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Our housekeeper brought her daughter into the Rhodes Family home.
I didn't mind at first, until I saw her eyes light up with adoration as she stared at Shane Sloane.
I assumed she didn't know who Shane Sloane was, so I was about to tactfully warn her away from him.
But just as I started to get up, I heard her voice.
'Oh my god, what did Keira Rhodes do to deserve such a feast? These men are so handsome, and she's hogging all three of them!'
'But that's okay. They'll be mine soon enough. The thought of Keira Rhodes getting my sloppy seconds makes me so happy.'
I stopped in my tracks and frowned at her.
With a shy, timid expression, she walked over to Shane Sloane, feigned a stumble, and fell right into his arms.
The moment their eyes met, an electronic voice rang out.
"BEEP. Male Lead #2's Affinity Level for the Host has increased by five. Congratulations, Host."
"Conquest Mission initiated. For every Male Lead you successfully bed, the Host will be rewarded with Ten Million Dollars."
"Successfully engage in a Life-Affirming Exchange with all three Male Leads at once, and the Host will be rewarded with One Hundred Million Dollars."
1
'Oh my, all three at once? I don't think I can handle that. How could The System be so naughty~'
The girl pushed herself out of Shane Sloane's arms, her face beet-red as she stammered her thanks.
'Her lips hadn't moved at all. How could I hear her voice?'
'And that electronic voice a moment ago...'
'A Conquest System? Three Male Leads?'
I frowned, watching Shane Sloane smile at her.
'If Shane Sloane is Male Lead #2,' I mused, 'then does that make Zion Sinclair and Leo Fletcher Male Lead #1 and Male Lead #3?'
I've read my share of web novels, so I didn't think for a second that I was just hearing things.
'So, I've run into one of those Conquest Systems from the novels, and it's sent someone to go after my three Ward-Husbands?'
I couldn't suppress a smile as I gracefully made my way over.
Thea Hale was still playing the innocent bunny, standing beside Shane Sloane.
"What are you two... doing?"
My words seemed to startle her, and her eyes immediately welled up with tears.
"M-Miss Rhodes, Mr. Sloane and I weren't doing anything. He just helped me up."
Thea Hale shot Shane Sloane a pleading look, but he had already walked over to my side.
Shane Sloane ignored her, draping his jacket over my shoulders.
"Keira, why are you out here so lightly dressed? It's still a bit chilly. You have a delicate constitution—you'll be miserable if you catch a cold."
Thea Hale's tears were about to dry on her cheeks. To be fair, her damsel-in-distress act was the kind that could easily stir a man's protective instincts.
After adjusting my clothes for me, Shane Sloane finally seemed to remember she was there and spoke to her impatiently.
"Have you no sense at all? You're the housekeeper's daughter, I recall. What are you doing loitering here instead of going back to your room?"
Thea Hale bit her lip, frozen to the spot, as Shane Sloane put an arm around me and began leading me back inside.
Just before we turned away, I heard Thea Hale's shrill inner voice.
'How dare Shane Sloane humiliate me like this! I'll make him learn what The Groveling Inferno feels like!'
'Damn it! Didn't the Affinity Level go up? How can he be so indifferent to me!'
'So the Affinity Level isn't entirely accurate,' I thought, raising a satisfied eyebrow as I looked at the concern in Shane Sloane's eyes.
'He's passed this test, at least. Now I just have to wonder if the other two can resist her conquest.'
I spent the afternoon in my room with Shane Sloane. Before dinner, he coaxed me into changing into warmer clothes to go downstairs.
Zion Sinclair and Leo Fletcher should have been back by now. No matter how busy they were, they never missed having dinner with me.
Sure enough, the moment I reached the bottom of the stairs, the two of them, already seated at the dining table, broke into smiles.
"Good evening, Keira. Did you have a good day?"
"Keira, it's all Zion Sinclair's fault. He buried me in work, or I would've been back to keep you company hours ago."
I blinked, taking my seat at the head of the table and listening with a smile as they spoke.
