1

533words2026-01-26 09:15

To save Julian Grant,I followed the system's orders to collect three drops of tears from the male lead,Ethan Blake:one drop of joy,one drop of sorrow,and one drop of moving on.
But the system assigned me the role of Sarah Reed,a character Ethan despised with every cell in his body.
To get his tears,I endured his torture like a stray dog,never fighting back,never cursing back.

Every day,Ethan choked me,snarling why I didn't just die.
In his presence,I was a stray,scorned by all.
When I finally traded my life for his last tear however,he clutched my body tightly,sobbing in collapse.
...
When they dragged me into a dim alley,I didn't resist.
They surrounded me,fists and slaps rained down on me, I began to see stars before my eyes.

Men and women were spitting vile insults at me,lips trembling.
"Who do you think you are,making a birthday cake for Ethan?"
Today was Ethan's birthday.To earn his tear of joy,I secretly baked him a cake.
But before I could present it,Ethan found out.

He smashed it into my face.
His once-handsome face twisted with mockery and rage.
"Who are you to celebrate my birthday?"
Trembling,I curled up,shielding my head with my hands,whispering "I’m sorry” over and over.
But their torture didn't stop.
Not until my body went numb,pain fading,did they let me go.
Ethan,who was standing at the alley's mouth,walked towards me.
A cigarette dangled from his lips as he tilted my chin up with his shoe.
"Pathetic,Sarah."
His words dripped with scorn,slicing away my dignity,the disdain in his voice was unmistakable.
He leaned closer,eyeing my wounds with emotionless gaze.
"Didn't you want to celebrate my birthday?Here's my wish."
He yanked me up,slamming my back against the wall,I could feel the gravel biting into my skin.
"My wish...is for you to die."
His words stunned me.Tears welled up in my eyes,unstoppable.
I stared at his face,identical to Julian's,knowing he wasn't him.
But whenever I see that face, I wanted to cry.
Julian,I'm so useless.I haven't collected a single drop tear.
Seeing me cry,Ethan lost interest in taunting me.
He left me in the alley,taking his group with him.
I looked up at the foggy sky,remembering something suddenly.
Stumbling to my feet,I staggered out.
I couldn't give up.I had to get his tear today.
Dragging my battered body,I climbed up the hill opposite the one Ethan's villa was one.
The hilltop wind cut through me.I was wearing only a torn simple white dress.
Rubbing my frozen fingers,I set up dozens of fireworks.
From Sarah's memories,I knew Ethan's mother lit fireworks every birthday to celebrate his new year of his life.
As Ethan drank with friends,I ignited them all.
When the fireworks lit up the sky,Ethan's group saw them clearly.
"Look!Someone's setting off fireworks!Gorgeous!"
His friends shouted excitedly.
Ethan saw them too.
The fireworks bloomed,perhaps by design,forming the shape of an"E."
Watching them,Ethan thought of his mother.A tear slid from his eye.
"Mom,birthday this year...I saw the fireworks."
When the system confirmed the tear of joy was collected,I collapsed,exhausted,on the hilltop.
Before passing out,I dialed 911.
In this world,I had no family,no friends—only Ethan,who despised and hated me.
I knew no one would save me.I had to save myself.