Chapter 20: Her Secret, My Weapon
The morning sunlight poured through the blinds of Charles’s new penthouse suite, painting gold lines across the silk sheets. Olivia stirred beside him, her bare back exposed to the warm air. The system’s quiet hum was ever-present, a soft vibration at the back of his mind.
> [Bond Status: Olivia – Stable. Possessiveness High.] [Warning: Emotional Manipulation Threshold Near Limit.]
He pushed the system’s alert aside. He had other priorities today.
Like Mia.
The shy college student had responded to his message after two days of ghosting him. Her text was short but tinged with something more than curiosity.
> "I don’t know why I’m doing this... but I’ll meet you after class. No promises."
Charles smirked as he dressed, black button-up, fitted slacks. Confidence oozed from his every move. But beneath that, his mind was sharp. The system had shown him how to read more than body language—it gave him insights into patterns, hesitation, subconscious tells. And Mia? Her hesitation was layered with guilt. Desire. And something hidden deeper.
Something broken.
He’d use that.
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On Campus – 3:04 PM