Chapter 12: Cassandra at Night

Ethan jumped when he heard the knocking on the door. With his legs still trembling from training, he dragged himself to open it... and there she was.

Cassandra.

She looked around nervously, as if making sure no one had followed her, before quickly slipping inside the apartment.

"Cassandra? What are you doing here at this hour?" Ethan asked in surprise, closing the door behind her.

"Keep your voice down!" she hissed sharply, clenching her fists. "How dare you say those things about me in public? Do you have any idea what you’re doing to me?"

Ethan leaned back against the wall, watching her calmly. "And aren’t you worried your husband might show up and see you here with me?"

Cassandra let out a bitter laugh. "My husband... went out drinking, as always. He’s too busy drowning himself in whiskey to care about what I do."

Ethan couldn’t help but smirk. "So that means I’ve got a free pass."

Cassandra glared at him and pointed a finger. "Don’t get any ideas. I’m not that kind of woman. I didn’t come here for... that."

Ethan raised his hands innocently, though a playful spark danced in his eyes. "Didn’t say anything. But if you wanna clarify it, go ahead..."

"You’re insufferable," she muttered, folding her arms.

Silence stretched between them. Cassandra bit her lip, took a few steps, and finally spoke in a softer voice. "What happened yesterday... shouldn’t have happened. I feel... ashamed. It was a mistake. It will never happen again."

Ethan stepped a little closer, his confident smile unwavering. "A mistake... are you sure? Because I remember it as something very real. And if it truly was a mistake... then why are you standing here right now?"

She glared at him, anger burning, but there was also insecurity glimmering in her eyes. "I came to set things straight, not to play your little games."

"I’m not playing, Cassandra. You feel the same as I do, even if you want to deny it." Ethan leaned in slightly. "If it was really a mistake, you wouldn’t be wasting your time with me."

"Enough!" Cassandra snapped, jerking back. "You don’t understand anything! I... I’m not like you. I have a life, a reputation, even if it’s... broken."

Ethan clenched his jaw, watching her walk toward the door. "So you’re just going to keep lying to yourself? Fine. But remember this, Cassandra—

you

were the one who crossed that door first, not me."

She froze with her hand on the doorknob, trembling. Without turning around, she whispered, "This should never have started."

"Cassandra, stop lying to yourself. You feel the same way I do."

"Enough!" she shouted, yanking the door. "You don’t understand anything. I have a life, broken or not. This should never have started."

Ethan reached out, stopping her just before she opened the door. "Wait. Don’t say it was a mistake. Maybe it’s the most real thing you’ve felt in years."

Cassandra trembled, but gently slipped free of his hand. She didn’t turn back, only murmured in a broken voice: "Don’t come looking for me again."

And with that, she left, slamming the door behind her.

Ethan stood frozen, his chest burning with frustration. "Shit..."

[Hahaha... unbelievable, Einstein. You really don’t get women, do you?]

"What was I supposed to do, huh? Force her? You wanted me to get accused of being a rapist?" Ethan growled, collapsing onto the couch.

[Not force her, idiot! You should’ve grabbed her and kissed her until she begged for your dick! That’s what you should’ve done.]

"You’re insane. That doesn’t work in real life."

[Newbie... didn’t you see the signs?]

"What signs?" Ethan frowned, confused.

[Oh, for fuck’s sake! She came wearing a dress easy to take off, lace black lingerie—very sexy, by the way—and made sure no one saw her come in. Do you honestly think she came here for a midnight philosophy talk?]

Ethan’s eyes widened. "How the hell do you even know that?"

[Didn’t you see that ass when she walked away? She was swinging it in your face like you were a stray dog begging for scraps. Come on, kid, don’t be so naïve.]

"..." Ethan rubbed his face, dumbfounded.

[Listen up: there’s only one reason a delicious milf sneaks into a young guy’s apartment behind her husband’s back. She wanted dick. Cock. Sex. To be fucked hard. Got it now?]

Ethan groaned and clenched his teeth. "Damn perverted system..."

[Not perverted, champ... experienced. I’m teaching you what real life won’t wait to explain.]

Ethan dropped onto the bed, his eyes heavy and his head full of doubts. He sighed, staring at the ceiling.

"Fine... you win. You’re the expert."

[Of course, champ! No one’s better than me at this.]

"Yeah, yeah... whatever. I’m going to sleep."

And with that, Ethan closed his eyes and passed out, dead tired.

The next morning, Ethan’s biological clock woke him. He rolled in bed, stretching like a cat. The clock read: 8:35 a.m.

Suddenly, a notification popped up in front of his eyes:

[Daily Mission (2/30)]

[Complete your workout routine]

10 Km

100 sit-ups

100 push-ups

100 squats

100 burpees

[Time remaining: 13:25]

Ethan rubbed his eyes, blinking. "What... thirteen hours left?"

[What’s wrong, genius? Did you think I’d set you a 20-minute gym timer? Relax, you’ve got all day.]

Ethan laid back down, chuckling weakly. "For the first time in a long while... I can actually wake up without rushing."

[Look at you! The kid who was always late to school now thinks he’s in a spa.]

"Shut up, I just mean... it feels weird being calm."

[Calm... until you remember you still have to run 10 kilometers. Let’s see if you’re not crying later.]

"Fuck you. This time I’ll take it slow."

[Take it slow, he says... That’s what your mom thought the night you were born. And look at you, thirteen years later, still a confused virgin.]

Ethan burst out laughing, almost falling out of bed. "How the hell can you read my mind?"

[Because I’m your system, champ. Your thoughts hit me like push notifications. I literally can’t stop hearing your nonsense.]

Ethan sighed, standing up slowly. "So you also know I’m imagining telling you to fuck off, right?"

[Of course. And I also know that after telling me to fuck off, you thought about Cassandra’s ass. I know you better than you know yourself.]

Ethan ran his hands through his hair. "This is gonna drive me crazy."

[No, no, no. This is gonna turn you into a god of sex and seduction. Be grateful your master’s this generous.]

Ethan smiled tiredly and shuffled toward the bathroom, muttering, "Yeah, right... degenerate master."

[That’s the spirit! Recognition first of all.]