Part 3The Heartbeat Paradox

"Absolutely not. Mel cannot marry him."

"Exactly. That was when we thought Mel was gone. She's alive now. Why would we let her be with someone so calculating?"

In the living room, my parents were arguing with Grandfather again.

Adrian acted as if he heard nothing. He tucked me into my bed, pulled the covers up, and turned to walk away.

I shot out a hand and grabbed the hem of his shirt.

"Adrian… can you… can you hold me?"

I would never have dared to say something so audacious before. But the system had assured me, repeatedly, that my brother was head-over-heels in love with me, so I found the courage to try.

The last rays of the setting sun slanted into the room, outlining his silhouette in a lonely light.

Adrian looked back at me, his face half-hidden in shadow. A faint, mocking smile touched his lips. "Are you done playing, Mel? Was faking your death fun? Is messing with your brother fun, too?"

"I didn't…"

He walked back towards me, his tall frame casting an oppressive shadow as he backed me against the wall. His beautiful face was cold, his eyes like ice.

"When you're happy, you feed me sweet nothings. When you're bored, you call off the engagement. Is that how you treat me, Mel? Like something you can just throw away?"

"No, that's not it—"

He gripped my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. "Then tell me. What is it you really want?"

My breathing grew ragged. I took a few desperate gulps of air and, bracing myself, said, "Happy birthday."

The room plunged into an unnerving silence.

Adrian's eyes turned glacial. If the system hadn't pinged to tell me the progress had just jumped by 5%, I would have bolted.

"They all forgot your birthday today," I whispered, tears welling in my eyes. I wiped them away. "I just… I just wanted to celebrate with you…"

In the dead quiet, I clumsily recited the only formal blessing I could remember, one we used for Grandfather. "May… may your years be many and your fortunes grow, may the… the winds of spring…"

My voice trailed off under his blank stare. "May the sun shine upon you for thirty years more…"

Shut up, you idiot!

The silence was now laced with a fresh layer of humiliation.

Adrian’s voice was a low murmur. "The last line."

"The last line…" I averted my eyes. "I forgot…"

An eternity of silence stretched on. He didn't move.

The system was in a frenzy.【Warning! Warning! Target's heart rate is dangerously high! Host, continue with your current strategy, but be careful not to overstimulate him!】

I took a deep breath. "I didn't get you a cake. I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you next time, I—"

Suddenly, Adrian's mouth was on mine.

He didn't kiss me; he devoured me. A fierce, unresolved anger fueled the assault as he pinned me against the wall. His hand wrapped around my neck, not choking me, but holding me captive, a silent threat that he could snap it if he wanted to.

My mind went blank. The system's alarm was screaming. This must mean he really, really liked me.

A tremor of excitement ran through me. Something deep inside my heart, long buried, finally broke through the soil, a tiny sprout swaying joyfully in the wind.

He gave me no chance to escape, pressing me against the door until the lack of oxygen forced a desperate sob from my lips. On the other side of that door, I could hear the muffled voices of my family, their words dripping with prejudice and contempt for him.

"You hear that?" Adrian’s voice was a cold rasp against my ear. "What makes you think I don't hate them? Every insult they throw at me… you'll be the one to bear it."

The system cackled in my head.【He's just posturing! Don't listen to him. If his heart beats any faster, he's going to need an ambulance. Host, choose your next words carefully. Don't actually give your brother a heart attack.】

I fell silent, seriously asking the system, "So when can I say the next thing?"

【Give him thirty seconds. Let him recover.】

"Got it."

Adrian tilted my face up, the darkness in his eyes threatening to drown me. My silence seemed to be driving him mad.

"Scared? If you're scared, then—"

"Adrian, let's get married."

The system shrieked.【Whoa! What are you doing? You were supposed to wait! You're going to kill him!】

But I knew I had to seize the moment.

I clutched his sleeve. "I'm not calling it off. Not even if I die again. You… you go tell them."

The storm in Adrian’s eyes subsided into a dead calm. He stared at my face, his thumb tracing the swollen outline of my lips.

"Fine," he said. "I'll go tell them."