The hospital room was quiet except for the steady beeping beside Ethan's bed. Sheets rustled as he shifted slightly, still staring at the glowing system screen hovering above him. His mind was a storm of questions, confusion, and exhaustion, yet the system didn't seem to care.
Just as he was trying to make sense of the insane numbers and rewards from the mysterious mission, another small notification appeared.
A simple line of text.
Soft. Calm. Almost playful.
System Reward Added
+10 System Points for "Staying Alive"
Total System Points: 250
Ethan blinked.
"…You're rewarding me for being alive? Since when?"
This system was getting weirder by the day.
He didn't even get a moment to complain before the screen flickered again. A soft hum echoed in his mind, and a full-system prompt appeared bold, bright, and alarming.
System Notice
The Money Deck System will now upgrade to Version 3.0.
Upgrade will consume system points automatically.
Upgrade Duration: 48 Hours
Ethan sat up straight.
"Wait—WAIT—No, no, no, don't start yet! I'm still"
But his protest meant nothing.
The screen blurred.
The letters dissolved.
The progress bar appeared.
Upgrade in Progress – 2 Days Required
Ethan clenched his jaw.
"Two days?! Are you kidding me?! I just woke up!"
The system ignored him.
Of course.
It always did whatever it wanted.
He threw his head back into the pillow, groaning loudly.
"Why do you do this to me? Can't you just… ASK first?"
The only reply was silence.
Then unexpectedly the small television in his hospital room flickered on by itself.
Ethan froze.
"…What now?"
For a second, the screen showed static. Then a crisp, clear news broadcast popped up though the audio wasn't coming from the TV.
It was coming inside his mind.
Like the system had hijacked the hospital speakers… and the inside of his skull.
And the tv display appeared before him he was listen through is system even though it was upgrading.
The news anchor spoke rapidly, voice firm and serious:
"BREAKING NEWS. An explosion has shaken the city's elite community tonight."
Ethan's heart tightened.
His villa.
His home.
"One of the most secure, private, and carefully monitored villas in Hills Estate has been completely destroyed in a massive fire and structural collapse."
Ethan sat frozen, staring at the screen.
"This is shocking because Hills Estate owned by the Peterson Group is famous for its flawless security record. Not even a stray cat gets past their surveillance."
Something felt off.
Very off.
The anchor's voice carried a strange tone mocking, almost dismissive.
"Some say this is the Peterson Group's greatest embarrassment yet. Perhaps they exaggerated their 'unbreachable' security."
Ethan frowned.
Why is the anchor talking like that?
They were practically insulting a giant corporation on live TV.
No news station did that.
Not unless they were being manipulated.
He leaned back, suspicion creeping up his spine.
"Something's wrong…"
Before he could think further, the door to his ward clicked open.
He turned.
Lena stepped inside carrying a food tray, her expression warm and relieved the moment she saw him awake. Steam rose from the food container, and she approached him with a soft smile that melted away the cold knots in his chest.
Ethan couldn't help but smile back.
She placed the tray on the small side-table and sat by the edge of his bed.
"I brought you something warm," she said softly. "The hospital food looked terrible."
Ethan chuckled lightly.
"Yeah, I figured."
For a moment, the room warmed with their gentle exchange. They talked small, simple things. How he was feeling. How long he'd been unconscious. How his burns were miraculously mild. Lena kept brushing away a loose strand of hair behind her ear every time she grew nervous, which happened more than usual today.
Ethan eventually asked the question burning in his mind.
"Where's Mary?"
Lena looked at him briefly.
"She left. She had work to handle."
He nodded, taking a spoonful of the soup she brought.
Silence lingered for a moment.
Ethan finally swallowed and looked up at her, voice quieter:
"…Lena. What happened? Why was my villa burning? Why was I dragged out of the car?"
Lena didn't react immediately. Her eyes darkened for a moment, and she exhaled softly.
"I don't know," she whispered.
But he could tell she did.
Or at least she suspected something.
"I had a lead," she continued, "but it turned cold. Someone… someone put a target on you."
Ethan froze.
"A target? Who? Why? I didn't offend anyone."
Her eyes softened with something between frustration and sorrow.
"I don't know either," she whispered again. "But…"
She hesitated.
Then, softly:
"…I promise nothing will happen to you, Ethan. I swear—"
Before she could finish, Ethan reached forward and hugged her.
It was instinctive.
Warm.
Protective.
And it stunned her.
She stiffened for one second just one before everything inside her melted, and she hugged him back tightly. Her fingers trembled slightly as they curled into the fabric of his hospital gown.
A warmth she hadn't felt in years wrapped around her. It was gentle and grounding, and it soothed a part of her she rarely admitted existed.
His body was warm.
Soft.
Calming.
Ethan pulled away slightly and looked at her.
"Lena…" he said, voice low, honest. "I know things between us have been difficult. And I know you did a lot to protect me. More than I understood."
Her eyes glistened.
"And I appreciate it," he whispered. "Very, very much."
He took a breath.
"If it cost you something… I'm sorry. Truly. But I'm still here. Standing in front of you."
Something in Lena's chest tightened painfully, then broke open.
"I'm here," he said softly, "and this time… as my girlfriend… I'll protect you."
Lena froze.
The words echoed in her heart.
His girlfriend.
Her eyes filled with tears, and before Ethan could react.
She pulled him in and kissed him.
It wasn't gentle.
It wasn't careful.
It was desperate.
Emotional.
Overflowing.
Tears streamed down her face as she kissed him deeply, and Ethan responded just as fiercely. His hand cupped the back of her head, pulling her closer, grounding her trembling emotions.
Lena poured everything she had into that kiss:
Her fear.
Her longing.
Her pain.
Her relief.
Her love.
For years she had carried pressure her family's expectations, her secret identity as PX, the weight of protecting Ethan from shadows he didn't even know existed. She sacrificed her happiness for his safety.
She left him to save him.
But what about her happiness?
What about her heart?
What about the one person she wanted?
Ethan Iver.
The boy who asked for nothing.
The boy who expected nothing.
The boy who simply cared.
Her tears soaked his cheeks as she clung to him. And Ethan held her tighter, realizing slowly how much she'd done for him.
He didn't know her full story.
He didn't know her pain.
Not yet.
But he knew one truth:
She had always been there.
Through everything.
And if he couldn't protect her in return… what right did he have to call her his girlfriend?
He tightened the hug, deepening the kiss.
They stayed like that lost, trembling, wrapped in each other's warmth.
Neither saw the faint blue spark appear behind Ethan's head.
Neither noticed the system waking briefly.
Neither heard the silent chime. Although Lena will not be able to see it anyways
Mission Generated
System Upgrade in progress mission queued
Mission Type: 6 of Hearts
Objective: Make Mary fall in love with you.
Increase Mary's affection to 50%.
Reward:
• 20 System Points
• $20,000,000
• New Draw Cards
• Help Card Tools
• New Skill Unlocked
• Shop Voucher (100 System Points)
Failure Penalty:
You will lose Lena and Mary.
Time Limit: 7 Days
The mission window faded silently.
And Ethan, unaware of the new madness waiting for him, pulled Lena even closer his lips still on hers, his arms wrapped around the girl who had protected him more than he ever knew.
The system slept.
The flames of danger grew.
And their embrace deepened.