Chapter 05

Gia's POV

Vanessa leaned in to look at my phone. Then she leaned in closer.

Her mouth fell open.

"That's… that's not…" She blinked hard. "You actually have that much?"

Trent pushed forward to see. His face went pale. Behind them, the other agents went completely silent.

Ivy pressed a hand to her chest, then quickly pulled herself together. "Miss Hart, would you still like me to ask the owner for a lower price? I really think I can get you a better deal."

"No need," I said. "Full price is fine. I don't want to waste anyone's time."

Ivy nodded and rushed off to print the contract.

Trent cleared his throat and stepped toward me again, his card already back in his hand. "Miss Hart, listen. I think we got off on the wrong foot. If you ever want to invest in more properties, I have private listings that never even reach the public—"

"Do you honestly think," I said, "someone like you deserves to make a single cent from me?"

His jaw tightened. "You—"

"I only work with people who are good at their jobs and know how to treat people." I looked past him at Ivy, who was walking back with the papers. "Ivy, next time I buy something bigger and better, I'm calling you first."

Ivy's eyes went shiny. "Really? Thank you so much, Miss Hart. Truly."

I signed every page. My hand didn't shake once.

On my way out, I paused next to Trent. Out of curiosity, I asked the system to score him.

*Target score: 37.*

I almost laughed. I leaned close and said softly, "No wonder you can't close deals. You're under forty, and that's being generous."

He stood there, red to the ears, as the glass doors slid shut behind me.

---

Enzo's POV

I stared at the clip for the tenth time.

Honeybee. Throwing private jets and diamond crowns at that skinny nobody, Julian. His channel went from thirty viewers to three thousand overnight.

Three thousand. Because of *my* Honeybee.

I tossed my phone onto the couch and dragged a hand through my hair.

"She used to send me two, maybe three hundred a month," I muttered. "And she gives him thousands in one night?"

My phone lit up. Bella again.

*Baby, when are you coming over? I'm wearing that dress you like.*

I groaned and turned the phone face down. All Bella ever wanted was to get me alone. Every message, every gift, every call was the same thing.

Honeybee was different. She just listened. She laughed at my bad jokes. She never asked for anything.

If I'd known she had money like that, I never would have taken Bella's side. I never would have said what I said on that call.

"Stupid," I hissed at myself. "So stupid."

I grabbed the phone again and tried to send her a message.

*This user has blocked you.*

---

Gia's POV

"This is so nice."

I stood barefoot on the balcony of my new villa, the ocean wind lifting my hair. The sky was turning orange and pink. Waves rolled up the white sand and slid back again, slow and gentle.

My villa. Mine.

Behind me, the house was huge and empty and quiet. No father yelling. No rejection letters on the table.

*Ding!*

*Enzo's affection toward Host has reached 60 points. Host has earned one Mystery Box draw.*

I frowned. "Enzo? I blocked him. I haven't talked to him in days. How did his affection go up?"

The system didn't answer.

I shrugged. "Whatever. Box first."

A glowing gold box appeared in my mind, bigger and brighter than the first one. I reached out and pointed at it.

"This one."

The box burst open in a shower of sparkles.

*Congratulations! Host has received one Body Sculpt Capsule. Once taken, it will reshape Host's body into its ideal form and maintain that state long-term.*

A small silver capsule appeared in my palm. Real. Cool to the touch.

I turned it over in my fingers. "A pill that can do that? That's actually a thing?"

I thought of Vanessa. * calling me Fat. Ugly. Cheap.* and my father calling me big and lazy.

I swallowed the capsule with a sip of water.

Nothing happened.

I looked down at my arms. My stomach. My thighs. All the same.

"Huh." I let out a disappointed breath. "Nothing changed. Maybe it's fake after all."

*Body reconstruction initiating.*

My heart jumped. "Wait, what?"

*Urgent! Process starting now!*

A wave of heat rushed through my whole body. My legs went weak. My eyes felt so heavy I couldn't keep them open.

"Why am I…" I grabbed the balcony rail. "So sleepy…"

Everything went black.

---

When I opened my eyes, the room was full of morning light. I was lying on the cool floor of the balcony, the ocean whispering below.

I lifted a hand to rub my face.

Then I stopped.

I held my hand up in front of me and stared. Slim fingers. A thin wrist. Smooth, soft skin.

"Are these…" I whispered, my voice shaking. "Are these my hands?"