James stared blankly at the myriad of stars.
His mind wasn't racing.
He was a man of principle.
Married women were off-limits. He consoled himself, thinking bio-engineered beings weren't that big of a deal.
With enough money, he could hire plenty of bodyguards.
Amanda's reward wasn't the ultimate prize.
Perhaps the next woman's reward would be betterâlike invulnerability, immortality, control over the elements, or moving mountains and seas.
If such things were possible, wouldn't that be amazing?
What were a few bio-engineered beings compared to that?
After this mental pep talk, James classified Amanda as an ordinary friend in his mind.
He casually messaged her: "Doesn't your husband mind you working at a bar?"
Amanda frowned, suspecting he hadn't given up on her. She decided to drop another bombshell: "Our daughter is five and a half years old, so what's there to mind?"
Well, she even had a daughter.
All hope was lost.
Amanda's profile indicated intimacy with only two people. This suggested her loyalty to her husband, and given her charm, their love must have been deep.
Together, they built a warm, loving home, raising their child.
James sighed: "How blissful."
This had once been James's dream.
But now, he knew better than to be so naive.
Even for the sake of the system's rewards, he had to play the scoundrel.
He wouldn't give up the entire forest for a single tree.
"Hehe, it's alright," Amanda replied casually, a hint of bitterness in her smile.
A widow's life is fraught with gossip, and raising a child alone added to her burdensâher hardships over the years were unimaginable.
Fortunately, her late husband had been well-connected, and many influential figures owed him favors.
The bar was owned by one of her husband's friends, who, appreciating her abilities, made her the manager.
But as time passed, memories of her husband faded.
Her husband's friend, the bar owner, gradually showed inappropriate interest, hinting at wanting her as a mistress.
From verbal advances to physical harassment, he constantly tried to take advantage, suggesting she sleep with him.
Amanda, with her strong self-respect, refused to become a mistress to this married man.
Yet, for her child's sake, she needed to keep her job, enduring the owner's advances without পà§à¦°à¦¤à¦¿à¦¬à¦¾à¦¦.
Such behavior made outsiders think she was involved with the owner.
Amanda didn't bother to explain. Seeing James's message about happiness, she was lost in thought.
Happiness?
At her prime age, shouldering such burdens, happiness seemed a distant dream.
...
Text messages, devoid of tone, left James unable to gauge her mood. Sensing her disinterest in chatting, he made small talk, mentioning he'd drop by her bar sometime to treat her to a drink.
Amanda replied: "Awaiting King's grand arrival."
James closed their chat.
Simultaneously, a message popped up from another woman.
Seeing the red circle on the woman's profile picture in WhatsApp, he smiled.
Her name was Anna Rivera.
Usually, James initiated contact; her reaching out first was rare.
Opening their chat, their last conversation was six days ago, with her explanation:
"Was swamped with overtime last night, didn't see your message."
Below was her current message:
"James, you went to a bar?"
James pulled up her photo and scanned it.
Charm: 82.
Relationship count: 21.
Seeing 21, his emotions stirred.
He had poured all his savings into this woman, yet she refused intimacy, claiming to save it for their wedding day.
He had assumed she was as pure as he was, only to find she had been with so many others.
After three years of investment, he hadn't even gotten a turn.
James felt like a fool.
Aèç, a simp, gets nothing in the end.
"How could you go to a bar? Didn't we agree to save up for a house? How can you do this to me?"
Reading Anna Rivera's accusations, James's blood pressure spiked.
A million curses ran through his mind.
He couldn't believe she had the audacity to lecture him.
She almost had a moment in someone else's car, yet dared to claim he wronged her?
Did she think he was still her doormat?
Taking a deep breath, he tried to calm down.
She wasn't worth getting upset over.
He replied coolly:
"I'm not your boyfriend, how have I wronged you?"
Anna Rivera: "We know our relationship, do we need to spell it out?"
Anna Rivera: "Are you trying to force me to be your girlfriend by going to bars?"
Anna Rivera: "How immature can you be?"
Anna Rivera: "And that post about becoming a manâdisgusting. You've disappointed me."
Alright, so that's how it's going to be?
Furious, James unleashed his inner keyboard warrior.
"Girl, wake up."
"Take a good look in the mirror and see how 'disgusting' is written."
"Even insulting you feels dirty."
"Even trash collectors wouldn't want you."
"I was blind before, but my eyes are clear now."
"Please don't bother me again, thanks."
To twist the knife further, James added:
"Oh, forgot to mention, I won $90 million yesterday. Too bad you won't get to spend any of it."
Anna Rivera was stunned, unsure how to respond.
She'd never believe a broke guy like James could win the lottery.
These days, lottery companies were all about raking in money; no way an outsider would win.
Furious at his insults, she considered blocking him.
With so many fish in her pond, losing one wouldn't matter.
But on second thought, it seemed a waste.
Among all her options, James was the most foolishly generous, sending gifts worth three to four thousand every month.
And seeing him dressed up at the bar, maybe he really did come into money.
Suppressing her anger, Anna Rivera typed:
"What's wrong? Did something upset you?"
James responded sarcastically: "Nothing, just suddenly rich and can't share it with you. Makes me a bit sad."
Anna Rivera: "Can we talk properly? We were fine before."
James: "You said it, 'before.' Now, you're you, I'm me. No connection."
Alarmed by his decisiveness, Anna Rivera asked:
"Have you fallen for someone else?"
James: "None of your business. I'm going to sleep. Bye."
Anna Rivera: "Come back, explain yourself. Who is she?"
Barring a third party, Anna Rivera couldn't fathom James's sudden change.
Over the years, she had been very pleased with James's behavior.
He did whatever she asked, obedient as a dog.
Even on cold winter nights, if she craved spicy hot pot, James would get out of bed to get it for her.
And whenever she got angry, James would immediately apologize, softly and submissively.
If only he earned more, Anna Rivera would have considered giving him the title of boyfriend.
But now, him saying they had no relationship stung her.
It felt like a fish she had nurtured for two or three years suddenly swam into another woman's pond.
She desperately messaged him, wanting to reel him back:
"How can you do this to me? After all these years, you're leaving me for another woman?"
"I wear the necklace you gave me every day, even though others mock it for being ugly and only worth $800. But I wear it because you gave it to me, and I feel you close to me."
"But look at you now. Have you forgotten all your promises?"