The Heart System

Chapter 320: Chapter 320

I pulled up in front of the house and killed the engine. Eleven on the dash. Traffic had been hell, and the blowup in the car hadn’t helped.

Kayla shoved the door open and stumbled out. For a second I thought she was going to faceplant onto the sidewalk, but she caught herself, swayed, and slammed the door shut with more force than necessary. She leaned forward, both hands braced on the roof of the car, head hanging between her arms. The cold air didn’t seem to help much. Her whole world was clearly spinning.

I got out and walked around to her side. ”Hey,” I muttered, placing a hand on her shoulder. She flinched, then sagged. I slipped an arm around her back and guided her upright, pulling her arm over my neck so she could lean on me.

”Ugh...”

”Easy,” I said. ”We’re almost there.”

We shuffled up to the front door together. I knocked while Kayla straightened as best she could, dragging a sleeve across her mouth and forcing a breath through her nose like she was trying to sober herself up by willpower alone.

The door opened.

Mendy stood there in a simple nightgown, hair loose, clearly not expecting company this late. Her eyes flicked from me to Kayla.

Kayla didn’t give her time to react. She lurched forward and wrapped her arms around Mendy in a sudden, messy hug.

”I’m sorry,” Kayla blurted, breaking down immediately. ”I’m so sorry.”

Mendy froze, then awkwardly returned the hug, her gaze darting to me in confusion.

”I... uh,” Mendy started. ”Hey?”

”I knew,” Kayla sobbed, pulling back just enough to look at her. ”I knew all along. I knew Richard was seeing you when he and I were fucking.” Her words tumbled out raw and unfiltered. ”I lied to your face. And I liked it. I liked feeling like I was better than you. God, what kind of person thinks like that?”

Mendy’s mouth opened, then closed. She looked at me again, clearly trying to process the situation.

”I knew it,” Kayla went on, tears streaking down her face. ”I knew it and I still did it. I’m sorry. Please forgive me.”

Mendy took a half step back, still holding Kayla up. She turned her head toward me as if about to ask something—

And then Kayla gagged.

”Oh—”

Too late.

Kayla vomited, splashing messily down Mendy’s legs. Mendy yelped and jumped back, instinctively lifting her gown away from herself. Miraculously, it missed everything else, but the smell hit immediately.

”Oh my god,” I muttered. ”Fuck me.”

Kayla swayed again, completely spent, and smacked her forehead lightly against the doorframe as her knees buckled. Mendy reacted fast, catching her before she hit the ground and pulling her upright, Kayla’s head lolling onto her shoulder.

Mendy looked down at herself, then up at me, disbelief written all over her face. Then, somehow, she laughed.

”I... kind of wish I hadn’t opened the door,” she said, breathless, smiling despite herself.

”Yeah,” I said dryly. ”I figured.”

”Why is she this drunk?” Mendy asked, adjusting her grip on Kayla.

”You already know the answer,” I replied. ”She’s been beating herself up for lying to you.”

Mendy shrugged. ”I already knew she knew about Richard and me.”

I blinked. ”You did?”

She nodded. ”That video Richard took? When he was with Kayla? He literally says, ’Mendy doesn’t let me do anal, but you do.’ Not exactly subtle.”

”Oh,” I said. ”So she’s been torturing herself over something you already figured out.”

”Looks like it,” Mendy said softly.

”Damn.”

”I’ll take care of her,” Mendy said, shifting Kayla’s weight. ”But first, I’m definitely taking a bath.”

”Fair,” I said with a tired chuckle. I hesitated, then added, ”We’re still on for coffee date tomorrow, right? Not a date. Just... coffee... I think.”

She smiled at me. ”Yeah. We are.”

”Good.” I clapped my hands once, stepping back. ”Goodnight, Mendy.”

”Good night, Evan.”

I turned and headed back toward the car, leaving them framed in the doorway, one wrecked night and one hard truth finally out in the open.

╭────────────────────╮

REPUTATION SYSTEM (LVL 11)

VILLAIN████████░░░░░░░░ HERO

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

Helping Kayla: +10

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

Current Reputation: Villain

- More EXP gain when cheating

- Using degrading words during sex

boosts EXP gain.

- Strength and Pleasure boost.

- Magic Ability (Hypnotize)

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

Earning good points will result in

various punishments.

╰────────────────────╯

❤︎❤︎❤︎

I opened the door and stepped inside.

It was dark. Quiet. The kind of quiet that only happens when everyone’s finally asleep.

The first thing I noticed was the lone plate sitting on the dinner table. Chicken fillet. That viral recipe they’d been arguing over earlier. The kitchen light was off, but the faint glow from the city outside was enough to recognize it.

I smiled to myself and walked over.

Then I glanced left.

Minne was curled up on the couch, fast asleep. One arm tucked under her head, the other hanging loosely at her side. Her phone lay near her hand, screen still on. Messages app open. I shouldn’t have looked—but my eyes caught it anyway.

Mom: ’Did you eat?’

Minne: ’Yes.’

Mom: ’You should sleep too.’

Minne ’Master is out. I need to be awake when he comes back so I can warm his plate.’

My chest tightened in a way I didn’t expect.

...Fuck.

I smiled again, softer this time, and quietly moved to the table. I sat down, pulled the plate closer, and picked up the fork.

I took a bite.

”Damn,” I muttered under my breath. ”That’s good.”

Really good. Crispy on the outside, juicy inside, the sauce rich and warm even after sitting out. They’d nailed it.

I kept eating.

There was a faint shuffle behind me. I glanced back just in time to see Minne move in her sleep, rolling onto her side, hair falling over her face. She didn’t wake.

I smiled to myself and turned back to the plate, finishing every last bite.

When I was done, I wiped my mouth with a tissue and stood up quietly. I walked over to the couch, crouched for a moment, and slipped an arm under Minne’s knees and another behind her back.

She barely stirred as I lifted her.

I carried her down the short hallway and nudged her door open with my foot. Her room was dim and still. I laid her gently on the bed, careful not to jostle her, then pulled the blanket up over her shoulders.

She sighed softly in her sleep.

I leaned down and pressed a light kiss to her forehead.

”Thank you,” I murmured, even though she couldn’t hear it.

Then I straightened up, turned off the light, and quietly closed the door behind me.

I heard a door open from the master bedroom.

Soft footsteps followed.

I turned into the short hallway just in time to see Jasmine standing in the kitchen, the dim light above the counter casting a warm glow over her. When she noticed me, she startled so hard she nearly jumped out of her skin.

”Jesus—!” she yelped, clutching her chest. ”When did you come in?”

”Just now,” I said quietly. ”Ate that famous chicken fillet.”

She relaxed instantly, exhaling as she grabbed a glass and poured herself some water. ”And?”

”Yup,” I said with a tired smile. ”Worth the hype.”

I walked back to the living room and dropped onto the couch, gently placing Minne’s phone on the coffee table. I rubbed my eyes, the exhaustion finally catching up to me.

Jasmine followed and sat beside me, turning slightly so she could see my face. ”What’s wrong?”

I hesitated, then sighed.

”Long night,” I said. ”Kayla... she got wasted. Lost it. Tried to force me to drive her to Mendy’s. Grabbed the steering wheel. Whole mess.”

Jasmine’s expression softened. ”Christ, Evan...”

”She ended up apologizing to Mendy. Like—really apologizing. Vomiting, crying, the whole thing.” I leaned back, staring at the ceiling. ”I don’t even know if that helped or just made things worse.”

Jasmine shook her head slowly. ”You didn’t create that chaos,” she said. ”You just got dragged into it. Again.” She bumped her shoulder lightly against mine. ”You always try to carry everyone, you know that?”

I huffed out a quiet laugh. ”Yeah. I’m great at bad decisions.”

She smiled, leaned in, and pressed a soft kiss to my cheek. ”You gotta sleep, handsome.”

I closed my eyes for a second and nodded. ”You’re right.”

I stood up and stretched, my joints protesting. Tomorrow was already lining itself up in my head—checking on Kayla first thing, making sure she was okay... then coffee with Mendy.

A date. Or not a date. Something in between. Either way, it could wait until morning.

I headed toward the bedroom, exhaustion finally winning. The door was already cracked open, soft lamplight spilling into the hallway. Inside, Nala was curled up on the far side of the big bed, breathing slow and steady, one arm tucked under the pillow, the other draped loosely across the sheets. She’d fallen asleep waiting for us—again—her dark hair fanned out like spilled ink.

I paused in the doorway, just watching her for a second. Peaceful. Safe. Mine.

Then I felt Jasmine behind me, warm and close. Her hands settled lightly on my hips, and before I could turn, she rose up on her toes and brushed her lips against mine. Not a quick peck this time—something slower, softer, tasting faintly of the wine we’d shared earlier. A quiet promise.

She pulled back just enough to smile against my mouth, then slipped past me and climbed into bed on the near side. The mattress dipped gently as she settled in, facing Nala but leaving space in the middle for me.

I toed off my shoes, reached down, and eased my pants off, leaving them folded over the chair. Boxers only now. Jasmine’s eyes tracked me in the low light, appreciative, but there was no urgency tonight—just comfort.

I slid in between them, the sheets still warm from Nala’s body. Jasmine shifted closer immediately, pressing a tender kiss to my lips again, lingering this time. Then she rested her head on my shoulder, her breath soft against my neck.

I draped my arm over her, palm settling between her shoulder blades, fingers tracing lazy circles on her skin through the thin fabric of her tank top. Nala stirred faintly in her sleep, instinctively scooting back until her spine met my chest. Perfect fit.

”Good night, handsome,” Jasmine whispered, voice barely louder than the quiet hum of the house.

”Good night,” I murmured. Then, quieter still, the words slipping out like they’d been waiting all day. ”I love you, Jasmine.”

She lifted her head just enough to meet my eyes in the dim light. Her smile was small, real, and it hit me square in the chest.

”I love you too, magic fingers.”

She settled back down, fingers threading through mine where they rested on her waist. Nala’s steady breathing filled the silence on my other side.

And just like that, the weight of the day finally let go...

❤︎❤︎❤︎