Chapter 1

"This is not the amount of money I should receive." Bethany tossed the thick white envelope to a man wearing a sky-blue dress shirt. "I worked here in your small company for three years. And yet I only received 74,000 yen? Are my years of loyalty and hard work a joke to you?"

"Will you please calm down, Ms. Bethany?" The C.E.O scratched his head. "You're making a scene in front of my building. I can sue you for violence and scandal."

"I will sue you too." Bethany calmed herself down. Glancing at the strangers looking at them, she sighed. "Please, I need the money. I need it to pay the hospital bills for my sick grandmother."

Witnessing how Bethany pleaded, the C.E.O took out bills from his brown leather wallet. Bethany showed her palm on which the man put the money.

"Thank you for your hard work. I am making sure this thing won't happen again. You know I am a good boss, don't you? Perhaps, my staffs were the ones who did you dirty." Smiling gently, the C.E.O handed Bethany the white envelope she tossed to him. "I hope your grandmother recovers soon."

"I'm grateful, sir." The C.E.O nodded as he entered the tall building. Bethany ran away from embarrassment. Nevertheless, she didn't regret what she did. She wasn't capable enough of raising her pride. There were many more important things than her.

And that was her sick grandmother whom she loved so dearly. Her grandmother was the only person left in her life. Having no friends and somebody to rely on was hard.

"God, why am I crying?" Wiping her tears, Bethany looked at the seaport of Yokohama. She forced a smile before she counted the money she had.

223,000 yen.

It wasn't enough.

She needed more for her grandmother's surgery.

Her shoulders slumped down as she sighed. She gazed up at the colossal billboard where a game advertisement was featured. Some people around her were discussing the game on the billboard. Only a month after its launch, the game became famous worldwide.

"Love Game," she muttered. She took out her phone, but a call registered on the screen. Her heart pounded hard when she realized it was the hospital's phone number.

"Yes, Shiara-san? Is my grandmother okay?"

"Your grandmother is looking for you. She won't take medicine as long as she won't see you."

"Is that so?" Bethany heaved a deep breath. "I'll be there. Thank you for taking care of her."

Bethany hung up the call. Taking a deep breath, she again looked at the seaport of Yokohama. One week from now, a massive firework festival would commence. She wanted her grandmother to see the colorful colors flying in the sky.

So she hoped her grandmother would get fine soon.

"I can do this," she muttered before she walked away to ride a bus. She came to the hospital ten minutes later. She gulped as she entered the elevator of the building. Waiting for the lift to open, she counted her money again and again. Praying for a miracle, she hoped that money would double in quantity.

But to no avail, it didn't. She wasn't living in a magical world or some fairytale

"I wish I would get rich." Massaging her temple, Bethany exited the lift.

"Ms. Bethany is here," Ms. Shiara, the nurse, announced as soon as Bethany opened the hospital room door. Bethany saw her grandmother sitting in a wheelchair while looking outside the window.

"Grandma," Bethany went to her grandmother. She glanced at the nurse, who smiled while nodding. Shiara-san left the room. Bethany kneeled next to her grandmother.

"I heard you're not taking your medicines. Your health won't recover if you continue being stubborn."

"Bethany, my grandchild." Her grandmother turned her head to her. Reaching Bethany's hand, she smiled sadly. "Have you had your dinner? You're getting thinner."

"Your health is the most important." Bethany squeezed her grandma's hand. "I can't eat thinking you're not well. Grandma, please, you are almost skin and bones."

Her grandmother had a stroke a month ago. Since it was only two of them, Bethany had to skip college to focus on her. She was a part-timer. Working in a company at night then attending classes during the day. She was studying to become a web developer, but destiny opposed her. She had to sacrifice for her grandmother, who took care of her since she was young. Her father divorced her mother when she was born. On her third birthday, her mother disappeared. Bethany never had a good life.

Still, she was thriving for a better future.

"If only I am rich," her grandmother uttered. "You won't have to do these things anymore. You will have friends. You can enjoy your youth. If only I am rich, you will have a good life."

"Grandma." Bethany bit her lower lip, smiling sadly. Her eyes glistened with tears on the verge of falling. "Don't make me cry. Do not worry; once I graduate from college. I'll work hard. I'll buy you a house. I'll bring you to different countries. I'll make sure you live your best life."

"Stop dreaming," the grandmother chuckled a bit. She smiled. "I wish that you live your life free from the financial crisis. Don't mind me, Bethany. I'll only be happy once you live your best life."

Hearing what her grandmother said, Bethany smiled. Her heart was clenching in pain. She didn't want to pity herself. Nonetheless, she wished all of these would end.

She hoped she would have a good life.

"YOUR mother tends to be lonelier as more days pass through. Once her health gets better, she can be discharged," Shiara-san stated, averting her gaze from her clipboard to Bethany. The dark circles below Bethany's eyes were visible, hinting at sleepless nights.

"It is already two in the morning. You better rest." Leaving the hospital room, Shiara worriedly glanced at Bethany. She wanted to help her, but she also had a family to support.

Meanwhile, Bethany peeked in her wallet. After paying the bills, only 12,600 yen was left in her purse. Her bank accounts were emptied. She had no money left but this cash.

Sighing all the burden down, Bethany left the hospital. Roaming mindlessly around the place, she kept thinking about how she could gather more money. She halted from walking after noticing a billboard where the Love Game was being featured. Looking at the advertisement, she took out her phone.

She decided to download the game with already 5 million downloads. As she checked the game, she rested her back on a closed establishment wall. Since it was already late at night, few people were seen walking. The cold weather made Bethany shiver. Nevertheless, the cold comforted her aching heart.

Her worried disappeared as her mind was engrossed in the game. The game app had a blue and pink theme, symbolizing its men and women players. In the registration, there was a rule where the first name of the real name as the username was a must. She registered her personal information to make an account. Afterward, a greeting card showed on the screen with words welcoming Amira to the game. She scrolled through her dashboard only to see her level being on zero. No records unless she would played the game. She clicked the ranking of the game; there were top players and top couples. In conclusion, the game was similar to a dating app.

But there was a twist.

It was a full dive VR MMORPG or Virtual Reality Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game.

"746, 167 yen." Seeing the price of VR headgear, Bethany stood straight. She closed her phone with her widened eyes. How foolish of her to think of playing a game amid a crisis. Tapping her head in exasperation, she proceeded back to the hospital. Without her knowing, someone was watching her behind a nearby tree. The man was in a navy blue suit and tie clothes. He also had a vest underneath his coat. Still looking at Amira, who was walking away, the man dialed a number. He smiled before puffing a cigarette.

"Another target player has been found."