Chapter 13: The Final Level
I didn't seek out the last event.
It found me.
Three months after the divorce was finalized, I received a formal invitation to a charity gala hosted by Derek's former company. I'd been invited as a "community entrepreneur"—my small online business had taken off thanks to the courses I'd completed.
Diana thought it was a good networking opportunity. Ethan offered to be my date.
I accepted.
Walking into that ballroom on Ethan's arm, I felt untouchable.
My dress was simple but devastating—black, backless, floor-length. Ethan wore a tailored charcoal suit that made him look like he belonged on a magazine cover.
People stared. Whispered. Cameras flashed.
I was 9.8 and radiating something beyond beauty—confidence, joy, wholeness.
And of course, Derek was there.
He looked terrible—thinner, older, a shell of the man I'd married. Amber was notably absent.
He saw me from across the room and his face went completely blank. Then slowly, it contorted into something I'd never seen before.
Not anger. Not regret.
Desperation.
He made his way over, drink in hand, eyes slightly glassy.
"Sophia." His voice was hoarse. "You look... God, you look..."
Ethan's arm tightened around my waist. A silent warning.
"Derek," I nodded politely. "How are you?"
"How am I?" He laughed bitterly. "How am I? I lost everything, Sophia. My job. Amber left. My parents won't speak to me. And you—you're HERE, looking like THAT, with HIM—"
His voice was rising. People were turning.
"Derek," I said quietly. "This isn't the place."
"No. NO." He slammed his glass on a nearby table. "You did this. You cursed me. Since the day you left, everything fell apart—"
"$50,000 deposited. Maximum public humiliation event. 200+ witnesses. Viral potential detected."
Someone was filming on their phone.
"—and you're standing there looking like a GODDESS while my life is in RUINS—"
"$30,000 deposited."
His voice cracked. Tears streamed down his face. In front of 200 people.
"I'm sorry," he choked out. "Sophia, I'm sorry. I'm so fucking sorry. Please—just—make it stop—"
The room was dead silent.
Security was approaching, but before they reached us, I did something I didn't plan.
I stepped forward and said softly, "Derek. I forgive you."
His eyes went wide.
"Not for your sake," I continued. "For mine. I forgive you so I can be free of you completely. We're done. And I hope, someday, you find a way to live with what you've done."
I turned and walked back to Ethan.
The system's voice came one final time, different from before—almost warm.
"10.0 achieved. Maximum optimization complete. Final reward: $500,000 deposited. Total system earnings: $982,000."
"Congratulations, Host."
"Now—your choice."
I held my breath.
"Option A: Keep the system. Continue earning through others' humiliation of you indefinitely. No upper limit on wealth."
"Option B: Release the system. All physical upgrades become permanent. All earnings remain. The karmic extraction from those who harmed you will cease—allowing their lives to naturally recover."
Ethan squeezed my hand. He didn't know what was happening internally, but he felt me tense.
I didn't need to think about it.
"Option B," I said.
It found me.
Three months after the divorce was finalized, I received a formal invitation to a charity gala hosted by Derek's former company. I'd been invited as a "community entrepreneur"—my small online business had taken off thanks to the courses I'd completed.
Diana thought it was a good networking opportunity. Ethan offered to be my date.
I accepted.
Walking into that ballroom on Ethan's arm, I felt untouchable.
My dress was simple but devastating—black, backless, floor-length. Ethan wore a tailored charcoal suit that made him look like he belonged on a magazine cover.
People stared. Whispered. Cameras flashed.
I was 9.8 and radiating something beyond beauty—confidence, joy, wholeness.
And of course, Derek was there.
He looked terrible—thinner, older, a shell of the man I'd married. Amber was notably absent.
He saw me from across the room and his face went completely blank. Then slowly, it contorted into something I'd never seen before.
Not anger. Not regret.
Desperation.
He made his way over, drink in hand, eyes slightly glassy.
"Sophia." His voice was hoarse. "You look... God, you look..."
Ethan's arm tightened around my waist. A silent warning.
"Derek," I nodded politely. "How are you?"
"How am I?" He laughed bitterly. "How am I? I lost everything, Sophia. My job. Amber left. My parents won't speak to me. And you—you're HERE, looking like THAT, with HIM—"
His voice was rising. People were turning.
"Derek," I said quietly. "This isn't the place."
"No. NO." He slammed his glass on a nearby table. "You did this. You cursed me. Since the day you left, everything fell apart—"
"$50,000 deposited. Maximum public humiliation event. 200+ witnesses. Viral potential detected."
Someone was filming on their phone.
"—and you're standing there looking like a GODDESS while my life is in RUINS—"
"$30,000 deposited."
His voice cracked. Tears streamed down his face. In front of 200 people.
"I'm sorry," he choked out. "Sophia, I'm sorry. I'm so fucking sorry. Please—just—make it stop—"
The room was dead silent.
Security was approaching, but before they reached us, I did something I didn't plan.
I stepped forward and said softly, "Derek. I forgive you."
His eyes went wide.
"Not for your sake," I continued. "For mine. I forgive you so I can be free of you completely. We're done. And I hope, someday, you find a way to live with what you've done."
I turned and walked back to Ethan.
The system's voice came one final time, different from before—almost warm.
"10.0 achieved. Maximum optimization complete. Final reward: $500,000 deposited. Total system earnings: $982,000."
"Congratulations, Host."
"Now—your choice."
I held my breath.
"Option A: Keep the system. Continue earning through others' humiliation of you indefinitely. No upper limit on wealth."
"Option B: Release the system. All physical upgrades become permanent. All earnings remain. The karmic extraction from those who harmed you will cease—allowing their lives to naturally recover."
Ethan squeezed my hand. He didn't know what was happening internally, but he felt me tense.
I didn't need to think about it.
"Option B," I said.