At the upscale Bloomfield Plaza Mall in Los Angeles, Jason strolled confidently through the marble-tiled corridor, a Rolex Submariner gleaming on his wrist. Dressed in fitted designer jeans and a crisp button-down, he looked like someone who had it all together.
Trailing beside him were Megan and her best friend Brooke, both clutching iced matcha lattes as they followed Jason into Radiance Skincare & Spa for a premium beauty package—priced at $1,600 for the trio.
Just a few feet away, Emma spotted them as she stepped out of a nearby boutique with Josh Miller, her current boyfriend. Her gaze lingered on Jason longer than necessary. Her lips curved into a tight smirk—but there was a flicker of jealousy in her eyes.
Some people just couldn't stand to see their ex shining.
Even though she had "moved on" to Josh, a trust fund guy from the East Coast, she still wasn't ready to see Jason treating another girl like royalty—let alone spending money on her.
"Josh, I was thinking maybe we could go for a spa day too," Emma said with a falsely casual air. Her voice was light, but it had an edge of comparison to it.
Josh narrowed his eyes slightly but smiled politely. "There's a decent spa down by Sephora. Want to check it out?"
They ended up in Serenity Spa, one tier lower than Radiance. Josh purchased a couple's package for $950, and Emma flashed a victorious smile—as if she had won some invisible contest.
Meanwhile, in Radiance, Jason was being consulted by a stylist and decided to go for a bold new look—a sharp textured quiff with a fade, and a subtle American wave perm. The style transformed his entire vibe. Combined with his sculpted brows and newly radiant skin, the change was dramatic.
Jason had always had potential, but now? Now he was dangerously handsome.
The spa session took over two hours. Megan and Brooke, both regulars at skincare clinics, didn't show much change—but Jason's transformation was obvious. His face was smoother, brighter, his jawline sharper.
[System Notification: Megan Rivera - Affection Rating +5][System Notification: Brooke - Affection Rating +3]
Just as they stepped out of Radiance, Emma and Josh were exiting Serenity. Emma's eyes flicked toward Jason—and froze.
Her breath caught for a second.
Was this really Jason?
Back when they were together, Jason never spent money on himself. He'd pour everything into her—skipping meals, skipping haircuts, just to buy her a Michael Kors purse or cover her Uber rides.
She used to think he was just a soft-hearted guy with no backbone.
But now, dressed in minimalistic luxury streetwear, with glowing skin and a confident swagger, Jason looked... like someone new. Someone powerful.
[System Notification: Emma Adams - Affection Rating +5]
Josh noticed Emma's stare and frowned slightly. He didn't say anything, but the tension was noticeable.
Jason, now fully aware of how the Affection Rating worked, smiled inwardly. It wasn't about being flashy—it was about value. The more he leveled up, the more the world responded.
Instead of chasing love, he could attract it by becoming better.
Why kneel to be someone's doormat, when you could stand tall and be admired?
"It's almost seven," Jason said to the girls, "You must be hungry. Ever been to Mariner's Catch upstairs? Their seafood is insane."
Megan blinked. "That place? That's like $500 a head."
"I've been wanting to try it," Jason said with a grin. "My treat tonight."
"Shouldn't we find somewhere less expensive?" Brooke offered half-heartedly.
"Nah," Jason said smoothly. "Let's eat what we want."
This wasn't a date. This was a flex. A chance to enjoy his life with women, not for them.
Meanwhile, Emma noticed the trio heading toward Mariner's Catch and felt her envy flare again.
"Josh, can we eat there too?" she asked, feigning casual interest.
Josh's face darkened. "Rach, we don't need to match everything Jason does."
She pouted slightly, voice soft, "So… you can't even outdo the guy I dumped?"
Josh's jaw twitched. "Fine. Let's go."
But inside, he was doing mental math. And the numbers weren't looking great.
Inside Mariner's Catch, Jason ordered butter-poached lobster tail, sashimi-grade golden snapper, and truffle-crusted abalone. The bill topped $1,600, but he paid with a flourish, like he was buying coffee.
Megan: "You really didn't have to…"
Jason: "I wanted to."
[System Notification: Megan Rivera - Affection Rating +5]
Later, as they walked past a premium bike store, Jason spotted something he'd long admired: the Trek Madone SLR 9 eTap in molten gold and matte black. He didn't hesitate.
Price: $14,300.
He also bought matching helmet, riding gear, a smartwatch, and accessories—another $6,000 in total.
Then he took the girls to an outdoor gear shop and picked up Arc'teryx Alpha SV jackets—two of them—for $2,500 each.
Emma watched from a distance, her jaw slack.
[System Notification: Emma Adams - Affection Rating +10]
Jason was now confident, stylish, and clearly loaded. He'd gone from "loyal loser" to "desirable mystery man" overnight.
Emma's heart wavered.
Josh used to shower her with gifts, but lately, he'd become frugal—hesitant even to buy her that designer handbag earlier today.
Jason, though? He didn't even blink.
Josh noticed Emma's expression and said coldly, "It's late. Let's hit the private theater."
Emma hesitated. "I'm kind of tired. I think I'll head back to campus."
"What? After I've dropped all this cash today?" Josh's voice was low, annoyed.
Emma flinched. She hadn't expected him to say that out loud. She was used to Jason's gentle, giving nature.
She smiled weakly, trying to smooth things over. "I really am just tired. Rain check?"
"Whatever. Get an Uber." Josh turned and walked away, leaving her in the mall's soft lighting, watching Jason laugh with Megan and Brooke as they tried on sunglasses.
And for the first time in a while, Emma wasn't so sure she'd made the right choice.