The Heart System Chapter 816

It seemed like On a Roll had an invisible timer. Once it reached the end, I automatically cashed out all 700 SC I had. And the reward was? Well, god damn. A huge amount of EXP and some credits. I’d take that any day of the week.

Also, since my reputation was Big-Hearted, I’d earned a mysterious chest after the... ’thing’ with Penelope. And that actually gave me 40 SC. Better than nothing, definitely.

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Evan Marlowe [Level 23]

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EXP: 13550/ 42490

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Current Credits: 8055c

Current SC: 40

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Someone knocked on the door, and I got up. Esme immediately perked up in her seat and looked at me. As I walked toward the door, I glanced back at her and opened both palms, gesturing for her to calm down by slowly lowering my hands.

"Is it Cora?" Esme asked. "E-Evan, I didn’t want to meet her face-to-face!"

"Why?" I asked, stopping in front of the door. "Just calm down."

"I am, but what if it isn’t her?"

"She will be." I assured her. "Just trust me, alright?"

"Okay. Okay."

"Good girl."

I took a short breath and opened the door.

Cora stood outside with her hands linked in front of her. She looked up at me for a moment, then glanced over my shoulder toward Esme, who was sitting on the couch and doing her best to avoid eye contact.

I stepped aside, allowing Cora to enter. She hesitated for a moment before walking inside. I closed the door behind her and headed toward the living room without saying anything. Cora followed quietly.

"Now, Cora," I said as I sat down on one of the single couches. "I’d like to sort out whatever problems you have with Esme. Is that clear?"

"I already told her," Cora replied, walking toward the other couch. "She can’t be with you. The first few times, I wanted her first experiences to be with someone she could trust. But now, this is getting ridiculous."

"W-why?" Esme blurted out.

"Because you can’t be with Evan."

"Yes, why?" I asked. "Do you not trust me?"

"You..." Cora muttered. "She should find someone else."

"I don’t want to!" Esme protested. "I’m happy with how things are right now, Sis."

"You, Esme..."

Cora stopped herself before finishing the sentence. Esme didn’t push the issue either. They sat there in silence, neither of them willing to speak.

I leaned back and stayed quiet, giving them a chance to work through it themselves.

"You have to find someone to love, Esme," Cora eventually said. "This won’t work with Evan."

"Because he’s yours?" Esme asked, her voice becoming more defensive. "I don’t want that!"

Well, Esme wasn’t wrong. Cora was what I would call a little obsessive. Was she scary? Yeah. She had done some things that made me uncomfortable. But was she a bad person?

Maybe.

No, no. I could tell there was a big heart underneath all that weirdness.

"Esme is happy, Cora," I cut in. "And it seems like you’re happy too. So why isn’t that enough?"

"It’s..."

Cora stopped and shook her head. She crossed her arms and looked down for a few seconds before finally meeting my eyes.

"Can we be alone?" she asked.

"Are you going to behave, Cora?"

"Of course. I’m going to behave. P-promise."

"Hmm." I nodded. "Then I’ll be outside, okay?"

"Evan..." Esme pleaded. "Um... can you stay... here, maybe?"

"It’s fine, Esme." I forced a smile, leaning forward. "Just... talk. I know you two will figure something out. You two are close, very close."

"Okay... thank you."

"Thank you for listening to me." I replied. "So, both of you... like I said before... behave."

I got up and walked toward the door. After leaving the apartment, I closed it behind me and walked toward the window at the end of the corridor. I actually doubted that Esme and Cora could just act like nothing ever happened right now. It was still too early for a ’peace pact.’ But... I had to try something, right?

I looked outside through the glass. It was pretty obvious what was happening. Cora was obsessive, and she didn’t want to share me. She wanted me to herself, and Esme wasn’t willing to give me up either.

"Man," I muttered. "What a mess."

The door behind me opened.

I turned around and saw Cora storming out of the apartment. It hadn’t even been twenty seconds since I left. Whatever had happened inside, it clearly hadn’t gone well.

Cora walked straight toward the elevator and pressed the button. When the doors opened, she stepped inside without even looking back.

I raised an eyebrow and watched the elevator doors close.

What the hell happened that quickly?

I walked back toward the apartment and opened the door. When I peeked inside, I found Esme sitting on the couch with her face covered by both hands.

Fuck. I shouldn’t have left them alone.

I stepped inside and closed the door behind me. Then I sat beside Esme and put a hand on her shoulder, gently pulling her closer.

She rested her head against my shoulder before turning her body toward me and hugging me tightly.

"I’m sorry, Evan," she said.

"It’s okay." I gave her a faint smile. "Siblings fight. You two will make up. I know you will."

"She just doesn’t want to share you," Esme said quietly. "You’re her first boyfriend, in a way. And she tends to get obsessive about the things she loves."

"Yeah, I get that part." I rubbed her shoulder. "We’ll figure everything out, alright? I’ll talk to her."

"Mm."

"Now, come on. Chin up." I smiled. "I’ll see you tomorrow, okay? After I talk with Cora."

"Mm. Thank you, Evan."

Yeah, she didn’t need to thank me yet. First, I had to untangle this mess with her sister. But there was a big, huge question lingering in the air. How? Just how would I convince Cora so she’d listen to me?

I had to figure something out. Soon.

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