The white carpet in the corridor was stained red with blood.
Susan, in a red dress, lay in a pool of it, like a dried rose that had been drained of life: delicate yet broken.
"Susan?" Andrew's pupils contracted. Panicked and at a loss, he gathered her into his arms, his voice laced with fear he didn't even notice himself.
"Susan!"
In her dazed state, Susan asked silently in her mind:
[System, what's happening to me?]
System: [Host, your time in this world is almost up. Your body is still dying from the terminal illness. But since you completed the mission successfully, I've deactivated your pain sensors in advance.]
Susan understood, though dizziness still clouded her mind. She opened her eyes and met Andrew's flustered gaze.
"What's with all this blood? Susan, what are you trying to do this time?"
So, he could panic for her?
Susan pushed herself up from his arms, stood, and gave a faint smile. "Mr. Andrew, you can't even tell?"
She pointed at the floor. "It's fake. Just ketchup. Why are you so tense, Mr. Andrew? Don't tell me you're worried I'm really sick?"
As she spoke, she roughly wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth.
Andrew didn't love her. Right now, he was probably fighting to defend Rebecca. If he found out she had a terminal illness and was dying, with the disgust he had for her, he'd probably just say she deserved it.
Sure enough, Andrew's expression darkened in an instant. "Susan, stop trying to get my attention with these kinds of tricks. No matter how jealous you are of your sister, you shouldn't go around slandering Rebecca."
"Rebecca had her reasons for going abroad back then. She's kindhearted and never held it against you. Out of respect for our past marriage, if you just apologize publicly to her, I'll drop the legal action."
Susan only smiled, her tone light: "Go ahead and sue me. Whether it's a lawsuit or anything else, I'll take it."
The next day was Susan's birthday. Her last birthday in this world.
She spent a fortune to book the entire top-tier luxury venue, Pechanga Pavilion, the highest and most expensive banquet hall in the city. She asked to decorate the place beautifully and grandly, like a farewell party for herself.
Just before the banquet began, Susan bumped into Andrew and her son, Sam, in the hotel lobby. Andrew seemed to have been waiting deliberately and walked straight up to her. But the first thing he said was: "Susan, cancel your birthday party."
Susan froze, then chuckled: "You say cancel, and I'm just supposed to cancel?"
The old Susan would've obeyed sweetly. Her current tone caught Andrew off guard. His expression darkened slightly. "I'm hosting an event here today to introduce Rebecca to everyone."
But Susan was utterly indifferent, nothing like the obedient woman she used to be. "And that's got what to do with me?"
Right then, Sam tugged on Andrew's hand and said in German:
"Dad, let's go. If Mom won't listen, it's her own fault if she gets embarrassed."
Andrew's face turned cold as well. He gave Susan a stern warning: "Don't say I didn't warn you."
Susan said nothing more and turned to leave. Regret? The only thing she regretted in this life, was falling in love with Andrew during the mission.
At 8 p.m., Susan's birthday banquet began on time.
On the big screen, a loop of video greetings from friends played:
Some wished her a glorious comeback.
Some wished her eternal youth…
Susan smiled radiantly, accepting toast after toast. Her slightly flushed cheeks glowing under the lights: "Thank you all for the kind wishes. I'm truly happy tonight."
But just as she finished speaking, the big screen abruptly switched to a livestream. No one knew who triggered it.
Suddenly, the faces of her parents filled the screen: "Susan has maliciously slandered her own sister, a disgrace to our family. From today onward, we are no longer related to her!"
Then, Andrew and Sam's faces appeared.
"My mom, Susan, abandoned me while I was sick to go party around with strippers. I'm no longer her son!"
"I'm divorced from Susan. She has deliberately tarnished my fiancée Rebecca's reputation. From today forward, all businesses under the Feynman Group are off-limits to Susan. She is no longer welcome at Pechanga Pavilion."