Chapter 3

Late that night the wind howled, and rain pounded against the windows without letting up.

I huddled in the corner of the bed, trembling nonstop.

Ever since I was little, I've been terrified of thunder and rain. After I came here, every time the weather turned like this, Gabriel would hold me and comfort me.

Even pulling the blanket over my head couldn't keep the sound of their panting from reaching my ears.

"Louder."

"No wonder you wouldn't let Bella go out—you wanted her to hear it. You're so wicked."

I tore frantically at the tissues, trying to block out the filthy sounds, but it was no use.

I grabbed the sleeping pills Gabriel had bought me because of my insomnia from the bedside table and stuffed them into my mouth by the handful.

He'd once warned me I mustn't take too many of them, or they'd kill me.

But right now I was only afraid it wouldn't be enough. Better to die early—then I wouldn't hurt this much.

I don't know when the sounds next door finally stopped.

Gabriel glanced out the window. "I'll go check on Bella. She's terrified of this kind of weather."

The moment he opened the door and saw me, he froze. I was convulsing all over, already unconscious.

He snatched me up in his arms like a madman and carried me through the pouring rain to the hospital.

Faintly, I could still hear him telling me not to die, begging me not to leave him.

After a whole night of it, I was still pulled back.

The first thing I heard when I opened my eyes was Gabriel complaining.

His face was worn out—clearly he hadn't slept all night.

"The doctor said if you'd come in ten minutes later, you'd be dead. Are you trying to threaten me with your life? You think I'll feel guilty if you die?"

His tone was icy. "Isabella Clark, did I owe you in some past life? You just can't stand to see me happy. What a mood-killer."

I knew he meant my suicide—that I did it to steal the spotlight, to ruin his and Zoe's good time.

But I really couldn't hold on anymore.

"Gabriel, do you remember what I said the day you proposed?"

Gabriel's brows knit together, his tone impatient.

"You're going to say it again—that the System is going to erase you."

"Bella, can you be realistic for once? How could a living, breathing person just vanish for no reason? Stop living in your fantasies."

I looked at him and gave a bitter little laugh.

The day he proposed, he knelt on one knee. "I swear I'll never fail Bella in this life. I'll make sure Bella finishes her mission and gets to stay here."

Back then he believed me, he loved me, and his vows were sincere and burning.

I don't really understand it either—how a person can change so suddenly.

"Gabriel, I really did come from another world. The System really exists. I'm about to disappear."

"Enough."

Before I could finish, he cut me off sharply.

"I consulted a psychologist. What you have is called delusional disorder. If it gets bad enough, it turns into schizophrenia."

He took out his phone and glanced at the time.

"I've still got tomorrow's wedding to deal with. Zoe will be done with her prenatal checkup soon—she'll take you to the psychiatric hospital for treatment."

My whole body jerked, and it hit me: he wanted to send me to a psychiatric hospital.

When I first came to this world, so many people said I was insane. Only Gabriel believed me.

I'd looked it up behind his back, so I knew what kind of people ended up in that hospital. I only had one day left, and I didn't want to spend it in there.