Just as Bianca was about to question him, the car door was flung open. Julian, radiating a murderous aura and looking like a madman, burst in and dragged her out of the vehicle.

"Ah! Let me go!" Bianca screamed in terror, struggling desperately.

"Shut up!" Julian’s eyes were vicious. He gripped her wrist tightly and shoved her into his own car. "I’m taking you to see Sera. I’m giving back what belongs to her!"

The car sped away, finally coming to a halt at the entrance of the Sterling estate.

Julian grabbed Bianca and forced his way into the house.

But the moment he pushed the door open, he froze.

The Sterling home, once vibrant and filled with the flowers and ornaments Sera loved, was now empty and covered in dust, looking as if no one had lived there for a long time.

The sofas in the living room were covered in white sheets, the dining table was layered with dust, and the plants in the corner had long since withered. It was a scene of deathly silence.

"Dad? Mom? Sera?"

Julian let go of Bianca and searched the house frantically for any sign of people. "Dad? Mom? Are you here? I’ve brought Bianca to apologize to you!"

He searched room by room, his shouts echoing through the empty halls, but there was no response.

Bianca shook with fear, shrinking into a corner of the living room. Seeing Julian’s manic state, her eyes were filled with terror.

She tried to flee, but Julian caught her again.

"Where do you think you’re going?" Julian throttled her, his gaze sinister. "Sera hasn't forgiven you yet. Do you think you can leave?"

Bianca stumbled back, shaking her head, only managing to squeeze out disjointed words with all her strength: "Julian... you... are a lunatic! Sera Sterling is already dead!"

"Shut up!" Julian roared. "It’s because of you that Sera died! I’m going to make you pay with your life!"

With that, he grabbed Bianca by the hair and forcibly dragged her to the study.

The study was likewise covered in dust.

Julian’s eyes scanned the room, finally landing on a memorial tablet in the corner.

The tablet read "In Memory of Beloved Daughter Sera Sterling," covered in a thick layer of dust.

Julian staggered over, his hand trembling as he gently brushed the dust away.

Tears surged again. He fell to his knees before the tablet, his voice choked: "Sera, I found her. I’ve brought her to apologize to you."

He turned to Bianca, his gaze becoming incredibly lethal, as if he wanted to devour her: "Get over here! Kneel before Sera!"

Bianca backed away in terror, shaking her head: "No! I won't kneel! She’s dead, you madman!"

"Get over here!" Julian stood up abruptly, lunged forward, and grabbed Bianca’s hair, forcing her down to the ground in front of the tablet. "If not for you, Sera wouldn't be dead! If not for you, we wouldn't be like this! Kneel and beg her for forgiveness!"

Bianca’s scalp felt numb from the pulling. Tears flowed from the pain, but she still refused to bow her head: "I did nothing wrong! If anyone is to blame, it’s Sera Sterling for being stupid and you for being blind! You deserved to be tricked by me!"

"You still dare to say that!" Julian was completely incited. He pulled a pre-prepared dagger from his waist, his eyes bloodshot as he looked at Bianca. "This heart belongs to Sera! I’m going to return it to her!"

"No! Are you crazy?" Bianca was scared out of her wits, struggling with all her might.

But Julian had lost all reason. He pinned Bianca down, raised the dagger, and stabbed it into her chest without hesitation.

Squeltch—

The sound of the blade piercing flesh echoed through the empty study. Blood sprayed out instantly, staining Bianca's clothes and the dust on the floor.

Bianca’s eyes were wide open, a look of terror frozen on her face. Her body convulsed a few times before falling completely still.

Julian slowly let go, looking at Bianca’s corpse with a void expression.

He stood up and walked to Sera’s memorial tablet, his voice raspy: "Sera, I’ve returned what belongs to you. You can rest in peace now."

Suddenly, dark clouds gathered outside, and thunder crashed. The entire Sterling house began to shake violently. Cracks appeared on the walls as if it might collapse at any moment.

Julian was stunned. He looked at the dagger in his hand, at Bianca’s body, and then at the swaying house, his face full of confusion.

He did not know that by killing Bianca, he had completely violated the rules of the novel world, causing the world to begin to break apart.

Chapter 12

At that very moment, in another world, Sera was busy in the kitchen wearing an apron.

A pot of pork rib soup was simmering, filling the air with a delicious aroma.

In the living room, Arthur and Eleanor were sitting on the sofa watching TV, their faces full of smiles.

Since Sera had detached from that novel world, the System—noting that she had sacrificed too much to complete her missions over the years and that the mission failure wasn't her fault—gave her a reward: she woke up in her original body, which had been on the verge of death following a car accident.

After Sera woke up, the System gave her an additional reward.

She thought about it and decided to have the System bring Arthur and Eleanor from the novel world over to her.

She had been an orphan since childhood and had never experienced parental love. In that novel world, the unconditional love Arthur and Eleanor gave her made her deeply attached to them.

Furthermore, she couldn't bear to watch the elderly couple suffer the blow of losing their daughter.

The System granted her request and brought them over.

Sera explained everything to them. Though they were shocked, they chose to believe her and continued to love her just as before.

From that day on, the family of three lived a peaceful and happy life in this world.

Sera had long since put everything from that novel world out of her mind.

Just then, the System’s cold, mechanical voice suddenly rang in her head:

[Warning! The novel world is experiencing a severe collapse. The Host is required to return and assist in its repair. Do you accept the mission?]

Sera’s movements froze, her brow furrowing. "I’ve already left. Why do I have to go back?"

[Due to Julian’s extreme behavior, the rules of that world have become disordered. If not repaired in time, it will completely collapse. As a key figure of that world, the Host is the only one who can buy time.]

Sera hesitated.

She didn't want to return to that place of heartbreak, nor did she want to see Julian again.

In the living room, Arthur and Eleanor noticed her strange behavior and walked over. "Sweetie, what’s wrong?"

Sera told them what the System had said. Eleanor immediately grabbed her hand. "Sweetie, we aren't going! That place is too dangerous. We don't want you to be hurt again."

"That’s right," Arthur nodded. "Our life is good now. There’s no need to go back and get involved in that mess."

Sensing her low willingness to return, the System quickly upped the ante.

[As a reward, upon completion of the repair, the Host will be granted one chance to fulfill any wish. Furthermore, during the return, the Host will be under System protection and will not suffer any harm.]

Sera fell silent.

She cherished her current life, but the System’s reward was too tempting.

She wanted her parents to be healthy and live long lives forever. She wanted them to be happy and joyful always.

Moreover, the System promised to protect her safety.

After thinking for a long time, she finally made up her mind. "Mom, Dad, I’ll go. The System says I won't be hurt, and after completing the task, I can ensure you both stay healthy forever."

"Sweetie..." Eleanor wanted to say more, but Sera interrupted her.

"Don't worry, Mom. I’ll be back very soon."

[Host confirms acceptance of mission. Transmission beginning. Countdown: 3, 2, 1...]

As the System's countdown ended, Sera’s figure suddenly vanished from the kitchen.

Arthur and Eleanor looked at the empty kitchen, their faces full of worry.

When Sera opened her eyes again, she was back inside the crumbling Sterling estate.

The house continued to shake, the cracks in the walls grew larger, and dust and debris fell incessantly from the ceiling.

Julian was slumped on the floor, his eyes hollow, muttering to himself: "Sera, I’ve returned what belongs to you... you can rest in peace now..."

Sera’s sudden appearance made him jerk his head up.

When he saw the living, breathing Sera standing at the door, his pupils contracted sharply, and his face was filled with utter disbelief.

He thought he was hallucinating. He blinked hard, only to find Sera still standing there, dressed in simple loungewear, looking at him with a calm gaze.