Chapter 1

After completing the quest, I returned to my original world and woke up from my coma.

My children, who had grown up, stood before my hospital bed.

My wife, Clara Anderson, hugged me tightly. My parents-in-law were crying in joy.

Just as I prepared to log off from the system for good and choose to stay in my original world, a man who looked extremely similar to me walked in.

My children, Jared Anderson and Julia Anderson, ran over to him and called him “Dad” lovingly.

Everyone looked at me a little awkwardly.

That man, Ted Smith, smiled tauntingly at me.

I paused the system.

“Let me reconsider this. Maybe I’ll stay in the system instead.”

Chapter 1

My children, Jared Anderson and Julia Anderson, grabbed Ted Smith’s clothes tightly. They looked at me warily, like I was a criminal.

I clenched my fists and felt my heart throbbing in pain.

My wife, Clara Anderson, tightened her grip around my arm.

I looked up and stared at the others standing around me.

Initially, they were talking about the automatic alarm installed in my cell phone. Ted showing up at that very moment caught them by surprise.

My father-in-law, George Brown, explained himself awkwardly, “When you were in a coma, Ted took care of us. Initially, we wanted to introduce you to him after you came home.”

My mother-in-law, Nancy Brown, added, “That’s right, since you’ve woken up from your coma, I hope the two of you play along well. Don’t make us worry.”

Ted smiled and walked toward me. However, his eyes were taunting me.

I silently paused the system.

‘I’ll give you an answer in two days’ time.’

In my brain, the system sighed softly and went into sleep mode.

When I did not respond to him, Ted pretended to be upset. He forced a smile at everyone else.

“I had rushed into this. It’s normal for Blake to hate me. I’ll make a move first…”

He did not wait for the others to respond before he turned around and left.

Nancy stomped and immediately ran after him.

Clara stood up subconsciously. However, she paused momentarily when she met my gaze. Then, she sat down again.

She hugged me tightly and comforted me like she used to.

“Don’t overthink this. You are my only husband.”

Julia gathered up her dress and ran after him. Jared turned to glare at me in hatred, then he slammed the door behind him.

I was confused. How did my adorable children turn into people with such bad attitudes?

Seeing that I was silent, George went out to complete my discharge procedure. After a while, I was placed on a wheelchair.

However, I realized after we started driving that we were not heading home.

I could not help but ask, “George, if I recall correctly, this isn’t the way home, right?”

George’s hands that were holding the steering wheel trembled. He laughed. “You’ve always had such a good memory.”

He took the long road before finally arriving home.

Initially, I did not understand George’s actions.

However, it all made sense when I entered the house.

The family portrait that we once had was taken off the wall. Instead, it was replaced by a photo of them with Ted.

I looked at the photo on the wall dumbfoundedly. Then, I walked upstairs and opened my old bedroom door.

As expected, Ted had taken over my bedroom.

I was breathing heavily. I looked at the bedroom. It looked completely different. Then, I stared at Ted, who was telling Julia a bedtime story.

I laughed mockingly.

Over the past five years, I had completed all quests given by the system dutifully, just so I could reunite with my family.

I never expected to lose my place in this family.

“Were you planning to send me elsewhere from the start?”

Chapter 2

I stared at George, who used to be very kind to me, yet he avoided my gaze awkwardly.

“I’ll prepare a room for you now. You’ll always have a place in this house.”

Just when he said that, Ted immediately pretended to look upset.

He stood up silently and started to move his things out of my bedroom. However, Julia stopped him.

When no one noticed, she suddenly charged toward me and pushed me onto the floor.

She started to throw any item she could get her hands on to me. As she hit me, she yelled, “You’re bullying my dad the moment you return! You’re a bad man!

“Get lost!

“Get out of my house! Leave!”

I looked at Julia and her twisted expression, and I was completely stunned.

Everyone was shocked by Julia’s behavior.

Clara grabbed her hand and scolded her with a frown.

“Julia, what are you doing?”

Julia kept crying, yet she insisted on scolding me.

Jared, who was asleep, woke up and started sobbing.

Ted carried him in his arms and looked torn.

“Don’t fight anymore! Please stop fighting! This is all my fault, I’ll leave!”

After he said that, he stood up and wanted to leave.

George yelled, “All of you, shut up!

“Ted, you don’t have to leave. You can keep this bedroom.”

My breathing hitched. I turned toward George.

George was staring at me with a frown.

“Blake, I’ll get someone to clean out the bedroom on the third floor for you. You can sleep in the guest bedroom tonight.

“Everyone should stop fighting.”

Upon hearing his words, I recalled the question I had asked him before Clara and I got married.

“George, isn’t this the master bedroom? Why aren’t Nancy and you staying in it? Why are you leaving it to me?”

Back then, George had smiled at me lovingly.

“Blake, you’re our son-in-law. Of course we want you to have a better bedroom.”

When I thought of that, I felt my heart sinking.

I turned around to wipe my face before I walked away.

George looked like he wanted to say something, yet he did not make a sound.

After I returned to the guest bedroom, I was already very tired. I buried my head into the pillow and let the darkness take over me.

Suddenly, I could smell Clara’s perfume. She hugged me.

Clara kissed my cheek softly.

She held my hand and sighed.

“Are you in a bad mood today?”

I opened my eyes and looked at her. She flashed a smile at me.

I rubbed my eyes. “Go and freshen up.”

Clara hugged me tightly again. Then, she picked up her phone and went into the bathroom.

I thought she would be quick.

Previously, she always took quick showers. It would take less than ten minutes.

However, the water kept running despite me waiting for a really long time.

I drifted into sleep.

I woke up from the sound of Clara closing the door.

When I opened my eyes, I saw her phone, which she'd placed next to my pillow. The screen lit up.

Ted’s name was on the screen.

[I’m waiting for you.]

My heart skipped a beat as I quickly picked up her phone to read the message.

However, when I tried to unlock her phone, it indicated that I had inputted the wrong password.

In the past, Clara’s phone password had been my birthday.

However, I kept trying with different combinations. It was not my birthday, her birthday, or our children’s birthdays.

I suddenly recalled Ted’s birthday that Clara had indicated in the remark section.

I entered the string of numbers, and her phone was unlocked.

My blood ran cold.

When I pulled up their conversation history, I saw that Clara had actually been on a video-call with Ted the entire hour she was in the bathroom.

The phone fell from my hand.

I took a deep breath and tried to calm down.

After a while, I stood up and walked toward Ted’s bedroom.

Chapter 3

The door was ajar. I saw Ted’s arm around Clara’s shoulder. He was smiling as he leaned in and kissed Clara.

Clara wrapped her arms around his neck and returned his kisses passionately.

I stood outside of the door and tortured myself by watching.

When I no longer had the strength to stand upright, I collapsed onto the floor.

I heard some noises coming from the kitchen, so I turned to look.

I saw Jared, who was only seven years old, standing on a stool and clumsily stirring the pot.

Since I was afraid that he would hurt himself, I walked over.

He was mumbling to himself, “Daddy doesn’t like coriander and onion…”

He took the pot off the stove as if he was an adult. I felt my heart soften at that sight.

However, when he turned around and saw me, his face immediately fell.

“Why are you here? You’re a jerk!”

Upon hearing that, I suddenly came to my senses. He had been referring to Ted earlier when he mentioned the word “Daddy”.

My lips quivered.

“Jared, I’m your father. How can you…”

“You’re not my dad!” Jared refuted loudly.

He pushed me away. Then, he took the soup he had just made to Ted.

I stumbled after Jared pushed me and hit my spine against the corner of the cabinet. It was extremely painful.

I went back to Ted’s bedroom.

Jared was blowing on the hot soup before serving it to Ted.

Ted smiled and praised him. Clara hugged Jared and teased him, “Jared, you care about Daddy more than Julia.”

I stood at the door and watched the scene unfolding before me.

They were so happy, as if they were a true family.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I turned around and left.

The next morning, Clara woke me up.

She had the habit of giving me a morning kiss.

However, I dodged her attempts.

She was stunned. Then, she held my hand and brought me to the dining room.

However, there was no seat for me at the table.

Ted sat in my original seat and smiled at me.

Clara awkwardly nudged me to sit in her place.

“I’m sorry…” The nanny, Amy Reid, spoke carefully.

“I didn’t prepare Mr. Anderson’s meal…”

Upon hearing that, everyone was stunned.

George asked in confusion, “Did Ted not tell you?”

Ted slapped his forehead.

“I slept too late last night, so I didn’t wake up on time this morning. I forgot to tell Amy about it…

“Let Blake have my breakfast then…”

Nancy stopped Ted.

“Sit down.”

George also disagreed.

“You should eat your breakfast. You’re skinny enough.”

It was as if I was a ghost. I watched the happy family before me as I clenched my fists.

George sighed and told Amy to make another breakfast before holding my hand and telling me about the party.

“You finally woke up from your coma, so we plan to throw you a party to celebrate that. I’ll get Clara to take you to get ready in a bit.”

I freed my hand inconspicuously and nodded.

I stared at George and started thinking if I should still remain there.

During the party, George brought Ted around to greet all his family and friends.

I wanted to walk over, yet Nancy stopped me.

Nancy shot a glance at me.

“George is introducing Ted to everyone as his successor, so you shouldn’t go over. We’ll leave our shares to you, and you’ll receive the dividends.”

I was stunned as I asked subconsciously, “Didn’t you tell me that I would be…?”

“That’s all in the past.”

Nancy held my hand as though she was afraid that I would throw a tantrum. “Be good.”

I was brought to the corner in a daze.

My attention was caught by a passing figure. It was Clara.

Chapter 4

She had promised me that she would no longer drink. However, she was right there drinking on behalf of Ted with a bright smile.

She had some gastric issues.

In the past, she was admitted to the hospital due to severe stomach cramps. I was extremely worried.

Then, she promised me to not drink alcohol anymore. Her friends even mocked her for being such a good wife.

I watched as she kept drinking.

After a while, she was clutching her stomach as her face turned pale.

I didn't hesitate. I rushed over and held her arm to support her.

“Have you forgotten what you had promised me?”

She stared at my concerned expression as guilt flashed in her eyes. She was moved by my concern.

“I’m sorry, Blake, I…”

“Stop talking.”

I took a deep breath. When I took her away from the party, I did not inform anyone.

When we reached the hospital, she had already passed out.

The doctor gave her an IV drip, and I was about to leave to make payment.

However, Clara grabbed my wrist.

“Don’t go…”

I could not help but smile when I heard her words.

I looked down and comforted her. However, to my surprise, I heard Ted’s name coming out of her mouth.

“Don’t go, Ted.”

At that moment, I was completely stunned from shock.

I felt my heart sinking.

I pried her fingers away from my wrist. After I made the payment, I hailed a cab and went home.

“Ted is so close to us now, we can’t immediately ask him to leave!”

My hand paused on the door knob. Before I opened the door, I heard Nancy’s voice.

“How about we ask Clara to divorce Blake and marry Ted instead?” Nancy suggested and sought George’s opinion.

George sighed.

“You’re right. Even if Clara divorces Blake, his parents could take care of him. But Ted’s alone. He should marry Clara then.”

I could not believe my ears when I heard that.

They were deciding my fate with just a few careless sentences.

As I stood dumbfoundedly, I heard a chuckle behind me.

“Blake, so what if you’ve woken up from your coma?”

I turned around and saw Ted looking at me tauntingly.

“You’ve still been replaced.”

I stood firm and refuted.

“You’re just a stand-in. Do you think the happiness that you stole from me will last?”

My words hit Ted where it hurt the most.

His face fell, and he retorted angrily.

“Then, let’s see if this happiness belongs to you or me at the end!”

After he said that, he grabbed my hand and pushed me abruptly.

Then, with a loud shriek, he tumbled down the stairs. Blood started to ooze out.

Nancy and George suddenly stopped talking.

When they opened the door and saw Ted lying on the ground, George slapped me fiercely.

Nancy pushed me. I fell onto the ground.

George pointed at me. “What have you done?”

I gaped and wanted to explain myself.

However, they did not give me the chance to do so.

They said, “If something happens to Ted, you’re no longer welcome back to this family anymore!”

I went completely numb.

I watched as George helped Ted into the car.

George and Nancy did not even spare a glance at me.

I felt something snap in me.

I sat on the ground for a really long time until it started raining heavily.

As I grimaced, I said, “System, I no longer want to stay here anymore.

“I want to return to the quest world.”