Chapter 5
I instantly realized that Thea was preventing me from racking up points.
Those in the comments section realized it too.
"Wow! Thea has gotten smarter! She's doing a reverse play now!"
"She stood up for Stella, which stopped Stella from earning points for being falsely accused!"
"It's a battle between two experts, where every move is decisive!"
I realized things were taking a turn for the worse. If Jared and Maddie were swayed by Thea, all my acting would have been for nothing.
I was just about to double down when Sean, who had been standing silently in the shadows, walked out. His gaze was no longer probing or weary. Instead, it was a freezing, penetrating stare marked by a visible trace of revulsion that seemed to see through everything.
"You can drop the act now, Thea. I'll get to the bottom of the situation with the photos, Mom and Dad, but before I do, I have something I'd like to ask."
He looked at Thea and asked, "How credible are her words if she is capable of harming herself just to frame someone before putting on a show of kindness to confuse us further?"
Thea turned pale in an instant—and this time, her reaction was genuine.
Just as I had expected, the comments section relayed the whole situation.
"Holy shit! Thea suffered multiple blows—her true self exposed, the male lead's complete disgust, and her plan completely ruined!"
"Oh my god! Thea's emotional damage rating is off the charts, gaining her 50 angst points!"
"Thea's current progress is 93/100!"
"Holy! That really did a number on her!"
"Thea is at 93 points now, Stella!"
I felt a massive jolt of shock, and at that exact moment, my system notification sounded.
[Detected: Multi-Trigger Event—"Slandered for Cheating" and "Severely Humiliated by Elders and Forced to Terminate the Engagement"]
[Origin: Jared and Maddie exerted direct pressure, but the points have been halved because the mission target took your side]
[Angst Points: +20]
[Current Progress: 91/100]
I felt my heart racing when I realized I had reached 91 points. I only needed 9 more points!
Thea made her move just then. She rose to her feet and offered Jared and Maddie an apologetic bow. "Please don't blame Ms. Stewart for this, Jared and Maddie, as I'm the one at fault here.
"I never should have returned from abroad. My presence has disturbed Sean and Ms. Stewart's lives, driving her to do such… irrational things."
She then turned toward Sean and said, "I'm so sorry, Sean. I'll get out of your way and never bother you or show up in front of you again."
Having said that, she clutched her chest and stumbled toward the door.
In that instant, everyone in the comments section blew up.
"Here it comes—the ultimate play for sympathy!"
"Thea is going for it! She's gunning for a perfect score with the 'heartbroken exit' scene!"
"You have to stop her, Stella! She'll win if she manages to leave!"
"Is Mr. Parker going to let her walk out?"
I couldn't let her scheme succeed. I nearly spoke up right then and there.
"Hold on," Sean suddenly said.
Thea froze mid-step.
"You're using a retreat as an attack to gain pity, aren't you? Do you plan to collapse at the entrance just to show off how much you've 'sacrificed' and been 'wronged', Thea?" Sean asked.
"Holy shit! Mr. Parker is absolutely savage!"
"Sean's words hit deep! He basically shredded the female lead's script and then ground it under his heel!"
"Did you see the female lead's expression? She's actually losing it!"
"Where's the system? Give the score already!"
It was then that the system popped up and made an announcement.
[Update: Thea was struck by "Complete Exposure and Public Mockery of Ultimate Intent", "Total Destruction of Dignity", and "Reaching the Pinnacle of Hopelessness"]
[Emotional Damage Rating: Catastrophic]
[Angst Points: +8]
[Thea's Current Progress: 99/100]
Thea was at 99 points, lacking only one point.
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