The Heart System

Chapter 442: Chapter 442

By the time I got home, it was almost ten. Traffic had been terrible. A car had crashed into a pole because of the wet roads. I slowed down more than I needed to, half-expecting it to be that reckless girl who kept running into me everywhere.

It wasn’t.

For some reason, that eased me.

I unlocked the door and stepped inside. The girls were gathered around the dining table, playing Monopoly. Since none of them had work tomorrow, they were fully invested. Even Minne was playing, and from the look of the board, she was doing well.

They didn’t notice me until I shut the door.

”Oh,” Minne said, looking up. ”Welcome, Master.”

”Alright,” Tessa said immediately. ”Evan’s the bank. I’m one hundred percent sure Nala is stealing money.”

”I am not,” Nala protested.

”Yeah, sure,” Tessa muttered. ”Come here, stud. Run the bank.”

”Let me wash my hands first,” I said with a small laugh.

”Be quick.”

I went to the common bathroom, washed my hands, dried them, and came back to the table. I sat down at the bank position. Tessa might have had a point. Nala was clearly the richest. Stacks of five-hundreds neatly arranged in front of her, and she was conveniently closest to the main pile.

I settled in beside Nala and organized the money properly on top of the game box.

Minne rolled the dice. One die almost slid off the table but stopped at the edge.

”Seven,” she said, moving her car. ”One, two, three...”

”Any news about the hidden cam?” Nala whispered to me.

”Not yet,” I replied quietly. ”But I’m working on it. We’ll figure it out.”

”I don’t understand why Maeve refuses to help,” she said under her breath. ”I don’t know what to do anymore. This whole thing feels pointless.”

”We’ll handle it,” I said. ”Just don’t stress.”

”Master,” Minne said. ”I passed Start. Two hundred, please.”

I handed her the money. ”Spend wisely.”

She smiled. ”Another hotel.”

”No,” Tessa groaned. ”How did you even complete the blue set already?”

”I asked around the board,” Nala whispered to me. ”If anyone would be willing to look into the hidden cam.”

”Did you mention that we actually found—”

”No,” she cut in softly. ”I kept it vague. Said a friend found one in a motel room.”

”And?”

”They all said to go to the police.” She exhaled slowly. ”This feels hopeless.”

Tessa rolled. ”Come on. Six, six.”

She got nine.

”Damn it.”

”Tax,” Kim said calmly. ”Two hundred million.”

”This game is terrible.”

”Should I talk to Tuck?” Nala asked me quietly. ”Maybe I can convince him.”

”He’s not the type you can push,” I said. ”If he doesn’t want to get involved, he won’t. We need another angle.”

Jasmine picked up the dice. ”Alright...”

She rolled snake eyes.

”Again,” she said, since it was a double.

She rolled again. Double fours. She moved eight spaces, landed on Start, and I handed her two hundred. She rolled a third time.

Double ones.

”Jail,” Tessa announced. ”Three doubles. Get in.”

Jasmine leaned back in her chair. ”Unbelievable.”

The board was a mess of houses, hotels, and growing debt.

And while they argued over rent and taxes, my mind was still stuck on hidden cameras, fake accounts, and a therapist who clearly liked controlling his own narrative.

”I’m starving,” I said, leaning back slightly in the chair. ”What do we have?”

”Minne made homemade pizza,” Jasmine replied without looking up from the board. ”It’s in the kitchen.”

”Pizza again, huh?” I muttered, but I was already standing up.

”It’s good this time,” Minne said defensively.

”I’m sure it is,” I said with a small grin.

I walked into the kitchen and found the tray on the counter, loosely covered. It was still a little warm. I grabbed a plate, slid a couple of slices onto it, and leaned against the counter as I took my first bite.

It was actually good.

From where I stood, I could see the table. Tessa arguing about rent. Kim counting money carefully. Jasmine complaining from jail. Nala quieter than the rest, focused but distracted at the same time. Minne trying not to smile too much about her hotels.

I ate slowly, watching them play.

Tomorrow, I’d talk to Maeve.

No more delays. No more going in circles. The hidden cam, Chase, the files, all of it tied back to this ”K” situation one way or another.

It was time to push properly.

I took another bite of pizza, chewing thoughtfully.

Tomorrow, I’d try to end this K business once and for all.

❤︎‬‪‪❤︎‬‪‪❤︎

I exhaled through my nose and straightened up in front of Maeve’s office door. A flicker of excitement moved through my chest, mixed with the low buzz of nerves. What if she flat-out refused to help? Blackmail was always an option, but I shoved the thought down hard. No. I’d deal with the ”K” situation later. Right now, I needed her to crack that zip file from Chase’s computer. The folder I’d transferred was locked behind a password, and without her expertise, I was stuck staring at a useless encrypted wall.

I knocked—two firm raps. No answer. I knocked again, a little harder this time. A few seconds passed in silence, then I felt movement behind me. I turned.

Maeve stood there holding a steaming coffee cup. Our eyes met. She gave a small, awkward nod and a half-smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

”Come in,” she said.

I chuckled. ”Thanks.”

I pushed the door open and stepped inside, holding it for her. She walked past me to her desk, set the coffee down, and sat. I closed the door behind us with a quiet click. For a moment I just stood there, unsure where to begin. My hand slipped into my pocket, fingers closing around the USB stick. I walked over and placed it gently on her desk.

”I got a zip file,” I said. ”It’s password-protected. Need you to crack it.”

Maeve raised an eyebrow and took a slow sip of coffee. ”Even a baby can crack a zip file, Mr. Marlowe.” She smiled faintly, almost teasing. ”What’s in it?”

”No idea.” I leaned one hip against the edge of her desk. ”That’s why I came to you.”

She studied me for a second. ”Is this about the hidden cam thing? I already told you, I’m sorry, but I can’t—”

”It’s not about that.” I cut in gently but firmly. ”It’s more... personal.”

Her expression shifted. Guarded. ”How can I trust you?”

The persuasion interface flickered into view.

╭────────────────────╮

Persuasion Attempt: Maeve

==========================

☐☐☐☐☐

==========================

Remaining Chances: 4/4

╰────────────────────╯

Thanks to the recent level-up on Honeyed Words, I now had four chances instead of three. The final chances looked stronger too, though still not perfect. I needed more Charm points to push that reliability higher.

Five boxes. Four needed to fill. I could do this.

The first prompt appeared.

╭────────────────────╮

Attempting Persuasion

”Why would you not trust me, Maeve?

And why are you so tense right now?”

==========================

Base Chance: 40%

Honeyed Words: +55%

==========================

Final Chance: 95%

Upon Succeeding: ☑

▶ Proceed with Persuasion? [Y/N]

╰────────────────────╯

”Why would you not trust me, Maeve?” I asked, keeping my voice calm and even. ”And why are you so tense right now?”

She blinked, caught off guard. Her fingers tightened around the coffee cup. One box filled.

”I’m not tense,” she said quickly. ”I’m just... I can’t help you with the hidden cam. I’m sorry.”

”I’m not asking for your help about that.”

”How would I know?” She set the cup down, leaned back in her chair. ”I can’t risk it.”

The second prompt.

╭────────────────────╮

Attempting Persuasion

”Risk what?”

==========================

Base Chance: 30%

Honeyed Words: +60%

==========================

Final Chance: 90%

Upon Succeeding: ☑

▶ Proceed with Persuasion? [Y/N]

╰────────────────────╯

”Risk what?” I repeated, tilting my head slightly. ”Is there something I should know, Maeve?”

”I didn’t mean it like that.” She tried to backpedal, voice a little higher. ”I just... you know what I mean.”

Third prompt.

╭────────────────────╮

Attempting Persuasion

”I don’t know what you mean.

Can you help me understand it?”

==========================

Base Chance: 30%

Honeyed Words: +60%

==========================

Final Chance: 90%

Upon Succeeding: ☑

▶ Proceed with Persuasion? [Y/N]

╰────────────────────╯

”I don’t know what you mean,” I said, softening my tone. ”Can you help me understand it?”

╭────────────────────╮

Persuasion Attempt: Maeve

==========================

☑☑☑☑☐

==========================

Remaining Chances: 1/4—SUCCESS

╰────────────────────╯

”I’m just...” She trailed off, rubbed the back of her neck, then stood up abruptly.

She walked to the window, arms crossed tight over her chest. She stared out at the city for a long moment, fingers tapping restlessly against her elbow. I stayed where I was, arms folded, watching her reflection in the glass.

”I’ll crack it,” she finally said. Her voice was quiet, resigned. ”But I’ll check what’s inside the folder first.”

I lifted both hands in a small surrender gesture. ”As long as I can stay here while you work your magic, sure.”

”It should take a few minutes.” She returned to her chair, grabbed the USB stick, and plugged it in. Her fingers flew across the keyboard.

”Great.”

I started to step behind her to watch, but she shot me a look and half-closed the laptop lid. I raised my hands again and backed off to the window instead, leaning against the wall with my arms crossed.