Failed to Conquer the Childless Man

The system told me Id won Victor Vaughn. The conquest was complete. After, I confessed everything.

I also told him that if he ever fell in love with someone else, I would die.

But in the fifth year of our marriage, he brought home a bright, bubbly college girl.

He let her destroy my mother's last keepsake, leak my private photos online, and kill my kitten.

Afterward, all he said, with a shrug, was, Avas pregnant now. Youre my wife, shouldnt you be a little more accommodating?

He leaned in, his voice a low sneer. Youve held me hostage with your life for five years. This is what you deserve.

But as I lay dying, I heard the system furiously detaching itself from my body.

That damn sterile bastard. The bitch isnt even pregnant! Host, youre the one carrying his twins, thanks to me!

Bye, Host! Im jumping into his body now. Its his turn to win you over.

And you get to decide the punishment for his failure!

I rested a hand on my stomach and let out a cold, hollow laugh.

Fine. If he fails, let that bastard's spawn die.

The moment the system left, I felt a flicker of life returning to my veins.

Across the room, Victors brow furrowed. He strode over and gripped my wrist, his fingers like steel bands.

Isabella, what did you just do to me?

And then, I heard the systems voice, now echoing inside Victors head.

[Hello, new Host. The targets current Affection Level for you is 1. If you fail to raise it to 100 within one month, you will lose your own flesh and blood.]

Victor froze, his eyes widening for a fraction of a second.

Then, understanding dawned, and his eyes narrowed into dangerous slits.

Isabella. Are you really pulling this kind of black magic again just to win me back?

He leaned closer, his dark eyes glittering with menace.

I believe I made it clear how important the child in Avas womb is to the entire Vaughn family.

Dont you dare harm it. Dont even speak an ill word against it!

Im ordering you to undo this curse right now. If you dont, youd better watch your back. Your grandfather is in a Vaughn-owned hospital, remember?

His words were a blade to my heart. I ripped my arm from his grasp.

Always this.

He knew my grandfather was the only family I had left in this world. He knew what he meant to me.

So every time Ava hurt me, Victor would have the hospital staff inject my grandfather with a drug that wrecked his kidney function, leaving him in agony all night as the toxins built up in his body.

The agony my grandfather was suffering now

It was because, ten years ago, hed saved a dying Victor Vaughn by giving him one of his own kidneys.

Victor, how could you? For a woman who came from nowhere, youve abandoned the last shred of your humanity.

A wave of pure disgust washed over me. I opened my mouth to speak.

But the systems cold, mechanical voice cut through the air.

[Targets Affection Level has decreased. Double punishment will now be administered to the unfaithful and the interloper.]

The words had barely faded when both Victor and Ava turned deathly pale and crumpled to the floor.

I watched them, my face a mask of indifference. I stood up, reaching for my phone to arrange a transfer for my grandfather.

But the moment I was on my feet, my own body betrayed me, and I collapsed.

As darkness consumed me, I heard the systems frantic voice.

Ahhh! Host, I forgot to tell you not to move until youre fully recovered!

Great, now I have to call 911 for you!

2

When I woke up, I was in a hospital room, sharing it with Ava.

Across the room, a doctor was speaking earnestly to Victor.

Mr. Vaughn, Ms. Winslows constitution has always been delicate. Now that shes carrying twins, she absolutely cannot be agitated.

Heirs have always been scarce in the Vaughn family. You must ensure she doesnt experience any more emotional distress.

Victor stared in disbelief, snatching the medical report from the doctors hand.

What nonsense are you talking about? Ava is the one whos pregnant.

The doctor handed him two separate reports.

Mr. Vaughn, you know our hospitals diagnostics are state-of-the-art. Errors are virtually impossible.

According to these results, Ms. Ava is not pregnant. Ms. Winslow, however, is carrying twins.

The doctor continued, his voice low.

Sir, the Vaughn family line has been thin for generations. For you, it was almost a certainty youd have no heirs at all.

To have twins now its a miracle. Ms. Winslow is the savior of the Vaughn legacy. You must cherish her

Victor wasnt listening. He stormed over to my bed, his face a thundercloud.

I told you, if you just behaved, the title of Mrs. Vaughn would always be yours.

Ava is the one who is pregnant. Why are you using these cheap tricks to deceive everyone? What more could you possibly want?!

Before I could answer, the family matriarch, his grandmother, swept into the room with a large entourage.

Her face was flush with excitement as she looked at Victor.

I heard were finally having twins in the family! Where is Isabella? Let me see the blessed child.

Just then, the system issued a new task inside Victors head.

[Task: Inform the Vaughn matriarch of the good news that Isabella is pregnant with twins.]

As all eyes turned to Victor, he reluctantly pulled out my pregnancy report.

But as he handed it to his grandmother, an idea seemed to strike him.

He pretended to stumble, smudging the name on the report before leading everyone to Avas bed.

Grandmother, you must have misheard. Isabella isnt pregnant.

The hero who is blessing our family with twins is Ava.

Seeing Victor defy the task, the systems punishment kicked in again.

But perhaps because hed experienced it once before, his tolerance seemed to have increased.

He paled and leaned against the wall for support, his gaze fixed on Ava, who was also sweating and writhing in pain.

His jaw tightened. In a swift, brutal motion, he turned and ripped the IV needle from my arm, the one feeding me prenatal nutrients, and plunged it into Avas.

Why should you get to enjoy this, Isabella? Ava is the one who needs it most right now.

The needle tore away a piece of my skin, a raw, bloody wound. My body, already teetering on the edge of collapse, felt a new wave of weakness.

I clutched my bleeding hand, pointing a trembling finger at Victor and the woman in the other bed.

I spoke to the system, my voice a venomous whisper.

This hurts so much. System, light them up. Fry them until theyre screaming!

The next second, the world went black as I fainted once more.

3

I woke up in a damp, musty cellar. Roaches and other filth crawled over my skin.

Ava was there, surrounded by her people, casually stroking her slightly rounded belly.

She smiled when she saw my eyes open.

Well, look whos awake, sister?

Was it fun, controlling Victor and me with your little magic show?

That little helper of yours is gone now. Lets see whos going to save you!

With a flick of her wrist, she ordered her men to hold me down. One of them produced a small, sharp knife and began to carve into my skin.

One cut after another, each deeper than the last.

Warm blood welled up, followed by a searing, bone-deep pain that consumed me.

As I struggled against their grip, I saw with horror that the blood-sucking insects in the cellar were swarming towards my open wounds, feasting on me.

I tried to brush them away, a cold terror gripping me, but Ava grabbed a handful of my hair, yanking my head back.

She forced me to meet her cold, cruel gaze.

I dont know how you found out my pregnancy was a fake, and I dont care what you did to bribe the Vaughn family doctor to back up your lie, she hissed.

All I know is that making Victor believe Im pregnant is my golden ticket into the Vaughn dynasty, a family desperate for an heir.

And I will personally eliminate anyone who stands in my way. That includes you.

I watched her, this woman who had shed her mask of innocent charm, now raising the knife to strike a final blow.

A part of me found it laughable.

She was still so stupid.

When she destroyed my mothers keepsake, she left her fingerprints all over it.

When she leaked my private photos, she used her own burner account.

When she killed my cat, she forgot to delete the security footage.

And now, imprisoning me? She was using the very servants who were most loyal to me.

I held her gaze, my expression unwavering, until I saw a flicker of fear in her eyes.

Panic flashed across her face, but she blustered, raising her voice.

What are you looking at? Do you believe I wont just kill you right

My calm voice cut her off.

Maria. Anna. Restrain her.

The two women, who had been hiding in the crowd, sprang into action, seizing the triumphant Ava and pinning her down.

The tables had turned in an instant.

But just as I picked up the knife, a playful smile on my lips, and turned towards Ava

The cellar door burst open. It was Victor.

Isabella, what do you think youre doing to Ava?!

The sound of his voice seemed to give Ava a sudden burst of strength. She broke free from Maria and Annas grasp and, like a madwoman, began hammering her own fists into her stomach.

By the time Victor and his men rushed in, they saw me, bloodied and disheveled, and Ava, clutching her belly and screaming.

His face contorted with rage.

He rushed to Ava, pulling her into a protective embrace, then ordered his men to lock me in an iron cage.

No one lets her out without my permission!

His fury didnt bother me.

But tomorrow was my grandfathers birthday banquet.

Knowing his health was failing, he had invited his most powerful and influential friends, nobles and titans of industry, all to support me, to ensure I wouldnt be bullied by the Vaughns after he was gone.

I couldn't betray his kindness. I couldn't be trapped here.

My face was cold as I delivered my threat.

Victor, you will attend my grandfathers birthday banquet with me tomorrow.

If you dont, Ill have the system electrocute the child in Avas womb right now.

As if on cue, the systems voice echoed in his mind.

[Task: Agree to accompany the target to her grandfathers birthday banquet.]

[Refusal will result in immediate double punishment.]

4

Victor agreed to my demand.

But as a final act of humiliation, he had Ava attend in a magnificent gown, while I was dressed in plain clothes, trailing behind them like a servant.

He used my grandfathers health as leverage, forcing me to kneel and put on Avas shoes, to serve her at the table, to swallow my pride and eat the scraps she spit onto her plate.

I sat beside my grandfather, watching his face grow dark as stone, listening to the whispered gossip of the powerful guests around us.

I could feel their pitying, mocking stares. It felt like they were peeling away the layers of dignity my grandfather had spent a lifetime building for me.

I heard the system warn Victor in his mind.

[Targets Affection Level has dropped into the negatives! Host must immediately appease the target!]

But Victor ignored it. Instead, he shot a subtle glance at a mystic seated near him.

The mystic made a small, almost imperceptible gesture with his hand.

And just like that, the system went silent, as if it had been completely blocked.

A satisfied smirk touched Victors lips. He stood up, his arm wrapped around Ava, drawing the attention of the entire room.

Since you are all here, I have some wonderful news to share.

The Vaughn family has long been criticized for its scarcity of heirs. For my generation, doctors had all but given up hope.

But Avas arrival has changed everything.

Ignoring my grandfathers darkening expression, Victor gazed lovingly at Ava.

I am thrilled to announce that my dear Ava is blessing our family with twins!

The Vaughn family has decided that once the children are born, Ava will become the true Mrs. Vaughn. As for Isabella, she will receive a generous settlement and be returned to the Winslow family.

The room erupted.

Congratulations for Victor mingled with scornful murmurs about my family, creating a chaotic din.

And in the middle of it all, Ava raised her glass to my grandfather.

Her voice was sweet, her smile demure, but her eyes were sharp with provocation.

Grandfather, Im sure youll be happy to bless Victor and me, wont you?

Her words silenced the room. All eyes turned to my grandfather, seated at the head of the table.

He didnt answer her. He just looked at me, his gaze a complex storm of heartbreak, regret, and rising fury.

Then, before anyone could react, he raised his hand and struck Ava across the face with a resounding crack.

The moment his hand fell, a torrent of blood erupted from his mouth, and he collapsed in his chair.

As the room descended into panic and staff scrambled to call for medics, Ava let out a piercing shriek of her own. She clutched her stomach and fell to the floor.

When we reached the hospital, Victor barked orders at the doctors.

Save Ava first! Let the old man die for all I care, but nothing can happen to the children in her womb!

Where is Dr. Peterson? Why isnt he here yet!

The doctor attending to Ava was a stranger.

But I recognized her. She was the one who had conspired with Ava to fake the pregnancy.

She looked panicked, her voice urgent.

The patient is hemorrhaging! Were out of her blood type in the bank! Is anyone here Type A?

Victors head snapped towards me. He grabbed my arm, his grip like a vise.

Shes Type A. Take her blood. Take as much as you need!

Just then, the system, which had been silent for so long, suddenly reappeared in my mind.

[Host, that mystic Victor brought was something else. He actually managed to expel me from his body.]

[But dont worry, Ive reset your mission log. You wont face the death penalty for your previous failed tasks.]

I didnt respond. Instead, I asked a single question.

How is my grandfather?

[Just a spike in blood pressure from the anger. Dont worry, I took the liberty of using some of Victors remaining life force to stabilize him.]

Oblivious, Victor was already pushing me towards the operating room.

Isabella, you have to save Ava and my children. This is a once-in-a-century miracle for the Vaughn family!

If anything happens to my children, Ill make the entire Winslow family pay!

I ignored his threats. My voice was calm as I spoke to the system in my head.

Will terminating Victor's bastards in my womb cause any physical harm to me?

[No.]

With that confirmation, I arched an eyebrow and turned to the frantic Victor.

You can have my blood. But you and the entire Vaughn family are going to regret this.

He stared at me, then let out a sharp, derisive laugh, as if Id told the worlds funniest joke.

Isabella, has loving me finally driven you insane?

Honestly, if it wasnt for your familys connections back then, I never would have been with you in the first place.

He leaned close to my ear, his expression turning venomous.

And now? I wouldnt care if you dropped dead right in front of me, let alone giving some blood.

His words meant nothing to me anymore. I shoved him away with disgust and walked into the operating room.