Tailsa realized that, with James willing to buy her a house, she really had no reason to be upset.
Though she hadn't gotten the affirmation she hoped for, she could tell from James's eyes that he liked her. The thought of having her own place, and having such a handsome, gentle, and extravagantly wealthy partner, made her ecstatic.
She was even a bit frustrated that their relationship wasn't progressing faster.
Leaning entirely on James, she traced idle patterns on his chest with her fingers, hinting, "So, is there a special reason you're buying me a house?"
James, focused only on improving affection points, hadn't considered further implications.
Caught off guard by her question, he glanced around nervously, reply landing somewhere vague, "Just so you won't have to be under your family's rules and we could live more freely together."
Hearing yet another answer not as she wished, Tailsa felt a bit disappointed. "So, you just want to buy a house to live together?"
"Uh... well, we need a place to live before we talk about other things, right?" James scratched his head and laughed.
"But when it comes to buying a house together, I definitely need to talk to my parents about it,"
Tailsa said, staring directly at James.
She asked earnestly, "If they want to meet you, would you go?"
James felt a headache brewing.
He understood what Tailsa meantâmeeting the parents would inevitably lead to pressure for marriage.
He had just gotten a bit of money, hardly enough time to enjoy life, and now he was facing "the end of bachelorhood."
No way.
He gently hedged, "Of course, I'd go, but we should get to know each other a little better first. After all, it's only been two days, and there's still a lot we don't know about each other."
"..."
When James finished, he noticed Tailsa freeze as if encountering a glitch.
She didn't make a sound or say a word.
He asked her, puzzled, "What's wrong?"
As if struck by a sudden thought, Tailsa lifted her head, giving him a complex look. Then she said nothing more. She let go of his neck, shifted, and sat apart, intentionally leaving space between them.
It was as if she had returned to their university days, distant and indifferent.
[Feelings Level with Tailsa -1]
[Feelings Level with Tailsa -1]
[Feelings Level with Tailsa -1]
...
James was stunned. He hadn't expected the affection points to plummet!
The system showed that the points dropped from 79 straight down to 69 before stopping.
Looking at Tailsa now, her face was as cold as an ice queen's, as if atop a snow-covered mountain.
Sweat broke out on James's forehead, and his scalp prickled as he moved closer, trying to mend things, "Baby, don't be like this. I was just nervous, which is why I suggested delaying meeting your parents. Please don't be angry."
"..."
Seeing no change in her demeanor, James gritted his teeth and relented, "If you arrange it, I'll meet your parents tomorrow, I promise."
Tailsa remained silent, her gaze cold and indifferent as she stared at him, as if looking at a scoundrel.
James, sweating under her gaze, couldn't figure out why she was so angry.
After buying her both a car and a house, her feelings had plunged, and now his own temper flared.
Unable to hold back, his voice rose in agitation, "What do you want me to do? Just tell me; anything within reason, I'll do it."
Unexpectedly, Tailsa sneered, retorting as if provoked, "I want the house in both our names. Can you do that?"
???
James was taken aback. Her demand was impossible for him to fulfill.
How could he continue like this?
Even if James himself wanted his name on it, the "simp" system wouldn't allow it.
Plus, having the house in just her nameâisn't that good enough?
It made him anxious, brow furrowing as he remained silent.
The atmosphere in the car grew stifling.
[System Notice: Feelings Level with Tailsa -1]
Oh no, what on earth happened?
At this rate, his affection points with her would hit rock bottom.
James was scratching his head in desperation.
Not even during last night's mishap was he this frantic.
Suppressing his irritation, he asked in a low voice, "Is adding a name that important?"
Caught in her emotions, Tailsa stubbornly pressed, "Are you willing to add a name?"
James was left speechless.
For him, had someone given him a villa, he'd be praising them like a deity every day.
But with Tailsa, not only did the charm fail, she'd even set impossible conditions.
The rebate was so close now.
Despite his frustration, he opted to compromise.
Hoping to salvage the situation, he said, "I really can't add my name to this house, but for the next one, I can. Is that okay?"
Tailsa's heart ached.
She wanted to scream: You mean adding a name after the divorce, right?
But she didn't dare say it out loud.
This man hadn't uttered a single promise this whole time, and she had no right to accuse him of anything.
She felt utterly aggrieved.
Tears welled up, trickling down her delicate cheeks and staining her chest.
How foolish of me.
Thinking a man could love her angelically.
It turned out he was no different.
A devil in disguise.
Her dream should have ended by now.
"Pull over, Bro Jay,"
Tailsa sobbed, startling James from his strategic thoughts. Seeing her tear-streamed face, his heart softened.
He wrapped his arms around her, soothing, "Baby, don't cry. I said I'll add a name, didn't I?"
In a trembling voice filled with grievance, Tailsa pushed him away, "Get away from me, you bastard."
The urge to scream that she wouldn't settle for being a mistress nearly overwhelmed her.
Listening to the commotion in the back, Jay Johnson gradually steered the car to the rightmost lane.
He didn't stop, merely ensuring that if Tailsa got angry enough to open a door, they wouldn't end up in an accident.
James was getting ticked off.
This unending cycle of tears and tantrums was exasperating.
How was one supposed to reason with a woman who considered him a jerk after all the money spent for her?
Agitated, he blurted out, "Can you please be reasonable? What did I do wrong?"
With those words, silence enveloped the car. All Tailsa did was lower her head, the expression on her face one of bitter helplessness as tears fell on her clothes.
Silence clung heavily inside, a charged atmosphere constricting breaths.
For a long time, they sat in miserable silence.
Tailsa slowly calmed down, her gaze on James now cold and devoid of feeling.
She felt as though her dreams had shattered.
She should have known sooner.
He hesitated when it came to visiting his home.
Hedged when asked which companies he invested in.
Dreaded meeting her parents.
Even in intimate moments, never whispered a promise.
Now he wouldn't even add a name to the deed.
Couldn't risk exposure, clearly hiding something.
What did this all mean?
If he had nothing to hide, why fear adding a simple name?
Why talk of adding to the next houseâwho needs multiple homes?
Assured now, Tailsa was certain: James was married.
With plans to set her up, as his mistress.
Like in those dramas, kept as his pretty pet.
And at this thought, tears slipped free again.