When The Worm Turns My Ultimate Revenge Begins

Every thoughtful gift I bought for my wife was quietly stolen by a system and turned into a token of my best friend's affection. Soon, I noticed my wife's phone lock screen was a cozy photo of her and my best friend. On her secret Snapchat account, I saw the message she sent him: "You're my true soulmate." I took the evidence to confront my best friend. Instead of apologizing, he sneered and pushed me off the rooftop. "That's right. Your money, your car, your wife... everything that's yours will eventually be mine!" Before I lost consciousness, the last thing I heard was my wife's cold statement to the police: "He suffered from severe depression and delusions. It was definitely suicide." When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day the system first bound us. This time, I decided to give them a little "surprise" first. I turned around and ordered one hundred live venomous snakes on Amazon. "All you do is play games and stare at your phone! You forgot my birthday. I was blind to ever marry you!" The sharp accusation rang in my ears. I snapped my eyes open and saw Chloe's face, twisted with rage under the harsh kitchen light. The familiar living room, the familiar voice, the familiar person... I was sure of it. I had been reborn, back to this exact critical moment. Seeing Chloe again, the hatred in my eyes was almost tangible. This cold-hearted woman was the one who, right after Marcus pushed me off the roof and before my body was even cold, told the police with absolute indifference that I had severe depression and delusions. She made my death look like a pathetic suicide. Forcing down my hatred, my eyes involuntarily drifted to the vanity table. A brand-new La Mer skincare set was proudly displayed right in the center. Chloe followed my gaze. A flicker of guilt crossed her face, but she immediately flared up like a startled cat, her voice rising an octave. "What are you looking at? Got nothing to say? I knew I couldn't count on you. I had to buy this luxury set with my own money. What, is that a crime?" With her own money? I sneered internally. That top-tier La Mer set cost almost three thousand dollars. I saved for months, worked endless overtime, and skipped meals just to buy it for her birthday. But now, Marcus's damn "Wife-Stealing System" had swiped it, making her believe it was a romantic gesture from him. Chloe thought I was clueless, trying to cover it up by saying she bought it herself. In my past life, the bizarre system Marcus bound to me was like an invisible parasite, draining me dry. Any gift I bought for Chloe would somehow end up being credited to Marcus. Even if I ordered online on Amazon, the system would transfer the purchase record to his name once the transaction cleared. With the help of that Wife-Stealing System, Marcus easily stole my wife, Chloe, right out from under me. By the time I noticed the anomaly and confronted him, he ruthlessly pushed me off the building. I clenched my fists so hard my nails dug into my palms. Suppressing my burning rage, I forced a submissive, apologetic smile onto my face. "Babe, I'm so sorry. It's my fault. I've been so overwhelmed with work lately that I neglected you." "Next month is Valentine's Day. I promise I'm going to prepare a massive surprise for you this time!" "A surprise?" Chloe sneered, her eyes full of impatience and contempt. "You always say that. Can't you be a little original? It's clear you don't care about me at all! Fine. I'll give you one last chance." She pointed a finger right at my nose, her tone cold and final. "On Valentine's Day, if your surprise doesn't blow me away, you don't have to bother coming back to this house!" With that, she scoffed, grabbed her phone, and turned her back to me, ignoring me completely. At that moment, I let the hatred show in my eyes as I glared at her back. In my past life, I was a total fool, played like a fiddle by this trashy couple. I gave everything I had, only to be met with ruthless betrayal and a cold death. This life, I will never let history repeat itself. Everything they took from me, they will pay back a hundredfold. Every ounce of pain I suffered, I will make them taste every single drop.The days went by quietly, and soon, it was the eve of Valentine's Day. "Hey Ethan, Valentine's Day is next week. What are you planning to get Chloe?" Marcus walked over naturally, throwing an arm around my shoulder with that fake, familiar smile plastered on his face. Looking at his disgusting face, my stomach churned, and a bone-chilling coldness rose from the depths of my heart. This very hand resting on my shoulder was the one that had pushed me off the roof in my past life without a second thought. I quietly shrugged off his arm, using every ounce of my willpower to suppress the urge to choke him to death right there. Clearing my throat, I kept my voice steady. "Chloe always said she wanted a pet. I already ordered one online." "A pet? What kind? A dog or a cat? Tell me!" Marcus's eyes lit up. He leaned in, his excitement almost bubbling over. I knew his damn Wife-Stealing System was working in the shadows. Right now, he must be ecstatic, thinking he could effortlessly hijack my thoughtful gift again to woo my wife. Forcing down a smirk, I shook my head, playing mysterious. "That's all I can say. Otherwise, it won't be a surprise." I put extra emphasis on the word "surprise." Marcus didn't suspect a thing. His eyes gleamed with excitement, as if he could already see Chloe looking touched and thrilled upon receiving the gift. He even licked his lips subconsciously, tasting the sweet flavor of his upcoming victory. "Hey Ethan, there's one more thing..." Marcus leaned closer, a greasy, flattering smile on his face. "I'm pursuing a girl right now. I want to take her somewhere fancy for dinner. You go out a lot and know the best spots. Any recommendations?" I pretended to think for a moment. "Go to The Glasshouse. I've been there a few times. The atmosphere is extremely elegant and high-class. Just think about it—a romantic dinner at a place like that, topped with a unique surprise gift. What girl could resist?" "Of course! Why didn't I think of The Glasshouse!" Marcus slapped his thigh in revelation. "You really know your stuff, Ethan!" Then, he rubbed his hands together, pulling his neck back sheepishly. "Uh... bro, I'm a little tight on cash lately. Could you lend me a thousand bucks to get by?" Ha. What a scumbag. Using a system to steal my gifts while borrowing my cash to woo my wife? He really thought I was a brainless ATM. My fists clenched tightly. I wanted nothing more than to smash his disgusting face in. But remembering my master plan, I forced a generous smile. "Money's not an issue!" I pulled out my wallet, counting ten hundred-dollar bills. "Here's a thousand. Go use it. Make sure to reserve a nice table, preferably a booth by the window." Marcus eagerly snatched the money, a smug, triumphant grin spreading across his face. "Thanks, Ethan! I won't let you down. I'm definitely locking her down tonight!" We smiled at each other, the air seemingly filled with friendly warmth. Except behind his smile was a greedy, shameless scheme, while beneath mine lay a freezing, murderous intent. The trap was set. Now, all I had to do was wait for the prey to walk right in.On Valentine's Day evening, The Glasshouse—renowned for its romance and exorbitant prices—was dripping with a sweet, festive atmosphere. Roses, candlelight, and soft jazz... everything was incredibly dreamy. I sat in an obscure corner, hidden behind the shadow of a large plant, staring coldly at the booth by the window. There, my "best friend" Marcus and my wife Chloe were sitting side by side, looking incredibly cozy. Chloe was wearing the champagne-colored silk dress I had bought for her just a few days ago. Of course, in her mind now, it was a "thoughtful" gift from Marcus. Under the warm candlelight, her face blossomed with smiles as she listened to Marcus talk big, her eyes sparkling with the same admiration I used to know so well. Marcus looked on top of the world, gesturing wildly as he spoke, occasionally wrapping his arm around Chloe's bare shoulder. His face was a picture of smug satisfaction. He was clearly loving the thrill of using my money and my ideas to win over my wife. From a distance, seeing them clink glasses and share intimate hugs, my blood boiled. I had to restrain myself from walking over and flipping their table. But I held back. A moment of impatience would ruin the entire plan. The timing was just right. I looked down at my phone. The screen lit up with a delivery notification. "Your package is being delivered. Please be ready to receive it." A minutes later, a delivery guy in a uniform walked up to Marcus, carrying a sturdy, tightly sealed, specially ventilated box. "Mr. Marcus, your express delivery. Please sign here." A look of curiosity flashed across Marcus's face, which quickly turned into deep, romantic smugness. He took the heavy box, placed it carefully in the center of the table, and looked at Chloe with a gaze so tender it could melt butter. "Chloe, this is the special Valentine's gift I got for you. I hope you love it." Chloe covered her mouth in surprise, her eyes filled with pampered happiness. "Oh my gosh, Marcus! You got me a gift? It's such a big box! What is it? I'm so excited!" "Babe, why don't you open it yourself and find out?" Marcus said smoothly, his voice dripping with confidence. "I promise, this is a one-of-a-kind gift. You'll never forget it for the rest of your life." "Really? Okay, I'm opening it!" With a warm flush of happiness on her cheeks, basking in the envious glances from neighboring tables, Chloe eagerly tore off the packing tape with a boastful flair. Marcus casually picked up his wine glass, a victorious smile playing on his lips, waiting to bask in her ecstatic screams and have her throw herself into his arms. *Riiip—* The tape was torn, the cardboard unbuckled, and the lid slowly lifted... Time seemed to freeze in that exact second. Every drop of color drained from Chloe's face. Her pupils dilated, her eyes filled with absolute horror. "AAAHHH!" A blood-curdling shriek shattered the restaurant's elegant jazz music. Marcus was startled by her scream. He instinctively leaned forward to look into the open box. With just one glance, his blood ran ice-cold. His scalp went numb, and a shiver of pure terror shot straight up his spine. Inside the box, there was no cute, fluffy pet. Instead, it was a writhing, slithering mass of venomous, striped snakes.