By the time the party ended and the crowd dispersed, it was already 8 PM.
After two or three hours of festivities, Tailsa's feet were aching.
She supported herself on James, the man she loved, as they entered the villa and made their way to the third floor.
Fumbling around, she managed to turn on the lights.
"Honey, why don't you take a shower first?" she suggested.
James had drunk quite a lot. He wanted to test if his newly acquired Super Physique really made him immune to drunkenness.
Turns outâit did.
He drank every toast offered to him.
And not wine, but whiskey.
Normally, he would've been so drunk he'd be passed out on the ground, completely unaware of his surroundings.
But now, he only had a slight flush on his face and a tiny bit of dizziness in his head.
He figured if he splashed some water on his face, he could easily go for another round.
Sitting on the bed with his hands propped behind him, James admired Tailsa in the warm light, looking as stunning as ever.
Feeling the need to test his Super Physique in another way, he unbuttoned his shirt and commanded,
"Come here. Kiss me."
Tailsa shot him an annoyed look. "I'll kiss you, but don't be so bossy about it."
She walked over, only to catch sight of his abs. Her eyes lit up in surprise.
"Wow, big brother, when did you get an eight-pack?"
James glanced down at his abs with pride.
"I was hiding them before. Now, hurry up."
Tailsa was smitten. Her hands ran over his chiseled abs, tracing the lines, before she leaned in to kiss him on the lips.
One kiss turned into a whirlwind of passion.
Over half an hour later,
James, thoroughly satisfied, stepped onto the balcony and lit a cigarette.
The area around the villa was peaceful. In the moonlight, the shadows of swaying trees danced across the yard.
The villas were spaced far apart, with plenty of greenery in between to shield them from view.
Standing shirtless on the balcony, James had no concerns about being seen.
In fact, he wouldn't have minded if a beautiful stranger happened to notice his physique.
Unfortunately, he could only admire himself.
Reflecting on how easily he had obtained Tailsa's final reward, he almost wanted to throw his head back and let out a victorious howl.
This skill was going to be a game-changer for him.
After all, nothing kills the fun of indulgence faster than a weak body.
But now, with his physical attributes enhanced by five times, James was essentially superhuman.
The skill's true brilliance, however, lay in its scalability.
Right now, he was a regular guy with a 5x multiplier. Impressive, sure, but not extreme.
But if he hit the gym and bulked up, with the multiplier applied, he'd practically be a small-scale Superman.
The thought alone excited him. He resolved to buy a full set of gym equipment tomorrow.
And, of course, hire a beautiful personal trainer.
After pumping iron, he could try "lifting" her as well.
Chuckling at his own thoughts, James finished his cigarette.
He remembered that the event schedule included a fireworks display later that night, set to go off right in front of his villa.
For a moment, he debated whether to ask Winnie Morgan to cancel it.
After all, he already had the reward.
But then he thought about the tens of thousands of dollars spent on the fireworks. They were non-refundable, so why not enjoy the show?
Tailsa, having finished brushing her teeth, approached James with her jaw still aching slightly.
Her expression was filled with resentment as she looked at him.
"You've changed," she said quietly.
James, assuming she was complimenting him, felt a wave of pride and was about to bask in her praise.
But then Tailsa added,
"I can feel it. It's like you've suddenly gained something, and now you're looking down on me."
James froze.
How is she this perceptive?!
Still, the system was far beyond anything an ordinary person could fathom, so he didn't panic.
"Don't overthink it," he said casually. "I just had a bit to drink and got a little excited."
Tailsa stepped closer, her tone soft and pitiful. "Honey, the way you're acting... it's scaring me."
"What's there to be scared of?" James said, pulling her into his arms. "I've told you beforeâas long as you don't leave me, I'll never leave you."
Thinking about the future and the increasing number of women he'd be pursuing, James felt a twinge of guilt.
He had always been kind-hearted, after all.
So, he decided to give her a promise.
"If the day ever comes when you feel like being with me is a waste of your time, just say the word, and I'll let you go."
Panic flashed across Tailsa's face. "I won't leave. You're the first man I've ever truly cared for. Without you, I don't want anyone else."
James replied smoothly,
"Don't worry. You're also the first woman I've ever cared for. I'll do my best to make time for you."
Tailsa blinked in surprise.
Didn't he say earlier during the proposal that they'd always be together? Now he was talking about "making time" for her?
"Honey, are you really that busy with work?"
"Yes, very busy. There might even be nights when I don't come home. You'll need to prepare yourself for that," James said, being completely honest.
After all, his ambitions were vast. He wanted to see the world and experience the best it had to offer.
With so many women to take care of in the future, he couldn't possibly give each one equal attention.
For women whose rewards he'd already unlocked, seeing them once a month seemed reasonable.
Though he did feel a certain fondness for Tailsa, her tendency to get upset often placed her third in his priorities.
Shirley Taylor, on the other hand, he wouldn't mind seeing three or four times a month.
Hearing James's words, Tailsa fell silent for a moment before asking in a low voice,
"Big brother... are you tired of me?"
Her tone had changed, and James recognized it immediatelyâit was the warning sign that she was about to get angry.
"Of course not, sweetheart. I've just been really busy lately," he said with a reassuring smile, pulling her closer by the waist.
Considering all she'd gone through today, he decided to comfort her a little.
But Tailsa wasn't about to let it go.
She stared at him directly and asked,
"You said earlier that you spent the past three days preparing this surprise for me. If you're so busy, how did you find the time to do all this? Were you lying then, or are you lying now?"
"Uh..."
James was momentarily at a loss for words.
After a brief pause, he decided he wasn't going to bother explaining anymore.
What was the point? He'd already received his reward. There was no need to keep pretending.
"It's like finishing high school examsâwho keeps studying afterward?" James said, attempting to brush it off.
But Tailsa, as always, took it seriously. She glared at him and snapped,
"Finishing an exam? Am I just some kind of test paper to you?"
"Then what do you want me to say?" James replied, completely indifferent.
Tailsa fell silent.
Then, with a calmness that only deep anger and disappointment could bring, she removed the ring from her finger and said seriously,
"I agreed to your proposal. When are you going to marry me?"
"Uh..." James forced an awkward smile. "Maybe in two or three years? I want to focus on stabilizing my career first."
Tailsa didn't respond immediately.
She stared into his eyes, noticing the fleeting look of panic within them.
She realized something in that momentâhe was lying.
He had no intention of marrying her.
If that was the case...
Was everything today just a game to him?
Had she been nothing more than his plaything?
A wave of rage surged through her, but her face remained eerily calm.
With a faint, bitter smile, she spoke.
"Ha."
Then, without another word, she shoved the ring into James's mouth.
"Let's pretend none of this ever happened. Take back your car and your houseâI don't want to see anything that belongs to you."
And with that, she turned and walked away.
[System Notification: Tailsa's affection -1]
[System Notification: Tailsa's affection -1]
[System Notification: Tailsa's affection -1]
When someone is consumed by extreme anger and sadness, their face often shows no expression.
As Tailsa walked away, she didn't cry or make a scene.
But the light in her eyes was fading, little by little.