The system instantly tensed up and whispered, "Host…"

  Had the whole thing just crashed?

  Being caught red-handed by one target while hitting on another was an undeniable flip. It meant the mission was already half-failed.

  No matter how good the excuse, even if the target bought it, she'd probably only be pretending. Inside, suspicion would have already taken root.

  After all, these women weren't idiots. They were experts at pying with hearts—there was no way they could be fooled that easily.

  But the host was the agency's top operative. He shouldn't be making a fatal mistake like this…

  Elias answered calmly, "Small thing."

  Liora Voss stared down at him without speaking right away.

  She had seen the entire scene and witnessed a completely different side of him.

  The kind boy who, even while burning up and miserable himself, had gone out of his way to comfort a sobbing little girl. The same boy who, still burning up, had immediately tried to get the number of a woman he had just met…

  Cheap little slut.

  Liora crossed her arms over her chest and finally spoke. "Looks like you're really fine after all. Still have energy to chase women."

  "I told you I was fine," Elias said with a smile. "But that girl was crying so loud it was giving me a headache. If it kept going, I really would've had a problem." He turned to leave the hospital. "Let's go."

  Snap.

  Liora's hand closed firmly around his slender wrist, ignoring the scorching heat against her palm. She said slowly, "You don't seem to understand your position right now."

  Elias froze. He tried to pull his wrist free, but it was like an ant trying to shake a tree—his arm felt like it was about to tear off while Liora didn't budge an inch.

  After failing to break loose, he had to turn back toward her. Pain flickered in his eyes, lips pressed tight, voice low. "What position?"

  Liora gave a light ugh, clearly mocking his stupidity. "The position of a sugar baby kept by his sponsor. You signed the contract, so you should act like one—stay obedient instead of sneaking around behind your sponsor's back to cheat."

  As she spoke, her gaze stayed fixed on his face, waiting to see him soften and submit.

  Instead, the corner of Elias's mouth slowly curved up, a faint smile appearing in his eyes.

  Liora paused. She knew that expression all too well—the exact pyful look he wore every time he said those tempting things to her.

  Elias asked, "Does the contract say I can't interact with other women?"

  Liora still wasn't sure what he was thinking, so she kept her tone neutral. "What do you think? Those terms are written right there. If you signed without reading them clearly, that's on you."

  "I'm not bming anyone," Elias said, stepping closer to her.

  Liora instinctively started to back up, but then realized it would look like she was afraid of him. She stayed put, and he pressed right up against her.

  From anyone else's perspective, it looked like the boy was so weak he had simply colpsed into her arms.

  Elias slowly lifted his head from inside her embrace, gazing up at her. The angle was unbearably seductive.

  His bitten, scabbed lips parted and closed. "That cuse obviously has a loophole. As long as I'm not caught, it doesn't count as breaking it, right?"

  Liora's brow arched, forcing herself to stay calm. "You think I'm blind?"

  "So you've caught me in the act…" Elias murmured. The wrist she was gripping suddenly moved, guiding her hand slowly downward.

  Liora's pupils shrank. Her lips twitched and the word "slut" nearly slipped out.

  She was about to yank her hand back when Elias rose onto his toes, leaned in close, and breathed hot against her ear. The fever made his breath even hotter, scalding as it slipped inside. "Now that you've got this leverage… you can do anything you want to me, sister…"

  The moment he finished, his wrist slipped free effortlessly. He stepped back, putting distance between them.

  "I'll get in the car first," he said, giving her a casual wave before turning away.

  Elias climbed into the car. As expected, the system's voice came immediately. "Host, aren't you afraid she'll tell Serena Bckwood?"

  "She won't," Elias replied while buckling his seatbelt, voice perfectly calm. "Liora loves watching drama. Right now I can give her something way more entertaining than the original plot. Guess whether she'll watch or not?"

  [System Theta: But Serena Bckwood is her sister…]

  Right as the words left its digital mouth, the system notification chimed.

  [Liora Voss favorability increased. Current: 5%.]

  Elias's eyes lifted slightly and he ughed. "Sister?"

  "Exactly because it involves her sister, it'll be even more fun for Liora."

  The system promptly shut up.

  "Wait." Elias suddenly realized something. Only now, seeing the favorability notice for Liora, did it hit him—Yvonne Quinn's favorability meter hadn't even unlocked yet!

  The good mood he had just gained from handling Liora vanished in an instant. Elias's mouth twisted. He folded his arms and sat there sulking.

  A moment ter the driver's door opened. Liora slid in, started the engine without a word, and pulled away.

  Elias knew her head was a mess right now, so he didn't bother her. He closed his eyes and rested.

  Liora kept staring straight ahead. Finally, as they passed an intersection, she couldn't hold back anymore and gnced sideways at him.

  That single gnce made all the images she had barely suppressed repy in her mind—every move Elias had made earlier.

  Liora knew the right thing to do right now was to call Serena Bckwood and tell her that her little toy wasn't behaving. He had the nerve to openly flirt with another woman right in front of her.

  But she didn't do it.

  Maybe she just loved the idea of someone brave enough to pull a tooth from the tiger's mouth—whether he actually succeeded or not, the process was bound to be entertaining.

  Or maybe…

  Elias had flirted with her too.

  She smmed on the brakes, cutting off her own thoughts and making Elias open his eyes.

  The car stopped smoothly at the university gate. They had arrived at Westbridge.

  Liora sat silently watching him unbuckle his seatbelt, her gaze strangely dark.

  Elias pretended not to notice. He opened the door to get out, then suddenly turned back and gave her a small smile. "Thanks for not taking me to the hospital for a shot."

  Bang.

  The door shut tight, cutting everything off and leaving Liora alone in the driver's seat, stunned.

  Serena Bckwood had told her to take Elias to the hospital.

  She hadn't done it.

  So she had already…

  Stopped listening to her sister.