Exit Through the Lie

The day the System departed, my husband, whose affection meter had been completely filled, brought his new lover home.

He sneered, a dismissive glance thrown my way. Let me guess? You finished your quest, you could have gone back to your original world.

But you chose to stay, for me and for our children?

Laughable. A broken toy played by ninety-nine men, do you really think Im madly in love with you? Do you even deserve it?

I froze.

My twin son and daughter spat at me. Stop pretending! Weve seen all the comments. Youre just a shameless quest-completer! Were disgusted to have been born by you!

Auntie Julianna should be our mother!

My husband, Vance, held his lover close, his expression full of contempt. Julianna and I will marry, and she will raise the children.

As for you, serve Julianna like a loyal dog, and I might just throw you a bone.

My thoughts: Huh?

The System had merely gone ahead to arrange my reward for completing a hundred quests. In a week, I'd be back to living a lavish life as a wealthy socialite.

What on earth were they yapping about?

...

I kept a poker face. I have no idea what youre talking about.

My son, Jake, pointed at me, his face twisted in disgust. The comments told us everything!

My daughter, Clara, was even more direct: You make money by seducing men! Youre disgusting! We dont want a mother like you!

Vance stared at me, a cold chuckle escaping his lips. Hear that?

You think youre a great actress?

Your petty schemes and tricks only worked on those other men, and a few foolish fans in your stream.

Stream? Fans?

It took me a moment to process, then I raised a hand and lightly tapped the air. The streams comment section materialized before me.

In my world, transmigration quests had become a form of entertainment. And I was a professional transmigration streamer, the fastest and most popular one on the entire network.

Fame brought trouble; the comments section was constantly filled with people accusing me of being a cheap hustler. Id long since blocked their hateful remarks, focusing solely on my quests.

A cascade of dense comments scrolled rapidly before my eyes.

[Got played! Serves her right! The b-tch finally got whats coming to her!]

[If you say it now, shell see it!]

[So what if she sees it? The Systems gone, where can she run? Stay in this transmigration world and be a bitter old hag, hahaha!]

It seemed my streams audience couldn't see my conversations with the System. Otherwise, how could they not know the System was just off arranging my rewards?

I immediately sent feedback to the System. [System! Theres a bug! How can people in the quest world see the comments??]

The Systems automated reply came. [Feedback received!]

I tapped the "connect to human operator" button dozens of times. [I was supposed to have perfectly completed the quest. How do you explain this situation? And I have to stay in this world for another week. What if they hurt me?!]

The System took a while to respond. [The waiting period will not affect the final quest outcome.]

[During this time, any harm you receive will not affect your physical condition in real life.]

[Furthermore, additional quest rewards will be added as compensation upon your return to the real world!]

My eyes fixated on the word compensation.

Wasn't this the universe practically showering me with money?

I immediately switched on my acting skills, my eyes welling up instantly as I grabbed Vances sleeve. Those others were tasks, but with you, I was sincere!

Vances face was etched with revulsion. Your sincerity is worth a fortune?

Do you know how many showers I had to take after every time I forced myself to have physical contact with you? I was terrified of getting sick!

Vance finished speaking, then, as if disgusted, he violently flung my hand away. The force was so strong I staggered, my head hitting the corner of the table.

Julianna gasped dramatically, Oh dear!

Vance, you mustnt be so harsh with Evelyn. Shes a pitiful soul, after all, having to with so many men to complete her tasks tsk, tsk, tsk

I lay on the floor, looking utterly heartbroken. But in reality, I was arguing with the System in my head. [Because of your screw-up, the male lead, the third party, and the children are all humiliating me! He even laid hands on me! How will you settle this score?!]

The System glitched for a moment. [Detecting sustained malicious behavior.]

[Compensation multiplier in the real world increased by five percent.]

The base reward for one hundred perfect quests was ten million, multiplied by five percent. In just a few minutes, Id earned an extra five hundred thousand.

I almost couldn't keep my grin in check. I had to lower my head, playing the part of a sycophant. ...Alright.

Just dont cast me out.

Ill do anything you ask.

The comments section exploded.

[Holy cow, no way, she actually fell in love?]

[She cant go back, so now the male lead can do whatever he wants to her?]

[Typical h-e, cheap to the bone!]

Vance looked a little surprised.

The two children immediately shouted, Daddy, dont let her trick you!

The comments said she knows she cant go back, so shes just putting on a sweet act!

The flicker of pity in Vances eyes vanished, replaced by even greater disgust. He pulled out divorce papers.

I signed them without even a glance.

Then a second document was tossed at my feet. It was a servitude agreement.

Julianna leaned over to look, her smile barely contained. Vance, youre too direct. What if Evelyn cant handle it?

Vance sneered. Then she can get lost.

Didnt she say shed do anything to stay?

Evelyn Hayes, from today onwards, you are a house servant of the Thorne family.

I immediately activated the live streams recording function. I recorded this inhumane, unequal contract in its entirety and sent it to the System to demand compensation. Only then did I theatrically sign it with trembling hands.

Julianna smiled sweetly, then immediately ordered me to make her coffee. I brought it to her, and she barely glanced at it before deliberately splashing the scalding hot coffee onto my face.

She then acted as if she was startled. Oh, Im so sorry, Evelyn! This coffee was so bitter, I just lost my grip for a moment.

Vances gaze lingered on my reddened face for less than a second before moving away. Julianna, youre still too kind. Youre the lady of the Thorne house; you dont need to apologize to anyone.

His words gave Julianna all the confidence she needed. From that day on, if a meal wasnt to her taste, I had to remake it. If there was a speck of dust on the floor, I had to kneel and scrub it. Clothes had to be hand-washed. She even made me kneel in a corner for two hours with a simple phrase like, Youre an eyesore.

And I played along perfectly. I bowed my head, apologized, and knelt. Then, in my mind, the Systems notification of accumulated compensation would chime precisely.

The notifications were frequent, but the increase was slow.

Four days passed. I looked at the compensation multiplier floating in my vision.

[Twenty percent.]

I frowned slightly.

...Thats it?

Come on! I only have one week to earn extra money! Time is tight, and the task is heavy. I really don't have time to play these games with you!

Just then, the door was suddenly kicked open. Cant you see the water stain on the floor!? Hiding here to slack off without cleaning it properly?

Vance dragged me out directly. The two children threw a dirty rag into my face. Julianna stood by, looking down at me. Evelyn, how can you not even do such a small thing well?

Perhaps go kneel for half an hour first? Will that help you clean better?

I looked at the blatant malice in her eyes. A plan suddenly formed.

I slowly got up, my eyes red, and looked at Vance. Do you really think... no matter what I do, Im stuck here?

Vance sneered. Or what?

I rushed to the kitchen, pulled out a fruit knife, and held it to my throat. Dont push me!

If I die in this world, I can go back too!

The comments went wild.

[Suicide to return to the original world? I dont remember that being a rule??]

[This is a new sob story tactic, clearly an act!]

[Who knows what happens if she dies in the quest world? Does she dare to gamble? Whos she trying to scare?!]

Vance instinctively softened his tone. Evelyn, dont get agitated, put the knife down.

Even if he found me dirty, thought I was manipulative, he had, after all, had his affection meter filled by me. In a moment like this, he couldnt help but worry.

I watched Juliannas face twist with jealousy.

Shes hooked.

She shrieked and rushed over to grab the knife. Hasnt Vance been tricked enough by you?! Why are you still trying to force him like this? Then she deliberately grabbed the blade, slashing a deep cut into her palm.

Ah!

A short, sharp scream. Julianna clutched her hand, crying pitifully. Evelyn, I just wanted to persuade you not to do anything foolish, how could you

Vance saw the blood gushing from her palm, his attention immediately diverted. Julianna!

Julianna shook her head at him, then turned to the children, her voice hesitant and innocent. Jake, Clara

Did you see the comments just now?

Is what she said true? Is she trying to force your father again

Jake immediately chimed in, his tone firm. Shes lying! Theres no such mechanism at all!

Clara also nodded vigorously, The comments said she doesnt dare to die!

Shes just faking pity, trying to use death to make Daddy soften!

The last shred of wavering in Vances eyes completely vanished. Evelyn Hayes.

If you want to die, go die far away! Dont involve others!

With that, he raised his hand and struck my knife-wielding hand. The blade twisted, leaving a cut from my lower jaw all the way to my cheek. Blood dripped onto the floor from my chin.

But Vance didn't even look at me. He scooped Julianna into his arms. Lets go, to the hospital.

Julianna, nestled in his arms, didnt forget to glance back at me, her eyes full of triumph.

The two children immediately followed.

I raised a hand and casually wiped it.

Dying to return to my original world? Of course, I made that up. And whatever injuries I sustained here would be perfectly healed upon my return. Such a golden opportunitywouldn't it be a waste not to take full advantage?

The next second, the Systems notification arrived as promised

[Detecting severe physical harm maliciously inflicted by the male lead.]

[Compensation multiplier significantly increased.]

The number jumped.

Directly to thirty percent. Thats three million.

A smile spread across my lips. Now this is the right rate of increase.

I looked up at the tightly closed door. Julianna you really need to push Vance harder.

After all, you only have three days left to torment me.

Julianna didnt disappoint me. That day, Vances wavering under my death threat left her seething.

The next day, she suddenly dragged me out of the utility room. She stripped off my pants and shoes and left me to stand in the heavy snow as punishment. The reason? I had nudged her wedding ring while wiping the table.

My legs were frozen solid in the cold wind, losing all sensation. By the time she finally dragged me back inside, I was unconscious from hypothermia.

Vance merely glanced at me. Just dont kill her. Wouldnt want her to get off easy.

I lay on the bed, suffering from hypothermia, unable to feel my legs. The System detected irreversible damage to my legs. The compensation multiplier shot up by several tens of percent.

Julianna smiled as she brought me a bowl of black soup. Evelyn, I was worried you caught a chill, so I made you something to warm up.

The black soup reeked of decay and was steaming hot. She smiled sinisterly. Dont worry, you wont die. Then she force-fed it down my throat.

My throat was so scalded that even swallowing saliva hurt. My stomach churned with nausea, burning as if on fire. I vomited blood all over the floor. I curled up on the ground, my consciousness blurring.

It truly hurt. For the endless money Id have back home, I was pushing myself to the limit. Fortunately, the Systems compensation multiplier didnt disappoint, already reaching seventy percent. Seven million.

But I was greedy. I still felt it wasn't enough.

The basement was dark and sunless; I could only tell how much time had passed by the Systems countdown to my return.

Until the last day, Julianna and Vances wedding day. I was dragged out and shoved into a car. Then dragged out again.

I paused, realizing this was the back-office storage room of their wedding venue. Julianna stood before me in her wedding dress. You really are tough as nails.

I smiled, casually spouting nonsense, and even flipped her off. Thats because I have the System.

Im the female lead of this world. Whatever you do, youre just a trashy side character.

No sooner had the words left my mouth than I was violently seized by several people and bound inside a giant transparent tank. Juliannas eyes were brimming with hatred. Originally, I wanted to keep you by my side and slowly torture you.

But now, it seems you must die.

If you die, no one will steal my Vance! And Vance and I can be happy forever.

As soon as she finished speaking, the tank slowly began to fill with water. A screen was placed in front of me. On it, the wedding ceremony was about to begin.

Julianna resumed her gentle smile. Im really curious, can the System save your life?

Oh dear, imagine watching Vance marry me, this trashy side character, then slowly dying yourself. Wouldnt that make you die with regret?

She leaned in, her voice dripping with venom. Evelyn Hayes.

If you can go back after you die, then consider it my parting gift to you.

But if you truly diethen you deserve it!

She left. The warehouse door closed. The water level began to rise, slowly covering my calves, knees, thighs. I was fixed in the center of the tank, unable to even turn my head, forced to watch the screen.

When the wedding began, the water had already reached my chin. Yet, my return countdown still had a few minutes left.

The comments in the corner scrolled wildly.

[This b-tch deserves it, hahaha!]

[What happens if a quest-completer dies in the quest world? I heard they become a vegetable!]

[Die quickly! This awful woman tricked so many men, and she still gets to live it up? Why? She should just die!]

At the wedding venue, Jake and Clara suddenly changed their expressions. Daddy! Whats a vegetable?

The comments say Mommy is about to become a vegetable

Vances heart plummeted. Juliannas eyes flashed with hatred. She quickly grabbed Vances hand, soothing him. I merely locked her up for a small punishment, how could she become a vegetable?

She knows the children can see the comments now, she might just be acting, deliberately making the comments send messages to trick you!

Vance hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded. He took the wedding ring, ready to place it on Juliannas finger.

In the tank, the water had completely covered my nose. I could no longer draw a single breath of air. My lungs convulsed frantically, my body shaking uncontrollably. For the first time, I felt a clear panic. If my return was delayed by even one second, I might truly die here.

In this life-or-death situation, my compensation multiplier soared almost every second.

[Return Countdown: One minute]

My vision began to darken. A buzzing filled my ears. Just as my consciousness was about to snap

My streams light screen suddenly flared to life. A golden banner stretched across my entire vision.

[Congratulations, Evelyn Hayes, on becoming the first streamer to complete one hundred consecutive quest challenges!]

[Pre-allocated bonus of ten million! Other subsidies around twenty million!]

[Return Countdown: Ten seconds]

The comments instantly exploded. But I could no longer keep my eyes open to read them.

Three

Two

In the final second, the warehouse door was kicked open.

Evelyn!

And I completely lost consciousness.