My Substitute CEO Bride

"I'm tired... Let's end this," Zoe said in defeat.

"But..." Chuck began, only for Zoe to turn her head away.

"Mr. Calhoun, thank you for saving me, but as I said before, I've always seen you as an opponent. Now is the perfect opportunity-kill me, and you'll clear another obstacle from your path. Otherwise, I'll continue to hinder you," she said.

Zoe's words were to the point. She was offering him the chance to end it all, to let her reunite with her family in death. However, Chuck responded with a soft, unexpected apology, "I'm sorry," he said, surprising Zoe. She assumed he was finally going to act.

"No need to apologize. Just do it," she urged.

However, time passed, and Chuck did nothing. When she finally turned to look at him, she was shocked to see him swallowing the very water droplet that she could use to control him.

"I'm sorry," Chuck repeated, his voice filled with regret. "If I were stronger, I could have saved more people. I'm sorry."

Zoe was at a loss for words. She had never met anyone like Chuck in her entire life. She had manipulated him for her family's sake, yet he was apologizing even though it had nothing to do with him. His eyes were reddening with unshed tears.

Chuck handed the food to Zoe. "I'm sorry I can't fully understand your pain, but I promise that as long as I'm alive, I'll protect you. Should something happen to me, you should use your control over me to protect yourself. Maybe, once you become a god, you could bring your family back?"

Zoe was taken aback. The young man in front of her was too pure.

"Why are you helping me?"

Chuck looked into Zoe's eyes.noveldrama

"Because I can feel that emotion, that deep sadness. I can sense your despair and your reluctance. I don't know if I'm putting this the right way, but your family must have entrusted you with their hopes, so please, don't give up on yourself."

Hearing these words, Zoe was reminded of her father and brother. They had protected her, urging her to escape. Yes, they had protected her.

"Thank you."

Chuck moved closer to Zoe, offering her the food he had prepared. Zoe accepted the meal and began to eat heartily. From this point on, she knew she could not betray her family's hopes. She had to seek revenge and become a god. She couldn't let her family's sacrifice be in vain!

Thus, Zoe joined Chuck's small team.

High above Laikaa, Howl approached Dusky.

"Aren't you just causing unnecessary bloodshed?" he asked.

Dusky smiled before explaining, "Do you really think these things wouldn't happen without this so-called battle for the divine position? It's impossible. I've always operated under the premise of not interfering with the natural course of life.

"Let me put it this way, the destruction of the Heifer family has played out countless times in my mind, each time in a completely different way."

"Did they deserve to die?" Howl asked, confused.

Dusky shook his head. "Of course not. As I've said before, once everything is over, everyone will be reset except those who become gods. Right now, they're within my barrier, which means they're merely experiencing an extended dream. Whether the Heifer family perishes or not depends entirely on Zoe's next action."

Howl sighed, amazed. "You're truly something else. I can't believe you've thought this far ahead."

Dusky smiled mysteriously and replied, "What people consider inevitable is often just a matter of choice in a single moment."

Howl then asked, "The gods won't lose their memories, but everyone else will. Doesn't that mean nothing really changes?"

Dusky shook his head again. "I can only manipulate memories, but the things that have taken root in their hearts-those are not something that memories alone can alter."

...

In Laikaa, only three days had passed since the start of the divine selection competition. After the Patel family's rampant slaughter, fewer than 200 participants remained. It was clear that the real test was about to begin because the remaining 200 were all somewhat similar in strength.