The Skin I Lent My Ungrateful Ex

To save Ethan Vance, I suffered severe third-degree burns over my entire body. I became a monster. But tonight, I heard him complaining to his friends. "Three years! I’ve had to look at that hideous face for three whole years! Even if I owed her my life, three years of this mental torture should be enough to pay it back, right?" "Every time I think of her scarred, bumpy face, I feel nauseous. Why wasn't it me who got disfigured in that fire instead?" I stood in the shadows, tears streaming down my ruined face as I overheard everything. Right then, a cold, mechanical voice echoed in my head. *“Host, the three-year contract has expired. Do you wish to spend more soul energy to renew the exchange?”* "System, cancel the exchange. I want my skin back." *“Understood. Canceling the transaction now.”* 1 Today was my fifth anniversary with Ethan. I had been sitting alone at the dining table, waiting for him for over two hours. Ethan had sent a Snapchat earlier saying he was on his way, but then he went completely radio silent. Struggling with the constant physical discomfort of my tight, scarred skin, I wrapped my coat tightly around myself and slowly walked out the door to look for him. As soon as I stepped outside, I spotted Ethan's figure. Before I could call out his name in excitement, I caught the sound of his voice. He was talking to his friends. Judging by their backs, they were Carter Hayes and Lucas Hunt. They were standing a bit far away, so I couldn't hear everything clearly at first. I could only see their grim expressions. I thought something had gone wrong at Ethan's company. But as I crept closer, the harsh reality hit me. They were talking about me. "Ethan, bro, we can't keep Chloe waiting forever," Carter said. Chloe? Who was Chloe? "Don't worry," Ethan sighed, rubbing his temples. "I'll give her the explanation she deserves. This year. Definitely." Carter finally flashed a grin. "Finally! I knew you'd come to your senses, Ethan. Why keep torturing yourself like this?" Ethan didn't deny it. Carter looked immensely relieved. "Bro, we’ve watched you go from a nobody with nothing to your name to a powerful CEO. We know how hard you've worked," Carter continued. "Sure, Summer stayed by your side for years, but she’s disfigured now. She’s a monster. She doesn't belong in your world anymore!" Hearing this, my heart barely even fluttered. His friends had always looked down on me. Even when I was perfectly healthy, they had plenty of issues with me. It was no surprise they felt this way now that I was covered in horrific burn scars. But they were just his friends. Ethan was the only one whose opinion mattered to me. I foolishly thought he would defend me. But he shattered that hope instantly. Ethan lit a cigarette, taking a long drag. "It's been three years. I’ve stared at that hideous face of hers for three long years. I’ve taken care of her, played the doting husband... I’ve more than repaid my debt to her for saving me, haven't I?" He blew out a thick cloud of grey smoke. I stared at him from the darkness, unable to believe my own ears. I wished I had misheard him. Then, Carter spoke up again. "Exactly, Ethan! We all support you. You’ve done more than enough. You shouldn't have to live in this self-inflicted prison." Seeing his friends validate him, Ethan began to pour out his hidden disgust. "You guys have no idea. She doesn't go to the hospital anymore, but whenever the weather gets hot, her bumpy, raw skin starts oozing this disgusting fluid. It makes me sick to my stomach!" "I look at that face every single night, and I wake up screaming from nightmares. It feels like I’m sleeping next to a corpse. It’s killing me!" Even Lucas, who usually stayed quiet, showed a look of pure disgust. "Man, I can't believe you’ve endured this for so long. Just thinking about how you have to pretend to love her and kiss her makes my skin crawl." Ethan shook his head with a bitter sigh, acting as if he were the biggest victim in the world. "Don't even get me started. Looking back at these three years of torture, I’d rather have been the one trapped in that fire. Honestly, I don't even know why she rushed in. If she hadn't interfered, the firefighters probably would have rescued me anyway. Why did I have to suffer this curse?" "I swear, she just wants to cling to me like a parasite for the rest of her life!" I never, in my wildest dreams, expected Ethan to hold so much resentment toward me. I let out a silent, bitter laugh. My sacrifice, my willing plunge into a burning hell to save his life, had only earned me his deepest disgust. Three years ago, Ethan had left the stove running while he was distracted by a business call, causing a massive gas explosion in our kitchen. The fire spread with terrifying speed, trapping him inside. Our house was in a secluded suburb, and the fire department couldn't make it in time. Seeing Ethan trapped in the blazing inferno, I was driven mad with panic. Without a second thought, I dove straight into the flames. But I was too late. A heavy cabinet had collapsed on him, and his body was already severely burned. I managed to drag him out and put out the flames eating his skin, but his body was completely ruined. Even with the best plastic surgery, he would have been a scarred monster forever. I knew how incredibly proud Ethan was. He was at the peak of his career. If he woke up to see himself disfigured, it would have broken him. He wouldn't have survived the blow. He needed a perfect, healthy body to succeed. I vividly remember staring at the System interface three years ago. "System, transfer my healthy skin to Ethan. Take his burns and put them on me." *“Warning, Host. Once this contract is finalized, there is no going back.”* "If he wakes up like this, he'll go insane. He needs a perfect face. I’ll bear his pain." ... 2 Under my stubborn demands, I used up almost all my accumulated system energy to complete the trade. Ethan, of course, had no idea. He believed the lie that I was the one who got trapped in the fire while trying to save him. In reality, my ruined, oozing body was just bearing the consequences of his own mistake. I remained hidden in the shadows, listening to them. Ethan's voice drifted over again. "Three years of pretending to be okay while sharing a bed with her. It’s been pure psychological torture. Now, just looking at her makes me want to throw up!" "Man, forget about her," Carter said, slapping Ethan's shoulder. "Let's hit the club tonight. We'll help you loosen up." Ethan shook his head. "No, today is our fifth anniversary. I should go home and get it over with. Consider it my final act of charity before the end." They chatted a bit longer, but I couldn't listen anymore. My head spun, and my body felt like it was being pierced by a thousand hot needles. I don't even remember how I made it back to the dining table. A long time later, Ethan finally walked through the door. He casually tossed a small gift box onto the table. Without even looking at me, he pulled out his phone and started eating. In the past, I would have complained. He was always so busy with work, and we barely spent any time together. I used to feel sorry for him, so I always begged him to put his phone away during dinner. Only now did I realize it wasn't because he was busy. He just didn't want to look at my face. "Who is Chloe?" I asked quietly. Ethan snapped his head up. His eyes flashed with irritation, bordering on anger. When his eyes landed on my scarred face, a look of pure disgust slipped through before he could hide it. "Why are you asking about her?" "Just curious. Is she... important to you?" He stared at me, silent for a few seconds. Then, he quickly masked his expression, offering me a perfect, practiced smile. "Of course not, honey. You’re the only one who matters to me." "By the way, a major client just landed. I have to head back to the office right now..." "But... today is our fifth anniversary." I was still desperately clinging to the tiny, naive hope that we could at least finish this final dinner together in peace. A proper goodbye to our five years. But Ethan's eyes were filled with nothing but impatience. He could barely hide his annoyance. Still, he suppressed it. He leaned in, gave me a quick, shallow hug, and immediately pulled away. "I already gave you your gift, didn't I? Be good, babe. I'll make it up to you when I get back." With that, he practically ran out the door. Through the window, I watched him walk to his car. The moment he thought he was out of sight, he began frantically wiping down his clothes, as if he had just touched something toxic. He even spat on the ground several times in disgust. I stared into the empty street and whispered, "System, can I take my skin back now?" *“Host, your current energy level is too low. A random quest has been unlocked. Please proceed to Club Nocturne to gather energy.”* Hearing the system's voice after so long made me freeze, but I quickly pulled myself together. Even with my body and face wrapped tightly in a thick scarf, it took every ounce of my courage to step out of the house. At the club entrance, the bouncer gave me a weird, suspicious look, which made my chest tighten with anxiety. But at least they let me in. Inside, the lights were dim, the music was loud, and the darkness hid my scars. I finally let out a sigh of relief. I tried to find a quiet corner to hide in, but someone suddenly crashed right into me. "Are you fucking blind? Watch where you're going!" a loud, arrogant voice barked. "You almost spilled my drink! Apologize right now!" I quickly began to apologize, but the young man refused to let it go. "A girl? Why the hell are you wrapped up like a mummy? What, are you some supermodel hiding from paparazzi, or just an ugly troll?" Before I could react, his hand shot out and violently ripped the scarf off my head, exposing my severely burned, scarred face to the crowd. I screamed, frantically covering my face with my hands, but it was too late. "Holy shit! What the fuck is that monster?!" The guy jumped back in disgust, wiping his hands on his pants as if I were contagious, and walked away swearing. I kept my face covered, trying to push through the crowd to escape, crying out that I wasn't a monster. Suddenly, a strong hand gripped my wrist. I panicked, struggling to pull away. But a familiar voice sounded in my ear. "What the hell are you doing here?" I looked up. It was Ethan. Tears flooded my eyes. Out of sheer habit, I tried to lean into his chest for comfort, but the memory of his conversation earlier flashed through my mind, stopping me cold. His voice didn't hold a single drop of concern. It was pure, icy interrogation. I forced myself to calm down. "I was lonely. I just wanted to get some air." Just then, Carter appeared from the VIP section, holding a glass of champagne. He looked at me with absolute contempt. "Summer, do you have any self-awareness at all? Do you know what kind of place this is? This is an elite club! Do you think a hideous freak like you belongs here?" "Ethan has been nice enough not to dump you, but can't you have some decency and think about his reputation? Do you have to come out here and embarrass him like this?!" Carter's words were incredibly sharp, showing no respect for me whatsoever. "Whether I can be here isn't up to you," I spat back coldly. "If a dog like you can get in, why can't I?" Carter had a notorious temper. Hearing my insult, he raised his hand to strike me, but Lucas quickly stepped in and held him back. Lucas patted Carter's shoulder, then turned to me with a sigh. "Summer, things are different now. Coming here only makes people look at you like a freak. You're the one getting humiliated. Carter’s words might be harsh, but he’s right." Carter immediately chimed in. "Seriously! You smell like rot. Even my expensive cologne can't block out the stench coming off you. Jesus!" "Ethan, you owe me a new jacket!" I heard Ethan chuckle warmly in response, agreeing to his friend's demand. I turned my cold gaze to Ethan. "Are you really just going to stand there and let them treat me like this?" 3 A flash of irritation crossed Ethan's face. "They're just speaking the truth, Summer. Why are you being so sensitive? Just go home. Having you here really is an embarrassment." I glanced at the system's progress bar in my mind. I still needed one more hour to fully gather the required energy. I couldn't leave yet. I smirked slightly and said firmly, "I’m not going home. And I don't need your permission to stay." Seeing how stubborn I was, they grew frustrated. I watched Carter lean close to Ethan, whispering, "Ethan, Chloe is about to arrive. We need to get rid of her." Ethan’s face instantly darkened, and he snapped at me. "Summer! Go home! I won't tell you again." "No." Ethan stared at me like a venomous snake. Suddenly, he let out a cold, cruel laugh. "Fine. Since you want to stay so badly, make sure you don't run away..." He gave a quick nod to a few of his rich friends standing nearby. The group of guys immediately surrounded me, blocking my path. I had nowhere to run. Fear started to creep in, but I forced myself to stand my ground. I had to finish the quest. Suddenly, with a sharp *rip*, someone grabbed the collar of my coat and tore it down, exposing the thick, red burn scars covering my neck and shoulders. Another hand pushed me hard from behind. I stumbled and fell onto a nearby lounge sofa. The next second, several guys grabbed the sofa and lifted it up, carrying me toward the center stage. The club's bright strobe lights suddenly focused entirely on me. I tried desperately to hide my face, but it was useless. They dumped me onto the center of the stage. Without my coat and scarf, my raw, scarred body was completely exposed under the blinding white spotlights. The DJ, catching on to the cruel joke, changed the track to a distorted, mocking song with the word "Monster" repeating on loop over a heavy bassline. The crowd erupted into whispers and loud jeers. Words like "ugly," "freak," and "alien" pelted me from all directions. I screamed in terror, trying to crawl off the stage, but the surrounding crowd blocked me, mocking my every move. Through my tear-blurred vision, I saw Ethan standing in the VIP lounge. He was smiling warmly, even clapping along with the crowd. My heart turned to ash. I tried to stand up and run, but someone deliberately tripped me. I fell face-first onto the hard floor. Carter walked up to the edge of the stage, looking down at me with a malicious smirk. "Aw, look at our big beauty, Summer! Why are you looking so pathetic tonight? Guys, aren't we being a little too mean to her?" The crowd burst into another wave of laughter. Carter sneered, "Are you having fun yet?" I gritted my teeth, glare piercing through my tears. "You're all monsters." The sheer panic and stress had caused my body to break into a cold sweat. The moment the sweat touched my raw, unhealed skin, a wave of agony washed over me. I curled into a ball on the stage, completely paralyzed by the pain. Under the intense heat of the club lights, my fragile skin began to ooze yellowish fluid. The music suddenly cut off. Ethan slowly walked onto the stage. Bathed in the bright spotlight, he looked like a savior, making me lose my grip on reality for a split second. It felt just like the day we first met. Years ago, when I had tripped and fallen in the street, he had run through the crowd to pick me up, the warm sunlight framing his handsome face just like these lights did now. I instinctively reached my hand out to him. But Ethan took several steps back, pinching his nose, his face twisted in absolute disgust. He suddenly burst into a loud, mocking laugh. "Summer, did you seriously just wet yourself on stage? Or are you literally rotting? The bathroom is right over there, you know." His voice echoed through the club's sound system. Every single eye in the room locked onto me, filled with mockery and disgust. Carter roared with laughter. "Damn, Summer! You're not just ugly, you have zero manners! Pooping yourself in public? That's low!" "Ugh! That is so gross!" Ethan looked down at me, his voice dripping with icy contempt. "This is your own fault, Summer! If you’re a freak, you should have stayed locked up at home. Why did you have to come out and ruin everyone's night? You disgust me!" I struggled to my feet, shaking violently from the physical pain, but I forced myself to stand straight. I stared into his eyes and let out a soft laugh. "Ethan Vance... Three years. You really should have been an actor." Ethan laughed maniacally, completely shedding his gentle-husband persona. "Summer, do you have any idea how miserable I’ve been?! Every single second I spent looking at you made me want to die! It was pure torture!" "Why didn't you just die in that fire? It would have been better for both of us!" His eyes turned cold, devoid of any past affection. "I’ve paid back everything I owe you. Let's get a divorce." Just then, a beautiful young girl in a tight designer dress walked onto the stage. She wrapped her arms tightly around Ethan’s arm, looking down at me with supreme arrogance. "So ugly," she sneered. "I get that you're bitter, but you can't blame Ethan. Anyone would be disgusted looking at a face like yours. Why keep dragging him down?" Looking at her, I immediately realized who she was. This was Chloe Parker. They stood together, looking like a perfect couple. But then, I noticed something. I let out a loud laugh. "Wow, Ethan. Your taste really never changes, does it? You couldn't wait to replace me, so you found a cheap knock-off who dresses exactly like I did three years ago." And it was true. Chloe was styled exactly the way I used to dress before the fire. Chloe’s face flushed with rage. She grabbed the microphone from the stand next to her and violently threw it at me. "Shut up, you bitch! You're just a jealous freak! You're going to be ugly and alone for the rest of your life!" I easily dodged the microphone, keeping the mocking smirk on my face. Right then, the system's voice echoed in my head. *“Ding! Quest complete. Energy fully gathered.”* Finally. I could leave this hellhole. I didn't try to cover myself up this time. I held my head high and began to walk off the stage. The crowd quickly parted to make way for me, their faces filled with various expressions of disgust and shock, but I didn't care anymore. Just as I reached the exit, a sharp voice called out from behind me. "Summer!" I didn't stop. My mind was completely exhausted. But Chloe ran up, blocking my path. She wanted to savor my defeat. She leaned in close, whispering viciously, "I hear Ethan is leaving you with nothing. Consider this my parting gift to you..." She smiled nastily. "I hope you stay a monster forever, hiding in the dark like the rat you are!" I clenched my fists. The physical strain caused some of the blisters on my arms to pop, weeping fluid onto the floor. Behind her, Ethan yelled out to the crowd, "Look! She's leaking again! Disgusting!" I bit my lip to keep from kicking him right in the face. *“Host, energy levels are optimal. Do you wish to cancel the skin-exchange contract and reclaim your skin?”* I turned back, locking eyes with Ethan, and gave him a chilling, serene smile. **Ethan, peeing yourself in public is so low class!**