: Outdated Trick
Before long, dinner was served, the dishes brought out one after another. And the final main course was, surprisingly, carried out by Thea Hale.
She stumbled along, the platter in her hands wobbling precariously. As she reached the table, she deliberately edged closer to me.
Then, with a loud CLATTER.
She spilled the entire platter right at me.
I had a feeling this would happen and quickly dodged to the side.
But even though I moved quickly, some of the sauce inevitably splattered onto my clothes.
Before I could say a word, Thea Hale burst into tears. Fat tears rolled down her cheeks one by one.
"I'm so sorry, Miss Rhodes. I didn't mean to."
"I... I'm just so clumsy. Please don't be angry."
With that, she tilted her head and squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself as if preparing for a blow.
'So, what do you think? Is this a good angle? I specially picked this stunning pose, guaranteed to make the Male Leads' hearts skip a beat.'
'Why hasn't she slapped me yet? System, can you block the pain? I really don't want it to hurt too much.'
'So she was counting on me being a hot-tempered Vicious Heiress? Planning to use my supposed cruelty to highlight her innocence?'
I scoffed internally. 'Even novels don't use these plots anymore. This cliché is way too outdated.'
Breaking the silence, I calmly called for the Butler.
"Is she the housekeeper's daughter? Are there no other servants in the house? Why is she the one serving food?"
"Since everyone is so fond of slacking off, pay them double this month's wages. Tell them not to bother coming in tomorrow."
The Rhodes Family was generous and never mistreated its staff, which was why a position here was so highly coveted.
'There's no need to get tangled up with someone harboring ill intentions. I can just replace them all with a more obedient batch of servants.'
Thea Hale froze, completely stunned. After a moment, she began to speak, her words stumbling out.
"N-No! Please, Miss Rhodes! If my mom loses her job, my... my family won't survive!"
"My dad is abusive, that's why my mom had to bring me with her to work. I just wanted to help... I know I was wrong. Please don't send us away."
Her face was a tragic, tear-streaked mask of beauty, but I wondered how much of her story was true.
I heard Leo Fletcher's breath hitch and realized this performance was for his benefit.
Before the Rhodes Family adopted him, Leo Fletcher was an orphan. His father had killed his mother in a drunken fit of rage, and then, fearing conviction, had thrown himself from a building to his death.
Thea Hale's story had struck a nerve.
"Qinian... let it go. If her mother gets fired, she'll be..."
*[Beep. Male Lead #3's Affinity Level for Host +20. Congratulations, Host.]*
I ignored Leo Fletcher and continued to study Thea Hale. She looked young enough to be in college, already tricked by her System into seducing men. She was still naive, unaware that there's no such thing as a free lunch.
"The university semester has started, hasn't it? Why aren't you in school?"
"The Rhodes Family is willing to fund your university education. I will also have our lawyers handle your parents' divorce. He won't be able to hurt you or your mother again."
Thea Hale snapped her head up to look at me, her eyes filled with poorly concealed venom. And I heard her thoughts.
'Damn it, this bitch. She's just trying to get rid of me, terrified I'll steal her men.'
'Once I've succeeded, I'll make her pay. I'll make her kneel at my feet and beg for forgiveness!'
Hearing that, my expression hardened. I immediately retracted my rare offer of kindness.
'If she's so determined to wallow in filth, I won't be the one to stop her.'
Just as I was about to have the Butler deal with it, Shane Sloane suddenly grabbed my hand.
"Qinian, she's pitiful enough. Why not just let it go?"
"It's not a big deal, anyway. The Rhodes Family can certainly afford to support one more idle person."
My gaze turned cold.
Shane Sloane, who had been so cold and dismissive toward Thea Hale at lunch, was now actually defending her.
'Are a mere five points of Affinity Level really that effective?'
