Chapter 186

The final question hung in the air, light as a feather but hitting Amber like a sledgehammer to the forehead.

Amber’s eyes widened in shock; she hadn’t expected Winnie to have overheard her conversation with Drake. How could she eavesdrop on their private exchange?!

Usually unflappable, Amber found herself blindsided by Winnie’s sudden interjection. Before she could compose herself, Springer bounded into the room from the living room, his curiosity piqued.

“Why do you keep calling Drake ‘Drakie‘ when he asked you not to?” he inquired, his forthright question turning Amber’s cheeks a shade redder.

Embarrassed and indignant, she stammered, “I–It’s just a habit, I haven’t had the chance to break it yet.”

Trying to regain her composure, Amber mustered an excuse and turned to Winnie, “I meant no offense, we’re just close, you know? If it bothers you, I won’t say it again.”

Her voice trailed off, but before she could gather her thoughts, the internal alert from her ‘relationship system‘ rang in her mind.

System alert: Springer’s favourability rating has decreased by 3, currently at 61. Warning: Favourability is approaching failing levels. Please take action to improve your standing with the target character.

Amber stiffened in disbelief, her gaze turning incredulously toward Springer.

What had she done to cause such a sudden drop in his favor? She had already forgiven him for keeping his distance and now this?

In that moment, Amber felt truly wronged.

Springer, for his part, was puzzled by the wounded look in Amber’s eyes.

Ever since their falling out, he felt much clearer in his thoughts. Had this been the old days, he would’ve blamed Winnie for Amber’s words. But now…

He found Amber’s insistence on the familiar term ‘Drakie‘ rather disingenuous, especially since Drake had already corrected her. Her excuse about habit sounded fake. After all, she had barely spoken to Drake since her arrival at the Bryant household. Maybe he had misjudged her character.

In contrast, Winnie seemed more genuine – strong, loyal, and true.

System alert: Springer’s favourability rating has dropped by 2, now at 59. Warning: Favourability has fallen below acceptable levels. Please re–initiate your strategy with the target character.

11:11 Amber felt frustration boiling inside her. She had been silent, and still, his opinion of her had plummeted. This infuriating child!

Springer represented everything ungrateful and foolish!

Struggling to maintain her composure before the others, Amber dipped her head and quickly exited the room.

Winnie watched Amber’s retreating figure with a slight frown. For just a moment, she had noticed a fleeting change in Amber’s expression. Could she have been mistaken?

Meanwhile, Hobson observed Amber’s hasty and forlorn departure, feeling a pang of guilt directed toward Winnie. He opened his mouth to speak but was immediately met with Winnie’s cold, slightly threatening stare. Intimidated, he coughed awkwardly and changed the subject.

“Grandpa was asking about you earlier. Don’t forget to check in with him when you get a chance,” he said before quickly ascending the stairs without waiting for a response.

Winnie paid him no mind, her attention diverted by Springer’s incessant chatter. Once she finally managed to send him on his way, she received a message from Drake.

Drake: If you need, you’re welcome to use my study for your rituals.

Winnie’s eyes lit up at the thought of the purified aura in Drake’s study, her heart racing at the prospect.

She hesitated for a moment, then sent a probing message in return.

Winnie: What if I need… gold aura? Could I borrow that too?

She had been so busy today that she had fallen asleep without asking for a “thank you” from him.

After a brief wait, when she thought he might not reply, her phone pinged with a response.

Drake: Yes.

The simplicity of the message made Winnie’s eyes sparkle with excitement, and even the annoyance from Amber’s earlier disturbance seemed to dissipate.

This was a major win; she had secured access to the gold aura and to Drake’s study.

Filled with newfound lightness, Winnie practically floated upstairs, her spirits soaring.

Drake, on the other hand, paused after sending the message, questioning his own impulsiveness. He had not only allowed her access to his private study but had agreed to the additional request for the gold aura.

Once a decision was made, however, there was no turning back for him. He instructed his butler, “If Winnie comes by while I’m away, let her use the study.”

The butler was taken aback by the unexpected generosity. The young master was not only permitting Winnie into his study but was essentially granting her full access?

With a mix of relief and astonishment, the butler acknowledged the order, “Got it, sir.”

11:115 After a brief pause, the butler asked, “And what if Miss Amber from the Bryant family comes by **

He had sensed Amber’s eagerness to form a bond with their household.

At the mention of Amber, Drake almost forgot who she was. Recalling her visit and the unwanted familiarity, he frowned and said decisively. “The Bryant family has only one young lady worth mentioning. If she comes by again, just send her away.”

The butler understood. Amber was no longer welcome.

In the Bryant household, Amber had just managed to calm down from Springer’s disfavor, teetering on the brink of a failing grade in his books. Unexpectedly, another system alert knocked the wind out of her sails.

“Drake’s approval rating is 1, current rating 37,” the system announced.

Amber was dumbfounded. She had thought 38 was the lowest he could go, but the man had just dropped another point! And so abruptly!

“Why? What did I do now?” Amber was truly on the verge of a meltdown. It would be one thing if she had actually done something to merit this, but she was innocent!

She hadn’t even stirred the pot since returning from the Patterson family gathering, and Drake had shown no particular reaction to her visit.

Now, almost an hour later, her rating had plummeted…

There was only one possibility Amber could think of.

“It has to be Winnie! She must have badmouthed me to Drake!”

She couldn’t think of any other reason.

A deep–seated irritation towards Winnie gnawed at her. She couldn’t fathom why Winnie was hell–bent on making her life miserable. First, she swooped in to claim the title of Mrs. Bryant – a title Amber hadn’t even contested, instead choosing to treat Winnie with kindness and consideration.

But no amount of goodwill had made a dent in Winnie’s disdain. Now, she was going out of her way to sabotage Amber…

Clenching her teeth in frustration, Amber queried the system, “If I manage to boost her approval rating, can I also siphon off some of her luck?”

The system, usually quick to respond, hesitated as if weighing its words.

“Winnie’s fate is unique. Any reckless attempt to absorb her fortune could rísk exposing the system’s existence.”

The implication was clear: the system was advising against targeting Winnie as an object of Amber’s schemes. Obviously, it also doubted Amber’s ability to win her over, much like her failed attempts to charm Drake.