Chapter 4

Aurora's face flushed red. "You—"

Joe tugged at her sleeve, playing the part of the peacemaker. "Forget it, Aurora… This is all my fault. I shouldn't have walked past his table. It's my fault for upsetting him…"

She wrapped an arm around him and shot me one last vicious glare. "Just you wait, Samuel."

Then she left with him.

The people in the ballroom immediately started whispering.

"Ms. Lowe is way too biased…"

"That guy was sitting all the way in the corner. How could he have pushed him?"

"Forget it. Keep your voice down. He's Ms. Lowe's fiancé. Why stick our noses into their business?"

The young man sitting next to me discreetly slipped me a tissue. "Bro, your cheek's all red. Here, wipe it off."

I took the tissue and smiled. "Thanks."

"Man, you've really got it rough," he muttered.

I wiped my face and stood up. "It's fine. It'll be over soon."

He didn't understand what I meant. He just assumed I was leaving early, which I did.

As I walked out of the hotel, my phone buzzed with a message from Aurora.

"Drop by the office tomorrow and apologize to Joe in person. Otherwise, you're not going to like what happens next."

"Okay," I replied, then locked my phone.

The system announced, "2% drop in Aurora's Affection Level. Conquest progress: 24%. Countdown: 24 days."

I walked down the street as the night breeze swept past me. My cheek was still stinging from the slap.

My phone buzzed again. This time, it was Nancy.

"Hi. Your mom seems to be doing pretty well today. She's been asking about you. Will you have time to visit her tomorrow? I'm making some soup."

I stopped beneath a streetlight and read her message. Then I replied, "I'll be there."

The next day, I didn't go to the office.

At 10:00 am, Aurora called again. I was in the hospital room, helping Mom take her medicine. I let the phone ring five times before answering.

"Samuel!" she roared. "Why do I need to keep repeating myself? I told you to drop by the office and apologize. Where the hell are you?"

I set the medicine on the table. "The hospital."

"I don't care where you are! Get your ass over now!"

I hung up.

Mom and I sat in silence for about 20 minutes. At last, she broke the silence, looking visibly worried. "Samuel, is this really okay? Aurora—"

Before she could finish, the hospital room door was kicked open.

Aurora stormed in with Joe. Her face was livid. He followed close behind, his eyes tinged red, looking as though he had been wronged.

She strode up to me and looked down at me condescendingly. "Don't make me repeat myself, Samuel."

I stood up and met her gaze calmly. "I said I would, but I'm busy now."

Aurora shook with rage.

"Samuel, do you hate me that much?" Joe chimed in meekly. "Maybe we should just let it go, Aurora…"

For absolutely no reason, he started crying.

She put an arm around him and turned to me with a cold sneer. "Since he wants to hate you, I'll make sure he regrets it."

Aurora's gaze shifted to Mom. "Mrs. Cooper, your son is acting up again."

My face fell. "What are you doing?"

She took out her phone and dialed a number in front of me.

"Hello, Dr. Jones? It's me, Aurora. I'm calling regarding the special treatment program for Samuel Cooper's mother… Yeah, I'd like to withdraw my funding."

My heart sank. The experimental medication Mom was receiving was part of a project funded by Aurora's company. She had the absolute authority to pull the funding.

"Are you crazy?" I snapped, lunging forward to snatch her phone.

Aurora stepped back, and Joe quickly stepped forward to protect her. "Samuel, calm down—"

"Shut up!"

I pushed Joe away and glared at Aurora. "You're putting my mom on the line!"

She looked at me coldly. "I know. That's why you'll apologize to Joe now. Then I'll reinstate the funding for her treatment. It's a simple choice, really."

The hospital director awaited Aurora's response on the other end of the line.

I glanced at Mom. She lay in her bed, her face pale, looking at me weakly. "Samuel… Just apologize. I'll be fine. Don't do anything rash because of me."

I closed my eyes. The system's voice sounded in my head.

"Samuel, calm down. Aurora is going to die soon. You can use your system marketplace points to exchange for a chance at your mother's cure."

I opened my eyes. It had a point. Aurora was going to die soon. Why should I give in to her?

I raised my head and looked Aurora straight in the eye, my gaze icy. "I won't."

She was taken aback. "What?"

"I said, I won't apologize to him."

Aurora's face flushed red. "Fine! You asked for this!"

She spoke into the phone. "Dr. Jones, stop all of her special treatments. Yes, right now."

She hung up and sneered at me. "It's not too late to apologize now. I can still call them and resume the treatment."

I looked at Mom. Her eyes were red, and her lips trembled. "Samuel…"

I turned to her. "I'm sorry, Mom, but I can't keep being her doormat anymore."

With that, I walked out of the hospital room without looking back.

"Samuel, stop right there!" Aurora shouted after me. "You're just going to walk away like that?"

I stopped but didn't turn around. "You're dying soon anyway, along with my mom."

My voice was barely audible, and I knew she couldn't hear me.

She caught up with me. "What did you say?"

I ignored her and walked out of the hospital.

"Conquest progress: 0%," the system announced. "Mission failed. Penalty activated."