Chapter 3

These beautiful promises, in the end, only I remembered.

After hastily eating some instant noodles at the office, my phone buzzed with a text message.

I quickly glanced at it, and to my surprise, it was a repair order for Grandma Elara's baby store.

Thinking about how she had treated me like her own grandson all these years, I felt I had to see her one more time and make sure her future was taken care of.

I hadn't even reached the store entrance with the repair crew when Grandma angrily threw out several boxes of baby gift bags.

"You blind and foolish girl, you've got a good life and you're throwing it away! What are you doing parading around some sissy boy in front of me?"

"Listen here, my great-grandchild's father can only be Martin! If you insist on having a baby with this disease-ridden pansy, I might as well disown you as my granddaughter right now!"

Grandma shoved Elara mercilessly towards the store entrance.

Elara impatiently shouted, "I've told you and you won't listen. Martin doesn't even mind, so why are you getting all worked up? Alec is being filial, thinking of coming here to help with your baby store's business. And look at you – you're kicking him out before he's even said a word!"

She frowned deeply, grabbing Alec's arm as she stormed off.

Watching Elara's familiar protective stance over him, I felt nothing stir in my heart anymore.I led the maintenance worker past them as we brushed shoulders.

Elara instinctively exclaimed, "Martin! What are you doing here?"

I didn't turn around.

Elara tried hard to explain, "Martin, don't get the wrong idea. I'm just showing Alec some baby items for our future child."

"Just hang in there for ten more days. Once you're pregnant, I promise I'll carry the next baby."

She waited expectantly for my response.

I took a step back, distancing myself from her.

"Alright, you and Alec continue shopping. I need to get back to grandma's store to supervise the maintenance worker fixing the wiring."

Elara breathed a sigh of relief.

She smiled and gave me a hug, adding, "Martin, take good care of yourself while I'm away these few days. Don't overwork yourself, or I'll be worried sick!"

Elara's eyes were full of sincere concern. I silently nodded.

The next day, as I sat in the restaurant waiting for a client, I unexpectedly saw Alec and Elara there too.

Alec skillfully fed her, saying, "Elara, try this. It's your favorite dish."

Elara took a small bite, puffing air as it was too hot."Alright, darling, you deliberately tricked me. As punishment, you have to eat my leftovers!"

Alec took the spoon and swallowed it in one gulp.

The two of them laughed sweetly.

I watched them coldly.

Alec noticed me and looked exasperated.

"Martin, bro, are you intentionally spying on us?"

"I know you can't stand me, but I just want a child of my own. After these ten days, you guys can have as many as you want. Why do you have to..."

As he spoke, his voice began to choke up.

Elara's face turned cold. "If you can't speak properly, don't speak at all. Go eat your food!"

She walked over to my seat and spoke slowly.

"Martin, since I gave you my word, I'll keep it. I'm just trying to help Alec, that's all. You don't need to constantly monitor us."

"Can't you focus on yourself?"

The impatience hidden on her face made it seem as if I had committed an unforgivable sin.

I replied coolly, "It won't happen again."

For the next few days, I locked myself in the company lab, burying myself in work, not wanting to get entangled with them anymore.

But Alec frequently posted about his sweet moments with Elara on social media, tagging me multiple times.

I scoffed at these childish tactics.Soon, the tenth and final day of life arrived.

Elara excitedly sent me a voice message: "Martin! I'm finally pregnant! Come home tonight so we can celebrate together!"

I didn't even have time to reply.

The chemical flask I mistakenly grabbed suddenly exploded.

With a loud bang, the lab erupted in flames, leaving destruction in its wake.

The thick smoke caused everyone to scream in panic.

People wanted to rush in to save me, but the lab's fingerprint lock wouldn't budge.

A familiar colleague frantically called Elara.

"Elara, there's been an explosion in the lab! Martin's still inside! Quick, bring the spare key to unlock the door and save him!"

Elara frowned: "Tell Martin to stop fooling around! I already told him to come home right away."

With that, she hung up abruptly.

Engulfed in black smoke, I struggled to breathe as the physical pain reached its peak.

A cold, mechanical voice suddenly rang out in my mind: "Host, you will be completely erased by the system, vanishing without a trace."

I closed my eyes, waiting in agony for the end.

The next second, someone burst through the chaotic doorway.

Elara shouted: "Where's Martin?""Let Martin come out and see me!"