Chapter 2

Under my stubborn demands, I used up almost all my accumulated system energy to complete the trade.

Ethan, of course, had no idea. He believed the lie that I was the one who got trapped in the fire while trying to save him.

In reality, my ruined, oozing body was just bearing the consequences of his own mistake.

I remained hidden in the shadows, listening to them.

Ethan's voice drifted over again. "Three years of pretending to be okay while sharing a bed with her. It’s been pure psychological torture. Now, just looking at her makes me want to throw up!"

"Man, forget about her," Carter said, slapping Ethan's shoulder. "Let's hit the club tonight. We'll help you loosen up."

Ethan shook his head. "No, today is our fifth anniversary. I should go home and get it over with. Consider it my final act of charity before the end."

They chatted a bit longer, but I couldn't listen anymore.

My head spun, and my body felt like it was being pierced by a thousand hot needles.

I don't even remember how I made it back to the dining table.

A long time later, Ethan finally walked through the door.

He casually tossed a small gift box onto the table. Without even looking at me, he pulled out his phone and started eating.

In the past, I would have complained.

He was always so busy with work, and we barely spent any time together. I used to feel sorry for him, so I always begged him to put his phone away during dinner.

Only now did I realize it wasn't because he was busy. He just didn't want to look at my face.

"Who is Chloe?" I asked quietly.

Ethan snapped his head up. His eyes flashed with irritation, bordering on anger.

When his eyes landed on my scarred face, a look of pure disgust slipped through before he could hide it.

"Why are you asking about her?"

"Just curious. Is she... important to you?"

He stared at me, silent for a few seconds. Then, he quickly masked his expression, offering me a perfect, practiced smile.

"Of course not, honey. You’re the only one who matters to me."

"By the way, a major client just landed. I have to head back to the office right now..."

"But... today is our fifth anniversary."

I was still desperately clinging to the tiny, naive hope that we could at least finish this final dinner together in peace. A proper goodbye to our five years.

But Ethan's eyes were filled with nothing but impatience. He could barely hide his annoyance.

Still, he suppressed it. He leaned in, gave me a quick, shallow hug, and immediately pulled away.

"I already gave you your gift, didn't I? Be good, babe. I'll make it up to you when I get back."

With that, he practically ran out the door.

Through the window, I watched him walk to his car. The moment he thought he was out of sight, he began frantically wiping down his clothes, as if he had just touched something toxic.

He even spat on the ground several times in disgust.

I stared into the empty street and whispered, "System, can I take my skin back now?"

*“Host, your current energy level is too low. A random quest has been unlocked. Please proceed to Club Nocturne to gather energy.”*

Hearing the system's voice after so long made me freeze, but I quickly pulled myself together.

Even with my body and face wrapped tightly in a thick scarf, it took every ounce of my courage to step out of the house.

At the club entrance, the bouncer gave me a weird, suspicious look, which made my chest tighten with anxiety.

But at least they let me in.

Inside, the lights were dim, the music was loud, and the darkness hid my scars. I finally let out a sigh of relief.

I tried to find a quiet corner to hide in, but someone suddenly crashed right into me.

"Are you fucking blind? Watch where you're going!" a loud, arrogant voice barked. "You almost spilled my drink! Apologize right now!"

I quickly began to apologize, but the young man refused to let it go.

"A girl? Why the hell are you wrapped up like a mummy? What, are you some supermodel hiding from paparazzi, or just an ugly troll?"

Before I could react, his hand shot out and violently ripped the scarf off my head, exposing my severely burned, scarred face to the crowd.

I screamed, frantically covering my face with my hands, but it was too late.

"Holy shit! What the fuck is that monster?!"

The guy jumped back in disgust, wiping his hands on his pants as if I were contagious, and walked away swearing.

I kept my face covered, trying to push through the crowd to escape, crying out that I wasn't a monster.

Suddenly, a strong hand gripped my wrist. I panicked, struggling to pull away.

But a familiar voice sounded in my ear. "What the hell are you doing here?"

I looked up. It was Ethan.

Tears flooded my eyes. Out of sheer habit, I tried to lean into his chest for comfort, but the memory of his conversation earlier flashed through my mind, stopping me cold.

His voice didn't hold a single drop of concern. It was pure, icy interrogation.

I forced myself to calm down. "I was lonely. I just wanted to get some air."

Just then, Carter appeared from the VIP section, holding a glass of champagne. He looked at me with absolute contempt.

"Summer, do you have any self-awareness at all? Do you know what kind of place this is? This is an elite club! Do you think a hideous freak like you belongs here?"

"Ethan has been nice enough not to dump you, but can't you have some decency and think about his reputation? Do you have to come out here and embarrass him like this?!"

Carter's words were incredibly sharp, showing no respect for me whatsoever.

"Whether I can be here isn't up to you," I spat back coldly. "If a dog like you can get in, why can't I?"

Carter had a notorious temper. Hearing my insult, he raised his hand to strike me, but Lucas quickly stepped in and held him back.

Lucas patted Carter's shoulder, then turned to me with a sigh. "Summer, things are different now. Coming here only makes people look at you like a freak. You're the one getting humiliated. Carter’s words might be harsh, but he’s right."

Carter immediately chimed in. "Seriously! You smell like rot. Even my expensive cologne can't block out the stench coming off you. Jesus!"

"Ethan, you owe me a new jacket!"

I heard Ethan chuckle warmly in response, agreeing to his friend's demand.

I turned my cold gaze to Ethan. "Are you really just going to stand there and let them treat me like this?"