The morning sunlight poured through the blinds of Charles's new penthouse suite, painting gold lines across the silk sheets. Olivia stirred beside him, her bare back exposed to the warm air. The system's quiet hum was ever-present, a soft vibration at the back of his mind.
> [Bond Status: Olivia – Stable. Possessiveness High.] [Warning: Emotional Manipulation Threshold Near Limit.]
He pushed the system's alert aside. He had other priorities today.
Like Mia.
The shy college student had responded to his message after two days of ghosting him. Her text was short but tinged with something more than curiosity.
> "I don't know why I'm doing this… but I'll meet you after class. No promises."
Charles smirked as he dressed, black button-up, fitted slacks. Confidence oozed from his every move. But beneath that, his mind was sharp. The system had shown him how to read more than body language—it gave him insights into patterns, hesitation, subconscious tells. And Mia? Her hesitation was layered with guilt. Desire. And something hidden deeper.
Something broken.
He'd use that.
---
On Campus – 3:04 PM
Mia waited by the library steps, arms crossed over her chest like she was shielding herself from the world. Her hoodie hung off her small frame, and her glasses were slightly askew. She chewed her lip when she saw Charles approaching.
"You actually came," she mumbled, looking everywhere but at him.
"I always do when it matters," Charles replied, giving her the kind of smile that made most girls weak in the knees.
Mia shifted. "This is crazy. I don't do this kind of thing—random guys, meeting like this. I don't even know you."
"I know," he said gently. "That's what makes it real."
She blinked at him. Her lips parted. And the system clicked softly in his mind.
> [Emotional Lock: Cracking...] [Target Trait Detected: "Fear of Abandonment"] [New Command Word Ready: "Stay"]
"I just want to talk," Charles said. "Let's walk. I won't touch you. Promise."
Mia hesitated, then nodded slowly.
---
They ended up in a quiet garden behind the chemistry building. Mia looked at the petals of a dying rose bush, brushing one with her finger.
"I lost someone," she said quietly. "A long time ago."
Charles said nothing.
"He was older. Like you. He made me feel seen. Like I mattered. Then he left. Just disappeared."
> [Sync Progress: 23%] [Emotional Vulnerability Detected – System Boost Engaged] [Optional Task: Trigger Catharsis Through Trust.]
Charles stepped closer, just enough to warm the space between them.
"I won't disappear," he said. "But if I get too close—if I push—you can tell me to stop."
Mia looked up, glassy-eyed.
"That's the first time anyone's said that to me."
Then she kissed him.
It wasn't fiery like Olivia. It was soft, trembling. Like a secret slipping past her lips.
Charles wrapped his arms around her, lifting her chin with a single finger. "You're not broken, Mia. You just needed someone who saw all of you."
She leaned into him, heartbeat wild.
> [Command Word Activated: "Stay"] [New Trait Synced: "Innocent Yearning"] [Desire Surge: +12 Charm, +8 Empathy] [New Ability Unlocked: "Gentle Domination" – Unique Per Target]
---
Hours Later – His Suite
Mia sat on the couch, flushed, wearing one of Charles's button-up shirts. Her hair was messy, lips swollen from their makeout session—but she looked more alive than he'd seen her all day.
Charles brought her tea, handing it over gently.
"This doesn't make sense," she said, holding the cup with both hands. "You're too... perfect."
"Trust me," he said, sitting beside her. "I'm not."
She looked at him for a long time. "But you made me feel like I was the only one."
And then the twist came—sharp and unexpected.
"My roommate warned me about you," Mia said slowly. "She said... you get into girls' heads. That you used Olivia. That another girl—Isabelle—went to the hospital after she lost it over you."
Charles's breath stilled.
"Your roommate?" he asked, playing it calm.
"Maya. Maya Lin."
The name echoed like a gunshot in his mind.
> [Alert: Target Maya Lin – Background Check Complete] [Status: System Resistant / Potential Threat Detected] [Warning: Maya Lin Investigating Lust Sync. Caution Required.]
Charles's heart beat once—hard.
He smiled carefully. "I guess I'm getting famous."
But inside, something darker stirred.
---
Later That Night – Alone
Charles stood by the window, looking down at the city. The lights were beautiful. Fragile. Easy to control with the right current.
But Maya?
Maya was dangerous.
Not just because she was smart—but because she was connected. She'd started asking the right questions.
He poured himself a drink as the system flickered.
> [Threat Level Rising] [Suggested Action: Interact with Maya Directly. Seduction or Elimination Required.]
Charles downed the drink, fire running down his throat.
He'd planned to rule this city one woman at a time.
But now the game had changed.
---
His phone buzzed. One message.
> From: Unknown Number
"Lust Sync isn't a game, Charles. It's a curse. And I know how it ends."
Charles froze.
His world—his illusion of power—shook for the first time.
The message wasn't from Maya.
It was from someone else entirely.
Someone who had used the system before him.
And didn't survive.