anger.
"Eve Sullivan." He called my name softly, his voice deceptively gentle, like a lover's whisper. "You're quite something."
"Come here."
I couldn't move.
My legs felt like they were filled with lead, rooted to the spot.
"Mr. Holt, the young la—Miss Sullivan didn't mean it." Jenkins couldn't bear to watch anymore and carefully pleaded on my behalf.
"I asked her to come over." Ethan Holt's gaze never left me, his tone leaving no room for argument.
I reluctantly shuffled to his wheelchair, head lowered, unable to meet his eyes.
He raised his uninjured hand and gripped my chin, forcing me to look up.
His fingertips were cool with slight calluses, brushing against my skin and sending shivers down my spine.
"This mouth of yours," he leaned closer, his warm breath fanning across my face, "is quite troublesome."
I was so terrified I held my breath.
"Since you're so good at storytelling," his smile deepened, those dimples appearing again, "from now on, you'll tell me a story every night. Won't you?"
His voice was soft, gentle—and absolutely terrifying.
What fresh hell was this?
I managed a stiff nod.
He released me with satisfaction and waved dismissively at the doctor and Jenkins: "Everyone out."
The doctor and Jenkins practically fled the room, carefully closing the door behind them.
In the spacious bedroom, only Ethan Holt and I remained.
The silence was suffocating.
He maneuvered his wheelchair toward the bathroom.
Soon, the sound of running water echoed from inside.
I exhaled shakily and collapsed onto the carpet, feeling like a half-drowned cat.
[Host, status check?]The system suddenly chimed in.
"I'm not okay!" I mentally screamed. "I'm about to die! What the hell are you? Why are you attached to me?"
[I am the "Save the Love-struck" system, number 666.]
[My mission is to help those who have become unfortunate because of love, and guide them back to their best lives. You are my chosen host.]
"Save the Love-struck? Ethan Holt is love-struck?" I could hardly believe what I was hearing.
That cruel, twisted man is love-struck?
[No,]the system clarified,[the original target was your sister, Jade Sullivan, who eloped with a penniless boy.]
[But since she ran away, the mission couldn't be activated, and my energy was nearly depleted. To survive, I had to bind with you, her closest blood relative, and initiate the backup plan—the Villain Rescue Project.]
"Rescue a villain? Ethan Holt is a villain?"
[Yes. In the original timeline, Ethan Holt's personality became twisted due to his disability, and he eventually became a true villain. He destroyed the Sullivan family, caused countless deaths, and met a tragic end himself.]
[Your mission is to lower his Villain Meter and prevent him from becoming the monster he's destined to be.]
I listened in stunned silence.
So I'm not just a substitute bride—I'm supposed to save the world too?
