The System Admitted Its Mistake—So I Offered Him a Divorce Chapter 01

I had a crush on Julian Hayes for fifteen years.

But I wasn’t his type.

So I never dared tell him.

Then the System told me I was the woman he had to win over.

I dropped the act and let my wicked side show.

First, I schemed my way into marrying him. Then I clung to him, demanding hate sex day and night.

Julian hated me with a vengeance, but his mission forced him to go along with what I wanted.

We spent six shameless months like that.

Then the System suddenly came online, screaming.

[Wrong! I got the wrong person! You’re a supporting character, not the female lead!]

[You need to cut ties with the male lead right now, or you’ll be punished…]

When I came home that night, Julian was lying in bed, as usual.

He watched me approach, his face blank, and sneered.

“Lily Bennett, is forcing yourself on me the only thing you know how to do?”

“You’re despicable. You have no idea what it means to love someone. I’ll get away from you…”

Before he finished, I fastened his clothes for him.

“Uh-huh. You’re right about everything. Let’s get divorced.”

***

Julian went abruptly quiet.

His long, dark lashes trembled.

I raised an eyebrow, mocking myself.

Even I wasn’t used to sounding like a stranger when I spoke to him.

Things used to be different.

The more he resisted, the more excited I got.

I threw myself at him, wrapped my arms around his waist, and nuzzled against him for warmth, coaxing him.

“Baby, stop fighting me. Let me recharge for a minute, okay? I like you so much…”

It happened every time.

Julian went rigid. His voice was stiffer still when he spoke, ice-cold.

“Lily Bennett, are you done hugging me? Then let go.”

I pulled myself out of the memory.

I cleared my throat.

I also stopped calling him “baby” as shamelessly as I always did.

“Julian.”

His breath caught.

His pupils shrank to pinpoints in his pale eyes.

Only one dim bedside lamp was on.

The dim light made it hard to have this conversation.

I reached over and switched on the overhead light.

The room flooded with brightness.

Only then did I get a good look.

He was wearing the outfit I bought him the week before.

Calling it an outfit was generous. A few scraps of fabric hung so loosely they barely covered anything.

A bell was fastened at his throat, moving with his breathing.

The little silver bell rose and fell against his firm chest. It was hard to look away.

I remembered his reaction when he first saw the outfit.

He turned bright red with anger.

His hand shook as he gripped the package.

“Lily Bennett!”

“You’re a woman. How could you… how could you buy something like this?”

“You’re even more shameless than I thought…”

I pestered him for two days, but he refused to wear it.

He even threatened to move into the spare bedroom, so I reluctantly gave up.

My father had a stroke the week before, throwing the company into turmoil.

I worked late constantly. For a month, I barely came home.

Yet today, of all days, right after the System told me it had the wrong person, he put it on.

What a shame.

I sighed.

When I looked up, his tense gaze met mine.

Before I could speak, he swallowed and offered a stiff explanation.

“All my pajamas are in the wash. I had nothing else to wear. This was my only option. Don’t read into it.”

I calmly looked away.

“I’m not. I’ll sleep in the guest room tonight.”

Julian stared for a few seconds.

Then he suddenly sat up.

It was a sudden, forceful movement.

I couldn’t help stopping and turning back to look at him.

He pressed his lips together and quickly looked away, refusing to meet my eyes.

“Lily, what… what new kink did you find online this time?”

He paused.

He seemed agitated.

His face flushed as he struggled to speak.

“You’re always looking up that weird stuff online. Stop trying everything you find on me.”

“I have a temper, you know. I’m not that easy. You can’t always…”

I shook my head and cut him off.

“No. This isn’t some kink.”

“Julian, I’m serious. Let’s get divorced.”

The room fell completely silent.

Julian sat motionless on the bed.

Even his breathing grew quieter.

I turned and walked out.

I even switched off the light for him.