Chapter 4

It was then that the system notification sounded.

[Detected: "Misunderstood and Pressured" event]

[Origin: Sean's subjective intimidation]

[Emotional Damage Rating: High]

[Angst Points: +50]

[Current Progress: 71/100]

I was finally ahead with 71 points, but I couldn't bring myself to feel happy about it.

Sean returned to the hospital ward to grab his coat. He then turned to Thea and said, "I've got a meeting to get to, so you should get some rest, Thea."

I was practically dragged along and shoved into the car. I could feel the stifling atmosphere during the drive back, along with a dull, agonizing pain in my chest.

"It's a shame that Mr. Parker ended up leaving. Thea actually managed to score ten points."

"Stella got 50 points! That move paid off big time!"

"Stella seems to be catching feelings. She must have suffered real heartache to earn those 50 points."

"You have to hang in there, Stella—money matters more than men!"

I couldn't help but wonder if I had actually caught feelings for Sean. I immediately pushed that thought away, thinking that no man was worth more than a ten-billion-dollar payout. I couldn't possibly have caught feelings for him. I was certain that the 50 points were nothing more than a plot requirement.

It wasn't long before we pulled up into the garage of the Parker residence. Sean turned off the engine but remained inside the car.

He asked flatly, "What kind of game are you and Thea playing exactly, Stella?"

I felt a sharp pang of tension, but I quickly plastered a guileless grin on my face. "I'm afraid I don't follow, Mr. Parker—"

Sean directly cut me off and accurately uttered two specific terms. "Points? Scores?"

I instantly felt my blood run cold. How did he find out about it? How was that possible?

Sean's gaze was piercing. "You and Thea had been acting weird ever since she returned from abroad. Thea is staging herself as a 'damsel in distress', while you're constantly putting yourself in the line of fire and getting blamed for being the villain.

"What exactly are you two fighting over, Stella? And I'm just the scoring metric for this game, aren't I?"

I opened my mouth to say something, but I was so choked up that nothing came out. I was completely struck dumb.

Those in the comments section instantly went into a frenzy.

"Holy shit! Mr. Parker saw right through the game!"

"Is the NPC actually gaining self-awareness? I never saw this plot twist coming!"

"Does that mean the male lead has been watching the whole time? That's honestly so terrifying!"

"I-I…" I couldn't even think of a single response.

Sean suddenly leaned back into his seat and closed his eyes. He opened them again, and this time, they were filled with nothing but profound weariness. He didn't press any further, merely saying, "Get out of the car."

…

I tossed and turned all night, Sean's haunting question playing on loop in my mind. I wondered exactly how much he had figured out and if he was going to compromise my strategy.

I refused to just wait for the axe to fall. Instead, I started piecing together a risky new plan.

I made a point of meeting a handsome "temporary boyfriend" outside our place the following morning. I made sure we were positioned so that someone could snap a photo that looked intimate from the right angle. I knew Sean's mother, Maddie Johnson, had people keeping watch near the residence, so this was an opportunity I couldn't pass up.

That evening, I was summoned to the main hall, just as I had hoped. The air was thick with tension. Maddie and Sean's father, Jared Parker, were seated in the main seats with somber expressions. Thea was present as well, gauging the situation with a calculating look.

Jared threw a stack of photos on the coffee table and bellowed, "What's the meaning of this, Stella?"

Maddie didn't bother holding back. "How can you be so shameless? You ought to know that the Parker family will never accept a daughter-in-law like you! Your engagement to Sean is over. Pack your things and leave immediately!"

I knew it was finally my cue. I threw myself into the role, my voice trembling with feigned desperation as I cried, "It's not what it looks like! He's just a friend! I'm sincerely in love with Sean!"

Maddie sneered. "You call this sincerity? Do you not see the photos on the coffee table? Do you take us for fools, Stella?"

It was then that Thea grabbed Maddie's arm and said reassuringly, "Please calm down, Maddie. I'm sure Ms. Stewart didn't mean any harm. She might have just been reckless for a moment.

"You know how social people are these days—it's common to have close friends of the opposite gender. It could just be the way the photo was taken, Maddie."