《Quick Transmigration: Her Seduction Games》


 Chapter 1 - Her First World

    It never occurred to Ingrid that her life would end in the hands of her lover''s mistress. The pain she felt in her ?h?st was excruciating yet it didn''t hold a candle to the agony she bore in her aching heart brought by her fiance''s betrayal.


    She could still remember the metallic taste of blood that had flooded her mouth after a sharp object was plunged deep into her heart in those last few minutes. It was definitely a dead end. And yet why, why is she still alive, staring at the pink ceiling above her?


    Her heart was beating furiously and a few droplets of cold sweat ran on her forehead. Both of her hands keep shaking. Regardless of how many deep breath she takes, the horror of dying was something that couldn''t be shaken off easily.


    She let her eyes roam around.


    As far as she knew, her room was never this girly. The whole room was painted and decorated in different hues of pink. She likes the colour, but too much of it made her eyes sting.


    Suddenly she heard footsteps coming towards her room and within moments there was a light knock on her door. She watched how an unfamiliar elderly woman made her way towards her.


    "Young lady, it''s time to get up. We already prepared the bath the way you prefer it."


    Your young lady who?


    Ingrid was confused but she didn''t let it show on her face. She took a deep breath then sneakily wiped the condensed sweat on her forehead. She''s afraid that the elderly would figure out that anything was amiss.


    After placing the tray that contained her food down on the table, the elderly woman took her leave silently.


    Ingrid stared at the tray resting on her bedside table for a long time. No matter how much she dwelled over the matter, everything just won''t make any sense.


    However, it didn''t take long before her questions were answered.


    In an originally still room, the sound of a childlike voice appearing out of nowhere was really distinct.


    Something: "Hello Host! I am your guide, number 1002!"


    Anyone who heard something like this would be creeped out. That''s why although she was still feeling lethargic at the moment, she was able to jump out of the bed in no time. Then she gripped the comforter on her hold tightly.


    Ingrid''s eyes landed on the small figure in the form of a ball that floats in front of her. When she took a step back, that something followed along too.


    Proclaimed 1002: "Omo! Are you scared? Don''t be! I won''t do anything to you haha"


    Ingrid''s left brow quirked up. If something like this showed up, who won''t get threatened? Ah. However, she let her guard down. Probably the question regarding this newly attained life would be answered by this little thing.


    "What''s going on here? Can you tell me...why am I still alive?"


    1002: "Of course I can! I am called a guide for a reason you know."


    It happily hopped into the air, which made Ingrid a bit dizzy. What a high-spirited one.


    1002: "As for the answer to your question, yes, you are indeed dead, your mortal body that is. But congratulations! You were chosen to take part in making ''the worlds'' in order!"


    Ingrid felt her nerves loosen so she took a seat on the bed.


    "Please elaborate."


    1002: "It''s like this, every host has a mission they need to accomplish to maintain the order of a certain world. In every world, there is a couple who is the center of it. And it''s your mission, to break this very couple apart!"


    Ingrid, who had her own fair share of romance novel knew that those who try to break the Leads apart was just asking for a quick death.


    "Is this a joke? Are you suggesting to always get myself tortured and killed?"


    1002: "Of course not! If it''s other else, yes it will be suicidal for them. But if it''s you, the one chosen by ''the one'' itself, I know that you can accomplish it without any significant damage to you. I have deep faith in you my host!"


    And then Ingrid heard a series of giggles.


    Ingrid can feel her head throb. She had no other choice but to believe what this little one was spouting.


    Although, it sounded really ridiculous.


    "And so, can you explain my situation right now?"


    In a flash, a large amount of information raced into her head. It took her a long time to absorb it all. It was the memories of the original owner, however, a part of it was missing.


    1002: "One more thing."


    Ingrid rubbed her forehead. She was still feeling overwhelmed by the sudden invasion. Feeling annoyed that it came without warning, she spat, "What."


    1002 floated back a bit from her aggression. Then he continued,


    1002: "You''ve definitely noticed, but currently, you''re occupying someone else''s body. In order not to disrupt the natural law of this world, please refrain yourself from going out of character (OOC), at least in front of others. Or else, once someone''s suspicion of your ''identity'' reached a hundred percent, you will receive a corresponding penalty that might lead to failure."


    "I''ll keep that in mind."


    Ingrid doesn''t find it difficult to act on this body''s character since her personality was not that complex. Though a bit spoiled, the original owner''s personality was a lively teenager who likes to play cute and haughty.


    Afterwards, Ingrid heard another knock on the door. Then followed by a deep baritone voice that seemed familiar and at the same time not.


    "Dana, are you not ready yet? I''m going to leave now."


    At first, she didn''t reacted. Who is Dana anyway? But after realizing that it was the name of the body she''s occupying, she stuttered, "W-wait! I''m coming!"


    At the other side of the door, stood the Male Lead of this world who was currently very much in love with his childhood sweetheart. And her mission this time, was to seduce this very man who was her step brother, Rembrandt Ambrose.

 Chapter 2 - Her Sloppy Kiss

    Ingrid still held the impression that she was just dreaming right now. It is hard to believe that she was still alive and living the life of another person.


    She turned her gaze towards the man sitting beside her in a car. His eyes reminds her of him. That same obsidian eyes.


    Ingrid closed her eyes and calmed her fast beating heart. Even though they only had the same eye color, Ingrid''s hands were still itching to slap the man across her.


    Ah, she needs to keep her cool. He''s not him. He''s on another dimension, probably doing that woman to his heart''s content.


    And so, her attempt to calm herself failed.


    To erase the unnecessary thoughts in her mind, Ingrid laid out the facts that she knew about this world''s male lead. His name was Rembrandt Ambrose, currently at the prime age of his life, at 28. He graduated with flying colors as an Engineer in the most prestigious university in their area. She recalled the information that he actually received a scholarship from a much better institution overseas yet he declined. Ingrid thought that although the two was still not in a relationship that time, Rembrandt probably detest the idea of not seeing the one he''s holding a torch to for a long time. Well it''s actually not that bad, big competitive companies hired people for their skills, and not always from their backgrounds.


    Rembrandt is a brilliant man, not long after he got employed, he landed himself a big project one after the other. And when his age reached 26, with the right amount of experience, he started his own construction company, which stock values continued to rise up to this current age.


    Ingrid thought that stealing him away from his lover, although detestable, would definitely be worth it. Such an admirable man, who won''t get satisfied with him ah.


    Her act of stealing glances was noticed. And it seems that he was quite bothered by it so he asked, "What are you doing?"


    Unflustered, she smiled.


    "Nothing really, just admiring your handsome face."


    Normally, anyone who got teased by their little sister like this would react in some ways. Yet the man in front of Ingrid continued to maintain his stoic face, seemingly as if he hadn''t heard anything.


    Ahhh... fu?k. How do you approach a guy like this? She really don''t know ah. She only had three exes so far, counting the last... never mind. In addition, she never encountered a guy like this. His walls were erected too high for any girl who wish to climb it up.


    Ingrid gave his girlfriend a salute in her heart, for she leashed her man tightly in her grasp.


    Feeling lost, Ingrid''s eyes landed on the floating 1002 at her side. 1002 said that, the two of them were soul bounded, so she''s the only one who can actually see it.


    "Hey what made you think that I will go as what you say, seducing this guy and all?"


    1002: "Hmm... If the Merit Points you collected reached the required amount by the system, it can grant you a wish. Anything you want will be fulfilled, as long as it wont bring destruction to the system itself. Meanwhile if your merit points gone negative, your soul will be destroyed, unable to reincarnate ever again."


    The threat to experience death for the second time made one can''t help but accept such ridiculous missions. However there was something like a wish that would motivate anyone who got their hands on the system. Who wouldn''t get tempted by such. "Very well, i''ll do as what your system bids."


    The Ingrid in that world already perished. She wanted to move on, but her heart was screaming for revenge. The wound he left in her heart was deeper than the cut created by his mistress. The fact that she wasn''t able to do anything to that cheating couple irritated the heck out of her, enough that if the opportunity permits her to kick that guy''s balls, her heart would definitely be put at ease.


    Also, Merit Points? This little bastard didn''t say anything about this earlier.


    Ingrid made herself more comfortable on her seat by crossing her legs. Since she was wearing a skirt, a bit of her leg peeked out, but of course the guy beside her didn''t even bother to give it a glance.


    Well, it was given. Looking at her reflection on the rear side window, it showed the figure of a still immature, 17 years old body. Which was totally unappealing to a man in his late twenties.


    "Merit Points?"


    1002: "Ah right, I totally forgot to tell you. Merit Points is what you gained after completing a mission. The amount of Points that you get will be determined by your performance. If you b?r?ly pass this mission, you get a miniscule amount, and if you finish it perfectly of course you will also get a deserving award. However if you managed to fail this task, your points will be deducted. And since you still had zero points in your account---bye Ingrid, it seems that i need to find a new host."


    Once again, Ingrid heard that annoying giggling sound that came from 1002.


    It looks that she wouldn''t find anything useful from this little thing, Ingrid moved her attention again to Rembrandt who was hooked on his ??ptop.


    She put her elbows on her knees and let her chin rest on it. She stared at Rembrandt quite blatantly.


    Ingrid can''t help it. He was just too handsome for his own good, with the exception of his eyes. And not only he bears a good face, his body was also well built. She bet it will feel hard anywhere she touch.


    "You''re staring too much this day."


    "I told you, you''re just too ha---" Ingrid got interrupted when a phone rang quite loudly.


    Rembrandt answered it and greeted with a "hmm."


    Ingrid''s eyes cooled. Though Rembrandts face was still as emotionless as ever, he was betrayed by the glint in his eyes that he failed to hide.


    The call was short. It was too formal to be considered as sweet. But Rembrandt''s patience was there. By how mellow his voice sounded, you will immediately know how dear the caller was in his heart.


    Blegh. Ingrid was not the least bit interested on how lovey dovey this couple was. What she needs right now was the mean to break these two apart. She doesn''t want to die for real this time.


    The car stopped in front of the nearest gate to her department, which is still High School. Before she got off the car she asked, "Will you go home tonight or stay at your girlfriend''s place?"


    Rembrandt wasn''t expecting this question, Dana never really bothered whether he was at home or not before.


    "Home, probably."


    "Then good, see you." Ingrid didn''t leave just like that, and instead did something that surprised Rembrandt. She leaned forward and left a sloppy kiss on his cheek, before walking away leaving the man stunned.


    He raised his hand to his cheek and wiped the kiss mark away as he muttered to himself, "What''s up with that child?"

 Chapter 3 - Her Dear Friend

    High School Department''s Cafeteria, Lunchtime.


    Ingrid found a spot in the corner during her lunch break. Anyone who saw her would think that she was spacing out, but instead she was conversing with 1002 when somebody called out to her.


    "Hey what are you spacing out for?"


    The one in front of her was a raven haired tall busty woman. While searching the memories of the ''real'' Dana Leviste, she found out that this woman was named Cezna---and was her so called best friend who was totally a polar opposite of her.


    Their tastes and personality contrast each other but even so, they got along pretty well.


    "Oh." In what she saw on her given memories so far, Dana has long d?s?r?d her stepbrother. And knowing that she never stood a chance to a great character known as the female lead, she just let her feelings buried deep inside her heart. So of course, no one, including Cezna knew about her feelings.


    But right now, Ingrid was out of ideas on how to approach Rembrant. She considered searching for tips on the internet, but she can set aside this option for later when there was a good choice right in front of her.


    Cezna had a lot of romantic relationship before, and most importantly, most of them were older guys, with some had a great age gap in between.


    Ingrid set her utensils down and put on a lost expression. "You see, I think that... I''m having a feelings for Rembrandt." As someone who was nurturing some affection to the other party, Dana never called Rembrandt as brother. That''s why Cezna was used to Dana calling Rembrandt informally.


    Cezna didn''t show the slightest bit of surprise. Which surprised Ingrid in return.


    "You knew?"


    Cezna nodded. "As someone who knew you for a long time, I can say that you were quite obvious."


    Ingrid hummed "Is that so."


    Others discovering her feelings towards Rembrandt was not a big deal to her, at least to the current ''her''. The former owner of this body may have fussed over such a matter, but for Ingrid, this was a mission. In fact, others knowledge about this can potentially be a good thing, since it will lead to gaining support from other people.


    "But Dana, big brother Rembrandt already has a girlfriend. And it''s big sister Lu Wen at that. Someone he knew for far longer than you." Cezna said worriedly.


    Ingrid nodded, "I know, but I won''t give up. You see partners who have been married for twenty years suddenly get divorced right?" Cezna nodded and Ingrid continued, "With this as an example, I actually stood a chance. Especially to those two who were only been in a relationship for a couple of years."


    "Still," Cezna shook her head, "Those two have a lot of memories with each other, memories that started to take root since childhood."


    Ingrid rolled her eyes at Cezna''s concern, a look of indifference plastered on her face as she replied with, "So what?" It''s her mission anyway. "I''m still determined to steal Rembrandt from her," she said confidently.


    Ingrid took hold of Cezna''s both hands as she looked at her with eyes filled with determination similar to a puppy, "Can you help your dear friend?" Ingrid asked.


    "Uh..." Cezna was lost for words. If it was any other guy, Cezna is confident that Dana can make them fall in love with her. But, they were talking about Rembrant here. That Rembrandt Ambrose, who has a face of frost and a heart of steel which only melts in the presence of his sun, Lu Wen.


    But looking at the face of the pitiful Dana, her heart can''t help but soften. Dana was just too cute with her adorable moist eyes, chubby cheeks and pouty lips. Adding that she was wearing a cute pink dress, her resistance was instantly torn down.


    Cezna who sighed in defeat said, "Okay."

 Chapter 4 - Her, Being Cute and Seductive

    What made this task more difficult than it was, was her own appearance itself. Dana Leviste has a petite figure, adding her obsession to the pink shade made her look much younger than 17.


    For Ingrid to utilize her little sister character was a big pain to her. She can always act spoiled in front of Rembrandt but if she continues this path, she bet, he will never look at her in that light.


    Seducing him right off the bat was inappropriate, she needs to take small steps at a time. Her position here is s?ns?t?v?, she doesn''t want her target to run away.


    So tonight, she planned to make small step. And hope to leave Rembrandt to feel some conflicting emotions.


    All she need right now is a valid reason.


    So when a classmate of her invited her to an outing to the countryside, she accepted it without a second thought.


    ---


    "Hey 1002, when will Rembrandt come home tonight?" Ingrid adjusted her pajamas when it started to show her belly bu??on because she keeps changing her position waiting for her step bro.


    1002: "I don''t know."


    "What? How come you don''t know? Don''t you have any means?" Ingrid was confused.


    1002: "I do, but I can''t access it right now. My level is connected with yours. So the lesser Merit Points you had the lesser the features I can use."


    "Ooh so you can use various features eh. Are they cool? Come on tell me, inspire me to work harder!"


    1002: "Hmm, let''s see, if your Merit Points reached a certain amount, you will be able to know the accurate tastes and types of your target."


    "How convenient!" That feature was so good! If they will be able to access that, she won''t need to rack her brains in order to think on how to approach the male lead!


    1002: "Indeed, so work hard."


    And then the 1002 went into silent mode again.


    Ingrid was bored. There was no one else to talk to other than the maids. Dana''s Mom and Step Dad was on their 1 week vacation in celebration for their 3rd years together.


    So she and Rembrandt was left alone in this big and spacious house. She can do whatever she wants to him without any interruptions coming from their parents.


    Ingrid was having an intense battle on her phone when the front gate opened and she heard the sound of a car''s engine getting closer.


    She put her phone away, not caring if her, going afk(1), made her team loses the battle.


    Ingrid opened the door and greeted her brother who looked a bit weary from work with a big smile.


    "Hi!" She awkwardly said.


    Rembrandt smiled and ruffled her already messy hair. This made Ingrid paused but recovered right away.


    "What are you doing still up this late at night."


    "Waiting for you!" Then she giggled.


    This is her starting approach, since it''s already like this, she just needs to act like a cute little sister who adores her brother so much. She had such a good advantage, why not use it to it''s best? But like what was stated above, this alone won''t do, so she needs to do it more intimately, to leave a deeper impression.


    She was able to receive advice from Cezna that, if she wanted to linger her image in a man''s mind, keep having physical contact with him, this will help a lot.


    Ingrid will do this at every opportunity that she can get.


    Ingrid held Rembrandt''s left hand softly. And give it a slight pull, as if teasing him.


    "Come come, I made some dinner. I can''t sleep if I won''t be able to let you taste it tonight!"


    Rembrandt let himself get pulled in by the little girl. While looking at Dana''s back, no one knew what thoughts he has inside.


    Footnotes:


    (1) AFK- Slang for the acronym "Away From Keyboard." Used when a person will leave the computer/mobile and not do anything. (urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=afk)

 Chapter 5 - Her Way of Asking Permission

    The dinner went normally than expected. What was out of bounds was that Rembrandt just left after leaving an excuse that he needed to catch some sleep.


    Ingrid was left dumbfounded.


    She moved her eyes to the empty casserole in front of her. At least Rembrandt finished all of her cooking.


    However Ingrid was still not satisfied. This won''t do, Rembrandt was unconsciously or might be consciously not giving her a chance to make their relationship closer.


    Her eyes flashed an intense light. She pursed her lips then decided to act bolder.


    "1002, is Rembrandt already on his bed?"


    1002: "Not yet, he just finished showering."


    "Good!" 1002 can be also useful at times. He''s good at being a spy. Just like some futuristic robot, he had a micro camera in his arsenal that she helped installed in Rembrandt''s room.


    After giving Rembrandt''s door knock, she heard his approval to come in. Rembrandt''s room is not always locked, so Ingrid was able to enter easily. Well, it''s not like he''s some teenager who treat it''s room like some holy ground, keeping people away, afraid that someone may catch them doing some weird stuff.


    Ingrid saw Rembrandt wearing only a bathrobe. He''s sitting on a couch while wiping his wet hair.


    ''Dayum hot'', she thought.


    "What is it?" Rembrandt asked while looking at Ingrid with a serious face.


    "Uhm..." Ingrid connected both of her forefingers together. She let out an anxious face. Seemingly like a good little sister who''s afraid to make her big brother angry.


    "Hmm... Is this the reason why you asked if I will be able to come home so you can cook me dinner?" Rembrandt''s penetrating gaze bothered Ingrid for real.


    She nodded cutely and went closer to Rembrandt.


    She just took a sit on his ??p.


    His gaze can''t help but fall unto the eyes of this naughty little girl.


    However both of her limpid eyes looked so clueless. Rembrandt don''t know if Dana just did this intentionally or she was just that innocent.


    Dana was already 17. She''s not a little girl anymore like she was before. If this really was a pure action and no other meaning, having no propriety for the distance between men and women is not a good thing.


    But if she did this deliberately... Rembrandt''s eyes fell a degree lower.


    Nonetheless, Rembrandt didn''t pushed Dana away. He even held her waist to put her bu?? in place and made her position more comfortable. But while doing so, he doesn''t know if it was purely an accident or she intentionally let her bu?? slightly grazed on his crotch.


    Ingrid bowed her head and blushed. Her boldness already come this far, why is she blushing! But still... she felt that! It was purely an accident alright, but who wouldn''t get shy if your bottom accidentally touched ''that''!


    In addition, Rembrandt was really big in that area! Aaaahhhh so embarrassing!


    Rembrandt let out a humm for them to get down the business. Ingrid was still flustered enough, which rendered her unable to open her mouth.


    This won''t do, she needs to act unbothered, to act innocent. She took a deep breath and composed herself.


    "You see, my classmates are planning a 2 days trip to the countryside. You guys never allowed me to join something like this before, but im old enough now, can I please go with them?" Using the same determined look that she showed at Cezna earlier, she looked up at him again.


    Rembrandt''s eyes gone softer but not by much. He placed a hand on Dana''s head, fixing some strand of hair that tries to stray off.


    Hmm, so the reason why she''s been acting strange earlier was because of this. But still, he was not convinced.


    His eyes can clearly see that this girl was trying to seduce her brother.


    On the other hand, Ingrid''s gaze faltered. Seeing the same eyes and receiving a pat on her head made her remember someone she shouldn''t have.


    Fuck.


    Rembrandt didn''t notice Ingrid''s momentary loss of attention as there was also an unknown storm brewing in his mind.


    What Dana said was true, she''s already old enough. They can''t always be this protective to her. She needs a breather. He can just settle it by sending more expert to tail her while she was away. So he gave his permission by saying "Fine, do whatever you want."


    After that, Ingrid immediately jumped out of his embrace, this action of her can give rise to an impression that she''s dismantling a bridge after crossing, hence, leading him to think that she did this for a reason.


    However, that would be futile. If Ingrid planned to play mind games, he''s sorry to break this on her but she''s too young to gain an upper hand.


    "Bang." After hearing the door closed, Rembrant let his cheek to rest on his bony forefinger. He was thinking about how he can approach this matter than can potentially cause disruption in his plan.


    Ingrid was innocently playing with fire. Teasing it, while having the thoughts that she could contain it. However, she didn''t know that the fire was far more dangerous than she bargained it for.

 Chapter 6 - Her Future Looks Bleak

    Inside an office of a certain high rise building in the capital, there sat a man in his late twenties. He was holding a folder containing business reports, however anyone who saw him would know that his attention was actually not on them, for the reason that his gaze was straight and the pages left unturned. Beside him, his secretary was standing patiently, waiting for him to sign the necessary papers.


    This is the scene that welcomed Lu Wen.


    An eyebrow of her rose. Rembrandt, being this out of focus was a rare sight even for her, his girlfriend. He didn''t even notice that someone opened the door to his office. He was that absent minded, in between work at that.


    Her eyes met that of the secretary''s, she gave him a nod, then Lu Wen knocked on the door three times to announce her presence. And finally, that pair of eyes that never failed to make her heart skip a beat turned on her way.


    She smiled, walked slowly towards him, then gave her boyfriend a big hug. "I missed you." She said.


    "Missed you too." He reciprocated her call of affection then gave her forehead a kiss.


    "I''m curious on what made my boyfriend think that hard while I was away working my ?ss off somewhere, hmmm." Lu Wen''s eyes that locked on Rembrandt''s narrowed.


    "Not that interesting than hearing the adventure of my girlfriend while she was away working her ?ss off for me." He dodged her questioning smoothly. Teasing her while lovingly moving a few locks of her hair behind her ears.


    If Ingrid was here, her jaw would have reached the floor---no probably the ground floor. She would never imagine that Rembrandt can act like a teenager in love in front of someone. Teasing and whispering sweet nothings.


    "Nothing much. Just your mundane days of how an architect execute his job to his very best."


    "Interesting." Rembrandt said sarcastically then he carried the woman half kneeling in front of him to sit on his ??p.


    The disparity of his level of affection between Dana and Lu Wen was obviously shown at this moment. When Dana ambiguously sat on his ??p under her innocent cover, he felt nothing than curiosity. But now that the one was sitting on his th??hs was his lover, he got an enormous reaction.


    "What are you doing when it''s still a starking daylight." Lu Wen shyly slapped his hard arm.


    "Missing you." His hot breath beside her ear caused an electricity to run on Lu Wen''s back.


    As if their heart was on sync, no one knew who initiated the act but they just found themselves drowning in a deep fervent kiss.


    Seeing that his boss was nowhere to complete the paperwork soon, Rembrandt''s secretary silently retreated behind the doors. Giving the two of them a privacy that a couple should have.


    The both of then was turned on, however they didn''t done the deed inside the office. They were both professionals and busy ?du?ts. Work may call at any moment so they just satisfied their longing to each other with this kiss.


    ---


    "You''re spacing out again, how is it, did it work out?" Classes just ended so Ingrid was inside the school''s cafeteria eating her favorite pasta and shrimps when Cezna approached her.


    "I don''t know, I think I failed. Quite badly at that." Ingrid was not exaggerating, she knew that she made the wrong move this time.


    Rembrandt didn''t come home for 3 days ever since that night. And when he finally does, their interaction was only limited to Hello and Goodbyes.


    Ingrid sadly peered at her food. The dish was her favorite, in spite of that she can''t find the appetite to finish it after 1002 dropped a bomb on her. She thought she had the time in the world and can slowly make her progress into Rembrandt''s heart. However she never thought that there was actually a deadline to it!


    1002: "You need to break the couple apart before they get married. That''s what you need to do, and you still haven''t guessed that after a long time has passed? You''re just here idling ang playing games? Tell me, do you not want your life!"


    "You didn''t say a thing about any deadline. I had no idea!" If 1002 had a pair of hands, Ingrid bet that he would be pinching her ears right now.


    1002: "What no idea, don''t tell me you had no idea that what the world perceive as happy ending is marrying your loved one!"


    "That''s only on stories! It works differently on real life."


    1002: "By that, are you saying that you won''t know that they had happy ending unless they died happily? Huhhhh?!"


    Ingrid: "..."


    Seems like that what she thinks.


    1002 had no mortal body but he felt that his blood pressure was going up, high enough to give him a stroke. 1002''s first impression of Ingrid was that she''s a serious, highly organized, and flexible individual. It never knew that she can actually get foolish on grave matters.


    "Hello~ earth to Dana!" This girl, spacing out in the middle of a conversation. Cezna don''t know if she will pity her or give her an insulting laugh.


    "Cezna, huhu what should I do, help me." She''s going to die, for real.


    "I don''t know. I already warned you before." Cezna sighed. "Can''t you just stop? Or just shift your attention to some other guy?"


    Ingrid stilled. "I can''t." Only if she can. Not only the thought of unable to reincarnate scared the shit out of her but the terrible things that were on store to those who tried to thwart other''s love made her wary.


    And she still had an unfulfilled wish. She can''t fail this one.


    Cezna tried to comfort her by patting her shoulder.

 Chapter 7 - Her Other Method

    Exactly one week after, their parents came home.


    Only the sound of clacking plates and utensils can be heard inside the dining room. It was unusually quiet. As far as what Ingrid can recall, both of her current parents were happy-go-lucky individuals. Seeing them this serious and quiet was rare.


    The first one to break the silence was her mother. "I heard from your Dad that you allowed my daughter to join that gathering by herself?"


    Rembrandt was already done eating, after sipping down a wine, he replied. "We can discuss about this later in my office Aunty."


    Oh. Ingrid was also done eating so all of her focus was on that two''s conversation. By why was their topic about that outing with her classmates? Why were her mother making a big deal out of it. Isn''t her overprotectiveness a bit too strange?


    "Hey 1002, what''s going on?"


    1002: "Don''t ask me, I don''t know too."


    "You''re so useless."


    1002 rebutted by saying,


    1002: "I''m just your guide, currently, my ability was only limited to sending you to another world and transferring the memories of the body you transmigrated into, to you."


    In short she was on her own. She can''t ask other than small help from 1002.


    Well, it does make some sense. If completing missions was just that easy, the reward wouldn''t be as big as granting a person a wish. If one wished for unparalleled powers, that would definitely be worth it.


    "Darling, Rembrandt''s right. Trust him, he knew what he was doing." Ingrid moved her eyes to the one who just talked. Their eyes met and he gave her a friendly smile. That man was her Step Father, Rembrandt''s blood father.


    Dana''s mother just gave out a harrumph and let the matter slide. Afterwards, the gloomy atmosphere was chased away. They chatted happily---no scratch that, only the three of them chatted happily. Rembrandt''s reply was only limited to a nod and no. Well, what did you expect?


    After that hearty dinner. They went to their respective room.


    Ingrid stared at the pink ceiling blankly. She can sense that Rembrandt always evade her attempt to get closer, and maintain a proper distance.


    This is really hard. Isn''t this an impossible task? Breaking apart two people that was madly in love with each other, what wishful thinking.


    "1002, what does the separation of the main characters contribute to maintaining the order of a world?"


    1002: "Who knows, I''m just following the orders from above to guide you in every world that was tasked on you."


    "You can''t say no?"


    1002: "..."


    1002 kept his silence. Seemingly not interested to answer her silly question.


    Right. How can you say no to your employer?


    Ingrid continued having a staring contest with the ceiling. She racked her brain for more ideas to solve her ongoing crisis. But nothing came out of it.


    Ingrid gave up. What do you expect from someone who can''t even keep a longtime relationship? Those failed for a reason you see.


    However, Ingrid has still an option no. 2 that she hadn''t used. With the use of her ??ptop, Ingrid log in to the forum and made a new thread, she named it as, "How to break a couple apart?"


    She explained her situation that from an advice given to her by someone, she made a move by seducing the guy but it didn''t work out, their bond was solid.


    Anonymous222: How can you be so stupid? If a man is in love, of course he won''t look to someone else no matter how stunning and hot the other is.


    InkedRed: Then what is the proper way to deal with it?


    Anonymous222: Offer the other girl an astronomical amount of money.


    Ingrid brows creased.


    What nonsense. What is she, someone''s future mother-in-law?


    Ingrid was disappointed to find out that she won''t get anything even from here. However, before she can even close the tab, someone made another reply.


    SaintyMistress: Your first approach was wrong. You can''t just barged into a harmonious relationship. What you need to do first it to find a crack in their relationship. If you can''t find one, then you make one. Only when there''s something like that exist you can properly do the seducing.


    What SaintyMistress said made sense. In fact it was the best way to approach the matter. It''s not like Ingrid never thought of something like this, it was just that she never considered doing it.


    Rembrandt and Lu Wen''s relationship was solid. Plus they were both faithful to their own partner. Ingrid can''t find any fissure, moreover she don''t have the guts to make one. She''s afraid that if Rembrandt knew that she had her hand on his broken relationship, he might strangle her to death.


    Is she afraid of death? No, of course not. She knew that she can be reborn again if she can successfully complete this mission, so a single death really don''t matter.


    What made her hold back from choosing this path was that the system gave her warning when she was considering this one. It said that she can''t let the male lead''s hatred of her reach the level that he will commit murder, or else, if that''s the cause of her death, though she managed to break the couple apart, the system will still consider it as a failure.


    Look at how many restrictions the system put on her yet only gave her so little ?ssistance. This is work oppression.


    So Ingrid chose the hard yet safest way she can think of by seducing her step brother.


    Yet as of now, she can''t continue this anymore. If Ingrid still wish to live and obtain that wish, she needs to take that visible hard path.

 Chapter 8 - Her Romantic Interests Lover (1)

    Currently in Rembrandt''s own study inside the mansion, there went an ongoing heated discussion.


    Dana''s mother, Adrazelle Leviste-Ambrose, finally can''t retain her calm demeanor. She stood out from her seat then exclaimed, "How can you allow her to go in there!" Her husband, Lucian Ambrose didn''t let out a hint of calming his wife down. As he too, abhors the idea.


    Rembrandt always had a soft heart for Dana. And for her to undergo such extremities just to obtain his permission, he doesn''t have the heart to decline.


    Rembrandt kept his silence.


    Adrazelle closed her eyes, after remembering something unpleasant in her memories, her tears started to fall. With a quivering voice and a calming rub on the shoulder from her husband, she continued to display her disagreement.


    "If it''s somewhere else, I can compromise her safety. However, of all places, why there?! I can''t risk the possibility of---of..." Andrazelle can''t keep it any longer, she''s starting to sob out of grief.


    Rembrandt admit that this was his mistake. A stupid one at that. He failed to inquire the destination of their trip, resulting to the current''s scenario that was more problematic than expected. He guiltily acknowledge that he wasn''t able to think straight when he gave Dana his permission.


    After a while, Andrazelle was back to her calm self. "I will only allow this if you join her." She said while letting out an air that won''t accept a rejection.


    Unfortunately, this was his fault, therefore, he had to take responsibility whether he like it or not.


    He had an eye contact with his father before he let out a nod. "Don''t worry, I will."


    Ingrid will never know that her doom was near. She just transmigrated yet the male lead was already planning to propose to the female lead. In spite of this, the heavens was still fair, as this coincidences brought by her haste decisions coincides in her favor.


    ---


    Ingrid had no idea about Rembrandt''s intention to get engaged. You can''t really blame the man to do it this in such a rush. He was already 28, and the woman he loved for 18 years was already in his embrace. The strange thing would be if he had no plans to get married after considering all of this.


    The not yet pressured Ingrid was calmly sitting inside a caf¨¦. She was drinking her favorite americano coffee when she felt that someone approached her from behind. Of course she wouldn''t know who might that be until that person took a seat in front of her.


    "I never thought that you can stomach that kind of flavor." Ingrid was surprised to see that it was actually Lu Wen who came to her.


    No, Lu Wen''s presence was not that important. It''s her greeting words that rang an alarm in Ingrid''s mind.


    Oh shit. Ingrid didn''t expected to meet an acquaintance in here, hence, giving her the freedom to order her own favorite cup.


    To quell Lu Wen''s suspicion of her identity, if there were one, Ingrid started immersing herself to her role. Knowing that Dana''s attitude towards Lu Wen was evidently harsh, she responds by saying that she should just mind her own business.


    Lu Wen just shrugged off the attitude of the feisty little girl in front of her. She was born with a high stature that even though they were sitting, her eyes still can''t help but look down on Ingrid. Which made the other person annoyed for some reason.


    "When I saw you here, I knew right away that you''ve changed, you''ve gotten m?tur?," Ingrid''s left eyebrow can''t help but rise. "...your eyes that is."


    Lu Wen took a sip from the cup of coffee she was holding. Their gaze locked for a long time before they looked away at the same moment.


    Ingrid really felt annoyed, not from their height difference, nor the fact that she was Rembrandt''s lover---how can that be possible, she''s Ingrid not Dana, but for some unknown reason that she can''t comprehend.


    Thus, for her not to get ooc that much, she just kept her silence when in fact, she just wants to leave and throw this woman''s existence into the back of her mind.


    And Lu Wen sensed this. She smiled. Her beautiful peaceful face brightened even more. "Really." She laughed and their eyes met again. "Then I should stop treating you like a little girl, but a proper rival right?"


    Ingrid''s eyebrows jumped in surprise. "You knew?"


    "Whose girlfriend that wouldn''t notice?" Lu Wen''s lips might be smiling but her eyes didn''t. She really consider the girl in front of her as a rival. She knew that her relationship with Rembrandt''s stayed strong after so many years and her trust in him was also immense. But the threat brought by Dana in their relationship was no small matter. She can''t let her guard down and warrant her to torn apart her world.


    Ingrid discerned that Lu Wen was really taking her seriously, but she didn''t know and really curious to know ''why''?

 Chapter 9 - Her Romantic Interests Lover (2)

    Ingrid was lamenting if Dana has any redeeming feature worthy of her rival''s vigilance when 1002 rubbed it''s body to her shoulder. She took a sip of her coffee to keep Lu Wen from thinking that there was something odd about her behavior.


    1002: "I felt something weird from her."


    "In what way?" Ingrid curiously asked.


    1002: "The same way I felt when you''re with the male lead."


    Ingrid''s eyes turned to slits when she heard 1002''s reply.


    Beseeching captain obvious to please give this ball''s bu?? a slap!


    "Hey you little bastard, tell me honestly, are you a newbie as a guide?"


    1002: "!!!"


    Fucking hell. So it''s like this. The reason why 1002 was so useless in everything other than doing it''s proper job. The reason why Ingrid can''t get any sensible answer when she tried to ask an advice from it. How can that damnable thing do it when it doesn''t have enough experience!


    1002 sensed Ingrid''s rising anger. For some reason, it gave 1002 the thought of wanting to run away. But it can''t. 1002 was bound to Ingrid''s soul, thus making it unable to stray far away from her.


    Therefore 1002 decided to play dead. It rolled unto the table then stopped in front of Lu Wen. Seeing these two at the same time made Ingrid''s temple to throb in annoyance.


    Lu Wen saw her bloodshot eyes, she can''t help but inquire in concern. "Dana, is there something wrong?" Ingrid just humped her concern away.


    She can''t actually get anything helpful from this encounter with Lu Wen. Why is she still here, wasting her time away? She chose to stop in this establishment to relax for a bit before commencing something crucial.


    Ingrid stood up. Portraying the image of a haughty spoiled little princess, she left Lu Wen alone without saying goodbye.


    Seeing Dana''s back, Lu Wen can''t help but sigh. She like and pities the little girl. Since the first time they met, she always tried to befriend Rembrandt''s small friend. But everytime, she was rejected, quite harshly at that, and not that different from today''s affair.


    On the other hand, it''s actually good that she''s lively. That child suffered enough already.


    ---


    Parking Lot.


    While following behind Ingrid''s back, 1002 was praising her acting skills. It knew about Ingrid''s background before this life. For what it knew, she was just a normal office woman. She definitely has the skills to excel in her workplace but that''s it, it was never mentioned that she knew how to play different roles.


    Before choosing a host, the system always put an emphasis on the host''s ability to act, it took quite a long time to measure the limit of someone''s acting ability, that''s why the majority of the system''s host was actors in their original life. But Ingrid was a special case, as she was chosen in haste. On top of that, she was also ended up being ?ssigned to a mission that 1002 never heard before.


    Probably, ''the one'' was just that great. To be able to scrutinize one''s potential with just a glance.


    While waiting inside the car, Ingrid finally received a text from Cezna. It contained an invitation for a mixer(1). Ingrid related to her driver the location.


    It was a 10-minute drive away so she decided to take a nap for the meantime. She woke up by herself when she sensed the car stopping. It was a noodle shop this time. She heard a bit about this restaurant in the social media. Their ramen tastes good, not that romantic for a couple to have a date but it was a popular meeting place for gatherings.


    The chimes made a noise when Ingrid entered the shop. The sudden entry of a cute female clad in pink caught a few unnecessary attentions. But this also means that the people waiting for her knew that she arrived. Someone called out her name from a table not that far from her.


    Seeing the arrangement, Ingrid gave Cezna a thumbs up in her heart. Seeing new faces and chatting with friendly strangers was fun, Ingrid admit it, but she can''t really go along that much with this youngsters. The disparity between her real age and their ages was quite great. So, all she did was smile lightly while playing with her beverages throughout the whole meeting. Which her companions don''t find strange, given that Dana was a spoiled rich brat.


    Four tables away from her, Ingrid catch the sight of a man sitting alone eating noodles through her peripheral vision. The corner of her lips quirked up.


    Someone said that he had a coupon for 6 in a kind of well known internet caf¨¦, so the group heed in there.


    When a few times passed after Ingrid and company exited the shop, the chimes rang again, and the man Ingrid was eyeing to also went out of the shop.


    Dana''s family put her under heavy surveillance, which restricted her to make any major move. But she''s not afraid, as Ingrid has, her own means.


    Footnotes:


    (1) Mixer- another way for singles to come together to meet. (dating.lovetoknow.com/Singles_Mixer)

 Chapter 10 - Her Dismay

    The moment Ingrid clicked the send bu??on, she can''t help but let out a sigh of relief. The transaction went well, and the result will be yielded as soon as two weeks from now.


    If you haven''t guessed it right yet, today''s meetup was planned to conduct this transaction safely away from any scrutinizing eyes. With who knows how many bodyguards following her every day, Ingrid can''t risk herself by meeting any sketchy guys under their surveillance. If Rembrandt hears any of this, he will probably roast her alive.


    The transaction money will be sent under the cover of her buying something from online shop. And the things that were beyond her control will be left to those people. They should know what they were doing, the sum took quite a toll from her. And their job was not that difficult, all she needed from them was an accurate and well-hidden information about Lu Wen.


    The Lu Wen in her memories was a soft spoken intelligent woman. She was a talented Architect working under Rembrandt''s wing. She''s a social bu??erfly with numerous connections everywhere. Dana once heard that Lu Wen had a hand behind Rembrandt''s success¡ªwhich made their bond stronger, beyond breakable. However, even if this may be the case, Ingrid won''t believe anyone would be spotless, entirely living one''s life like some holy maiden. Even if Ingrid can''t find any skeleton inside Lu Wen''s closet, she hoped to discover at least a rat shit behind. This might not be the solution for her dilemma, as the two were a m?tur? and sensible ?du?t who can talk about their problems over a cup of coffee, but it can at least provide something that they can argue about for a meantime. And hopefully, leave some scarring.


    ---


    At exactly 3 AM on the day of the outing, 1002 woke Ingrid from her deep sleep with full of unwillingness. This was a job the little guy received from Ingrid¡ªthat he abhorred so much but can''t find the guts to decline; acting as her living alarm clock. In her previous life, Ingrid, as a working ?du?t was a light sleeper, therefore she doesn''t have a hard time waking up. Unfortunately, in this life she possessed the body of a teenager that needs an ample amount of sleep to grow up. It was hard. So she made 1002 to do the glorious job; under the guise of it being useless.


    Pulling the travelling bag she prepared beforehand, she left her room after turning off the lights. Before, there was always a maid on standby to cater to her needs. But Ingrid was uncomfortable with the thought of being served upon on her daily needs, so she dismissed those annoying bugs saying that she''s already reaching ?du?thood, it''s time for her to get independent, at least just for this small things. Her parents had no qualms about it, in fact, they were happy about this development.


    With how delicate her body was and unaccustomed to any kind of hard labor, Ingrid was having a hard time pulling the luggage down the stairs. Sweat were starting to precipitate when suddenly a strong arm obstructed her vision and stole her bag away from her in a swift motion. Ingrid heart skipped a beat, and she ?ssumed that it was because of the shock.


    "Why didn''t you asked for help." Rembrandt''s cologne still lingered on her nose, she lagged for a bit before she was able to construct a reply.


    "There was no one to ask for help." She said cutesy, seemingly complaining while pouting.


    Rembrandt was already immune to Dana''s lovely charm. He just nodded, agreeing to what she said then started pulling her luggage outside.


    Ingrid half walked and ran to catch up to Rembrandt''s long steps. "There''s no need for you to wake up this early just to send me away." She said.


    The loyal dog just kept his silence. They stood in front of the main door for a while before a car drove to their way. As a gentleman, Rembrandt opened the rear seat for her. Ingrid was about to say thanks when the words got caught up in her throat after realizing that the man behind her also followed inside after he handed over her luggage to the driver.


    "This¡­"


    "Your mom''s order."


    Ingrid: "!!!"


    What the hell no one told her about this. If she knew about this beforehand, she would have prepared a skimpier swimwear!


    Ingrid was crying over her long sleeved rash guard and decent swimming shorts. If someone saw her wearing those, who would d?s?r? her ah.

 Chapter 11 - Her, Going OOC

    Ingrid is with Rembrandt so she can''t join her classmates while traveling towards their destination. She took a pillow that was sprawled on the seat as she decided to take a nap since she had nothing else to do.


    Rembrandt only had a few hours of sleep. He stayed late to finish the work he needed to do in the following two days while he was away accompanying Dana. His eyes were already closed, he planned to recover some energy while they were still on the road when it again fluttered open after noticing that an additional weight was added on his th??h. There, he saw an unkempt locks of auburn hair spilled over his legs. A smell of strawberry wafted into the air. He inhaled some while he continued drifting himself to sleep.


    The pillow was removed not to be used but because it was blocking. Sensing that Rembrandt didn''t complain when she used him as a pillow, Ingrid hugged the soft object to her slumber.


    The car was gliding in the dark road swiftly. As professional as he was, the driver''s sight glued to his front. But if he just took a peek behind, he will see the step siblings intimate position, which was completely harmonious.


    ---


    Rembrandt already taken enough of rest and right now he was holding his mobile.


    "Hungry?" Rembrandt asked after he became aware of the continuous movements underneath.


    Ingrid''s foggy consciousness became clear after hearing that familiar voice. Right, she slept on his ??p! She hurriedly checked his th??h to look for some suspicious wet patch. Ingrid let out a deep breath after finding out that there wasn''t any. She didn''t clearly catch Rembrandt''s question so she asked him with, "Ah?"


    Ingrid had no idea that she looked really cute at this moment. Her scruffy hair, her puffy lips, and her droopy eyes that were staring straight at him, made Rembrandt''s mind go blank for a moment. Then a look of reminisce flashed within his eyes.


    Rembrandt can''t resist making further mess on Dana''s hair. He likes the feeling of someone''s soft hair in his hand.


    "I said, are you hungry?" he repeated.


    Ingrid nodded, then she slapped someone''s annoying hand away. Him doing this was really uncomfortable, always putting her on a bad mood.


    They were not that far from their journey''s end. They were currently in the last city that they will see while on the road. Ingrid saw a fast food chain she had a high opinion of. "Let''s eat there!" She beamed.


    Her enthusiasm was met with a flat "No."


    Oof, who told her to be an underdog! The emperor already decreed, what else can she say!


    They ended up eating their breakfast in a humble seafood restaurant. Afterwards they continued their travels. Ingrid was already wide awake, drowsiness totally left her system, leaving her bored enough to die. Thanks God mobile phone existed in this world to relieve it.


    Ingrid may be glued to her phone, but she maintains a high level of alertness to her surroundings. She didn''t blindly follow the ride. She did her research before they began embarking. Therefore, she got confused after finding out that the car took a reroute to a completely unreasonable path. If they choose this, their trip would be extended for another hour.


    She had no idea what''s running on Rembrandt''s mind. Ingrid chose not to believe that he did this for no reason. There is definitely something about this.


    Rembrandt''s eyes squinted when a traffic officer signed them to stop. The driver went out, then came back harboring a bad news.


    "Sir there was a landslide ahead caused by a heavy rainfall that occurred the other day." Rembrandt''s jaw clenched. This was not within his expectation. They were at the countryside where the rounds were only limited. He was contemplating on what to decide at this moment.  After a while, with firm tone he said, "Go back."


    Ingrid''s fingertips paused. She reacted with a heavy "What?" Yet Rembrandt ignored her. She found this action of his cute before but right now his silence made her snap.


    There is something going on. Rembrandt''s very presence in this trip is fishy. The feeling of being kept under the dark was something she doesn''t wish to experience ever again. She doesn''t want to stay indifferent while something was happening under her nose because of something like trust. Ingrid put her phone down. Her gaze was fiery when she told the driver, "No Mister don''t heed him. There was still another route available right? You go there."


    "Dana." Rembrandt warned with a heavy breath.


    "NO!" Ingrid was already overwhelmed by her emotions. She''s forgetting where she was and who she was right now.  1002 was shocked by this development. He wasn''t able to react in time, and when the situation finally occurred to him, everything was already like this.


    1002 floated in between the two. Then screamed in front of Dana with all of its might.


    1002: "OOC!"


    Ingrid''s eyes widened when her reason finally came back.


    One thought.


    Fuck.

 Chapter 12 - Her Haunting Past

    Like a hissing kitten ready to bite someone, Ingrid gave Rembrandt a ferocious glare. As if giving up that her disinclination didn''t moved that someone, she twisted her waist and retracted her gaze from him. With a big move, she folded her arms and refused to look at the man beside her. Then she murmured with an almost inaudible voice, "You shouldn''t have come if you''re just going to do this¡­."


    Ingrid bowed her head. To Rembrandt, she looked like she was sulking, but that''s not the case to Ingrid. She did it so she can bite her lower lip. This is her mannerism when she was trying to contain her frustration to herself.


    Ahh Ingrid really wanted to pull her hair hard so she can vent some of it. If 1002 didn''t stop her from there, she will definitely uttered some nonsense, and she''s afraid that everything would have been ruined from there on. That was the first time that she wasn''t able to put her emotion in place. Ingrid thought that she was fine, only the thought of revenge kept her heart burning. But no, that damnable bastard''s betrayal left more impact on her than she could imagine.


    With her quick wit she managed to put the situation under her control. Ingrid really need a hard drink, and move on from that jerk.


    Rembrandt sighed then massaged his temple. He looked at the driver who kept his silence, waiting for his final instruction. He don''t want troubles, so he can''t let this spoiled child have her ways. So without batting an eyelid, he repeated his earlier words, "Go back."


    The driver nodded while he was turning on the engine. Ingrid on the corner didn''t say anything. What else can she say when Rembrandt''s very tone was screaming that he won''t accept any refusal.


    "Inform your friends." He ordered. Ingrid nodded but deep down she was wagging her middle finger at him.


    F*ck you, you control freak.


    ---


    The ride on the way home worn her out. It''s no surprise since she just sat for a freaking twelve hours straight! For the last three hours, Ingrid can feel her bu?? burning. She couldn''t count anymore how many times she switched her position in an attempt to make her body comfortable, but to no avail, it just keeps on hurting.


    It seems like this body was not accustomed to a long distance travelling. Ingrid before can sat on the plane for a day without feeling much jet lag, but now, a 12-hour road trip already made her feel like dying.


    Ah, the situation made her crave for some piping hot coffee. She wanted to stop on some caf¨¦, but Dana was still sulking, she needs to be stubborn.


    Seeing the squirming lady beside him caused some guilt to creep in Rembrandt''s gut. There was still an hour left before they can reach their home. But it seems like they need to take some rest first. He looked down on his phone. The nearest adequate coffee shop is only a five-minute drive away, so he waited.


    Ingrid sensed that the car stopped. She wished that she unknowingly lost consciousness and finally returned home without her noticing it, but of course, it was merely wishful thinking. Yet seeing the signage of the establishment in front of her made her think that it''s actually not that bad that a miracle didn''t occur.


    After watching Rembrandt getting off the car by himself, Ingrid followed behind without uttering any word. In the counter, Rembrandt was in front of her so she can hear him ordering a pair of americano. Was the other one for her? She wondered because she remembered that he always bought Dana a strawberry frappuccino when they went into one. Ah, she recalled that Lu Wen saw her drinking an americano. Ingrid''s eyes flashed, she never knew that Lu Wen was a nosy person.


    However, it appeared that it wasn''t the case. Rembrandt changed his order into a cup each of americano and strawberry frappuccino. Ingrid was curious as to what caused this mistake of his. And ?ssumed that it was because he got used to buying an americano for Lu Wen, thinking back to Lu Wen''s own cup when they met last, it''s seemed like they were holding the same one. It should be a cup of americano. Probably.

 Chapter 13 - Her, Initiating Peace

    The barista asked for the names to be inputted in the cup. Rembrandt said his name, and before he can even say hers, Ingrid interjected.


    "No need, I will order my own cup."


    Their eyes finally met. Rembrandt was gazing down at Ingrid with that deep obsidian eyes of his. He didn''t say anything and just let her do whatever she wants.


    She rolled her eyes at him, which caused for a corner of his lip to quirk up.


    ---


    Cezna phoned her to inquire about the ''real'' reason why they didn''t proceeded to the campsite. She didn''t buy Ingrid''s excuse that Rembrandt suddenly got called for an urgent business.


    Ingrid truthfully told her that she too had no idea why. Hence, leading to her, holing inside her room to find the very reason for this.


    She searched for any suspicious place she can find on that road. Thanks to the level of technology of this world--which was very similar to Earth, that she was able to find three so far. A non operating gas station, an old dilapidated elementary school, and lastly, a normal two storey white house.


    Out of the three, she found the last to be the most intriguing. No reason, she just felt like it was so. The moment her eyes landed on that place''s portrait, an ominous feeling crept into her bones.


    Sadly, she can''t venture this place herself. She need to step on Rembrandt''s dead body first.


    -


    A week has passed and the two''s relationship was still awry. Of course, Ingrid had no intention to keep it that way for this long. It was just that Rembrandt seemed to be busy this days that he rarely comes home, so she had no time to make amends.


    This infuriate her. The one''s at fault here wasn''t her, it was supposed to be Rembrandt who''s begging on his knees and ask for forgiveness.


    One day, Ingrid finally caught that man''s shadow. She blocked his path and looked at him with moist eyes that was filled with grievance.


    "Do you still hate me? That was the first time that I talked back to you. How much longer do you plan on ignoring me? I promise that I will be a good girl and do what you says..." Ingrid bit her lip to stop herself from crying, yet a lone tear was still able to escape.


    Ingrid cringed while doing the act. If not for the mission that she had to complete, she would never let herself act pitifully like this.


    Seeing his little sister trying her best to hold her tears, a smile was threatening to slip from his slips. It was unknown whether it was amusement or scorn.


    He leaned forward and wiped the tear that landed on her cheek. "Who said that I was angry?" With a soft gaze, he asked.


    "T-then, why are you ignoring me for so long?" Of course, Ingrid knew that Rembrandt was not purposely ignoring her. He was just too busy to have the time to be with her.


    1002 was floating motionless at the side. The little ball was trying it''s best not to express his amazement on Ingrid''s acting skills, afraid that he would distract her and break that very image.


    If only the system gave it a pair of hands, 1002 would definitely be clapping silently while watching the scene unfolds before it.


    How delightful! With a host as talented as her, 1002''s future is undoubtedly secured.


    In happiness, a giggle escaped from it''s lips.


    Ingrid heard it, and thankfully didn''t get angry. But 1002 didn''t know that she was actually keeping tabs in her heart.


    Rembrandt took a hold of Ingrid''s delicate hands. "I did not. I''m just preparing for something." While saying so, his eyes gleamed in excitement.


    Ha. Ingrid thinks that the man forgot that he recently did something awful to her. He ruined her supposed to be fun with her classmates. And now, he dared be merry without bothering to give her an apology first? Just to end this deadlock, she put away her pride first and came crying to his arms for them to find truce.


    And yet...


    Ingrid let out a smile, "Really? What is it?"


    He paused, a small smile appeared on his lips,"I will show you." It was light, pretty, and friendly, however, deep down, Ingrid felt chills within her heart.

 Chapter 14 - Her Speculation

    With a soft pull on her hand, Rembrandt guided her somewhere she had no idea of.


    They were on the road for about thirty minutes when the car finally stopped in front of a five star hotel.


    An usherette lead them to the upper floor. Meanwhile, Ingrid just blindly following behind them. Her mind was blank. That weird smile of him, brought her bad premonition. She had no time to guess what awaits her as they''re now standing in front of a humongous door.


    The guide took it''s time to open it which earned an ire from Ingrid.


    You''re just opening a damn door. What is this suspense for!


    Rembrandt saw her scowling face. Seeing such a colorful expression, a memory flashed in his mind that was good enough to earn a smile from him.


    It didn''t take long before the root of her uneasiness to unfold before her.


    Her pair of limpid eyes blinked.


    Then blinked again. And again, and again, and again.


    Ingrid gaped. Expression in disbelief. Her eyes started to sting from blinking too much, but she couldn''t make it stop. She''s hoping that by doing this, the things she''s seeing now would disappear by themselves.


    But no, the glaring candlelights was blinding her and she stench of fresh roses made her want to vomit. The place may lack that cringe worthy five words banner, but she instantly knew what Rembrandt was planning to do.


    She''s naive enough to ?ssume that all of this was prepared for her. The room was gorgeously decorated. It had a tinge of elegance but still within Lu Wen''s simple taste.


    This...


    This development was too fast!


    Ingrid grit her teeth then she fled from the scene. She ran to the nearest restroom and with a forceful flung of her wrist, she closed the cubicle''s door, which created a big banging noise in return.


    She came here with the sole purpose of roasting her so called guide.


    1002 wished to run away, but before it can even attempt the impossible. Ingrid grab the floating ball with both hands. Her thumbs applying great pressure.


    1002 screamed.


    Ingrid ignored it, and applied a heavier pressure instead. "You''re just a fu?k?n? piece of metal, what are you screaming in pain for!"


    1002: "wuwuwuwu"


    1002 cried. It didn''t screamed because of pain. It screamed because it got scared shitless by Ingrid''s bloodshot shot eyes that akin to a bloodthirsty monster ready to devour its prey.


    "You tell me, what the heck is going on in here."


    1002: "The male leads is going to propose to the female lead."


    "Nice discovery, Sherlock." Ingrid said in between clenched teeth.


    1002: "Who''s Sherlock?"


    1002 asked innocently.


    Ingrid wished to be violent and flatten this annoying ball with her heavy boots on the ground.


    She released 1002 from her hold. Raised both of her hands dramatically then said, "Okay, I give up!"


    Those words honestly came deep inside her heart. This world is hopeless. Her situation was beyond salvation. Ingrid was 80% sure that the main characters will never break up and was even 99% sure that Rembrandt will never fall in love with her.


    She already thought of multiple solutions to approach this matter. Seduce Rembrandt? Nah, she was already sister zoned from the very start. Destroy Lu Wen''s image? Nah, though the result was still not on her possession, she bet that it contains nothing that will cause for the two to break up. Not to mention, the two were both m?tur? enough not to let this trivial matter to come in between and cause some havoc.


    Using other people was also not in the option. In Dana''s memories, there was plenty individuals she can name that tried to thwart the two''s relationship. But to no avail, they always ended up with the same ending, that was, a total defeat.


    Not only their love was untouchable. Ingrid also can''t recall that the two of them had a big fight with each other. There was no misunderstanding and no sudden act of jealousy.


    And if you think about it deeply when she and Lu Wen had a confrontation in the caf¨¦. Knowing that there was another woman desiring her long time boyfriend, she didn''t actually showed a big reaction. Yes, Lu Wen declared she treat her as a rival. But that''s it. She didn''t do anything drastic with this information on hand.


    Considering that she and Rembrandt live together in a single house, she didn''t show a hint of anxiety knowing that Ingrid may pounce at Rembrandt in any given moment.


    Lu Wen''s trust on Rembrandt itself was suspicious.


    With this, Ingrid can''t help but have an impression that they were actually not that in love. It was as if they were in a contractual relationship with no feelings involved.


    If this was actually the case. Then the chance that the two will never break up will reach a hundred percent.


    As you can see, people who were in love was muddle headed. Easily manipulated with the right method. But if the two were not? No chance.


    What is there to break apart when in the very start, there was no relationship to break?

 Chapter 15 - Her Mistake

    1002 hovered a few feet away from Ingrid. Using the tone that as if it was pacifying a beast, it said,


    1002: "I really don''t know ah. It''s not within the system''s capability to know what the future holds."


    It warily floated nearer to Ingrid. As though it wanted to explain how innocent it was, 1002 continued,


    1002: "If the system had this ability, it only needs to calculate the best approach to change the fate of the destined couple, then just send an AI like me to complete the missions. The system would never need the wit of a human''s mind to completely understand the complex thoughts of another human."


    That indeed makes sense. Ingrid rubbed her chin. The system was powerful or lets say smart enough to create an AI, but these artificial beings doesn''t have enough wisdom amd cleverness a man have. And no matter how perfect they were made they will never completely understand and relate to the human''s emotion.


    Ingrid''s eyes flashed a fierce light. She already knew that no one was with her in this battle, but it''s even sadder to know that she had no one else she can complain to.


    Talking about someone, a person came to mind. Ingrid had lovers before but he was the only person she can talk to without the need of filtering the words that came out from her mouth.


    But regretfully¡­


    Ingrid let out a deep breath again while exiting the female comfort room.


    Seeing the small girl sighing like an old man made Rembrandt''s gaze gone deeper.


    "What are you sighing for," A meaningful glint appeared in Rembrant''s eyes. "is your heart feels that heavy knowing that your brother will be stolen away from you for real?"


    In her stupor, Ingrid lost her balance. Dana''s first kiss was about to be stolen by a piece of icy mineral when a strong hand caught her waist before it can happen.


    With a big swing of his arm, Ingrid was spun around, her amber hair fell like a cascading waves. Rembrandt leaned down,  their face gotten closer, flowers bloom ever---fuck


    Alright. Stop it. Rembrandt don''t have a tiny little bit sweet bone in his body. Don''t ever dare imagine. Also, the man was about to propose to another woman, what is she thinking?


    "What are you thinking?" A hoarse voice whispered in her ears.


    "Kissing you."


    "..."


    "..."


    Another one word.


    Fuck.

 Chapter 16 - Her Confession

    Like a cat caught in a trap, Ingrid promptly jumped out of Rembrandt''s scalding embrace.


    That slip of tongue was definitely not included in her plan.  In fact, it was still too early for her to boldly declare her affection. If it was any other words, Ingrid was confident that she can reason it out logically, however, the kiss word is too deep for her to wash away!


    She was still panicking when her head was knocked back after receiving a flicker on her forehead. That earned her a groan. She touched her forehead with both palms, moved a step back, then glowered at the man before her.


    "Punishment for having dirty thoughts on your brother."


    The cat already escaped out the bag, and Ingrid had no intention to chase it back.


    "Why is it bad when you''re not even a blood brother of mine." Ingrid muttered, yet loud enough for him to hear.


    Rembrandt''s eyes fell to a freezing point. Ingrid can sensed the surrounding darkening. She cursed in her mind.


    Holy shit. Why is flirting considered a red bu??on in this damned man''s head!


    "Don''t let your gibberish mouth ran recklessly." He said in a threatening words, then walked away with a long stride.


    Ingrid gaped. What a cruel way to say scram to your little sister.


    Dana has always acted sweet towards Rembrandt. Bearing the knowledge that they were not blood siblings from the start, it''s hard not to fall in love with an outstanding young man who was close to you. He should know this little facts, along with her ambiguous actions towards him ever since, so probably, todays development was not out of her character by much.


    And his total aversion of her attempts were a way of him saying that she should abandon the idea of her having unsuitable thoughts. That is also the reason why he brought her here when he can just say it all along, that if she saw his efforts with her eyes, she will back off by herself.


    Someone called her from behind, she saw the familiar face of her driver. Rembrandt was already sending her back, her left eye twitched, then she muttered, "Someone is being touchy." He already accomplished his objective. He saw the reaction he wanted when she ran away earlier--which was actually caused by another reason. So there''s no need for her to linger here any longer.


    Ingrid followed the driver to the black sedan car that was waiting for her. By the time her rear touched the soft seat, her mind starts to wonder.


    Today, the male lead is going to propose to the female lead. If she can, she wanted to disrupt his arrangement. She was able to formulate multiple things all at once, she can burn the hotel down--no that''s too cruel, she can just start the fire in that room, or cut the electric supply, or just fu?k?n? bombed the place down--okay that was savage, and many more. However, considering the numerous eyes that spies her every motion, she''s afraid that before she can even get her hands on a container of gasoline, her hands will be slapped away by that man with incomprehensible eyes.


    Her heart skipped a beat. The images in her mind shifted into a man bending his knees, lifting his hand that holds a velvet box in his palm, and offers it towards the friendly looking woman. And when the woman said yes, his deep obsidian eyes stirred while he was lovingly gazing down at the woman who''s facing him.


    Ingrid''s eyebrows creased heavily. The picture she saw made her feel like her heart was being squeezed tightly.


    Damn, not again.


    ---


    Ingrid was spacing out as she stood in front of that humongous classical door again. She''s here to intervene one last time with her futile means. She told herself. And not because what''s gonna happen soon made her uncomfortable enough that she had a hard time breathing.


    She saw a man in a server dress a few meters away from her. Like how some spoiled princess do, she beckoned the guy to come near her with her finger, then she asked, "What time will the woman named Lu Wen get invited in?"


    The man was trying his best not to let out a smile. A cute frowning face with a read mark sticking on her forehead amused the man instead of feeling insulted by the treatment.


    "Why are you not answering me?" Her frown gone deeper.


    Noticing that he was not doing his job properly, he cleared his throat first before answering. "In a moment, maam."


    Ingrid let out an hmp, then she commanded him to open the door.


    The heel of her boots created a distinct noise that passed through every corner of the spacious chamber.


    Ingrid fearlessly walked towards him. She motivates herself by repeating the words, ''go big or go home(die)'' in her mind. When her pair of short legs finally positioned itself in front of his, her pink mouth opened, then she said the following words with a determined glow in her eyes, "I like you, big brother Rembrandt."


    She has already half admitted her supposed to be feelings earlier but confessing it vocally was another matter. She''s expecting a severe reaction from him, the more the better. She waited, however, it didn''t come.


    She was staring at him all this time so she saw how his eyes lost its focus after hearing her confession.


    This kind of response, was totally out of her expectation.

 Chapter 17 - Her Futile Attempt

    BEFORE YOU START, PLEASE READ!


    Please check the previous chapter first before you start this one cause i edited(changed) it in 5 hours after I published it. I''m really really sorry for the inconvenience, huhu


    ---


    This attempt of hers is futile, damn she knew that all too well. Her feet brought her here, and since she''s already here, doing something outrageous as confessing won''t really cause her a loss. She already imagined his look when he throws her out the door¡­ so why, why is this words that she didn''t mean at all and did out of impulse feels like it touched his very soul?


    Rembrandt, why the fu?k are you so hard to read.


    "Creak." The clamor caused by the door made his eyes regained it''s focus. It was fast, he instantly looked away. His jaw clenched as his head moved towards the direction of the noise.


    There, they saw Lu Wen. She only wore a simple dress, however, her bearing was enough to make one''s eyes to be unable to stray away from her. As she walks slowly towards them, her full lips dons a pure small smile.


    Ingrid''s pupil turned to slits. The way Lu Wen handles herself with tranquility yet her eyes pooled with an intense p???sur?, made her remember a certain two faced bitch who killed her with a single stab in the ?h?st.


    Ignoring her, Rembrandt starts to approach Lu Wen. She can now only see his back, full of  chiseled lines that his suit wasn''t able to hide.


    A storm appeared in Ingrid''s heart.


    Ever since she transmigrated here, she only saw them together in Dana''s memories. She never had the chance to do so with her own eyes. And every time, she doesn''t feel a single thing, it was just like watching strangers being intimate to each other. That''s all, nothing else.


    It wasn''t that long when her curiosity got piqued, and would wish to see what their true relationship looks like. But now, her fast beating heart is threatening to jump out of her ?h?st.


    To see Rembrandt and Lu Wen together in a single picture, for some reason, made her feel damn vexed.


    Unknowingly, she reaches out her hand and took a hold of Rembrandt''s arm. However she retracted it right away after seeing his eyes which was as still as a lake, and devoid of any emotion.


    His lips moved and let out a ruthless word while possessing that annoying eyes. "Behave."


    She doesn''t know if whose heart broke at that moment. Was it Dana or hers?


    She''s still hung up with her ex, this, she can''t oppose. And now, although hard to admit, she''s seeing her ex at Rembrandt. Her anger for him was bone deep, but she can''t deny that it was because her love for him was also wholeheartedly real. So, seeing Rembrandt together with someone else--who for some reason also reminded her of a certain bitch  was akin to seeing her ex betray her for the second time around.


    Ingrid''s gaze landed on the two''s figure. In her eyes, someone''s face starts to overlap with that of Rembrandt''s.


    She can''t really take this anymore. If she tries to stay here any longer, she bet she might do something she will definitely regret.


    With a heavy step, she started to march towards the two. She placed herself in between them, then started to separate them with her palms. She thought Rembrandt wouldn''t budge, but he just let himself be pushed away by her dainty arms. Lu Wen almost lost her balance but was caught immediately by that someone''s strong arm.


    Then she proceeded with her chin held high.


    "Dana." Rembrandt said in a warning tone. She ignored him and let out a "hmp" then evacuated the suffocating room promptly. As she leaves in haste she didn''t see how Rembrandt''s eyes darkened with unknown thoughts. His arm which steadily holds Lu Wen withdraws immediately, which made Lu Wen to almost fall into the floor.


    "Fuck this" Ingrid angrily stomped her foot down the floor.


    Fuck fate, fu?k mission, fu?k everything.


    She gritted her teeth, hard.


    She''s mad. She''s mad how she unfairly died in the hands of a weak woman. She''s mad how her loving boyfriend cheated on her. She''s mad how the system sent her to world with a male lead who reminds her a lot of him.


    Fuck, Rembrandt is not him!


    Ingrid was craving for a hard liquor. She doesn''t care if the body she''s occupying is only 17, anyone who dares to stop her will receive her full blown wrath.

 Chapter 18 - Her Drunken Wish

    Surprise! Surprise!


    ---


    "Where is she?" He asked while loosening his necktie, the sound of the car closing later followed.


    "At the cellar, sir." Rembrandt''s jaw clenched. This little girl... always cause him headaches. He rubbed his temple. For a while, longing engulfed his soul. "...and already wasted at the moment."


    "No one stopped her?" He''s been enduring the conduct of this problem child for a few months now.


    "She threatened them with a broken bottle, sir."


    Hmm, what punishment is befitting for a naughty and gutsy child?


    "They should''ve cut her arm."


    The driver slash bodyguard stays silent. Sometimes, their boss let out a joke that doesn''t fit the atmosphere. The best thing to do when this rare phenomenon happened is to ignore it.


    Although it was rush hour, the drive on the way home didn''t take them long. Rembrandt went directly down the cellar. Mr. and Mrs. Ambrose wasn''t at home at the moment, so the people who can stop this gone nuts girl lessened.


    The door was locked from the inside. But he''s in the possession of master key, so he was able to barge inside the cellar smoothly.


    He was just at the entrance yet the stench of a hard liquor already invaded his nostrils. This caused Rembrandt''s forehead to scrunch.  This probably came from the smashed bottle.


    His heavy footsteps reverberated inside the cramped space as he walked towards the stall, and there he saw a little girl who was trying it''s best to stay conscious, in front of her stands a bottle of whiskey, however, the broken bottle was nowhere to be seen.


    Dana let out a snort then lifted her right hand in attempt to scratch her throat. His eyes dimmed, with a fluid motion, he stopped her disobedient hand. This action, he did this numerous times before. Because the soft hands that he always held in his palms has sharp fingernails that cause her a tiny injury every time.


    While holding the delicate wrist on his palm, a thought appeared in his head, ''Why does he occasionally treat this child as her?''


    ---


    Ingrid drowned herself with liquor. Her heart was heavy. The emotions that she tried so hard to hide deep inside her heart keep fluctuating, seemingly trying to burst out. She bit her lower lip, as Rembrand''s eye color affects her more than she could handle.


    Brought by too much drinking, her throat is starting to itch, she wants to scratch it but before she did, her hand was obliterated.


    "Who dar---" Her raspy words was stuck in her throat, when in her blurry eyes, Ingrid saw a silhouette of a man.


    It''s occurring again, she''s seeing that guy on another man again, when in fact, this man is quite burly, unlike the lean him, this man gives off a commanding aura, unlike the homely him. Yet¡­ why, why is it in her eyes, she always saw the very image of him?


    That man, she hates him so much that her hand was itching to stab him deep in his heart--for him to feel the same agony that she felt, and then twist the knife--for him to feel the same heartache she endured when he cruelly rip her heart to pieces.


    That face loomed in. He''s right in front of her, so she should do what she promised to do right? She doesn''t have a knife but she had a hand that can hit him senseless. She removed her arm from that man''s grip, then tried her best to slap that man''s cheek. But when her hand landed on that cold skin, she shivered. Electricity ran on her back, her mind went blank, and then slowly, her hand crawled towards that man''s nape, pulled him closer, then caught his lips for deep, punishing kiss. And unknowingly, she silently bursted into tears.


    And at this moment, Ingrid knew that the heaviness in her heart was not caused by her anger but instead caused by her intense longing for him. She, don''t want revenge¡­ her wish was just to stupidly go back in that man''s loving embrace.

 Chapter 19 - Her Thoughts About the Kiss

    Her dainty hand fell unto his unguarded nape unwarrantly, it was not forceful, he can evade it if he wanted to, however, he just let himself be slave in by her slim delicate fingers.


    When their lips met, Rembrandt''s mind began to scream danger. He pulled away, his eyes immediately chilled, then falling down into the mess of a girl in front of him.


    With her unsteady gaze, she''s looking at him with eyes full of longing. She bit her lip hard enough for a blood to start seeping out. Rembrandt''s eyes faltered, his fingers starts creeping towards her injured lip, he wiped the blood away, then he meaningfully whispered with a hoarse voice, "Reckless bad girl."


    At this time Ingrid finally lost her consciousness.


    As if carrying a sack, Rembrandt lifted Ingrid''s small body and placed it onto his shoulder. He was carrying her effortlessly like this until he threw her down to her own pink fluffy bed.


    ---


    Ingrid was in front of her bathroom mirror, looking at her reflection with disbelief. His pale finger touched the visible cut in her swollen lips. She hissed.


    Fuck. She''s not dreaming.


    Rembrandt came, and with her muddle headedness, thought he was her ex-boyfriend and kissed him deep on his lips, for a fu?k?d up reason.


    Ingrid don''t remember much about what happened last night, however kissing him was so mind boggling that it was the first that came to her mind when she woke up.


    And this cut¡­


    Ingrid opened her lips for her to be able to observe it properly. With this, Ingrid can''t help but conclude that the kiss was so rough for her lips to get injured this badly.


    Her face gone awry.


    No way that''s possible. She bet, Rembrandt pushed her away the moment her lips touched his. Yes that''s him. This is probably a self inflicted injury.


    Ingrid''s heart was at peace. Kissing Rembrandt was not actually that big of a deal for her, as she had already prepared herself with intimate acts like this the moment she declared that she wanted to seduce the man.


    However, what she is concerned about now is Dana''s image in Rembrandt''s head. Is kissing the man put her in a bad situation? Knowing Rembrandt, that s?ns?t?v? man, he probably already placed her name on his black list. Afterall, confessing is way different than actually kissing him.


    Ahh, can she stop worrying about things? Her head is aching like a bitch right now.


    She splashed her face with cold water then gulped down the medicine that she found sitting on her bedside table.


    Someone tended on her injury. She knew this after she licked her bottom lip and tasted the weird taste of a medicine on it. Still, it was almost fading, so Ingrid grabbed a paste on the cabinet and applied it on her cut.


    1002 was silently hovering in the air for a while now, it''s trying it''s best to hide its presence. And seeing that Ingrid''s air can be described as tranquil, not showing any violent reaction, if it had a right body parts, 1002 would have sighed in relief. It thought Ingrid would be angry at it for not stopping her when she did that.


    Ingrid sensed 1002 cautiousness towards her. She smiled, sincerely, and patted the ball. "Don''t worry, I learned from my mistakes okay? I won''t blame you every time like what I did last time."


    1002 was happy to hear this. It bobbed its body and said, "Hm!"


    After showering, right after she went out of the bathroom, someone knocked on her door.


    Ingrid''s heart skipped a beat. She''s hoping that it is not Rembrandt.

 Chapter 20 - Her Appearance is Trouble for Him

    With her permission, the door opened. It was Dana''s Mom and Step Dad.


    Adrazelle was looking at her daughter worriedly. The married couple was out of country doing business when they heard the news of Dana''s intoxication after she came to know about the engagement. A 12-hour flight wasn''t enough to stop them from coming home.


    Dana''s mother is always concerned about her daughter''s well being, and knowing how massive Dana''s reaction towards the news, she can''t help but blame herself.


    If she knew, she never had let the little affection her daughter had towards Rembrandt bloom to this extent.


    Ingrid failed to realize that Dana''s infatuation to her Step Brother was actually known by her entire  family. It''s not a surprise actually. After all, every time Dana saw Rembrandt, her eyes always shone with adoration, in which she can''t hide from the prying eyes around her. Even Cezna noticed it, how much more for those who lived in the same house with her.


    Ingrid was enveloped in a warm embrace. She lifted her head and her eyes came across her Step Dad''s understanding gaze.


    Uh, folks, she just got drunk, no need to get so emotional.


    Of course, Ingrid returned the hug. Her tiny arms snaked around the middle woman''s lean back.


    "I''m sorry mom." Her voice was low, and made the hug tighter.


    "It''s okay hun, I understand." Dana''s Mom rubbed her hair.


    "We''ll let this slide this time, however, we hope that this will never happen again. At Least not until you''re in the right age, Dana."


    Ingrid obidienty nodded her head. "Yes, I promise, Uncle."


    Adrazelle smiled sweetly towards Lucian. To Ingrid, this smile of her made her think of an angel coming down the heavens harboring good news from above, however, Adrazelle''s next words made Ingrid think again that it was actually the total opposite. It was a daredevil''s smile who travalled above to cause havoc to the human race.


    "You should talk to Rembrandt and make him live in his own condo, Dear. Him, being here, is unhealthy for Dana." Ingrid''s arms froze.


    "Yes, I will do that."


    Wait. What!


    "Wait Mom, it--"


    "Shhh. This is for the best hun."


    Ingrid was left flabbergasted in her room.


    "What just happened?" She asked 1002.


    1002: "It seems like, your chances to be with Rembrandt is getting way way way slimmer."


    Ingrid feels like crying. Mom, this is not what she wished, ah.


    ---


    Rembrandt''s own study room.


    Adrazelle was sipping her tea calmly as she listens attentively to the conversation of the father and son duo.


    "I can''t believe you let a 17-year-old girl drink that much until she collapsed!" Like a thunder, the booming voice of a middle aged man resounded throughout the four corners of the room.


    Rembrandt retains his silence, as whatever he will say will only come out as an excuse.


    "I''m disappointed in you son." Lucian continued.


    "I will apologize for my negligence dad."


    "You should." Lucian looked down and rubbed the watch on his wrist. "In between the people here, you know that you should have been the one who takes Dana''s well being as a priority."


    Rembrandt thought that with Lu Wen''s help, everything will go smoothly. However, he never considered a big factor in his life--which is ''Dana''s'' existence, will suddenly play a difficult role in this game.

 Chapter 21 - Her Failing Health

    Hello~ for those who read chapter 19-25 before the revision, I suggest that you read chapter 19 first before this.


    And btw, I tweaked Rembrandt''s character a bit. so if you found his action or thoughts abought Ingrid off and you don''t like to reread the entire story, then ez, just go with the flow~ lol.


    Thank you for the patience everyone! Here you go~ And I hope to hear your thoughts about the revision! *heart *heart


    ---


    Okay, Ingrid knew she can''t avoid the man forever. They are living in the same house, so of course, their paths were bound to meet.


    One best word to describe the atmosphere would be: awkward. Throughout the dinner, she never raised her head and dared to meet Rembrandt''s scorching gaze.


    Come on, Ingrid. It''s just a kiss, what is this act for, it''s not even your first time for God''s sake!


    She thought she can calmly pass the aftermath, however, when the man in question quietly sat in front of her, surrounded by overbearing aura, she felt like she can''t maintain her nonchalant attitude anymore.


    Ingrid sneakily bit her lip while chewing her food--which made her grimaced in pain.


    Rembrandt heard her hiss, he glanced at her, and said with a reprimanding tone, "You should stop that bad habit of yours."


    Ingrid finally look at him in the eyes.


    Yeah right, you should just break up with Lu Wen so she wouldn''t have anything to think anymore..


    But in the end she didn''t say anything, and just diverted her attention back to her food.


    To make the atmosphere light, Dana''s step father started talking with Rembrandt about business. All of their conversation only pass through Ingrid''s ears. She was preoccupied with the thoughts of breaking the mc''s apart, which have been bugging her for a very very long time.


    A week has passed without any significant event---if you don''t count how she helplessly watch Rembrandt moving out of their house to begin living in his unit that he bought four years ago.


    And inside Ingrid''s own room, there sat a box on her bed. Her face was awful while looking at it.


    She almost forgot about this thing here. If she recalled it correctly, the agreement was that the parcel should be sent in her house, without fail, two weeks after the transaction.


    Ingrid kicked the box out of her bed.


    Who are they kidding?! Yes it came her at two but two freaking months since the transaction! Where can she rate?! She''ll give them a glaring 1 star!


    This is a scam! Definitely a scam!


    From her angry kick, the contents of the box spilled on the cold floor. It was books, books of different genres.


    She massaged her head as it starts to throb painfully again. After going over the contents of the book, Ingrid felt like she just read the background of a female lead of a story--ah right, Lu Wen is indeed a female lead of this world.


    As expected of a female lead, she had a tragic background. Orphan since young, and when she finally got adopted, a tragedy occurred not long later. However, this tragedy actually led her to find her biological parents. Anyone will think that it was a blessing in disguise, but no. There is a reason why she got orphaned, her mother ran away from home after she was born because of the mistreatment she received from her husband. And now, Lu Wen is back to her always drunk father''s ghastly home. She lived her life miserably until she reached 16 and met Rembrandt again--who was her playmate when she was still on the orphanage. And that''s when with the help of the male lead, Lu Wen''s fortune starts to turn.


    Ah, such a tearjerker story. Ingrid would like to sympathize if she''s not here to find Lu Wen''s faults.


    And yes, as expected, she couldn''t find one.


    Ingrid pulled her hair out frustration. Because of this, her head starts to ache again.


    One month from now will be Rembrandt and Lu Wen''s engagement party. Because of this, Ingrid is greatly pressured, and she noticed this for a while now, that her constant stress on this matter, is starting to cause a toll on her body.


    She will have an occasional headaches if she thinks deeply and probably because of too much stress, for a few nights now, she''s been having a nightmare.


    In that dream, she saw a 7-years old Dana clutching an arm of a 18-years old Rembrandt as if her life depended on it. And of her mind didn''t play with her, then the two of them were inside of the eerie three storey white house that Ingrid saw on a certain portrait before.

 Chapter 22 - Her Last Card

    Ingrid was spacing out while standing. A waiter skillfully dodged her after noticing that the mind of the little girl on his way was wondering beyond the galaxy.


    Ingrid can''t believe she let the month pass by without progress. It''s not that she didn''t do anything, it''s just that Rembrandt, her damn opponent, was too hard to crack!


    She''s desperate, so of course she used desperate measures, or tried to. Believe it or not, the thought of raping the man crossed on her mind. She considered it, cause why the fu?k not. She was able to lay her hands on some knock off pills, however, she never knew that he actually dared blacklisting her from visiting his unit!


    He''s too guarded, her every attempt was seen through and blocked.


    Ingrid sat on her designated seat then drank a mouthful of water to calm herself. Her eyes roamed around towards her surroundings.


    Dana has never been the socializing type, she''s comfortable staying inside her princess bubble, so the place is flocked with people that she doesn''t recognize.


    She heard that Lu Wen organized the whole event so it''s no surprise the ambiance is simple and fresh with a touch of elegance.


    A single tap on her shoulder made her almost jump in surprise. "Why do everytime I see you these days your mind is always travelling far far away?"


    It''s Cezna.


    Ingrid just shrugged her question away, drank another mouthful then asked, "How come you''re here?"


    "To stop you in case you ran into the platform and steal the future groom away in front of everyone, of course." Cezna was just joking, but the person in front of her was actually considering doing that.


    "Gosh, Dana, what''s with that serious face. I''m joking, I''m actually here with my recent daddy, he''s on the construction field too." Ingrid raised her eyebrow on the word ''daddy'', but put it down right away.


    Okay, let''s respect other people''s kinks.


    Cezna didn''t stay for long as she was fetched by her uncle--uh, she mean boyfriend. Yep, handsome and hot but too old for Ingrid''s liking. She even had a hard time swallowing the 11 years gap between Rembrandt and her, what''s more of the number beyond that.


    The emcee came out, and without further adieu, introduced the engaged couple.


    Rembrandt saunter through the crowd with Lu Wen in tow. She couldn''t care less about Lu Wen, however, Ingrid''s eyes lingered on Rembrandt''s side profile.


    His muscles looked tight and strained beneath the material of his designer suit. He had an emerald necktie on, to suit his partner''s dress.


    Ingrid''s eyes travelled from his torso to his face. He''s looking straight ahead. His lips are unnaturally red. From her angle, his nose is more sharp and defined. Her heart skipped a beat when she reached his eyes, that mesmerizing obsidian eyes that keeps pulling her back to her past.


    As if noticing the hot stares coming from the table on his left, Rembrandt looked on her way. Their eyes met. He mouthed "Behave" before moving his eyes away.


    Ingrid sipped on her water, a profound look appeared on her face.


    The two finally arrived at the simply decorated platform. They faced the audience with a smile donning their lips. Lu Wen looks incredibly happy and in love. Everytime her eyes landed on Rembrandt her face glow with eternal satisfaction.


    This is the first time that she looked straight at the two. Her heart still feels uncomfortable but she ignored it. The speculation the she did before came to her mind. How foolish of her to think about them in a contractual relationship. They were probably just that in love and m?tur? that there has never been a problem that was able to grow in between them. Lu Wen''s feelings towards Rembrandt is true, she can''t deny this, she probably just trust him that much. But as for Rembrandt, she has conflicting feelings. He was looking at his lover with tender expression, but there was something off about it that she can''t name.


    In the end, Ingrid got confused with her thoughts. Okay, nevermind at the two''s status quo, the relationship of the two is too complicated for Dana''s undeveloped brain cells. And even if her speculation is true or not, it will not change her situation anyway.


    Ingrid looked at them with vacant countenance. They were approaching their happy ending and there''s not much she can do.


    Like Rome, big schemes wasn''t built in a day. You need an ample amount of time, connection, will, and ability to successfully execute that. And right now, Ingrid only has her will, it might be strong and unyielding but it will never be enough.


    Ingrid closed her eyes and let her mind wander towards the missing memory that she obtained recently. If Rembrandt will keep pushing her down cruelly in the corner like this, she had no choice but to also act in the same manner towards him...and to herself.

 Chapter 23 - Her Response to His Frontal Attack (1)

    Chapter 23: Her Response to His Frontal Attack (1)


    Ingrid asked a passing waiter for another glass of water. She lied back on the backrest of her chair. With this, she looked relaxed to other people''s eyes, but in actuality, it was quite the opposite.


    She was feeling antsy right now.


    The purpose of the engagement party is to announce the wedding date. She tapped her fingers on the table; it gracefully danced on a rhythm that only she knows. Like everyone else, she''s eager to know the final date of her execution day.


    Normally, a wedding takes place six months after the engagement party, but knowing Rembrandt, the wedding date would probably be something that would surprise the shit out of her.


    The atmosphere of the whole party is casual. Although it was full of big shots of the construction business, the air was still light and not stifling. But hmm,


    With a toothy grin, the emcee teased the couple in front, especially Lu Wen. "Miss Lu, how do you feel about being proposed to by an outstanding young man like Mister Hottie here?"


    Ingrid saw how Rembrandt''s brow twitched when the emcee addressed him. Yep, the event is too casual for a stiff man like him. Ingrid laughed out loud in her head.


    Teasing came from Lu Wen''s friends but she''s not shy at all. She smiled and faced Rembrandt with a gleam in her eyes. "It caused me happiness of course," Lu Wen grasped Rembrandt''s hands firmly on her own. "Though the element of surprise is not there because we''ve known each other for so long, I just knew that sooner or later he will ask my hand for marriage." She then raised both of their hands to display the ring on her finger.


    The place had gotten noisy for a bit but Ingrid''s eyes stayed on the glaring ring. A thought somehow managed to escape from her mind.


    ''My ring before was still better in design and quality.''


    Ingrid reverted her attention to Rembrandt. Since the start, he just stood quietly at the side. A small smile hung on his lips. His gaze was soft, but that''s all. He doesn''t look like someone who just got engaged to someone he loves.


    A memory passed in her mind.


    Ah, it was indeed a sweet memory¡­


    But to the Ingrid now, it was nothing but an unpleasant one that should have been long stashed at the very back of her mind.


    Without her noticing, the emcee finally asked the question she''s been waiting for. The emcee had good observation skills. After detecting that Rembrandt didn''t seem pleased by the way he called him before, he said with a tone full of formality, "Now, the groom to be will give us the privilege of knowing the day of their wedding ceremony," The emcee gave Rembrandt a mic. "Mr. Ambrose, please."


    Rembrandt''s speech was quite long, but only five words of it kept repeating in her mind. It was a shocking, "In two weeks from now."


    The glass of water almost fell out of her hand. She thanked the gods she didn''t have any liquid in her mouth or else she would have embarrassed herself by spitting it out.


    Ingrid stared wide-eyed at the two. Cheers and claps floated in the air, but her eyes were only on Rembrandt''s grin.


    What the effin fu?k, why are these people in rush. They actually pushed it to two weeks from now?!


    Ingrid stood up. It was not in a flashy way, so nobody noticed aside from Dana''s parents who sat at the same table as her. They looked at their daughter worriedly. They were against the idea of her being here, but Dana insisted strongly.


    Actually, Ingrid just stood up on a whim. She actually had no plan of doing anything. Her mouth gaped a bit but she immediately sat back down right away.


    Ingrid''s hand trembled as she looked at her pale wrist.


    She lowered head to hide the look of horror displayed on it.


    She closed her eyes and asked herself...


    Does she really have to do ''that''?

 Chapter 24 - Her Response to His Frontal Attack (2)

    WARNING! SPG AHEAD!


    ---


    ''I need to talk to him alone.''


    That was her plan, but Ingrid''s eyebrows started to crease after knowing that the man in question was nowhere to be seen.


    The engagement party was held in a hotel, though not an extravagant one but somewhere on decent side that offers good services.


    The event already ended, but the party is not. Guests still linger around to dance, drink, and be merry, but the couple who was supposed to be the center of attention is not present.


    Her feet were starting to hurt from walking too much, and also didn''t help that the place was dim lighted.


    She roams her eyes again, thankfully, Ingrid sighted Rembrandt''s secretary. After wiping away the sweat that started to form on her forehead, she asked, "Where''s my brother?"


    "At his hotel room, miss"


    Figured.


    After knowing their room number, Ingrid left the venue, but while walking away, when the party light managed to reach her pocketside, somehow, it produced a glint.


    ---


    Ingrid was standing in front of the said room. Her heart was threatening to escape from her ?h?st. She''s nervous, alright. But no matter what, she had to do this right now. Or else, she might not have the chance to see Rembrandt again before their wedding.


    She knocked. No one answered.


    Like a creep, she stealthily entered the room. Although the room is dark, she saw no one, however the sound of running water was distinct.


    Ingrid''s eyes turned to slits. Is she going to see something indecent right now?


    Damn, this made her uncomfortable again.


    She took a deep breath to calm her fast beating heart. The best course of action right now is to leave, but her feet won''t budge an inch.


    Alright, she really can''t stomach to see the two of them doing that. It''s time to abort mission. She just need to try her best finding the next chance.


    As she turned to leave, the bathroom door creaked open. The sound of droplets of water falling into the cold tiles dominated the once stilled room.


    Ingrid caught her breath when a heavy pressure enveloped her shoulders. As if she had a stiff neck, she had a hard time turning her head around, or from the very start, she had no intention to.


    The lone heavy steps coming from behind scared the living nightlights out of her.


    He''s alone, but fu?k, it''s no better.


    Ingrid can''t help but squint her eyes when the lights were turned on, then shivered, turnaround in fright when a hot breath whispered close to her ears.


    "What are you doing here?" He asked. But Ingrid''s mind was blown away after seeing that the man in front of her was only wearing a towel that did little to none help in covering his entire body.


    A warm hand covers her eyes before Ingrid can even admire the man''s glistening specs.


    "I don''t like repeating myself, Dana." Ingrid gulp and slapped his hand away, she directed her gaze to a stained shirt that was thrown off the couch, a light pink tint appeared on her cheek.


    Ingrid pursed her lips when she remembered her business in coming here.


    In a serious yet youthful tone, she told him, "I want to talk to you."


    Rembrandt was already wearing a decent clothes--a long cotton bathrobe, but the girl in front of him is still doing its best to avoid looking at his body.


    His curiosity got piqued. Another bout of her craziness?


    However, his jaw muscles tensed after hearing her opening remarks.


    "Can you¡­ not marry?" Ingrid bit her lips, eyes fluttering in nervousness.


    Patience running off, Rembrandt replied with a hard tone. "Don''t talk nonsense, Dana. Its my marriage that yo---"


    "But you are not in love with her at all!" With quivering lips, she shouted with all her might.


    "What made you think that?"


    "I can see it¡­ your so called love to your girlfriend," Finally, she had the courage to look at him in the eyes. "But why can''t I feel it? If you really love her, why can''t I?!"


    From the little girl''s outburst, Rembrandt''s corner lip curved to form a grin. "Do you need love if you want to marry?"


    Ingrid gasped from his answer. She was just testing the waters. Her earlier words was a total nonsense. Yet¡­ why was his answer like that?


    Rembrandt, for the nth time, why are you so hard to read?


    Ingrid browsed on her memories of them together. Yes, she doubted their love before, but it was a doubt without much basis, when in fact, their relationship was displayed clearly in her eyes.


    But with his words¡­ all of it was bullshit? Maybe, Lu Wen''s feelings for him was real, but Rembrandt''s was an act?


    No, fu?k. Probably he was just misleading her with his uncanny words.


    She took a long breath before shifting the conversation.


    "I¡­ remembered what happened 10 years ago."


    His robe wasn''t able to hide the way his muscles constricted by her admission. He looked at her deeply. His scrutinizing gaze made her feel like he was trying to crack her head open to see what her thoughts inside.


    "As well as your promise to me¡­"


    The reason why Dana''s mom was against the idea of her coming to that place. The reason why Rembrandt chose to maneuver back than to pass that road. The reason why the security around her was too tight that even a fly can''t pass through.... is because of a tragedy that happened 10 years ago. A tragedy that was Dana''s missing memories.


    At the age of seven, Dana was a victim of human trafficking. Yes, Dana has been kidnapped, gone for about 2 days and 3 nights and it was all because of the young Rembrandt.


    Rembrandt, after receiving an emergency call from someone, left an unguarded child behind.The scenes afterwards was as you expected, hell was raised everywhere, amidst that, their mom and dad formed a bond strong enough for marriage.


    It was about to rain hard at that time, strong winds keep creating clamors to the windows, and teenager full of regret took a vow to a child covered in light wound in front of dilapidated three-story white house--in where the child was kept for days.


    It was a promise of a lifetime to protect and ensure the child''s happiness. Dana''s happiness.


    "You can marry anyone, but Lu Wen!" Ingrid is no fool. She guessed it right away that the caller of that night was Lu Wen. And Rembrandt too knew that he can''t deny it to her. So she has every reason to say this.


    Despite all this favors towards her situation, Rembrandt still chose to be cruel.


    "I owe you with my life Dana, not with my soul." He walked towards the door. "Wish anything but that. You can leave now."


    Ingrid was rooted on her spot. Why is his word just now seems so deep?


    No fu?k, that''s not the important thing here!


    Rembrandt saw that she had no plans on moving. He grabbed her hand to guide her out.


    "No!" Ingrid screamed. A clear-cut sound was produced when Ingrid''s hand sundered the air with great force.


    In a blink of an eye, a shiny material appeared on her palm.


    After turning her wrist around, an ironic feeling crept into her bones... cause it is  indeed ironic, to choose to escape death---by dying.


    Then blood bloomed on her view.

 Chapter 25 - Her Last Attempt

    With a swift and calculated move of her hand, blood painted Ingrid''s world red.


    Her hard holding the knife trembled so hard that it made her let go of the blade.


    "Fuck!" Someone roared. Yet her attention remained on the bloodied limb in front of her.


    She wasn''t able to slit her wrist, instead, the blade cut Rembrandt''s arm. He was not that far from her, so he was able to stop her hands before a true bloodbath happened.


    Ingrid''s eyes landed on his wounded arm. The cut was deep. Too deep that if it Rembrandt didn''t covered her wrist, a major vein of hers would definitely have been cut.


    With this realization, Ingrid chased after her breath.


    She¡­ overestimated herself.


    She just wanted to scare him by wounding her wrist a little, but it never occurred to her that the memory of her being stabbed resurfaced, and made her lose control of her strength.


    Blood and blade on the same picture almost made her faint.


    Although obviously hurt, Rembrandt''s hold on her wrist tightened. It was a really a tight grip.  Enough that Ingrid can feel his emotions through his trembling hands.


    Is he angry? Definitely he is.


    However, when she obtained enough strength and courage to lift her head, something within her exploded after she saw Rembrandt''s reaction.


    His face expressed an extreme look of horror, his jaw muscles spasmed numerous times and his contracted eyes made Ingrid''s legs gone soft.


    She somehow knew that Dana''s life has this much impact on him, and would believe so too if only he was looking straight at Dana. But no,


    Rembrandt''s eyes that held too much emotion passed her. He was looking to an empty place. Hands still quivering violently. As if what he saw was not Dana attempting suicide but something much more nightmarish to him.


    "You¡­" His head snapped back at her.


    "You don''t want your life anymore?!" Now, his voice contains so much anger that it made her took a step back to evade his eruption. It was totally different than what he showed earlier.


    ''She wants her life so fu?k?n? much thats why she''s doing this!'' If only Ingrid can, she wanted to scream this words on his face!


    "GET OUT!" Green bulging veins appeared on his neck.


    Ingrid was stupefied. Yes, she gets where his anger came from but isn''t this too much? Wasn''t he supposed to pacify her too? Check her mental state? Because for God''s sake, she just attempted to take her life! Blood just spilled so she was evidently serious!


    Using his still injured hand that was gripping her wrist, Rembrandt pulled her towards the door.


    He towered over her, and looking down at her menacingly. "If you dare do that trick again, I''ll kill you myself." Then he slammed the door heavily on her face.


    Just¡­


    What the fu?k happened?


    Can somebody explain to her why does the scene came to this?!


    "Dana?" Someone called her from behind. Ingrid turn around and was shocked to see that it was Lu Wen.


    "Oh my gosh! Why is there blood on your clothes! Are you hurt anywhere?" Lu Wen checked on her body to look for any wound, then sighed out of relief after seeing none.


    "What happened?" Ingrid didn''t gave her an answered, thus making Lu Wen ?ssume that there was probably something happened inside.


    After knowing that Dana was out of danger, Lu Wen unhesitantly made her way in.


    Ingrid''s face chilled, making Dana''s youthful demeanor age a bit.


    ''Ah, did she failed again?''


    The sound of her footsteps echoed throughout the hallway as she slowly walked away.


    If she really failed this time, Ingrid don''t know if she can still make it in two weeks time.


    "It seems that I failed, 1002."


    1002 silently hovering beside her. Not agreeing nor denying her statement.


    "I remember hearing you saying that you had too much faith in me, because it was me." Ingrid smiled mockingly on herself. "Yet what does it contribute? In the end, I''m just an emotionally unstable beginner who faced a final-boss-like character right away."


    For some reason, knowing that she was approaching a dead end, her heart was surprisingly calm.


    She closed her eyes. A mysterious obsidian pair of eyes emerged in her mind.


    Right. She still has a wish.


    Can she kick his ball first before her existence ceased? So that the memory of him on her mind won''t be him looking at her softly but instead, him, glaring at her spitefully. To at least make his betrayal less painful in her heart.


    Ding!


    The elevator opened. Ingrid was about to enter when a succeeding heavy steps approached her from behind. Her system screamed danger, so she immediately looked back,


    Only to see Lu Wen''s bloodshot eyes.


    "You bitch!" an ear wrecking shriek came out from the ever so serious woman.


    Ingrid''s mind went blank.


    She can''t help but spout, "Ah?"

 Chapter 26 - Her First World (Epilogue) (1)

    She took a step back. Cold sweat ran on her back. As she stood rooted in her place,Ingrid''s heart heart started to race, like a runaway train, going faster and faster with Lu Wen''s every sharp stride.


    For the second time around, Ingrid felt the true manifestation of bloodlust. The woman is not only angrily charging to her, it''s with an intention to kill!


    What the hell!


    Ingrid wanted to run away from the madwoman but her legs won''t abide to her wishes. In her eyes, someone''s face started to overlap with Lu Wen''s. They wore the same expression. The same ruthlessness that spare no room for mercy.


    Ding!


    Adding to Ingrid''s dread, the elevator door behind her closed. Even if she can move, there is no place to escape.


    Holy shit! Can someone explain to her what''s happening here?! What''s with this main characters and their crazy antics!


    Unlike the woman in her memories, Lu Wen didn''t carry any blade with her. But Ingrid had this premonition that even though she was weaponless, Lu Wen can still easily kill her as effortlessly as stepping on a bug.


    Ingrid was crying for help in her mind. Yet the damn ball only told her,


    1002: "Fight back!"


    Of course she would! What is she, a vegetable on a cutting board?!


    In some way, 1002 useless moral support rekindled Ingrid''s sense of survival. Her strength finally came back to her. Ingrid wanted to evade Lu Wen by moving sideways, however she didn''t know what happened but in an instant, her petite body was brutally slammed on the elevator door, and a steel like hand was pinning her by her neck.


    Ingrid tried her best to get away by scratching the hand that was choking her, but to no avail, even though she managed to peel some skin, Lu Wen''s grip didn''t even loosen a bit. Instead, it became tighter as second pass.


    Ingrid face turned green. She badly wanted to breath¡­ but she can''t. Tears ran down like a broken dam, and her consciousness is getting hazy, despite this, Lu Wen''s unfeeling eyes was as clear as a morning sun to her.


    Fuck. She just attempted suicide earlier, and right now, someone actually trying to kill her. Before she dies, can at least this mad main characters give her an explanation why Dana''s life and her too, would end pathetically like this?


    "Kegh ...ahk... ah." Ingrid coughed out so much, tears just wont stop coming down.


    With the last bit of her strength, she was able to lift her head and saw Rembrandt being enveloped by darkness. Even though his anger wasn''t directed at her, chills ran on her back and her system screams danger more loudly than before. It was roaring.


    Ingrid can''t take it anymore, her sight is already losing its focus. Someone held her softly on its arm, she closed her eyes, and before she lost her consciousness she vaguely heard a hard and heavy voice saying, "... one thing is for sure, I lost to this child, Maerin."


    ---


    Ingrid gasped for air after waking up. She can''t help but grasp her neck after the sensation of being choked washed her system.


    She heard a cry beside her. It was miserable. Someone''s warm and homely own gently removed her hand away from her neck, afterwards,  she can roughly felt that something was injected in her system. Then again, her world became black.


    ---


    Ingrid woke up calmly this time. She roamed her eyes around and observed her surroundings. And no domineering presence was sighted within the proximity.


    Yes, as expected she''s laying on a hospital bed.


    Dana''s mom was looking straight at her. She looked haggard and scared. Then she cried a river afterwards, voicing out her regret for not being able to protect her.


    Her vocal cord seems to be injured so she wasn''t able to ask the middle aged woman the question she''s been meaning to ask since she woke up.


    1002 provided her the answer. Today is XXX, three weeks exactly after the engagement party.


    Ingrid sighed in relief.


    Then that means, she somehow accomplished her mission?


    If it really so, Ingrid wanted to punch the air in happiness but her body won''t let her to.


    Her ?ssumption was further cemented when throughout her stay in the hospital, Ingrid never had the chance to see even the mere shadow of Rembrandt. Like a bubble, he disappeared completely without a trace, as well as Lu Wen.


    Then was confirmed by Dana''s mother after her family finally talked about the two. They knew about what Lu Wen did to her, but they had no idea as to why. And with the mere utterance of Lu Wen''s name, made the faces around her scrunch in anger. As for Rembrandt, they said that he went overseas after his wedding got cancelled.


    Everything happened too fast. It felt just like yesterday when she first woke up in this world, when she was still cracking her head on how to solve this crisis of hers.


    It was definitely a dead end. Her relationship with Rembrandt wasn''t able to break the two.


    Then suddenly, Lu Wen attacked her with no rhyme or reason. The only probable excuse that she can think of is that Rembrandt chose her instead, chose to break his relationship with Lu Wen instead. She had no idea how this happened when her last attempt obviously failed. She was kicked out nonetheless.


    Now, that''s the confusing part.


    Again, for the nth nth time, why the fu?k are you so hard to read Rembrandt?


    Ingrid''s mind wondered when she tried recalling that scene. To have the d?s?r? to kill the one who  broke her relationship, Lu Wen''s reaction was a bit excessive. She never gave Ingrid the impression that she was actually that obsessed with Rembrandt, that obsessed with their ties.


    Ingrid has still a lot of questions that''s been bugging her, especially towards main characters themselves. However,  she doesn''t know why but she had this weird and impossible feeling that all of it would be answered if she continue clearing the missions. The connection? She had no idea.


    Ah, whatever.


    Her mission was already considered a success, so 1002 asked her if she wanted to stay in this word longer or will she proceed to her next destination.


    Of course Ingrid chose the latter. Who knew what would happen to her in the next world, she was able to obtain a new life, so she wished to live it to the fullest.


    Ingrid had fun playing the life of Dana, but too bad, there was no Rembrandt to play with. Although they only had been together for about half a year, Ingrid still had a high opinion of the man. He would indeed be a good companion, if she can just persuade him to change his eye color. This thought made her smile a bit.


    Then one day, the news was spread to the capital,


    That ''Dana Leviste'' died because of an illness.


    Before that, in her deathbed, Ingrid''s heart was thumping hard inside her body. She can''t contain her anticipation of the whole new life that awaits her.

 Chapter 27 - His Unexpected Defeat (Epilogue) (2)

    Note: Second arc will be introduced on the next chap, since this one is unexpectedly long.


    Btw, can you leave a rating na after this? Please, and thank you! < 3


    Lastly, please vote huhu


    ----


    That night, despite having a long gush on his arm, Rembrandt left it unattended and pulled out a bottle of liquor from a cabinet, then poured himself a drink. As he took a sip on his glass, his gaze wandered towards the door. His eyes were so deep, as if there''s a turbulent storm raging inside.


    The door opened abruptly and an anxious face of a woman appeared.


    First thing Lu Wen saw inside was a pool of blood and a gleaming blade soaked within. This made her nervous that she held her breath for a second there.


    "Rembrandt!" She called out the name of  man who was drinking calmly, looking unperturbed by the obvious fight that happened earlier.


    His arm was dropping by his side, and along with Lu Wen''s heavy breath, only the sound of blood dripping down the marbled floor prevailed within the stuffy room.


    Lu Wen ran towards him in haste, however, before she can even get a hold of Rembrandt''s injured limb, she was rendered unmoving when a commanding voice saying "Stop." dawned into her.


    "You''ve got to be kidding me, are seriously using your haphephobia(1) card to me right now, at this very moment?!" Lu Wen shouted her injustice.


    Rembrandt placed his glass away as he said, "I have no such fear," He grabbed the nearest cloth he can find and applied pressure to his wound. "I merely don''t like anyone touching me," Even under the bright luminescent light, his eyes were still darker than black, as that very eyes looked down towards the woman standing in front of him. "Even if it''s you."


    At this moment, the tender gaze that Igrid always saw when Rembrandt was looking at his lover was long gone. His gaze was blank when facing Lu Wen. It completely lacked in emotion as though he was looking at something insignificant, something he doesn''t deemed to be worthy of his attention.


    This treatment of him didn''t earn any reaction from Lu Wen. She was used succumbing to such---especially if there was no one who will act as a spectator.


    Lu Wen decided to let the man be and just clean up the hideous liquid that was scattered on the floor. Ah no, she should probably look for a first aid kit a avoid any infection from occurring since the injured man himself doesn''t have any plan to do so.


    "I''ll be leaving this world." Rembrandt started.


    Lu Wen''s footsteps that was heading towards the bathroom stopped. An unspeakable light glimmered in her eyes. "That''s why you rushed the wedding into two weeks time?"


    "I am afraid to say that there will be no wedding to be held anytime soon."


    Hearing such words, Lu Wen snapped her head harshly towards Rembrandt. "What?!" She screamed, her eyes darkened to an unbelievable degree.


    "I can only stay here for three days at most." After checking that the wound stopped bleeding, Rembrandt threw away the cloth towards his shirt that was ruined earlier in the party. Then he tilted his head sideways, his sharp eyes was still glancing down towards Lu Wen while continuing to utter a polite yet cruel words. "You can then do whatever you want."


    Such unreasonable words made Lu Wen stomped her foot in anger. It was blazing. The look of here mere eyes can spit fire. "You can''t just bail me out like this after I followed you here to offer you help!"


    "In which I didn''t asked of you."


    "Is this because of that child?!" Lu Wen''s eyes turned bloodshot. She was eager to know what really happened in this room for Rembrandt to suddenly admit defeat like this.


    Lu Wen''s trembling hands formed into a fist. No¡­ she can''t let this happen. Since she wished for ''that'' thing, the result of every word she''s in matters now. She can''t afford to fail this time.


    "I had reasons which I had no d?s?r? of telling you."


    Lu Wen can''t believe that she fell in love with a man of his calibre. She did all she can for him, yet this is how the man will repay her, "You cold-hearted man." She coldy spat.


    "Or so I''ve heard." Rembrandt replied with equal coldness.


    Lu Wen left. She can''t fight the man. However, she can make the one who ruined the plan she devised for a long time pay by blood.


    Rembrandt''s eyes followed Lu Wen''s leaving silhouette.


    He ran his hand onto his hair while numerous thoughts came crashing down and made him think deeply.


    For a while now, Rembrandt knew that Dana is also someone not from this world. Her clumsy decision-making amused him. Her boldness every beginner have was a fresh air to him. However, their goals in this world opposes each other.


    With Lu Wen''s help, Rembrandt thought that this world would be a really easy one to transverse and can just treat it as a vacation. Yet suddenly, the sister he deemed as behave, started making a mess of everything.


    Uncountable years have passed since he started chasing that wish. Now that only a few world needed to complete, he can''t let himself be impeded by a beginner that never had an affiliation with him before.


    Even knowing that ''Dana'' was a beginner, and that the earlier mission was a do or die to them, Rembrandt still chose to be selfish.


    And so he blocked her every attempt. Rushed the end so he can ruined any of her hope. Yet that child was still full of surprises. She caught him off guard with her move today.


    He heard a shriek outside. And when he finally managed to pull Lu Wen away from the quivering child, his gaze can''t help but land on Dana''s face.


    Her eyes were already closed. She was knocked unconscious. Her face was pale as a sheet of paper, and her purplish lips was ghastly.


    Rembrandt''s heart constricted as another image appeared in his head.


    Even though it was just a child with a few similarities of ''her'', it was still unbearable to see her like this.


    Rembrandt hold Dana gently on his arms.


    Yes, this is the very reason why he lost. Completely defeated by a total beginner.


    ---


    Footnotes


    (1) Haphephobia - fear of being touched

 Chapter 28 - Her Neighbor

    Note: I changed the penalty for ooc from world ejection to merit points deduction.


    power stones waaaahhhh and comment too -3-


    ---


    Crimson rays of light passed through the flimsy curtain and lighten up a portion of the once pitch black room. And bit of it shone upon the face a woman resting on top of a low quality coffee table.


    At that time, Ingrid regained her consciousness with a heavy body and a splitting headache, as well as the smell of heavy booze permeated into the air.


    "Ugh." Feeling nauseous all of a sudden, Ingrid stood up. With only the use of her instinct, she followed her feet towards somewhere that she thought of to be the restroom, however, with her hazy vision, she unknowingly stepped on a hard object which caused her to fall face first onto the hard floor.


    "Aww¡­" Her nose hurts like shit she bet it was bleeding.


    Ingrid invested all of her remaining strength to roll her body around. Then she squinted her eyes. Uh. Blinked her eyes. Uh. Then finally using her whether dirty or not hands, rubbed her eyes a bit harshly. However, despite this futile efforts of hers, her vision was still obscure that no matter how hard she stares at the ceiling, she can''t picture out the shape of the bulb hanging above her.


    "1002¡­ " Ingrid was silently shedding tears. Since she woke up, she''s been trying to contact that damn ball, yet for a while now, she still haven''t received any kind of response.


    She doesn''t have the urge to vomit anymore, thanks to the gods, but she was depressed to learn that the body she''s occupying right now seems to have a high case of myopia. As someone who never wore glasses before, Ingrid find this discovery a bit hard to accept. Especially right now that she can''t do anything without the help of her vision.


    1002: "Host!"


    The feeling of the cold water hitting your weary face was just heavenly good. Ingrid continued splashing her face with water until she was satisfied. While wiping her face she asked 1002, "What happened?" As it was uncommon for it to lay dormant for a long while.


    1002: "Eyy, you missed me?"


    1002 keep hopping in front of Ingrid''s face which made the woman annoyed she threw the ball away from her face. Then she wore her glasses, took a seat on a hard single layer bed.


    "Go straight to the point."


    1002: "Yes ma''am."


    1002 took a peek at the pale faced Ingrid. 1002 dared tease her after ?ssuming that her head cooled by the water. Hmp.


    1002: "Your first mission''s result took a long time to process so I can only receive it after I properly sent you to the next world."


    Ingrid massaged her still throbbing head and waved her other hand, indicating the ball to continue speaking.


    Seeing Ingrid''s impatient scrunched face, 1002 directly skipped towards the most important part.


    Ingrid had a high expectation for this. Although she struggled for real in there, but her speed of completion was not something to scoff off. Yet¡­


    1002: "...is 1."


    Ingrid choked on her own saliva.


    "Cough¡­ Are you kidding me right now?" Wow, it seems that her head hurts that much that she started to hear things.


    1002: "No. There is no merit in bullshiting you."


    Yes. It seems so. Since 1002 dared to utter profanity in front of her.


    1002: "You''re points was actually high but it got deducted for the reason that you''re true ''identity'' was found out."


    "Who?"


    1002: "Not stated."


    Remembering the scenes of the sudden bold actions that she made just after her transmigration made Ingrid can''t help but sigh, "Stupid."


    But¡­ despite knowing her real identity, Rembrandt still decided to cancel the marriage for her...


    Ahh, this is making her head worse.


    "That''s all?"


    1002: "En, that''s all."


    1002 floated towards her and in a flash, like a deja vu, a large amount of numerous memories ?ssaulted her head as if a bulldozer rammed her head into smithereens.


    Ingrid was overwhelmed. Too much if she can say. With her bloodshot eyes, she glared at the ball that was floating dumbly in front of her, "You¡­ you---" Then Ingrid fainted.


    1002 stared stupidly at its yet unconscious host. 1002 was trying to convince itself. It''s not its fault right? Righhht?!


    ---


    This body''s name was Clauen Sorzano, 23 years old, lives in a single room apartment, and currently jobless. And the reason why Ingrid woke up with a hangover was because Clauen just lost her job yesterday. The woman graduated as a business major in a community college, but she wasn''t able to land herself a decent job so she just settled as a saleslady on a well known boutique. It seems that she had a dispute with another staff there, and after a few more skirmishes she was unfortunately got fired.


    Ingrid m??n?d in satisfaction from 1002''s full body massage. This is 1002''s punishment, to loosen Ingrid''s stiff muscles.


    Feeling a bit better, Ingrid stood up and then she began to observe her surroundings, Clauen''s---her unit. Everythings was squeaky clean with only a few bottles scattered around. Also considering that it only a studio like apartment, with sink and all in a single room, the place is actually not stuffy and has quite a lot of space available.


    As for this world''s main characters¡­ Ingrid''s corner eye started to twitch.


    After changing to a more comfortable clothes, Ingrid decided to eat breakfast outside. Her ref and cupboards were empty, there is literally no edible food stored anywhere.


    Ingid swung the door open and came to face the side-profile of a man. He was tall. He wore a hoodie so she can''t comment anything on his built but a lean one. His face¡­


    Despite the hot stare that he received from Ingrid, the man just continued to walk forward, afterwards, he unlocked the door of the room next to her.


    Ingrid''s face was like a blossoming rose. It was starking red. She retreated back behind the door, and with her softening legs she let her back slide down on the wood material.


    That man¡­ is the male lead of this world.


    Unlike Rembrandt''s overbearing aura, this world''s male lead had such a mysterious and serene air surrounding him.


    But fu?k, bot only their body build and presence similar, why is it someone with a black eyes again?!


    What the hell! Why is the male leads of the worlds she''s been in to, always reminds her so much of her ex?! That''s seriously unfair!


    No! That''s not what''s important!


    According to Clauen''s memories,


    His name is Van Deor, the guy living nextdoor, and recently... believe it or not, she discovered that he''s actually a stalker, a stalker with a guts bigger than a bull to actually dare stalk a freaking. police. woman.

 Chapter 29 - Her Boyfriend (1)

    "Hmm."


    Ingrid was checking herself out in front of the mirror. She saw a full grown woman with a loose shoulder-length ?h?stnut hair. Behind her thin framed eyeglasses, hides an amorous pair of eyes. She has a thin lips, the one that makes you want to lick at first glance. She''s quite tall for a woman, fair skinned, and most of all¡­


    Ingrid turned around, her bosom bounced along with her rash movement. Ah, this was even bigger than hers in her original life, with its heaviness and fullness, it''s definitely a D cup br??sts!


    In short, Clauen is an attractive woman.


    Certainly, such a well endowed woman would definitely have a boyfriend--if none, admirers at her disposal.


    "Knock¡­ knock¡­"


    Speaking of the devil.


    Ingrid tied her hair into a messy bun. With a sarcastic smile, she greeted the man waiting for her behind the door.


    "Laure..."


    The man''s name was Laurent Soltaire; seeing the smiling eyes of the man made Ingrid''s eyes that was hidden behind her glasses and a few stray hairs darken for a split second; and is Clauen''s bastard of a boyfriend.


    Laure hugged her then sniffed a strand her hair. Chills ran behind Ingrid''s back. Both of her hands were itching to push the man away. And she really did.


    Right now, Ingrid felt nothing but remorse for this man. She wished to kick him out of her apartment if she may.


    While she was job seeking, she met Laure. That moment, everything was like a scene ripped off from a manga. He confessed that it was a love at first sight, he heard about her situation and offered her some help--under the condition that she will become his girlfriend. At that time, Clauen was desperate. Her mother''s condition worsened, so without a choice she accepted his hand.


    For a year, everything seems fine, Laure was a loving and attentive lover. However, the tranquility didn''t lasted for long as she found out the reason why she never landed herself a decent job when her resum¨¦ was not actually bad.


    It was Laure''s work. That damn manipulator''s. He knew that Clauen didn''t love her, and was also aware that the only thing that binds them together is only money. Clauen was a smart woman with an amazing interpersonal skills, adding her beauty, she was definitely someone who can ride along smoothly with the turbulent waves of reality.


    So as to cut off her wings and made her stay by his side, using his wide array of connections, he blocked all of her potential jobs under her nose.


    Clauen was aware, but didn''t attempted to stop her toxic relationship with him. After all, she didn''t have a lower hand in this relationship. She was able to leech him some money, and that''s all that matters. However, her attitude towards him took a drastic change.


    Visible cracks have already appeared, yet recently, the fragile glass which is their relationship finally broke into pieces.


    He cheated, and that was the final straw.


    And do you know what he said when Clauen confronted him?


    "Men cheat, Clauen(1)."


    "What are you doing here." Ingrid folded her arms as she said those words with a grumpy face.


    "I''m here to comfort my girlfriend of course. I heard that you were fired yesterday."


    Shameless!


    "Do I look like someone who needs comforting?" Ingrid proudly lifted her chin, for him to see how fresh she looks, a face not exactly that of someone who succumbed to depression just yesterday.


    Wait!


    Laure''s brow started to scrunch at Clauen''s out of tune action. Of course, after knowing that Laure cheated on her, Clauen has been finding a way to reimburse him with the money that he used on her, so she can finally escape from his shackles. And now that she was jobless, and with Laure''s wickedness, would continue as such¡­ it would be strange instead if she didn''t fall into depression for a long time, ah.


    Well she cannot be blame on this, after all she''s Ingrid, not Clauen. She can feel pity towards the person, but she can''t ?ssume her sorrow right?


    Ahh, she should start playing safe right now.


    After all, OOC penalty is really merciless.


    Footnotes


    (1) : Ahh, I took that words from Queen J''s book, ''Give In to You''!

 Chapter 30 - Her Boyfriend (2)

    "Do I look like someone who needs comforting?" Ingrid proudly lifted her chin.


    Laure had this uplifted eyes that made him look like he was always smiling even though he wasn''t. "You really don''t." He said, a few seconds later, his eyes sparked with interest. "Got something on your sleeve?"


    Dang, she''s screwed. Of course there is none. She just transmigrated for God''s sake. Ingrid just wanted to smash her head against the wall so she can knock some sense on her head. She never learned. Doing things without thinking.


    She doesn''t want to be impulsive, however, if she finds another excuse to reason out her action, it would definitely make her uncomfortable, it was as if she lost to this jerk, especially if the enemy she''s facing is another cheater.


    Ah, cheaters really made Ingrid have this d?s?r? to scratch their faces with her sharp claws. So with eyes full of confidence, she said the following words, "Yeah¡­ so expect loads of money being transferred in your bank account soon."


    After her arrogant words, a pair of green orbs were looking straight at Ingrid. She saw nothing in those but smugness. Those very eyes were screaming clearly at her that she can try but will never succeed.


    Ingrid bit her lower lip. She''s grieving why she always transmigrated into a body who can''t stand up on their own.


    They were still standing on the doorstep and Ingrid didn''t show any intention of letting him in. "You won''t let me in?" He didn''t wait for Ingrid''s response and just directly went in.


    What is he doing, can''t he be more shameless?


    She blocked his attempt by moving her feet to the side. Obstructing his movement. "This is my personal zone. Get out. There''s nothing here that was owned by you." Ingrid said with a severe tone.


    Ah, she was loving it that she can treat this man like a dog without any restriction. Since Clauen''s attitude towards him was more or less like this.


    A smirk formed on his mouth. "There is," then he leaned his body towards her, his head slithered its way to her left ear and said, "...you."


    Goosebumps washed over her system, before Ingrid can even push the man''s head away, he moved a step back, raised both of his arms as if admitting defeat, "After all, you haven''t paid me single penny yet. In essence, you''re mine." He gently placed his palm on her shoulder. "Now, can you let your boyfriend in? I need a drink, I''m thirsty."


    In her peripheral view, Ingrid saw Van still in his hoodie with a black mask covering half of his face. Even if she can''t clearly see his face yet, she can''t help but  admit that he''s really good looking, even his presence were screaming with handsomeness.


    Right now, Ingrid doesn''t want anything than to run away from Laure.


    And after seeing Van, her heart thumped hard when an idea flashed in her head. Sweet!


    Therefore, she shrugged the hand on her shoulder away and shouted a name when Van was about to pass them.


    With this, she can kill two birds with one stone


    "John!" Van ignored her since of course, it wasn''t even his name, but nevertheless, she still pushed Laure away, closed the damn door on his face and jogged towards Van.


    Laure was left standing by the door. Even after seeing his girlfriend ran towards another man for unknown reason, the smirk on his face still remained.


    His phone vibrated, indicating that he received a new message. After reading the content, a sweet and sincere smile appeared on his face. His eyes were even glowing.


    Not long after, with unhurried steps, he left Clauen''s apartment complex, while humming a popular tune about love.

 Chapter 31 - Her Petty Scheme

    "Huff¡­ huff¡­" Ingrid had a hard time catching up from the man''s fast and steady legs. Sweat already soaked her back, however, the man in front of her didn''t even produced a single bead of it.


    Normally, when Clauen go down the stairs from the third floor, she never been this spent. But this time, that guy never spare her mercy, swiftly stepping down while ignoring her difficulty.


    Unlike the first world, where with Dana''s memories she was able to know a bunch of things about the Main Couple. This time however, the Main Leads of this world was like an almost blank canvas with only a few insignificant lines painted. All she knows is their names and that the male lead is stalking the female lead.


    Actually, this is quite enough. And pretty much a good news to her. The Main Lead was stalking the Female Lead. Meaning, their relationship was only one sided. Meaning! She can still insert her way in between!


    Right now, Ingrid can''t approach Van for no reason. Just earlier, Laure blabbered that he was her girlfriend. Therefore, if she acts friendly with him, it would look like she''s some kind of a bitch. But¡­ if she makes him as her escape every time and create a coincidence to wh?n? to him about her fu?k?d up relationship¡­ then, that would be another story.


    As for Laure''s thoughts about her ditching him like that with some other guy¡­ Well, no one cares about that.


    Ingrid made a toothy grin in her mind first before she initiated a conversation with the man who was obviously treating her existence like nothing.


    "Did I startle y-you? I-I''m sorry for calling you out of nowhere like that, I just w¡­ wanted to escape from that g-guy." Talking in between heavy breaths was harder than she thought.


    "..."


    "Ah, is J-john not your name? I''m just guessing, since John is a c-common one. I can''t call you ''Hey!'' in that t-time right? Haha¡­ huff¡­"


    "..."


    Okay. Take a deep brea¡ªasdfghjkl


    Holy fu?k! This guy''s even harder to deal with than Rembrandt!


    No, it''s actually given, we''re talking about a stalker here, he''s practically a psycho. Approaching someone like that is really really hard; close to impossible.


    Until they reached the ground floor Ingrid''s attempts of conversation failed. She stopped on the last step and rested her hand on the wall.


    Ahh, she was just gliding down, not climbing up yet she felt like she ran a freaking marathon there.


    Ingrid didn''t follow Van outside anymore. She just watched his tall figure getting smaller as she fabricates more schemes in her mind on how to get closer with that guy.


    ---


    The next day, Ingrid''s out for some job hunting. She''s facing the crisis of negative balance, so Ingrid can''t help but push back her mission first.


    While she was at it, she should find ways on how to fish out a large amount of money.


    As someone who''s been playing in the business field for a long time, money making is not that hard for Ingrid. The confidence that she exhibits then was not a false one. It might not be as easy as walking in the park with Laure''s interference but Ingrid think that she can still manage to pay him somehow.


    Today, Ingrid wanted to apply as a barista in a coffee shop. Landing a job on this one won''t be difficult since she had experience way back when she was still on college in her original life. After all, she loves americano so much that working in a coffee shop was akin to heaven for her.


    "Hi!" Ingrid greeted an employee working on a coffee shop. She inquired for the job availability. And since she''s in for a full time job, and with her professional-like skills in brewing coffee, the process didn''t take that long for her to get accepted. With a job that has a salary that not even equal to 0.01% of her debt a month, Laure definitely won''t cause her any trouble.


    For two days, Ingrid never felt the joy of doing something fulfilling in a long time now. When she was still living the life of Dana, she''s always been idle and everything was handed to her on a silver platter. That''s why, even though it was tiring, the days since she started working were all well spent.


    Currently, Ingrid was clearing tables per the manager''s request.


    From a table just behind her, a commotion was starting to brew. As curious as she was, Ingrid''s prying eyes looked at that location.


    Just at that moment, she saw a head full of silky golden hair obstructing her vision from the foul mouthed woman who keep creating noises. Then the said head moved to the side, afterwards, she saw a fuming face and a dark liquid flying towards her face.


    "Splat."


    Fuck.


    Ingrid doesn''t mind getting wet but the ice hitting her face was really an unpleasant feeling.


    She removed her eyeglasses and was about to reach for some table napkins when a hand offered her a handkerchief, "Sorry for that." A modulated voice of a woman said. It followed by a sweet scent of perfume that lingered on Ingrid''s nose for a bit.


    While hiding her annoyance, Ingrid accepted the snow white hanky, sparing no glance at the giver, removed the wet patches then putting it back to its place. Now that she can see, she lifted her head and end up facing the cold look of a sophisticated woman.


    Practically speaking, it wasn''t her fault. It was unintentional to pull her in their mess in her part. So Ingrid played cool and nodded her head.


    Ingrid felt sticky all over from the dark substance that covered her head and ?h?st. She wanted to clean herself right away, but before she left, she turned her gaze towards the one who threw the coffee. She didn''t do a foolish thing such as giving that costumer a glare since there was probably a reason why the manager of this place was only looking at them warily and never attempted to cease the fire. Ingrid doesn''t want to get fired at her third day of work that she loves. She did that hoping that when she saw that face again, she can at least give her a little punishment in return.


    Because the Ingrid right now is somehow pissed.


    ---


    After taking a quick shower, Ingrid received an apology for not being able to step up from her manger. However, nothing came from the woman who did the deed. Well, it was within her expectation.


    Still within the staff room, Ingrid saw that same woman with golden hair. When their eyes met, the woman stood up and went to her.


    "I''m here to formally apologize to you." The woman had a pair of beautiful grey eyes. It was cold but Ingrid can see a shadow of heroism within. "I knew that there was a person behind me and still chose to dodge it. It may sound unfair to you, but in our world, our face held a big value. I can''t let such a lowlife woman trample upon me."


    Ingrid was rendered speechless from her confession. She wanted to retort, but she can''t find the right words to say.


    Ingrid admit that she was never considered herself as a saint. She''s human, she committed sins and considered herself as selfish. However, meeting a woman who proudly apologize for her selfishness was a novelty to her.


    "As an apology, let me treat you for a dinner sometime."


    Ingrid wanted to befriend such a woman, so without giving it a second thought, she responded, "Sure."


    ---


    "Ha¡­" Ingrid breathed out a cold air onto her palm. It''s already the later time of autumn and the weather is already cold.


    Ingrid lived in tropical country in her original life. Although the body she''s occupying is used to the cold, mentally, she never gets used to such weather.


    It''s already night. Starless sky hung above the sky. Ingrid was walking face down while enjoying the cold breeze that ??r?ssed her cheek when a big shadow loomed over her.


    She lifted her chin and her eyelashes fluttered as she eyes searched for that person''s face.


    After knowing who it was, Ingrid''s heart skipped a beat.


    Standing under the luminesce of street light made his pitch black eyes that was sharply gazing at her even darker than it normally is. The thumping sound produced by her heart intensifies as her very soul was slowly being su?k?d by those mysterious pair of eyes. Rembrandt never gave her such emotion even if the two of them stood face to face, because at the end the only resemblance she can find on him is only his eyes. But for the man in front of her, Ingrid finds herself unable to contain her emotions any longer. Every time their eyes met and his warm countenance envelopes her being, her muscles stiffens and hand hands were trembling to do something that she would never dare name.


    For the first time since she transmigrated in this world, Ingrid finally heard Van''s voice. Inside her system, something exploded. Her knees buckled and she almost slumped into the dirt laden flood if not for a slim hand yet full of explosive muscles holding her arms.


    "I had anemia and easily shooked." She lied.


    Ingrid received another silence. After he steadied her footing, and he passed through her, another wave of his voice traveled in her ears like a gentle breath of wind, "¡­friendly advice, never get close to that woman."


    Knees still quivering from the impact, she was left in daze in the middle of a walkway, mind unable to comprehend his words, as it was wandering back to the memories hidden deep inside her heart.


    ---


    PLEASE VOTE AND COMMENT MINNA!~ LABYA~


    Hello! I''m sorry that I wasn''t able to update yesterday *sad

 Chapter 32 - Her Questioning

    Ingrid went home in a daze; too absent minded that she couldn''t even count how many times she missed inserting the key into the keyhole


    "Kacha." Finally, after unlocking the door, the first thing Ingrid did when she entered her apartment is to slump her body onto her multipurpose bed - shoes still intact.


    "1002¡­" She whispered. Ingrid''s body was sprawled on the bed - all limbs spread apart and hair tangled into curly mess.


    Seeing its host looking listless. 1002 took the initiative to turn on the lights.


    For how many years that 1002 accompanied Ingrid in her first world, he already knew of her strange habits; one of the many is that Ingrid can''t fall asleep inside an unilluminated room.


    1002 floated far off from Ingrid, then it said,


    1002: "I don''t know how to cure love sickness."


    What love sickness. Hearing such demeaning words for her, a vein in Ingrid''s forehead bulged and expanded. With a swift swipe of her slender hand, she grabbed a pillow and threw it with power towards the floating metallic ball.


    1002 twirled around and dodged the incoming soft material.


    Ingrid saw the little one''s immediate movement, and rather than tossing another wave of pillow, she smiled instead.


    This ball already knew how to pull her out of her sullen mood and she''s happy to know that.


    But on a serious note, Ingrid''s face turned grim. Ever since she was able to know the appearance of this world''s Male Lead, numerous questions appeared in her mind, yet still chose to ignore it. However, with today''s re-encounter with the Male Lead made the questions that she once threw at the back of her mind, resurface.


    Van''s mere voice gave her such impact. Knowing this, she can''t just stay indifferent and in denial just because she''s scared to even make a mere ?ssumption.


    Therefore, she asked 1002 ludicrously, "Perhaps, the name Isaac Leonir ring a bell?"


    Without even a few seconds in dalay, 1002 said in return: "Who''s that, you ex?"


    Dear so-called-guide, can you please be less direct? She even needed to muster a great amount of patience just to pronounce the mere name of that bastard!


    Ingrid sat up abruptly and pursed her lips. Her brows knitted when she opened her mouth and Clauen''s mellow yet stern voice travelled in the air saying, "Do not answer my question with another question."


    1002 floated still in the air. ''So serious'', it whispered in its mind.


    1002: "Never heard of such a name before."


    Ingrid cupped her chin. Her thoughts churning. "Let me revise my question," Her sharp scrutinizing gaze landed on the little ball - which made 1002 quite intimidated. "... are all the male leads always has a pair black eyes?"


    1002 answered: "No?"


    Then it followed by silence. Which in Ingrid''s comprehension, means ''Why would they?''


    This made Ingrid more scared by her own thoughts.


    Once is chance, twice is coincidence, third time''s enemy action. Ingrid don''t need to experience her third world to know that there is something wrong with the Male Lead.


    Gloomy atmosphere hung over Ingrid''s head when she concede to her scary conclusion that:


    It''s either the male lead is her ex boyfriend or the system is making fun of her - to enjoy her misery of fighting her own demons caused by her ex.


    Out of the two, the latter is more doable, and she hopes to be true.

 Chapter 33 - Her Role in this World

    Every morning, the first thing Ingrid will do is to open her ??ptop and to study the current trends on the stock market. If we talk about easy money, Ingrid can''t think of better ideas than to dance in this risky of world of gamble¡­


    Gambling is not new to her nor is she afraid to it. Right now, Ingrid don''t have enough capital to participate in this money game. However, this is not a problem to her. Ingrid can think of many ways to slither her way in without breaking a sweat.


    While she was engrossed on her own thoughts, her phone ¨C which was resting beside her ??ptop, vibrated. Ingrid gave it a side glimpse. Her forehead creased when she saw that it was an unsaved number.


    Unknown Number: Hi! This is Sera Madrid, the one who owe you that night in the coffee shop. Perhaps, are you available this Saturday lunch?


    Ingrid almost spewed out a liter of blood when she saw the name attached on the message.


    What the hell! Isn''t Sera Madrid the name of this world''s protagonist? What absurd luck is this, for her target to come knocking on her doors by itself?


    Ingrid was thinking of considering Van''s words that night. But knowing the real identity of that golden haired woman, she would be a fool if she abides his warning and reject Sera''s invitation.


    Ingrid: You left in hurry so I wasn''t able to introduce myself too. My name''s Clauen Sorzano, and yes I am available at that time.


    Sera: Then see you!


    Ingrid tapped her phone on her chin, then she hummed, "Hmm." No wonder Van was at there that night. He was again stalking Sera.


    Clauen came to the conclusion that her neighbor was stalking a certain police woman when she saw him outside of their apartment complex, he was always hanging around a certain uniformed woman. Clauen never saw the face of the officer he was following, thus leading to Ingrid not recognizing the Female Character instantly.


    "That''s weird." 1002 said after the little one floated beside her and took a good look on her mobile phone.


    "What''s weird?"


    1002: "Remember when you looked at me as if I was dumb when I said that I felt something whenever I get near from your last world''s main characters?"


    "Uh yeah?" Should she say oops already?


    1002: "If that blonde human was indeed the Female Lead, then why didn''t I felt that same notion that I did with the Male Lead?"


    To confirm whether Sera is indeed the Female Lead is easy once they met. However, the thing that Ingrid is most curious about is the meaning behind that something that 1002 felt.


    Along with the closing of her bathroom door, is how Ingrid slowly drown by the numerous guesses that appeared in her mind.


    ---


    Three days later, Saturday.


    Ingrid arrived 15-minutes late at the place that Sera told her that they would meet because of a sudden traffic. She thought the she screwed her chance of befriending the Female Lead, but was saved to know that Sera is not here yet too.


    Ingrid waited for half an hour yet she didn''t saw a golden haired woman approaching their reserved table. Even in messenger, Ingrid received no reply.


    Seriously did that woman just ditch her?


    But¡­ if this Sera is indeed that Police Officer Sera Madrid. Then, probably she received duty calls on the way here? If so, that make sense.


    Ingrid had no plan to wait anymore longer inside, since she already ate when she waited for 30-minutes. Today is her rest day, therefore, adding more reason on how she shouldn''t waste her precious time waiting for someone who''s unlikely to come.


    "The police blocked the whole St. Elena Main Street. It''s been an hour and it seems like they hadn''t solved the emergency yet."


    Oh. "I see." She replied indifferently.


    However, deep Ingrid felt like her heart was being scratched by a kitten''s paw. Sera is definitely in there. Ahh, she wanted to go to that location too. The thought of seeing the badass Female Lead brought tremendous excitement in her heart. But too bad, Clauen is just some extra in this world. The situation in there is probably too serious enough for the police to put up a barricade, so if Ingrid took a single step on that place, she''s afraid that a stray bullet will suddenly welcome her. There''s no way that she will survive that, Ingrid didn''t possess a golden finger as well as destined half who will always save her ?ss. So she should just continue sitting inside this car prettily and stay away from any danger.


    However, Clauen is not just an extra anymore. She was promoted to a villain because of Ingrid. And as one of this world''s main characters, she can''t help anymore but join the fray.


    Ingrid''s eyes turned bloodshot when she saw a familiar figure in her peripheral view. Wearing a face full of unwillingness, after she slammed down a stash of cold cash, she jumped out of the car. The driver called her out but she ignored it, as she was running full speed towards that limping figure ¨C in all her high heels glory.


    Ugh¡­ so much for getting out of trouble! But who else can she blame her wandering eyes that caught the sight of wounded Van by chance? Yeah right, no one else but her. Fuck.

 Chapter 34 - Her White Lie

    The almost unmoving cars on the road caused by the traffic made it for Ingrid to easily transverse her way towards other side - all while her eyes locked unto the guy wearing a black cap and face mask and who just came out from a dark and narrow path.


    He was walking on the side road with a calm and fast steps. With this, he doesn''t look like he was injured at first glance at all,  but even with that, his limping foot wasn''t able to hide from Ingrid''s scrutinizing eyes. Not to mention the blood that started to slowly seep out of his clothes.


    Ingrid tried to catch up to him but stopped midway.


    The guy''s injury is probably not that serious since he can walk wearing a deadpan expression despite that. Most importantly, he''s the male lead, nothing severe would happen to him this early in the game, probably.


    And, right now, Ingrid is just his nameless neighbor. Their relationship is not that close enough for her to show extreme concern towards him. Especially, now that he was hiding his injury. If she goes now, she would be suspicious.


    Ingrid bit her lip. And told herself, ''No more rash actions. Keep playing safe.'' Since OOC is the last thing that she wanted to happen.


    Ingrid was about to turn back and look for another taxi ride home. However, before she could do that action, Ingrid saw a person coming out from the same path that Van came from. And when their eyes met, Ingrid''s eyes narrowed when she recognized who it was.


    It''s Sera.


    Now, Ingrid had no doubt who the female lead is. And obviously, the person who caused or indirectly caused Van''s injury is definitely her.


    Sera paced towards her, Ingrid was just a few meters away so she immediately reached her. Sera''s breath was irregular and a few sweat covered her forehead - signs that she ran on her way here.


    "I''m on duty right now so pardon me for being unable to greet you and offer a proper apology. Perhaps, have you seen a guy coming out from the same place I came out from?" The words were quite numerous, however, everything was said under a single breath.


    A small smile appeared on Ingrid''s lips. "No worries, and for your question, yes, I did saw a man."


    Excitement flashed for a second in that ash grey eyes of hers. And this only made the sly grin behind Ingrid''s polite smile to grow wider. "Going which way?" Sera asked.


    "There." Ingrid said. Pointing towards the complete opposite of the way that she saw Van went to.


    "Thank you!" Without wasting another second, Sera ran towards that direction.


    Sera can''t find any reason for Clauen to lie so she trusted her answer without a second thought. And Ingrid, felt no guilt in exploiting this fact.


    Sera, the female lead, was chasing after Van without a killing intent nor a threatening aura. With this, Ingrid ?ssumed that Van probably saved her or something on that point and gained her gratitude - and chased after him to thank her benefactor.


    And while looking towards the direction that Van goes to, a deep light emerge on her pair of limpid eyes.


    Stalking an always alert police woman is no simple feat. This already gave Ingrid an impression that Van is no simple character. Yet now, after seeing how he shrugged off Sera without even breaking a sweat, Ingid knew that Van is dangerous and shrouded with much more mystery than she thought he was.

 Chapter 35 - Her Information Gathering Skill

    Ingrid remained on the road for about an hour until she reached her home. After turning on the lights and opening the binds that covers her windows, she fished out her ??ptop resting at the corner of her bed.


    The level of technology in this world and her past''s is almost the same. Ingrid doesn''t have any god-level hacking skills but she can at least know how to pick a person''s personal information on the world''s information highway. Now that she knew who her targets were, it''s time to get on work.


    Ingrid''s porcelain bony fingers danced in the rhythm of Nikolai''s Flight of the Bumblebee. It was fast, and breathtaking to look at. Not long after, information about Sera Madrid appeared one after another.


    Not everything on the internet was a fact, this, she knew. However, a little bit more of information about this world''s main leads won''t bring any harm to her.


    Sera Madrid, age 25. Born from the family of military lineage. Her grandfather, Leonardo Madrid was once awarded the Medal of Honor for its meritorious service for the country - which made the Madrid''s influence and popularity reached a new height.


    Despite having such an amazing background, Sera didn''t rely on this to advance on her career. Just like her grandfather, multiple recognition was attached on their names. She was only at her early twenties yet she was able to lead multiple operations that aims to arrest criminals that deals with illegal drugs successfully.


    Ingrid once heard the police officers always had their foot buried on their own graves. Their job was that dangerous, that Ingrid wouldn''t be surprised if she ever received death threats given the amount of big personalities that she offended because of her decisiveness.


    Other than that, with her meager amount of experience in information gathering, she can''t find more things about Sera. She couldn''t even find any of Sera''s social media accounts. It''s either she used another name, or had none at all.


    Ingrid wanted to dig deeper than she ever before, however her ??ptop stated to lag. Ingrid knew that this was a bad omen, that someone tried to hack into her system after she stepped on a landmine.


    "Shit."


    This is the first time that someone counter-hacked her, she wasn''t fazed by the attack, however, she doesn''t know what to do in that situation. Cold sweat started seep out on her forehead, her fingers started to redden by how frequent it touched the keys. And finally after few minutes that seemed like an hour, she was able to wade off the intruder.


    She''s lucky that she originally just tapping the surface, and only that once did she attempted to test her limits, or else, she''s fu?k?d up.


    "Hooo." She stood up, walked towards the fridge to get some cold water to calm herself and to trap some heat in her cold body.


    Then her phone rang.


    After knowing who the caller is, a small smile appeared on Ingrid''s pale lips. She had a good impression of this sweet woman.


    "Yes mom? How are you?" Ingrid greeted in a warm tone.


    "I''m fine hun, there is no need to worry about me."


    "It''s me who should ask if I was disturbing you?"


    Ingrid took a peek of the time on her mobile phone. It''s still 3:45 PM that''s why her mom was worried if she ever disturbed her in her working hours.


    "Don''t worry mom, it''s my rest day."


    "Oh, that''s good to hear." Ingrid can sense how bright the mood of Clauen''s mom feeling right now. To call at this hour, her mom was probably up to something good.


    "Just this morning, do you have any idea who called to check on your mom''s situation?" To make such a big deal out of a simple call, Ingrid can''t really think of one.


    "No?"


    "Just as I thought." A series of soft laugh was sent over from the side of the caller. "It''s actually your brother hun, finally, he contacted us."


    "Brother?" ---but based on Clauen''s memories, she doesn''t remember having one?

 Chapter 36 - Her, Being Schemed Upon

    Seemingly as if she expected Ingrid''s response, her mother explained in a matter-of-fact tone, "You were really young when he left home, and we never talked about him again in front of you since then, so it''s given that you don''t remember having a brother."


    10 years¡­ then Clauen was 11 when her brother "supposedly" left their home. Her age was not that young, Clauen can already talk sense at that age, so it''s impossible for her to forget about such a big existence in her life.


    Ingrid rummaged through Clauen''s memories in her head. But she wasn''t able to find anything about this so called brother of hers, even just a vague silhouette of a big brother figure was none.


    Turning her attention away from the phone for a moment, Ingrid asked 1002, "Hey, was there something wrong in the memories you''ve given me again?"


    1002, who was lying on her pillow comfortably rolled on her sheets, using this momentum, it started to float.


    Ingrid''s left eye twitched. That scene¡­ reminded her of an airplane that was about to take off.


    "The memories you received whether it was complete or a jumbled mess is completely based on the previous owner''s emotional and mental status. Like the previous world, since the previous owner had an experience traumatic enough to cause a temporary memory loss, you received a memory with a dormant part. However Claue---" but before 1002 could utter the remaining words that he meant to convey, the lively metallic ball suddenly went still and with a "thump" fell flat on the bed.


    Out of shock Ingrid cried out, "1002?"


    This¡­ never happened before?


    "N-nothing." Ingrid let out a dry cough. "1002.. is a cat i recently adopted. It suddenly became naughty, that''s why."


    Looking at the motionless "cat" on her bed, Ingrid can''t help but get worried. Using her index finger, she poked the the little one hoping that it would wake up.


    Of course nothing would happen. After all, 1002 don''t have a flesh. It''s a system controlled by who-knows-who. So simply tapping it won''t change anything.


    "Okay hun. I don''t have anything left to say, you can now clean the mess left by your cat." There was a few seconds of silence before Alisa Sorzano, Clauen''s mom, sent her parting words. "Your father and I misses you. Take care."


    "Please take care of your health too. I miss you both." Then the line was cut off.


    Ingrid''s mind was filled with thoughts about 1002 that she completely forgot to investigate more about this brother.


    "1002?" She called out again. Since what else can she do?


    This time, the little ball finally started to give off a metallic hue.


    "What happened?" Ingrid worriedly ask.


    "..."


    "It''s a rare system breakdown."


    Oh, so an absolute system can have that moments too.


    Ingrid had doubts in her heart but still left the matter go.


    ---


    The aroma of freshly roasted coffee beans hung in the air. Ingrid took a deep breath, inhaling the addictive smell of caffeine.


    As usual the shop was loaded with customers. Although the number of guests was quite large, the establishment was designed to be able to accommodate it all. Of course, with such a busy place, it requires a number of employees. That is why, no matter how careful Ingrid moves, she was still able to attract some unwanted gazes from her co-workers.


    This was because of the "special treatment" that she suddenly received from the shop''s manager. As a newbie, she tends to work harder than the other employees, however, after that incident happened a few days ago, the manager insisted that she doesn''t need to clean the tables anymore and just focus on brewing coffee and some other beverages.


    She refused, of course, but words regarding this matter was spread among the employees. They grieved since Ingrid was given such privileged when it was just a small incident to begin with.


    The door chimes only made a noise whenever someone entered the coffee shop. This time however, it seems like a bigshot went in since the manager greeted the costumer personally.


    Ingrid was busy cleaning the espresso machine which made her incapable of peeking at the crowd.


    "Two shots, iced americano." Ingrid received the order from the cashier and immediately started grinding coffee beans.


    On an exquisite glass, she poured a cup-full of ice, a right amount of water, and finally two shots of espresso.


    She placed the glass on a tray. She''s on her way of sending it to the counter when she unknowingly stepped on a hard object. She heard something "cracked" then followed by loud banging noise after she slipped on the floor.


    Thankfully, she managed to catch the glass, although half of its content was gone.


    She never thought that she would hate ice in her entire lifetime. Kill her but she would know if she ever spilled a piece of ice. It seems like she''s been living a laid back recently that she hadn''t noticed that someone actually dared and made a freaking. move. on. her.

 Chapter 37 - Her Lover

    The commotion she made called the attention of the shop''s manager.


    "What happened?" The manager asked.


    Ingrid stood up by her own. For the second time, her once spotless white bu??on shirt was stained with coffee. "I''m sorry sir, I accidentally slipped by my own." She bowed her head, for the manger not to notice the insincerity that was pasted on her face.


    "Of all times, why is it now¡­" The agitation on the manager''s tune was apparent. Ingrid bit her lower lip. Her little heart was growling, ''of course, since right now is the best time to smear her name. Knowing that an important character just appeared.''


    Nice move folks, now she''s amused.


    Even though the noise that she accidentally created was quite loud, it was not enough to disrupt the work of all employees. Customers came and go as if nothing happened at all.


    A part timer filled Ingrid''s left out post while she was being reprimanded at a certain secluded spot of the caf¨¦.


    Ingrid was still keep on staring on the glossy floor, that''s why she immediately noticed that someone is approaching them after seeing another man''s shadow overlapping the shop''s manager. The weird thing is, Ingrid didn''t hear a single sound of footsteps.


    "I didn''t know you were that clumsy." Hearing that familiar voice, Ingrid abruptly raised her head.


    Her eyes that was hidden behind a fashionable eyeglasses widen a bit. Ingrid was surprised, however, his appearance in this shop was still within her expectation.


    Laure waltzed towards them on his three-piece burgundy suit. His flamboyant way of handling himself attracted the attention of many. As he gets nearer towards her, Laure removed the coat of his suit, then he placed it on Ingrid''s shoulder like a gentleman.


    "Of course, I''m here to check your progress in ''paying'' me."


    Seeing the obviously close relationship of the two, the manager was rendered speechless, but his experience of managing a thriving business for years made him gain his composure right away.


    The manager let out a dry cough, "This great sir is actually acquainted with our employee, our deepest apology for not recognizing it sooner."


    Laure let out a playful smile, he circled his arm on Ingrid''s neck then said the following words out loud enough to be heard by almost everyone in the shop. "In fact, she''s my girlfriend. So treat her well."


    The manager was tongue-tied by the v.i.p''s declaration. "Of course."


    He thought, ''No wonder the boss bent some rules for this newbie. She actually has this grand connection on her sleeve.''


    Ingrid wanted to remove Laure''s arm immediately but her strength is not enough to overcome his, hence, she can only pour all her frustrations in biting her lip.


    "Let go." She said in between her gritting teeth.


    The manager can only smile wryly, "I won''t."


    "Excellent." Then Ingrid was half dragged on the way out.


    After finally escaping the guy''s embrace, Ingrid hissed, "What was that for!"


    "You''re just too cute when you get angry."


    Ha. If Ingrid didn''t know that this guy had another lover besides Clauen, she would have thought that he was flirting at her.


    "Piss off!" Ingrid removed the coat that was hanging on her shoulder and throw with amazing precision on Laure''s face. "Ha. You think, I wouldn''t guess that you''re actually the one who instigated my mishap earlier?"


    Laure smiled wickedly. As if admitting defeat, he raised both of his arms, "I''m innocent. I only told some of them to make your work difficult. I didn''t know that they would do it to the extent that you would be threatened to get fired."


    Hearing such bullshit, Ingrid ''hurrumphed'' and immediately walked away.


    Although Ingrid was only working there for almost two weeks, she noticed that the working environment is actually healthy. Toxic co-workers do exist but they keep their as action to only giving a hard glare. They never deliberately caused trouble for someone else.


    For then to grow such big guts, can only be explained by the existence of a demon that whispered sins on them.