My wife’s young assistant suddenly dropped a bombshell on social media, a cryptic post about how he couldn’t continue their “vague, messy relationship” any longer. My wife, Miranda, who was usually so cool and composed, burst into our home in a full-blown panic. “Leo’s making a huge scene this time,” she pleaded, her eyes wide with urgency. “We need to get a sham divorce, just for show. You can go stay at your parents’ place for a few days, and as soon as this blows over, we’ll get remarried. I promise.” Her hands gripped my arms. “Don’t worry, Ethan. It’s just for show. You are, and always will be, my only real husband.” Looking at her desperate face, I nodded. But she had no idea. She didn't know that she and I were bound together by the System. The moment we divorced, I would be erased from this world, never to be seen by her again. … After I agreed, Miranda dragged me straight to the courthouse. I remember once asking her for a snack from the pantry, and it took her five minutes to begrudgingly get it for me. Now, she was moving at lightning speed to end our marriage. Standing in the sterile hallway of the courthouse, she squeezed my hand tightly. “Ethan, you have to believe me. Just give me seven days. I only need seven days to calm him down, and then we’ll get married again, okay?” Her voice was a desperate whisper. “Once I get him sorted out, I’ll give you anything you want. Anything.” I just nodded, my emotions numb. A wide, relieved smile spread across her face as she pulled out a pile of "divorce gifts"—a collection of things I used to love, now laid out before me like a cheap consolation prize. I didn’t even glance at them. They were nothing more than a bribe, a tool she was using to discard me so she could be with her new boy toy. I didn’t take them. I just turned and walked out of the courthouse. She’d always had a string of young, handsome men on the side, even after we were married. Her assistants changed like the seasons, each one a prettier, younger version of the last. I’d argued with her about it. I’d begged her. She would always placate me with sweet words and empty promises, then go right back to her old ways. Eventually, I just gave up. It was her nature, and I couldn’t change it. I told myself it was fine, as long as she still considered me, Ethan, to be her husband. But this new assistant, Leo, was different. This time, I think she had actually fallen for him. She would spend a fortune just to make him smile. She’d cancel our plans to go on lavish trips with him, leaving me at home alone. She’d ignore my calls if she thought it might upset him. And now, just to appease him, she was convincing me to get a fake divorce so she could throw him the wedding of the century. Her heart had left me a long time ago. As we walked out of the courthouse together, I saw Leo waiting by the entrance, practically bouncing on his heels. When he saw Miranda, he ran to her. “Mira! You’re finally out! I’ve been waiting forever. Let’s go!” he chirped, before turning to me with a saccharine-sweet bow, completely ignoring the fury on Miranda’s face. “Thank you, Ethan. Your sacrifice gave me this chance. I’ll take good care of Mira now, you can rest assured!” Before he could say another smug word, Miranda’s hand whipped out and cracked across his face. “Shut up!” she hissed. “Didn’t I tell you to wait in the car? Don’t you dare pull a stunt like this again, or you’re gone. You understand me?” Leo clutched his cheek, his expression a mask of wounded pride. “Mira! You’re divorced now! Why are you still protecting him like this?” Miranda shoved him back, her hand pressing against his face. “I warned you about this. Don’t make me say it again.” Sensing the depth of her rage, Leo finally backed off and walked away, his shoulders slumped, his retreat punctuated by a choked sob. Miranda took a half-step toward him, her hand outstretched as if to comfort him, before she caught herself and pulled back. She stepped in front of me, putting on a show of defending my honor. She had once promised me that no matter what she did on the side, she would never, ever let it affect me or our home. Now, that line had been crossed. And she was panicking. When she looked back at me, her face was a mess of anxiety. “Ethan, I’m so sorry. I had no idea he was going to be here,” she said, her voice small and careful. “I guess I’ve been spoiling him too much lately, he’s gotten bold. I’ll deal with him.” I just shook my head, signaling that it didn't matter. I’d seen and endured far worse. This was nothing. “He’s already here,” I said, my voice flat. “You should go be with him. I don’t need you to take care of me.” “I’ll grab a cab now. I need to pack my things and find a new place.” Miranda blinked, then quickly recovered. “Of course. Ethan, wherever you want to go, just let me know. I’ll pay for everything. Just go, have some fun.” I nodded without a word and kept walking. The moment I stepped out of the courthouse grounds, a mechanical voice echoed in my mind. “Subject: Ethan McCollum. System has detected the termination of your marital bond with Miranda Thorne. Mission is now concluded.” “In seven days, you will exit this world by way of a terminal illness.” Eight years ago, I was just a guy reading a novel on my couch when I was inexplicably pulled into this world. I was bound to a “Companion System” and placed by Miranda’s side. The System’s mission was simple: stay with Miranda for eight years, or help her achieve great success and a full ‘Happiness Index.’ Within the first few years, with my help, her company had become a billion-dollar enterprise and her Happiness Index had maxed out. But even though my mission was technically complete, I didn’t leave. In those eight years, I had genuinely fallen in love with her. I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving. The System told me that if I just completed the full eight-year term, I could stay with her forever. I thought that was my future. I would stay by her side until the day I died. But here we were, just seven days shy of the eight-year mark, and she had just divorced me. On the day my eight years were up, I would be sent back to my original world. With seven days left to live, I checked into a hotel. On the way, I saw them everywhere. On billboards, on bus stop ads, on the news tickers. Gushing articles and sweet photos of Miranda Thorne and Leo Vance, preparing for their fairy-tale wedding. I saw a picture of them—her in a wedding gown, him in a tuxedo—and it all clicked. The rush to divorce me, the desperation. It was all to prepare a surprise wedding for her boy toy. I suddenly remembered when I first arrived in this world. The System had directed me to her, and the moment she saw me, it was like she’d been struck by lightning. She fell for me, hard. She swore that day that I would be the love of her life, that she would do anything to be with me. And for a while, she did. She cared for me in a way that was all-consuming. Her presence was in every detail of my life. I truly felt like I was the center of her universe. When her wealthy parents forbade her from marrying a no-name like me, she went on a hunger strike for three days until they finally relented. At our wedding, she held my hand and vowed before God and everyone, “I, Miranda Thorne, will love Ethan McCollum for the rest of my life. Forever and always.” She didn’t keep her promise. Back in my hotel room, I lay down on the bed. Before I could even process my thoughts, a sudden, coppery taste filled my mouth, and I coughed, spattering blood across the clean white sheets. It seems the illness the System had planned for my final seven days was going to be a rough one. At the hospital, the doctors were baffled. They couldn’t find anything wrong with me. They just gave me some painkillers and sent me home. I couldn’t help but wonder what the look on Miranda’s face would be when I finally died. Of course, before that happened, there was one last thing I had to do. I had to see her parents, my in-laws, and tell them to be well, not to grieve for me. In this strange, foreign world, they were the only ones who had ever treated me like family. Since I was dying, it was only right that they knew. I hadn’t even reached their front door when I saw her through the window. Miranda was there, shielding Leo behind her as she faced her parents. “Mom, Dad, Ethan is busy! I brought my assistant to visit you, there’s no need to throw his gifts on the floor!” she was shouting. Her father pointed a trembling finger at her, his voice booming with rage. “You disgraceful girl! I’ve told you, I only acknowledge one son-in-law, and that is Ethan McCollum!” “Get this damn Leo out of my house! Get him out now!” Her mother clutched her chest, her face pale. “Your father is right! Take him and leave, now!” Her voice cracked. “Mira, Ethan has never, ever done anything to wrong you.” A sliver of warmth spread through my chest. It was true, they had once fought tooth and nail to keep me from marrying their daughter. It took Miranda’s hunger strike to change their minds. But after we were married, I had made a real effort. I visited often, cooked for them, and looked after their health. Over time, they had come to see me as their own son. “I already talked to Ethan about this,” Miranda argued, her voice rising. “He’s fine with it.” “I’m not asking you to accept Leo! I just brought him here to say hello! Do you have to be so rude?” “Leo, we’re leaving!” she fumed, her face flushed with anger, and started dragging him toward the door. The scene was an almost perfect mirror of how she had once fought for me. Only now, the man at her side was different.
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