JASMINE
I stood there frozen, mouth half-open, staring at the boy who had just called me a whore and then got casually brushed onto his butt as he weighed as much as a pillow.
He looked ten just by staring at him, Lanky limbs, dark messy hair that fell into eyes identical to Stephan's midnight black, already carrying too much anger for someone who should still be playing video games and forgetting homework.
And he was supposed to be my son?
Wait, he can't be mine. I am just in my mid twenties… and still in college for that matter.
Not this body's biological son, apparently. But still… family. Stephan's son. In this house. With me as the stepmother-from-hell in the original plot.
At once my brain short-circuited.
(System… fill me in. What the hell is going on before I lose it completely?)
The robotic voice came back colder than ever.
(Host… I have always shared secrets with you in previous worlds, yet you consistently fail challenges and deviate from the script. As a result, you have lost access to full information privileges.)
I bit the inside of my cheek so hard I tasted blood.
(System, you know what? Just take me now. I don't have time for complicated family drama and hidden kids. Pull the plug and end this mission.)
Then came a pause, almost like a sigh.
(Fine. To unlock deeper truths about this family… biological ties, past events, hidden motivations you must win levels—complete tasks. Earn points. Only then will restricted information be revealed. Until then… figure it out the hard way.)
I stomped my foot once, it was childish, yes, but satisfying. The marble floor echoed it back at me.
Why was this system so mean in this world?
I took a deep, shaky breath and looked between the two males staring at me like I had grown a second head.
Stephan with his arms crossed, jaw tight, eyes narrowed in that mix of confusion and wariness he had worn since I woke up.
While Jaden who is now back on his feet, cheeks still flushed from the fall, glaring daggers but with a flicker of something else underneath. Elena stepped forward hesitantly, hands clasped in front of her apron.
"Ma'am… this is your son Jaden."
I gasped and instinctively pressed both hands to my flat stomach, then without thinking cupped my own breasts like I was checking for evidence.
"What?! I am only in my twenties! How could I have given birth to a walking teenager?!"
Jaden's cold stare sharpened into something lethal. He straightened to his full (still-growing) height.
"I am not your son," he barked out. "I am my father's son. You don't have to keep reminding me I don't have a mother."
The words landed like a slap, it felt like he had said them to himself in the mirror a thousand times.
I opened my mouth and closed it back. What do you even say to that?
He didn't wait for an answer before he added.
"Have a nice breakfast. I am not interested in joking around. I will get ready for school now."
He turned on his heel and stalked off toward the stairs, shoulders rigid, fists clenched at his sides.
I watched him go, muttering under my breath before I could stop myself.
"Like father, like son…"
Stephan exhaled nattily through his nose. "Oh, thank goodness…"
But before I could finish, his hand shot out and his fingers wrapped around my upper arm and yanked me close enough that my chest bumped his, making me gasp in shock.
"You…" His voice was low, rough, and almost disbelieving. "What is wrong with you?"
I snatched my arm free, rubbing the spot where his grip had been warm, but firm enough to remind me who was physically stronger here.
"What do you mean, what's wrong with me?" I fired back at him.
"Did you lose your memory in the accident? You have been acting weird since I woke up!"
He stared at me as I had spoken in tongues.
"I understand you are my husband, but…"
(Host… mind your words. Another careless deviation will trigger a point deduction. Remember, zero points of death in this world and termination of your mother's life support in reality.)
I clamped my mouth shut so fast my teeth clicked. "You know what… I will send a doctor to check on you." With that he let me go.
I dropped back into my chair with an annoyed huff, arms crossed. Screw bending over backward to please a script that hated me.
I reached for the serving spoons and started loading my plate with the thick strips of bacon still glistening with fat, hash browns fried to crispy perfection and dripping in butter, a mountain of cheesy scrambled eggs that looked like they had been swimming in cream, and a generous pile of sausages swimming in their own juices.
I giggled slowly as I shoved the first forkful into my mouth.
"Even if the system thinks it controls everything," I mumbled around a mouthful of bacon heaven, "at least I can eat the food I actually like."
I glanced up and Stephan was staring at me. Like he was trying to solve a puzzle that kept changing shape.
"What?" I asked, mouth still half-full.
He shook his head slowly. "Nothing. Continue eating. I… lost my appetite."
He stood up and pushed his chair back. Then he paused and turned back to me with a look that was equal parts warning and bewilderment.
"Don't you dare carry me again," he warned.
I froze, spoon halfway to my lips, dripping egg yolk onto the tablecloth.
He didn't wait for a reply. He just… bolted. Long strides toward the foyer, like a man escaping a house fire. While I just scoffed, lowering the spoon.
"At least I tried…"
Just then the system pinged red, angry, flashing in my vision.
[Alert: -10 points deducted. The reason is that the male lead's disgust toward the host has increased significantly. Current Points: 10/100. Further deviation may trigger immediate demotion to cannon-fodder replacement.]
"What?!" I yelled aloud, slamming my spoon down so hard the plate rattled. This made the Maids jump as Elena hurried over, hands fluttering.
"My lady… is there anything wrong?"
I swallowed hard and shook my head. Forced a tight smile.
"No. Everything's… fine." But inside? I was screaming.
(What the heck am I supposed to do to get him to like me? I'm trying not to grovel, but every time I act like myself he hates me more!)
The system responded immediately coldly. (New mandatory task unlocked due to repeated deviation.)
[Task: Publicly apologize to Stephan Voss in front of the whole staff and Jaden for your past behavior. Express genuine remorse for the cheating and manipulation. Do this within the next 24 hours.]
My eyes widened in shock, (What in the world… how can I do that?)
(Reward: +20 points + partial information unlock one family secret. Penalty for failure: -30 points + forced memory wipe of the host's current personality traits for 48 hours. You will revert to behaving exactly like the original Jasmine)
(But..)
[Task cannot be refused, the timer starts now.] I stared at the floating red text only I could see speechless.