The Hundred Missions Were Just Their Love Game Chapter 02

The Hundred Missions Were Just Their Love Game Chapter 02

The ballroom fell silent.

Nina looked at me in disbelief.

Joel immediately stepped in front of her, his voice turning cold. “Valery, how could you say that to her?”

I pointed at Nina. “Take it off.”

My mom rushed over, her expression furious.

“You’re not invited. Get out!”

When I didn’t move, Joel looked at me, his voice softening. “Valery, you’re upset. Come with me. We can talk somewhere quiet.”

As whispers spread through the room, Joel tried to lead me outside. Then Nina suddenly clutched her head, her face turning pale.

“Joel… I-I don’t feel well…”

His expression changed instantly. “What’s wrong?”

“The System is punishing me again… Every time you get close to Valery, it overwhelms me. It hurts so much. It really hurts…”

Joel instinctively let go of me.

I took a deep breath. “Joel, either you leave with me right now, or you stay and marry her. You can only choose one.”

He frowned. “Valery, this is serious. You know that if I leave, the System will erase Nina…”

“Enough!” The moment I heard the word System, I felt sick. “Joel, are you really going to keep lying to yourself, or do you really think I’m going to believe this? A System? What kind of story is that?”

Someone stepped beside me. I turned to see my brother standing there with a dark look on his face.

“Enough, Valery. Haven’t you embarrassed yourself enough?”

I looked around. Every familiar face had suddenly become a stranger, all of them watching me with amused smiles.

“A woman should have some self-respect. Clearly, she never learned that.”

“Anyone can see who Joel loves. She’s the only one who refuses to accept it.”

“She was always like this. Arrogant, disrespectful, always trying to take what belonged to someone else. Now she’s even trying to take her cousin’s husband.”

“She’s pathetic.”

Those relatives barely had anything to do with me in everyday life, yet now they were all standing there, judging me as if they knew me better than anyone.

Then my grandmother, the one person who had always loved me most, slowly rose from her seat and took my hand.

“Sweetheart, you’ve been such a good girl. Why are you acting like this today? Of all the people in the world, why does it have to be your cousin’s man?”

“You’re smart, beautiful, and kind. You’ll meet someone better. Since you’re already here, stay and celebrate with everyone. Apologize to Nina, and we’ll put this behind us.”

I looked at Joel as tears slipped down my cheeks. For the last time, I asked, “Joel, are you coming with me or not?”

He just stood there, saying nothing, with Nina beside him.

I took a deep breath and suddenly smiled. The string I’d held taut for eight years finally snapped.

I slipped my arm through my grandma’s. “I’ll listen to you, Grandma.” Then I picked up the glass on the table and took a sip.

“Nina. Joel. I wish you both a long and happy marriage.”

With that, I turned and walked away.

“Valery!” Joel followed me for a few steps.

I didn’t look back.