Lust System: Conquering the World Beauties

Chapter 236: Chapter 236 Temptations And Triggers

Liam finally stepped out of the taxi, the cool city air brushing past his face as the cab’s taillights glowed red under the morning sun. He stood there in nothing but his robe and bare feet, but his mind was too clouded for embarrassment. He reached into the robe pocket and pulled out the crumpled hundred-dollar note he’d took from Vanessa earlier. Wordlessly, he handed it over to the old cab driver.

The man gave a sly grin and began to slowly pull the car forward, clearly intending to keep the whole bill. But before the car could move more than a foot, Liam casually lifted his leg and tapped the rear bumper with his foot.

THUD!

The whole car shuddered as if a small wrecking ball had struck it. The cab jerked and bounced slightly on its wheels.

The old man snapped his head out the window, eyes wide. ”Hey! What the hell—”

”Give me my change, old man,” Liam said, voice calm but firm.

Grumbling and snorting, the driver reached into his side pouch and handed Liam a wad of smaller bills. Liam counted them quickly. It was $95.

”It’s surprisingly cheap to get halfway across the city,” he muttered.

The taxi sped off angrily, but Liam was already turning his attention to something else. He looked to the side, spotting a hunched figure sitting on a corner near the building’s entrance. A homeless man, skin wrinkled and clothes stained from too many nights on the street, held out a trembling hand.

Liam walked up without a word and dropped the $95 in his lap. The man looked up in stunned disbelief, but Liam didn’t stay long enough to hear the thanks. His eyes had already turned upward—toward the penthouse suite crowning the skyscraper.

”Let’s hope she’s home,” he said under his breath.

The building’s glass doors parted automatically as he walked in. The lobby was grand—clean marble floors, a receptionist desk, and polished fixtures—but Liam ignored it all. He made a beeline for the elevator and pressed the top floor. As the elevator rose silently, he ran a hand through his messy hair. His thoughts still felt cluttered, frayed like the edges of a burned paper.

When the elevator finally opened, he stepped out into the quiet of the top floor hallway. He reached the penthouse door and pressed the alarm button once.

Silence.

He knocked. Still nothing.

He knocked harder. After several seconds, he finally heard footsteps, soft and slow, dragging toward the door. Liam’s sharp hearing picked up the pace and the rhythm immediately.

Lilith.

The door slid open automatically, revealing her behind it. She wore a silky purple nightgown that clung to her body like it was painted on. Her golden-blonde hair tumbled down her shoulders, tousled from sleep. Her skin glowed even under the muted lighting, and the sheer depth of her presence made the air heavy.

Liam kept his eyes at shoulder level, knowing one downward glance would trigger something inside him again. He was already on edge.

Lilith blinked in mild confusion. Her voice was thick with grogginess. ”What’s going on? You look like you just escaped from a mental hospital.”

He stepped inside without answering and closed the door behind him.

”Something’s wrong with me,” he said, pacing slowly across the room. ”I’m losing control of my thoughts... and my actions.”

Lilith straightened a little, folding her arms as her eyes sharpened. ”I didn’t think it’d be this fast.”

Liam turned to face her. ”Didn’t think what would be this fast?”

She exhaled lightly. ”The side effect of the cure.”

He blinked. His face stiffened. ”Side effect?”

Lilith tilted her head slightly as if trying to soften what she was about to say. ”I may have... forgot to tell you about it.”

Liam’s jaw tightened. His arms crossed over his chest, his stance shifting into full command. ”You better start talking. Now.”

----

Lilith leaned against the edge of the polished kitchen counter, her arms crossed over her chest, expression unreadable. Liam’s voice cut through the silence like a knife.

”Start talking,” he said firmly, folding his arms. ”Now.”

She sighed, brushing her golden-blonde hair off her shoulder as if trying to buy time.

”The cure we gave you,” she began cautiously, ”wasn’t... perfect.”

Liam narrowed his eyes. ”We?”

Lilith hesitated for just a second too long, and Liam picked up on it immediately.

”Who made the cure?” he asked, the tone in his voice sharp enough to draw blood.

Lilith rolled her eyes but smiled slightly, like she expected the question. ”An old friend,” she said vaguely. ”And don’t bother pressing me for more. I’m not giving you his name.”

Liam took a step forward. ”You injected me with some mystery drug made by someone I don’t even know?”

”I didn’t exactly have the luxury of time, Liam,” she snapped back. ”You were dying. Bleeding out like a pig in the middle of the goddamn street.”

He opened his mouth, but she cut him off, lifting one elegant finger.

”Let me finish,” she said.

Liam reluctantly nodded, stepping back with a clenched jaw.

”The cure worked,” Lilith continued. ”Obviously. You’re alive, your system didn’t reject it—which is a miracle on its own. But there’s a side effect. One I... may have forgotten to mention.”

He raised his brows. ”Forgotten?”

Lilith gave a small, unapologetic shrug. ”You would’ve refused it if I told you. I couldn’t take the risk.”

Liam rubbed his temples, already feeling the tension climb up his neck. ”What side effect?”

She exhaled. ”you’re going to start acting... impulsively. Erratically. Basically, your mind will act on instinct. Whatever pops into your brain will be the first thing you’ll feel like doing. No filter. No logic to slow you down.”

Liam stared at her, blank for a moment. Then his brows furrowed as the weight of her words dropped on his shoulders.

”What the hell?” he muttered under his breath.

”It’s temporary,” Lilith added quickly.

”How long?” he asked slowly, like he already knew he wouldn’t like the answer.

She looked away, then back at him.

”A week.”

Liam’s face twisted into something close to rage. His body trembled slightly—not from fear, but restraint. He took a step forward as if to kick something, then stopped himself, hands clenched at his sides.

”A week?!” he barked. ”You mean I’m going to be a puppet to my thoughts for an entire goddamn week?!”

Lilith shrugged again, this time more playfully. ”Let’s look at the bright side of things. For once, we get to be with the real Liam.”

He glared at her like she had just lost her mind. ”Is she serious?” he muttered to himself.

”Yes, I am,” she said casually. ”It’s not all bad. You’re the kind of guy who hides too much. You bottle things up, stay calculated. Maybe this will help you... loosen up.”

Liam walked past her without another word and headed toward the bar.

He grabbed a crystal glass, poured himself a few fingers of whatever aged bourbon was within reach, then stared at it through the amber glow.

”One week,” he said to himself. ”One week of unfiltered chaos.”

He swirled the drink in the glass, watching it catch the light like fire.

”I hope things don’t get too nasty.”