The Heartthrob System's Perfect Victim

My husband's mistress bonded with a Heartthrob System.

It attracted countless powerful men to fall for her.

Just because she said she liked kids, my husband made the child I had through three years of IVF call her Mom.

I broke down and rushed over to demand an explanation.

Only to have my brother slap me hard across the face.

"She rarely likes anything. Why are you fighting her for this?"

"It's just a kid. You can have another one."

Fiona basked proudly in everyone's adoration.

She leaned close to my ear with a soft laugh.

"I have the Heartthrob System. What do you have to compete with me?"

In my despair, I awakened the system that had been dormant in my body for years.

"You claim to be the main system, right? Can you handle her system?"

After a long silence, a scornful laugh echoed in my mind.

"Heartthrob System? Nothing but a failed, defective product."

I actually detected a hint of disdain in the system's cold mechanical voice.

It seemed to particularly look down on this so-called Heartthrob System.

It's just a defective product that was manufactured. It has many inherent safety hazards.

There's no need to deal with it. After the host uses it a few more times, the side effects will emerge.

Hearing the system's words, I instinctively looked toward Fiona.

At this moment, she was nestled in my husband's arms, playing with my son.

The three of them looked so harmonious together, like a real family.

My hands clenched at my sides, nails digging deep into my palms until a sharp pain brought me back to my senses.

When I looked up, I saw my husband and the others glaring at me with rage.

The child in Fiona's arms was reaching toward me, crying hysterically.

His little face turned purple as if he might pass out the next second.

My heart clenched painfully.

I reached out to grab the child, but Liam Mitchell shoved me away hard.

"Sarah, can you stop being such an eyesore?"

"As long as you keep hanging around, how is the baby supposed to accept Fiona as his mom?"

The child's heart-wrenching cries filled my ears.

My heart twisted with anxiety as I shouted angrily:

"This is MY child! I'm still alive and well, and you're making him call someone else Mom? You bunch of bastards..."

Before I could finish, a slap came flying at me.

I clutched my reddened, swollen face and looked at my brother in disbelief.

This person who had cherished me since childhood, who had always shielded me from danger, was now glaring at me with fury.

He still held his hand extended from the slap.

When our eyes metmine full of hurta flicker of confusion crossed his face.

But the next second, he returned to that disgusted expression.

"Fiona's health is fragile. How could she endure the pain of childbirth?"

"You can have kids anyway. Just give this child to Fiona and have another one."

The words came out of his mouth so lightly, yet they weighed a thousand pounds.

A bitter smile tugged at my lips as I said in a trembling voice:

"Why should my child call her Mom?"

The next second, Fiona tugged at my brother's sleeve with fake concern, looking pitiful.

"If Sarah doesn't want to, then forget it. I really liked this child though. What a shame..."

She made a show of wiping away nonexistent tears from her eyes.

She shrank into Liam's arms looking wronged.

I was about to mock her terrible acting when Liam suddenly kicked me hard in the abdomen.

Instant pain shot through my belly.

My face went deathly pale.

When my back slammed into the wall, I couldn't suppress the cry of pain that escaped my throat.

"Stop wasting words on her. I have a share in this kid too."

"I've given Fiona so many expensive jewels and she didn't like any of them. It's rare for her to be interested in somethingjust give it to her."

With that, he strode toward me, grabbed my wrist, and dragged me toward the basement.

"As long as she's not hanging around the baby all the time, it won't take more than a couple days before he stops recognizing her as his mother."

The basement was dark and damp, full of scurrying rats and bugs.

Liam released my hand in disgust and threw me to the floor.

"Stay here obediently. When the baby finally forgets about you, then you can appear in front of him again."

Watching the basement door close in front of me, I broke down and pounded on it, shouting until my voice went hoarse.

But no one came down.

I don't know how much time passed before someone kicked the basement door hard from outside.

"Shut up already! Miss Fiona has a terrible headache right now. If you make another sound and disturb her rest, you'll regret it."

The basement's confined environment already made it hard to breathe.

The loud noise startled me.

The servants' low voices drifted from the doorway, their words full of contempt.

"I really don't know what the boss sees in her. She's not as beautiful as Miss Fiona, and her personality isn't as likable either."

"If Miss Fiona were our mistress, who knows how wonderful this household would be."

"Such a shame. I really like Miss Fiona."

I numbly withdrew my blood-stained hands, my heart filled with bitterness.

This Heartthrob System's effects were truly astonishingeven the servants had fallen for her.

Countless bugs crawled around my feet, and many started climbing up my body.

My consciousness gradually faded.

Just as I was about to slip into unconsciousness, the basement door suddenly pushed open from outside.

Liam's panicked voice sounded in my ears.

"Sarah! She's burning up. Get her upstairs first."

When I woke up again, I'd been settled in bed.

Liam sat by the bedside with a complicated expression.

Seeing me awake, he sighed deeply.

Perhaps because Fiona wasn't here, he could temporarily break free from the Heartthrob System's restrictions and regain some clarity.

Seeing this, I quickly seized the opportunity and pleaded.

"The baby just finished nursing. He's never been away from me. I'm begging youplease give him back to me."

His gaze fell on my red, swollen palms, and emotion flickered in his eyes.

Just as he was about to speak, a female voice from the doorway interrupted.

"Liam, look at our son! He's so attached to me!"

The child in her arms clutched her hand tightly, grinning and giggling.

My heart ached at the sight.

I hadn't expected even my son to be deceived by this system.

The moment Liam saw her again, it was like he'd become a different person.

His face full of adoration as he gathered them both into his arms affectionately.

"This little guy is usually so mischievous, but he's so well-behaved with you. Clearly, you two are meant to be."

Then Fiona seemed to just notice me.

Her eyes shifted as she smiled and said:

"Oh, Sarah's been let out?"

"Perfect timing. This child smells terribleI think he soiled himself. Hurry up and clean him."

Hearing this, I immediately panicked and snatched the child from her arms.

When I felt the bulging diaper between his legs, I was instantly furious.

"The baby soiled himself and you didn't change his diaper? Leaving him like this will give him a rash!"

Fiona rolled her eyes dramatically and covered her nose in disgust.

"So dirty. You expect me to change it? Wouldn't want to dirty my hands."

Then she turned to Liam, acting coy.

"This child is too filthy. He got dirt all over me. I don't want to change him."

As her words fell, confusion flashed in Liam's eyes.

The next second he glared at me furiously.

"Fiona's hands aren't meant for changing your son's diapers. Your own sonyou don't care for him and expect others to? What kind of mother are you?"

I ignored him.

My gaze locked on Fiona's face.

Several small, barely noticeable pimples had appeared on her previously flawless face.

At first glance, they seriously affected her appearance.

I understood immediatelythis must be the side effects the system mentioned.

Each time she used the Heartthrob System, it damaged her looks.

I just wondered what her face would look like in the end.

The moment my son came into my arms, he cried inconsolably.

His eyes desperately seeking Fiona, reaching toward her with whimpers, wanting her to hold him.

I swallowed the bitterness in my heart, repeatedly reassuring myself that this was just the system's deceptive effect.

He was the child I carried for ten months. How could he not be close to me?

But when I saw the red rash on my son's bottom from being left in a soiled diaper, my anger flared.

"How many days has it been since you changed his diaper? Two more days and his skin would've been raw!"

Fiona rolled her eyes impatiently, grabbed Liam's hand, and turned to leave.

"Liam, I want to get my nails done. This time I'm thinking of having gold embedded in them."

Watching their retreating figures, I wiped the tears from my eyes and hurried to take the baby to the hospital.

When the doctor saw the rash on his body, he scolded me thoroughly.

"What kind of mother are you? How did you let a perfectly good child end up like this? Are you deliberately abusing him?"

I couldn't defend myself and could only silently endure the doctor's reprimands.

After my son's wounds were treated and bandaged, my brother suddenly called.

"Fiona and Liam are at a hotel. She said the condom broke and needs you to bring another box."

"I'm busy with work and can't get away. You go deliver it. You know Liam's size, I'm sure."

I froze, never expecting he could say something like this.

"Ethan Williams, are you insane? Don't you like Fiona? You're actually okay with watching her with another man? And that man is my husbandyour brother-in-law!"

Facing my heartbroken screams, he was silent for a moment before speaking with bitterness in his voice.

"What choice do I have? Fiona likes Liam. All I can do is try my best to protect her safety."

"She doesn't want children, so we need to be careful with protection. Hurry up and bring them a box."

My grip tightened on the phone.

I laughed coldly and refused.

"Impossible. If you want to be a lapdog, go deliver it yourself. I won't..."

Before I could finish, a scoff came through the phone.

"Sarah, I'm not asking you."

"You can't count on anyone right now. Don't you even want to go back to your family home?"

My whole body stiffened.

I let my hand drop helplessly.

Following his instructions, I went to the pharmacy, bought protection, and found the hotel using the address he sent.

Just as I reached the door, I heard laughter spilling out from inside.

I took a deep breath and knocked.

The door opened quickly.

Liam stood there bare-chested with a cigarette in his mouth.

Seeing it was me, he frowned and muttered:

"Why is it you?"

Then Fiona leaned against his back, deliberately revealing the red marks on her neck, and smiled.

"Thanks, Sarah. I'm surprised you still remember Liam's size."

"You two haven't been together in so many yearsI thought you'd forgotten what size he wears."

I said nothing.

My gaze fell on the scratch marks across Liam's chest.

A wave of nausea hit me.

I couldn't help but lean against the wall and vomit violently.

Panic flashed in Liam's eyes and he instinctively reached toward me.

"What's wrong? Are you feeling sick?"

But the next second I slapped his hand away hard.

His body reeked of Fiona's perfumeI could smell it just getting close.

It made me sick.

Liam's outstretched hand froze.

He snorted coldly and pulled it back.

"You have time to wander around out hereI see you're just too idle."

"Get home and take care of the baby. And stay away from Fiona from now on."

With that, the door closed in my face.

Listening to the flirtatious laughter from inside, I turned and left numbly.

I don't know how I made it home.

My heart had already died the moment I saw Liam and Fiona together.

Fiona was the mistress he kept on the sideI'd always known this.

Over the years we'd fought countless times about it.

Just when I'd finally made up my mind to divorce him, I unexpectedly got pregnant with the baby.

I'd naively hoped this child could win back his heart.

Never imagining that nothing could surpass Fiona's place in his heart.

Not just Liamevery man who'd seen Fiona fell for her without exception.

Even knowing she had other men, they still threw themselves at her willingly, ready to go through fire and water for her.

They'd risk everything, even if it meant losing their families.

It turned out all of this was because of that Heartthrob System.

Without Fiona around, my baby finally smiled at me.

Looking at the child I'd carried for ten months, endless bitterness filled my heart.

I'd been too stubborn, bringing him into this world to suffer.

That evening, Liam finally came home.

But the first thing he did upon seeing me was rush over and start tearing at my clothes.

I struggled desperately, trying to break free from his grasp.

"Liam! Have you lost your mind?"

"Isn't Fiona enough for you? Don't touch me!"

I couldn't take it anymore and slapped him hard across the face.

Taking advantage of his stunned moment, I clutched my torn clothes and backed away.

He touched his reddened face in disbelief and spat:

"You think I want to touch you? Fiona said the baby's too old nowhe won't bond properly. A newborn would develop better maternal feelings."

"Have another child. When it's born, we'll send it straight to Fiona."

I never imagined they could come up with something so absurd.

I screamed at him in despair:

"What do you think I am? A breeding tool?"

A breeding tool to have children for another woman!

Seeing I wouldn't cooperate, Liam's expression darkened completely.

He grabbed my hand and dragged me outside.

"If you won't listen to reason, don't blame me for using force."

I struggled with all my might but couldn't break free from his grip.

I could only let him drag me to the hospital.

My brother was already waiting at the operating room entrance.

Seeing Liam dragging me over, understanding flashed in his eyes.

"Just as I thoughtshe wouldn't cooperate willingly."

My back went stiff.

This was a trap they'd set together?

"Do IVF. Save time. When the baby's born, don't let her see ittake it straight to Fiona."

In just a few words, the two of them decided my fate, pulling me toward the operating room.

I struggled desperately, crying out hoarsely.

"Are you even human? Why should I have a child for her?"

"Ethan Williams, I'm your sister!"

Suddenly, soft laughter came from behind.

Fiona stood not far away, mockingly enjoying my humiliation.

I froze at her appearance, shocked at how obvious the system's side effects were.

She'd gained a whole size and showed signs of continuing to gain weight.

But she seemed completely unaware, still affectedly playing with her hair.

"Sarah, you're not as charming as me. What else can you do besides have babies?"

"Even your own brother won't side with you. How pathetic."

She gave me a mocking glance and continued urging the two men.

"Hurry up and push her in. Oh, and I want a son. Make sure she has a boy."

But as her words fell, neither my brother nor Liam reacted.

They were no longer following her every command like before.

Both looked bewildered, staring at Fiona with unfamiliar eyes.

And under our gaze, her figure visibly expanded horizontally.

Her facial skin became pitted and bumpy.

She looked exactly like a toad.

After staring in shock for a long while, they finally managed to say:

"Holy crap, who's this ugly toad?"