Only You, In Every World

The whole world knew Lionel Potter was crazy about his wife. He wrote songs just for her, baked desserts for her, and couldn't go three sentences without saying "my wife". But Iris Potter discovered that the same Lionel who loved her as if his life depended on it had cheated. She summoned the system and applied to leave the world. [Understood. The self-exit channel has been activated. In 15 days, you will leave this world. The exit method will be a staged death. The location will be the seaside where you once saved the male lead. Cause of death: suicide by drowning. [Please prepare accordingly for your death.] On the 15th day, Iris arranged everything and staged her departure to look like she had gone into the sea, leaving Lionel behind. Only then did Lionel wake up. He unraveled, nearly losing his mind, consumed by the need to find her. Chapter 1 [Iris, have you made your decision? Once you leave this world, there is no returning.] The system's cold electronic voice hesitated slightly. "I've decided," Iris Potter answered without wavering. "I'm leaving." [Understood. The self-exit channel has been activated. In 15 days, you will leave this world. The exit method will be a staged death. The location will be the seaside where you once saved the male lead. Cause of death: suicide by drowning. [Please prepare accordingly for your death.] Iris frowned for a moment, then picked up her phone and contacted a lawyer, asking him to draft a divorce agreement. Just as she was about to put the phone down, a notification popped up. [Renowned singer Lionel Potter's song for his wife, "Only You", surpasses one billion streams!] Her fingers trembled as she tapped it open. The article included a video clip released by a reporter. It was a behind-the-scenes vlog of Lionel creating "Only You". In the video, Lionel wore casual clothes, his long legs stretched out as he sat on a studio stool with a guitar in his arms, playing a beautiful melody. "The music and lyrics are done. This melody came from my wife. "We went to the coast together to collect seashells. I remember how the ocean breeze lifted her long hair, and the waves rolled over her ankles again and again. She rolled her sleeves up to her elbows and bent down slowly. Right then, the melody just appeared in my head. "My wife is my lucky charm. I swear I'll love her forever." Iris closed the video without expression and scrolled down to the comments. As expected. [Wow, he keeps mentioning his wife. This is insanely sweet!] [I counted. In nine minutes, he said "my wife" 199 times. That's true love!] [His wife is so lucky. I'm jealous. If I had a husband like that, I'd die happy!] The whole world knew Lionel was crazy about his wife. But no one knew what Iris had given up for him. She had crossed into this world in her real body, and she came only for him. Six years ago, she accepted the mission to make Lionel fall for her. That was how they met. Back then, Lionel was at rock bottom. He was torn apart by online abuse and spiraled into depression. She pulled him away from obsessive fans who meant him harm, but her collarbone was scarred by acid burns. She jumped off the cliffs and dragged him back from death, but the freezing water damaged her body and left her unable to have children. Still, Lionel fell in love with her and married her. The mission was complete. She could have returned to her original world and started over, but she chose to stay for him. After marriage, he kept her identity under wraps to protect her. No one knew what the mysterious wife looked like, but everyone knew he couldn't stop talking about her. In his daily vlogs, he would say, "Croissants are such a pain to make, but my wife loves them. I'll learn no matter how hard it is. "I recorded a new song last night and didn't come home, but I still made sure I was the first to say good morning to my wife." All of it was proof that he adored her. Even Iris never imagined that a man who loved her this much could still drift away, in body and in heart. She opened the "Only You" music video. The female lead sat by the shore, young and fresh-faced, gently swinging her legs. That face looked a little like hers when she was younger. Iris felt dazed and didn't notice Lionel had already come back and was standing behind her. The heat pressing against her back made her shiver. The faint scent of women's perfume made her stomach turn. "Sorry, honey. After the interview, the label dragged me out to dinner, so I'm late." Iris pointed at the girl on her phone and turned to him. "Did she go, too?" Lionel glanced at it, calm as ever, then crouched down and brushed against her hand. "Pamela is the lead in the MV and a popular influencer. She's in charge of promotion, so of course, she went." Iris said nothing, but her eyes caught the faint lipstick mark below his collar. Entertaining the label didn't stop him from sneaking around. The nausea finally won. She shoved Lionel away and ran to the bathroom, gagging over the sink. Chapter 2 Lionel froze for a few seconds, then rushed into the bathroom and gently patted Iris's back. "Honey… Are you pregnant?" The excitement he couldn't hide made Iris curl her lips in a bitter half-smile. When the nausea eased, she straightened up, breathing hard. "Did you forget? The doctor said I can't have children." Lionel still couldn't hide his hope. "Let's go to the hospital tomorrow anyway. Just in case, right?" He picked up his phone and booked an appointment. Iris opened her mouth, then closed it again. She didn't say anything. The next morning, they went to the hospital fully disguised. It was a private hospital, and the doctor was someone Lionel knew well. "Mrs. Potter's uterus suffered severe trauma. Based on the test results, the chance of pregnancy is almost zero." Even though Iris hadn't expected anything, hearing the regret in the doctor's voice still made her chest ache. If she had returned to her original world three years ago after completing the mission, she would've had a healthy body. Yet, she chose to stay. And now, even leaving meant returning with this damaged body. Still, as long as she could leave, that was enough. She glanced calmly at Lionel, who stood beside her with disappointment written all over his face. He only looked down for a moment before pulling her into his arms. "It's okay, honey. If we want a kid someday, we can always adopt." Iris quietly pushed him away. "Kids don't matter anymore." Lionel clung to her arm. "Right. As long as we're together, that's all that matters." Iris lowered her eyes and thought that that wouldn't happen, either. The doctor said the nausea from last night was likely caused by stress and emotional exhaustion, nothing serious. After they left the hospital, Lionel suggested taking Iris to Whalers' Bay to clear her head. She didn't refuse. She wanted to see the ocean one last time, anyway. It was the first place she saw when she came into this world. Back then, Lionel had jumped into the sea during his depression and got terrified of the water for a long time afterward. Iris slowly helped him heal and fall in love with the ocean again. She stood there, exactly the way she had back then, but her heart wasn't what it used to be. The bay was secluded and quiet, perfect for zoning out. The October sea wind cut through them. Iris pulled her coat tighter around herself. She got cold easily. Lionel quickly draped his jacket over her shoulders and wrapped his arms around her from behind. "That better?" An elderly couple walked past, hand in hand. The old lady said, "Look at young people these days. So affectionate." The old man squeezed her hand proudly. "Hmph. If they're still like that at our age, that's what really counts." They laughed and walked away together. Iris's body stiffened. Yes, she and Lionel weren't that impressive. Three years married, and his heart had already changed. Lionel didn't notice anything. He leaned in and brushed against her ear. "Honey, when we're old, we'll be just like them." The nausea surged again. Iris wanted to rip the fake tenderness right off him. Just then, Lionel's phone rang. He glanced at the screen but didn't answer right away. After hesitating for a second, he said, "Wait here, okay? I need to take this." A minute later, he came back, guilt written all over his face. "I'm sorry, honey. I can't stay with you. There's an emergency at the label company, and they need me right now." Iris didn't respond. She simply handed him his jacket back, signaling him to go. Seeing how calm she looked, Lionel hesitated, like he wanted to say something. In the end, he only said, "Head back soon. Don't stay out too late." After that, he left. Iris narrowed her eyes and watched his retreating figure, her expression full of irony. The label company, huh? She had clearly seen the caller ID. It was Pamela Briggs. Before Iris could even get angry, a sharp gust of wind hit. Warm liquid rushed between her legs, followed by sudden, stabbing pain in her abdomen. Iris's face went paper white. Chapter 3 Iris went to the hospital closest to Whalers' Bay. Because of the damage to her uterus, every period left her in unbearable pain. In the beginning, she would start getting anxious days before it came. Lionel hated seeing her suffer. No matter how busy he was, he would drop everything and stay by her side, warming her stomach, making her hot cocoa. With him around, Iris slowly stopped worrying. Most of the time, it was Lionel who reminded her that her period was coming. But this time, he had forgotten, too. After taking painkillers, Iris leaned back against the hospital bed and summoned the system. "Find Lionel's current location." [Okay, Iris.] With a soft chime, a location map appeared in her mind. Lionel was stopped on Suncrest Drive. About three minutes later, the marker moved to Imperial Gardens, Building 13. That was where Pamela lived. Iris opened a short video app, searched Pamela's account, and entered her livestream. "Welcome to everyone who just joined!" Pamela glanced at her watch. "But my boyfriend's on his way, so I'll be ending the stream soon." Her voice was soft and sweet, the kind that put people at ease. As soon as she finished speaking, the sound of a door opening came from off-camera. Her face instantly lit up with excitement. She muted the mic and tilted her head up, eyes bright, like a puppy waiting for attention. The next second, an arm wrapped around her neck. The man lowered his head and kissed her hard, as if he couldn't wait a second longer. Even though his face wasn't visible, the livestream chat exploded instantly. [Ahh, they're so sweet! Kiss more. I wanna see!] [PDA on a livestream? You two are too much!] [That's illegal, kissing in front of us… But I love it!] Unlike the excited fans, Iris felt like she'd been drenched in ice water. The cold spread from her chest outward, leaving her shaking uncontrollably. That man was Lionel. The sleeve visible in the frame was the exact jacket he had been wearing. Just an hour ago, that jacket had been draped over her shoulders. The thought made Iris nauseous. The two of them kissed for nearly a full minute, completely unwilling to part. Iris flipped her phone face down. After a while, the mic turned back on. Pamela smiled shyly, her tone sweet and apologetic. "Sorry, everyone. My boyfriend's here, so I'm ending the stream. See you tomorrow." At the very last second before the stream ended, Iris caught a line of scrolling comments. [Go on, go on. We know when to leave. Can't interrupt a couple and their private session!] Iris laughed soundlessly. It felt like a string in her head had been yanked out of tune, buzzing nonstop. She stayed in the hospital overnight and slept poorly. When she woke up in the morning, she saw Lionel slumped beside the bed, gripping her hand. Suppressing her discomfort, Iris pressed her lips together and pulled her hand back. Lionel startled awake. When he saw that she was up, guilt flashed across his face as he grabbed her hand again. "I'm sorry, honey. I've been too busy these past few days and forgot about your period. It's my fault. Are you feeling better now?" Yeah. Juggling two women would make anyone busy as hell. Iris tried to pull her hand free again, but Lionel held on even tighter. "Why didn't you call me yesterday and tell me? When I couldn't find you after I got home from work, I almost lost it. Next time, you have to tell me. Nothing's more important than you." If Iris had heard that before, she would've cried her eyes out. Now, she just looked at him calmly for a few seconds, then turned her head away and closed her eyes. "I'm still tired. I want to rest." Lionel froze. Seeing her so distant made panic rise in his chest. "Honey…" Before he could finish, his phone vibrated. He glanced at it. A moment later, the Lionel who had been clinging to her suddenly changed his mind. "Get some rest. I'll go buy you some soup." After he left, Iris opened her eyes abruptly, got out of bed, and followed him. Chapter 4 Lionel walked down the corridor, turned into the obstetrics wing, and slipped into the stairwell. Only one door was closed. Iris stood outside it. From where she was, she could clearly see a petite girl with delicate features. It was Pamela. When Lionel saw her, he frowned slightly. "Why are you here?" Pamela pouted and lowered her head, but her eyes tilted up toward him, full of grievance. "I woke up before dawn, and you were gone. I got scared." Her eyes were already filling with tears as she spoke. Lionel looked pained. He gently pulled her into his arms. "What's there to be scared of? I'm not going anywhere." Pamela rubbed her cheek against his chest. "It's not just that. I missed you." Lionel rubbed the top of her head indulgently. "Since when did you get this clingy?" Pamela didn't answer. She looked up at him like a puppy, her eyes overflowing with affection. That kind of look was dangerous. It was exactly how Iris used to look at him. "Lionel, do you love me?" The moment Pamela asked that, Iris instinctively slowed her breathing. Her heart lifted painfully into her throat. Lionel's gaze darkened. He pressed his lips together, said nothing, then suddenly shoved Pamela back against the wall and kissed her hard. As if that wasn't enough, he moved to her neck, sucking lightly and leaving a trail of red marks behind. Iris's eyes burned. She felt as if her heart was being yanked apart, leaving her unable to breathe. This was how Lionel looked when he was overwhelmed by desire. Back then, when she looked at him that way, he had lost control just the same. She took a deep breath and turned to leave. However, Pamela's next words stopped her cold. "Lionel, I'm pregnant. You have to take responsibility." Iris instinctively looked toward Lionel. His body stiffened as shock flashed across his face. Then unmistakable joy surged in his eyes, followed by a conflicted frown. Iris knew that Lionel had always wanted a child of his own. She didn't listen any further and went back to her room. Twenty minutes later, Lionel returned, carrying two bowls of chicken soup. "How are you feeling? Any better?" He set the soup down and bent toward her, trying to kiss her forehead. Iris frowned and turned her head away. Lionel froze, confusion written all over his face. "I'm hungry. Let's eat." After a long pause, Lionel slowly straightened up, looking like he wanted to say something but didn't know how. "Honey, you've seemed down these past few days. Did something happen? If something's wrong, tell me. I'll handle it." As he spoke, he opened the soup and held it out to her. Iris took it and said calmly, "It's nothing. Probably just not feeling well." Hearing that, Lionel finally relaxed, the panic in his chest easing. Iris stayed in the hospital one more night and was discharged the next day. Over the following days, she stayed home organizing the fragments of their past. Birthday gifts they had exchanged. Anniversary presents. Photos from trips they'd taken together. Train tickets, admission stubs, little souvenirs they had picked up along the way. Movie stubs, concert tickets, entry passes to events… Looking at the massive pile of memories, Iris felt dazed. So much had happened in six years. She glanced toward the living room sofa, where Lionel sat listening to a CD. The disc spun slowly as music filled the room. Yet Lionel, usually completely absorbed whenever he listened to music, was staring blankly at his phone. He hadn't gone out much these days, but his mind was clearly elsewhere. On his screen was an ultrasound image. Iris glanced once, then looked away. At lunch, Lionel got a call from a friend who was the MV director. "Lionel, the MV's views just hit another record! We should celebrate. Bring your girlfriend, too." Lionel panicked and shot a nervous look at Iris. Seeing that she showed no reaction, as if she hadn't heard, he finally let out a breath and agreed. After he left that afternoon, Iris messaged her lawyer and said she was coming to pick up the divorce papers. Chapter 5 The divorce papers had been printed for a while now, but Lionel had been home these past few days. Iris didn't want to stir up trouble, so she hadn't gone to pick them up. After finally getting the papers, she drove back home. The system announced in its cold voice, [Iris, you have seven days remaining before leaving this world. The exit channel is now 50% open. Please make sure to settle all matters within the remaining seven days.] After the announcement, the system vanished. Iris kept driving, her expression blank. Then she saw Pamela ahead, walking off the curb toward a steakhouse. Iris froze for two seconds and pulled the car over. At lunch, during Lionel's phone call, she had vaguely caught a few words. Just enough to hear "celebrate" and "girlfriend". On impulse, she followed Pamela to the private dining room where they were eating. The moment Pamela walked in, the room erupted in teasing cheers. "Hey, the famous singer's girlfriend is here!" Pamela nodded politely at everyone. "Hi." "Come on, sit. Order whatever you want. Otherwise, Lionel's gonna say we didn't treat you well." Everyone laughed. Lionel cleared his throat and pulled Pamela to sit beside him. "No need. Pamela can't eat this stuff right now." Pamela blushed shyly. The room went quiet for a few seconds until someone spoke. "Can't eat this stuff… Wait, is she pregnant?" Pamela lowered her head and leaned closer to Lionel. That confirmed everyone's suspicion. After another brief silence, someone said, "Then we really have to keep this quiet. Can't let Iris find out." Lionel stiffened, and his face went pale. Pamela glanced at him uneasily. Outside the room, Iris narrowed her eyes. A chill crept up from her feet, twisting into anger. Something inside her snapped. She had met all of Lionel's friends before. To protect her identity, she rarely interacted with them. But every one of them knew she existed. They all knew her story with Lionel. And now, it seemed they all knew about Pamela, too. Iris took a deep breath, put on a polite smile, and pushed the door open. "Hi, everyone! I was passing by and thought I'd join you for a bite." Ten full seconds of silence followed. The moment she walked in, Lionel and his friends all froze, their faces going stiff and ugly. Iris curved her lips slightly and looked around the room. "What's wrong? Am I not welcome?" Only then did they snap out of it. "Of course you are. Come sit right…" But Pamela was sitting next to Lionel, and there was no empty seat. The man offering smiled awkwardly, not knowing what to do. Lionel's gaze stayed locked on Iris as he stood up without realizing it. Iris didn't care. She calmly sat across from him. "No need to fuss. This spot's fine." Lionel frowned slightly. Halfway through the meal, Iris looked at Pamela. "You must be Pamela! You're even prettier in person than in the music video. You actually remind me a bit of myself when I was younger." Lionel stiffened. "She's not as pretty as you were back then." Iris raised an eyebrow. Pamela's face went pale, sadness flashing in her eyes. No one else dared to speak. In the blink of an eye, Pamela adjusted her expression and put on a gentle smile again, as if she hadn't been affected at all by Lionel's words. "Why aren't you eating?" Iris asked her. "You've been sitting here forever and haven't touched your utensils." Pamela smiled and placed a hand over her stomach. "I'm pregnant. I can't eat greasy food." After speaking, she turned to look at Lionel, her expression hesitant, as if she wanted to say more. The atmosphere grew even stranger. No one made a sound. Lionel ignored Pamela's look. His brows were drawn tight as he stared at Iris, clearly anxious. He wanted to speak, but she cut in first. "I see. You're right. You should be careful with what you eat." Her tone was calm, as if she hadn't noticed anything unusual. Suddenly, she set her utensils down and stood up. Chapter 6 "Enjoy your dinner. I've got things to take care of at home, so I'm heading out." Iris curled her lips into a smile and walked out of the private room, ignoring everyone's tension. After all, she had only come in to make them uncomfortable. Mission accomplished. Every single one of them ate stiffly, like they were chewing cardboard. Lionel couldn't sit still anymore. He ditched everyone and chased after Iris. "Honey, listen to me…" he began. Iris turned back with feigned surprise. "Hm? What's wrong? Isn't this a celebration dinner? You're not staying with your friends?" Lionel stared at her, testing the waters. "You're not angry?" She kept walking and smiled. "What would I be angry about?" Lionel hurried to keep up. "Uh… Pamela sitting next to me was totally an accident. I only love you. I'd never betray you." Iris sounded indifferent. "I know. There were other guys sitting next to her, too. I trust you." She said those words slowly, her smile unreadable. For a split second, Lionel felt like he didn't really know her anymore. Even so, he couldn't put his finger on why. After a long pause, he asked carefully, "Really?" "Really." Hearing that, Lionel relaxed. Yet, an unexplainable irritation crept up inside him. "Then wait for me. I'll say goodbye to them and go home with you." Before she could refuse, he turned and went back into the room. Iris used the moment to hide the divorce papers in the car. After that, Lionel stayed glued to her at home for two days straight. Iris found it annoying. Thankfully, on the third day, the label for Lionel's other album called him in for a collaboration, and he went to the recording studio. Two hours later, Lionel called her. "Honey, there's a contract on the table in the media room. I forgot to grab it. Can you bring it over?" Iris agreed. She drove over, handed it to him, and watched them sign it. After the label reps left, Lionel glanced at his phone, the tips of his ears turning red. A moment later, he walked over and wrapped an arm around Iris's waist. "Thanks, honey. But I need to re-record a track, so I can't go home with you." He looked regretful. Iris quietly stepped back. "It's fine. I can go back myself." "Then I'll order your favorite croissants and a slice of cheesecake to be sent home." As he spoke, he leaned in to kiss her forehead. Iris pretended not to notice and bent down to brush dust off her pant leg. The moment she stepped out of the studio, she saw Pamela getting out of a car. Pamela saw her as well, but didn't greet her. Instead, she loosened her grip on the front of her trench coat and walked straight into the studio without looking sideways. Iris raised an eyebrow. She caught a glimpse of pale skin beneath the coat, a black lace strap on her shoulder, and long white legs flashing as the hem swayed in the wind. Under the trench coat, she was wearing nothing but lingerie. A minute later, Iris turned back toward the studio. Inside the control room, Pamela slipped off her coat the moment she entered. Lionel gulped. "Why did you come dressed like this?" Pamela wrapped her arms around him. "Didn't you send Iris away because you saw the photos I sent you? You ignored me for two days. You didn't even reply to my texts. I was scared that if I didn't tempt you, you'd forget about me. I didn't mean to mention the pregnancy in front of her that day. I just cared too much about you, and it slipped out. Please don't be angry, okay?" Standing outside the door, Iris listened as Lionel's heavy breathing quickly filled the room, along with the creak of the desk scraping against the floor. Pamela's trembling voice came out broken. "Lionel, slow down… I'm still pregnant…" Lionel let out a deep breath, forcing restraint into his voice. "Okay… I'll slow down…" Iris pressed stop on the recording without changing her expression and walked away calmly. Chapter 7 When Lionel got home, it was already eight. He had brought Iris takeout, a spicy beef stew. Iris glanced at it. "I already ate dinner. I'm not hungry." Lionel paused. "Then just leave it. You can eat it later." He sat down beside her and took her hand. "Honey, I've got to go to Hiddersville tomorrow. I'll probably be gone about five days…" Iris smiled and answered without hesitation, "Okay. I'll wait for you to come back." Lionel froze, a faint frown forming. "You're not going to ask what it's for?" "What's there to ask? It's not like I don't trust you." He studied her for a long time, guilt flickering in his eyes. He pulled her into his arms. "Don't worry. Once I'm back from this, I'll spend more time with you." The corner of Iris's lips lifted into a faint, mocking curve. There was no need. She would be gone in three days. When she first decided to leave, she had felt reluctant and sad. After all, she had lived here for six years and built so many memories. But now, her chest felt light, as if she was about to shed her skin and start over. She was even grateful that the exit process took 15 days. It had given her time to wake up completely, so she wouldn't have to struggle through any kind of emotional withdrawal once she returned to her original world. The next morning, after Lionel finished packing, he left. Before going, he reminded Iris not to wander around, to stay safe, and to wait for him at home. After he was gone, Iris dealt with everything she had sorted out earlier. She dealt with the things that needed to be thrown away, burned, and donated. When it was all done, the home they had lived in for three years suddenly felt empty, the traces of the past fading until they were barely there. Iris was satisfied. She even found herself looking forward to Lionel's reaction when he came back to see this place, even though she wouldn't be there to witness it. On the day she was meant to leave this world, Iris woke up early. The system reminded her, [Attention, Iris. The exit location is Whalers' Bay. The channel will open at 12 p.m. Do not be late.] Hearing that it was Whalers' Bay surprised her for a moment. But remembering that she had first arrived in this world there, her heart settled instead. It was a fitting end. She took the divorce agreement out of the car and placed it on the most visible spot in the living room, on the coffee table. Then, she drove toward Whalers' Bay. Halfway there, her phone vibrated. The screen lit up with a new friend request. Iris had a feeling and accepted it. Sure enough, the next second, the other side sent a photo. Lionel was shirtless, asleep on a hotel bed. Pamela was curled in his arms, smiling brightly at the camera. [You probably heard what Lionel and I were doing outside the recording studio that day, right? I'm pregnant with his baby. He's mine. Did he tell you he was going to Hiddersville for work? He's actually traveling with me. You can see it yourself. He loves me, and you're the one who's going to be abandoned.] Pamela followed that with several more photos of the two of them sightseeing together. Iris smiled as she looked at the screen, like she was watching a clown perform. [Cool. I guess congratulations are in order.] Before Pamela could reply, Iris blocked her and saved a screen recording of the entire conversation. When Iris arrived at Whalers' Bay, it was 11:53 a.m. Holding up her phone, she took a photo of herself with the Whalers' Bay shoreline behind her. In the picture, she was flashing a peace sign, her smile calm and relieved. She sent the photo, along with the screen recording of the messages and the audio recording from the recording studio, straight to Lionel. Alongside them, a final line. [Goodbye, Lionel. This time, for good.] Then, she blocked every single way he had to contact her. She sat down on the beach, glanced at the endlessly surging waves of Whalers' Bay, and gently closed her eyes. As the system's countdown echoed in her head from ten down to one, she suddenly felt herself sink into a hazy, formless void.