Perhaps because she had seen Nora Lowell during the day, Paige Summers’s mind was a mess when she tried to meditate that night.

She gave up and flopped onto her bed, preparing to get a solid night’s sleep.

But she ended up having a nightmare instead.

In the dream, she floated in the air, watching the plot of that apocalypse novel unfold scene by scene, as if it were real.

This time, it was no longer based on her imagination; the faces of the characters appeared one by one.

She watched as "she"—her other self—was meticulously protected by her family, completely ignorant of the ways of the world. After her last relative, her father, passed away, she was left with no survival skills and was nearly dragged away by Superpower Users right off the street.

Then, she was rescued by Shawn Monroe.

This was the turning point in her life.

After entering The Citadel, she grew increasingly infatuated with her handsome and powerful savior, Shawn Monroe.

And Shawn Monroe had a very good impression of "her" as well. As the future heir of The Dead City, he was no stranger to scheming and had plenty of worries. Having such a beautiful, gentle, and naive woman by his side, it was inevitable that he would develop some tender feelings.

And so, the two quickly became passionately involved.

However, a woman like her could never truly enter his world.

Slowly, Shawn Monroe’s attitude began to change.

Their relationship became less like lovers and more like that of a master and his beloved pet.

A man would protect a pet, and occasionally dote on it, but that was the extent of it.

He could find physical satisfaction with her, but never any mental connection or substantive support.

She was, of course, unsatisfied, even heartbroken over it, crying in secret.

But it was all for naught.

Just as their relationship was becoming strained, Nora Lowell appeared.

The heroine was no clinging vine, no innocent damsel; she was a stunning rose covered in thorns. As a Thunder Ability User who also possessed a spatial superpower, she had a strength and allure that "Paige Summers" could never hope to match!

Under the heroine’s aura, Shawn Monroe fell for her with barely a struggle.

Instead, it was Nora Lowell’s hot-and-cold attitude, her insistence on being just a "partner," that made the Young City Lord fall even harder. From then on, he saw other women as nothing, his eyes only for her.

"Paige Summers" was heartbroken by this.

After being rebuffed by Shawn Monroe several times and hearing rumors that she was going to be sent out of The Citadel, she grew frantic and afraid. She had no choice but to gather her courage and confront Nora Lowell.

She no longer dared to hope for a return to her previous relationship with Shawn Monroe; all she wanted was to be allowed to stay somewhere she could still see him.

Naturally, Nora Lowell didn’t believe her. Convinced she was a schemer feigning innocence who had come to provoke her, Nora didn’t hold back. Though her attitude was outwardly flawless, her words were barbed and aggressive.

Shawn Monroe happened to walk in on this scene.

One’s heart can’t be split down the middle.

The man no longer remembered that what he had once loved was that naive, worldly-unaware, even foolish innocence.

Now, the one he liked, he liked even more, even feeling a secret thrill, certain the woman he adored was jealous. As for the one he had lost interest in, his indifference now curdled into disgust.

Because she had served as a catalyst for his love, "Paige Summers" was temporarily allowed to stay in The Citadel for ulterior motives, but her days became increasingly difficult.

Nora Lowell didn’t have to say a word; her admirers made sure to give her a hard time. She was mocked, insulted, and even nearly raped...

In her torment, hatred took root in her heart.

’If Nora Lowell didn’t exist, if she had never been born into this world, would Shawn Monroe still treat me this way?’ 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

A seed was planted. It sprouted, and it grew.

Finally, after accidentally witnessing Shawn Monroe doting on Nora Lowell, this evil seedling bore its fruit.

Jealousy drives a woman to madness.

She took out the priceless gifts Shawn Monroe had once given her and used them to bribe a servant in The Citadel. While Shawn was out of the city, she spread a false message, planning to lure Nora Lowell into a horde of Mutant Beasts.

But how could Nora Lowell fall for such a simple-minded trick? Instead, another of Shawn Monroe’s admirers, with a convenient nudge from Nora, left the city in her place... "Paige Summers" had intended to witness her rival’s death firsthand, even hiring guards to protect her on the way to the scene. However, the bloody spectacle she witnessed ended not her rival’s life, but that of another woman!

She felt like she was going insane!

Returning to The Citadel completely distraught, the dying woman’s resentful and despairing gaze as she looked at her replayed endlessly in her mind.

Finally, one day, she could no longer bear the dual pressure of guilt and fear. She left The Citadel alone and wandered dazedly outside the city...

As if cursed, she too fell prey to the Mutant Beasts.