Ivy stormed toward me, and for a split second I was sure my heart was about to punch its way out of my chest. I tightened my shoulders, bracing myself like I was about to take a hit.

She stopped right in front of me… then exhaled and glanced around the fitting area.

"Evan," she said. "Were you trailing my mother like I told you to?"

"Uh—" My brain scrambled.

"I said I'd follow her," Ivy continued, annoyed. "I last saw her come in here. Where is she?"

I swallowed. "I saw her changing in that fitting room with her friends," I said quickly, nodding toward the curtain. "But she caught me watching and… yeah. She wasn't happy."

Ivy groaned. "Damn it. You got caught?"

"Badly," I said, forcing a nervous laugh. "I think she hates me now."

She clicked her tongue. "So? Was she with a man or something?"

"No. With her friends," I said, shaking my head. "I really screwed up, Ivy. I need to make it right."

She looked at me carefully. "You didn't tell her I sent you, right?"

"No," I said immediately. "Of course not."

╭───────────╮

EVENT

===============

Ivy's Interest +5

╰───────────╯

"Oh thank god," Ivy sighed. "You're a lifesaver. I'll talk to her later, try to smooth things over."

"Please," I said. "I'm already on thin ice."

She nodded, then leaned slightly and peeked under the fitting room curtain.

My blood froze. I followed her gaze. No shoes. No movement. Delilah must've climbed onto the bench, holding her breath like her life depended on it.

"Okay," Ivy said, straightening. "Let me just call her and—"

Shit. What if Delilah's phone wasn't on mute?

"No!" I blurted out, grabbing her phone without thinking. "I mean—she was really angry. Like, really angry. Maybe give it a few hours?"

Ivy hesitated, then nodded slowly. "Yeah… okay."

╭───────────╮

WOMEN - INTERACTIONS

===============

Jasmine: Interest: 40 / 60★★

Kayla: Interest: 20 / 40★

Tessa: Interest: 27 / 40★

Kim: Interest: 100 / 100★★★★★

Delilah: Interest: 75 / 80★★★

Cora: Interest: 100 / 100★★★★★

Mendy: Interest: 16 /20

Nala: Interest: 100 /100★★★★★

Penelope: Interest: 5 /20

Minne: Interest: 28 /40★

Ivy: Interest: 7/20

Eleanor: Interest: 10/20

Amelia: Interest: 5/20

===============

Progress:

★☆☆☆☆ - 20 Interest: Milestone reward

★★☆☆☆ - 40 Interest: Milestone reward

★★★☆☆ - 60 Interest: Milestone reward

★★★★☆ - 80 Interest: Milestone reward

★★★★★ -100 Interest: Milestone reward

===============

Select a woman to track progress.

╰───────────╯

"I guess I'm done here," Ivy said, slipping her phone away.

"Same," I replied.

"Can you drop me off?"

"S-sure."

My stomach twisted. I couldn't say no. And I definitely couldn't leave Delilah trapped in a fitting room forever.

I dropped to one knee, pretending to tighten my shoe.

"You can wait outside," I said. "I need to… uh… text your mom. Apologize."

"Alright."

She headed toward the exit and the second she was gone, I yanked the curtain open. Delilah stood on the bench, pale, breathing hard.

I handed her my credit card. "Pay for the clothes and wait. I'll have someone pick you up."

"O-okay," she whispered. "Evan, that was terrifying."

"I know," I said softly. "I've got it."

She managed a small smile. "I love you."

"Love you too."

I closed the curtain and stepped back into the store, pulse still racing. Not how I imagined shopping going. But it could've been so much worse.

Waaay worse.

╭────────────────────╮

Evan Marlowe (Lvl 14)

==========================

Age: 21

Height: 180 cm

Weight: 75 kg

==========================

EXP: [█████████░] 5431/5900

╰────────────────────╯

❤︎❤︎❤︎

I'd earned another thirty-five points toward Villain, but since I was already capped, they meant absolutely nothing. The experience, though? That was a different story. Two hundred and fifty bonus EXP from Delilah alone was no joke. Enough to make me almost regret chasing positive reputation points.

Almost.

I bought another Mastery Point and dumped it straight into Bliss Multiplier. Maxed. Fifty percent. Which meant the six hundred seventy EXP I'd pulled from Delilah would've translated into three hundred thirty-five credits if I'd bought it earlier.

I hated being stingy, but when there was barely anything left to unlock and every useful item cost a fortune, who wouldn't hesitate?

╭────────────────────╮

SHOP [Page 2]

==========================

• Hypnotic Perfume (40c)

• Time Stop (90c)

• 500 Dollars (50c)

• 1 Ability Point (150c)

• 1 Mastery Point (160c)

• Desire Aura (100c)

• Reputation Point 30: (200c)

==========================

Credits: 977c

╰────────────────────╯

"God…" Ivy groaned, slumping back in her seat and dragging both hands down her face. "I'm such an idiot."

I pulled the handbrake and glanced at her. "Good of you to finally realize it."

She shot me a look. "Shut up."

"Whatever you say."

The car settled into silence for a second before she shook her head again. "I can't believe I actually tried to follow my own mother. Like some kind of paranoid creep."

I leaned back. "Even if she does have someone in her life, what's the problem? Why are you so against it?"

She hesitated, fingers tightening around the strap of her bag. "I'm not against it. I just…" Her voice dropped. "I can't, Evan. Not after… 'him.' After that man ruined her life, her job, everything—how am I supposed to trust she'll pick the right person?"

"So you want to choose her boyfriends now?" I muttered. "Jesus, Ivy."

"That's not what I'm saying." She turned toward the window, jaw tight. "It's just… we're enough. Me and her. That's how it's always been. The deadly duo." She scoffed softly. "I don't even want her to move out. Hell, I'm glad her old place burned down."

I stiffened. "Woah."

She shrugged, unapologetic. "Call me a monster if you want. I want her close. Where I can see her. Protect her." Her voice wavered. "You didn't hear her on the phone back then, Evan. She sounded empty. Like she was already halfway gone."

I stayed quiet.

"She was getting death threats," Ivy continued, sharper now. "Thousands of messages telling her to kill herself. So yeah—I put a camera in her bedroom back at her place, before it was burned down."

I turned to her fully. "You bugged your own mother's room? What the actual—"

"She was in danger," Ivy snapped, finally looking at me. "What else was I supposed to do? I begged her to live with me, and she kept pulling that 'I'm the adult' bullshit. Fuck that. You took care of me when I was a disgusting little kid. Now it's my turn."

I exhaled slowly. "She's proud. She wants to be strong for you. She doesn't want to be a burden." I paused. "She was the same way with me back in college."

"I know," Ivy muttered. "I just… I guess she will find someone eventually. A man."

I reached over and rested a hand on her shoulder. "Trust her."

She glanced at me. "Would you?"

"With everything I have." My voice came out steadier than I expected. "Ms. Komb is one hell of a woman. If she chooses someone, you respect it. You support her. Because she'd do the same for you."

A small, crooked smile tugged at Ivy's lips. "If only she could find someone like you."

The words hit harder than I expected.

I froze, then slowly turned my gaze toward the windshield. The engine hummed quietly, warm air blowing from the vents. Outside, the weather had cleared—blue skies, restless wind.

Ivy leaned forward, elbows on her knees, hair falling to hide her face. She looked small like that. Worried. Protective to a fault.

If only she knew.

I would never hurt Delilah. Never. She was carrying my child. No matter how tangled things became, that part stayed simple and unmovable. Before I stepped in, she'd been drowning in death threats, messages telling her to disappear, to kill herself. I hadn't hesitated then, and I wouldn't hesitate now. I'd protect her however I could.

"Well," Ivy murmured, offering a faint, tired smile, "thanks for the… enlightening talk, Evan. I think I should head inside."

"Just—" I hesitated, then nodded toward her. "Trust her a little more, yeah? That's the best thing you can do."

She gave a quiet chuckle, rubbing her arms against the cold. "I probably made her hate you now. Sorry for dragging you into this. For telling you to keep an eye on her."

"It's fine," I replied easily. "Anything for you, Ivy."

╭───────────╮

EVENT

===============

Ivy's Interest +5

╰───────────╯

Five points?

That was… unexpected. Ivy was the last person I'd ever cross that line with. Sure, years ago, there'd been something dumb and harmless. A childhood crush. But now? She was just a friend.

Just a friend.

I glanced at her as she shifted her weight. Tight skirt despite the cold, black pantyhose hugging legs I'd never really paid attention to before. Defined. Sexy. Her sweater clung a little too well, stretched just enough to be distracting.

I frowned at myself.

"What?" Ivy asked, catching my look. "Something on my face?"

"Nah." I shook my head, forcing my gaze back up. "You've… been taking care of yourself."

She blinked. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You look good," I said simply, nodding once.

She stared for a second, then laughed. "Wow. Flirting with me now? Marlowe, sorry, but no."

I raised my hands. "Not flirting. Relax. Just a compliment."

"Huh." She smirked and lightly punched my shoulder. "I'll take it. Anyway, see you. I'll smooth things over with my mom."

"Hmm. Thanks."

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