Ficorpio
Chapter 1
When the Romance Side-Character System was desperate for hosts, it assigned me the role of devoted doormat girlfriend in two books at once.
By day, I was the impoverished student in a campus romance.
When Ethan Sterling confessed his feelings for me, his childhood sweetheart and destined endgame partner let out a little laugh beside him.
“Don’t take him seriously. The watch on his wrist alone is worth more than you’ll earn in your entire life. He’s only playing with you.”
By night, I was the wicked heiress in a billionaire dynasty romance.
Lying on the enormous bed of a villa overlooking the river, I spent half the night in hate-fueled intimacy with my wealthy arranged-marriage husband, who wanted my body but not my heart. Even when exhaustion left my vision unfocused, he refused to stop.
Eventually, both books reached their endings. The male and female leads of each story ended up together.
My missions were complete. I no longer had to chase after either of them.
When Ethan realized I had stopped clinging to him, he assumed I was jealous and planning to end my life. He rushed to the seaside without a second thought.
Then he discovered that another man was already standing there, eyes red, begging me in a broken voice.
“Darling, I don’t want a divorce.”
Adrian Ashford had endless stamina. He had kept me up half the night again.
When I woke in the morning, the man who had shared my bed was already gone.
What a bastard.
I had to brace myself against the wall for a while before my legs would support me. At last, I lowered myself into my massage tub and began enjoying the freshly cut fruit my housekeeper had brought me.
The next second, Ethan sent me a message.
【Come to the Private Club. Room 602.】
The System had assigned me to play a devoted doormat girlfriend in two books at once.
The first was a campus romance. My boyfriend was the heir to the London Elite Circle, while his childhood sweetheart was the little princess of that same world, a girl whose family background matched his perfectly.
I was the fragile innocent poor student he was only dating for fun.
The second was a billionaire dynasty romance. My husband was one of the most powerful men in the London Elite Circle, and he was slowly falling for the financially vulnerable student he supported.
I, meanwhile, was the scheming heiress whose wealth perfectly matched his own.
Fine. Fine. I was doing pretty well for myself. I could be rich or poor, vicious or delicate and innocent.
I asked the System, “Did you really have to give me roles with such extreme differences in wealth?”
The System replied with obvious disinterest.
Chapter 2
【We were short on people. It couldn’t be helped.】
I changed into my cheapest clothes, tied my hair into an unfashionable braid, and put on my ugly black-rimmed glasses.
Luckily, I was pretty enough to survive even an outfit that dowdy.
A light rain had started falling outside. By the time I reached the Private Club, my hair was slightly damp.
The door to the private room stood open.
When Ethan saw me, he lazily lifted his eyes and beckoned me over.
I walked toward him. He caught my wrist and frowned.
“Your hands are freezing. Why aren’t you wearing the scarf I gave you last time?”
“I was in a hurry to get here. I didn’t have time.”
I offered the explanation automatically.
Ethan’s childhood sweetheart, Evelyn Sterling, had her arm looped through his. She smiled sweetly.
“Ethan, she’s here. Tell your girlfriend to give me back the gold bracelet she stole.”
My heart jolted.
So that was why Ethan had touched my wrist the moment I walked in.
In this campus romance, Evelyn and Ethan were childhood sweethearts. Their families, their appearances, everything about them made them a perfect match.
One of Evelyn’s dresses cost more than I could afford to live on after working part-time for an entire year.
Ethan never wore shoes that cost less than five figures.
They were the hero and heroine of this book.
The only reason I had ever crossed paths with them was that Ethan had never dated a good girl like me before—someone who knew how to do nothing but study and had no idea how to dress. That novelty had prompted him to pursue me with great fanfare.
My assigned character was a girl hopelessly in love with Ethan, a doormat who came running whenever he called and obeyed his every command.
But I had never truly belonged in their circle.
Ethan tucked my hand into his pocket to warm it. Then he spoke to Evelyn in an unhurried voice.
“It’s only a bracelet. I’ll get you something better next time.”
He glanced at me.
“If she likes it, let her play with it for a while.”
“That’s not true.” I pulled my hand back. “I’ve never touched her bracelet. I didn’t take it!”
He gave me a long, meaningful look. Then he sighed and patted my head.
“Enough, Claire. Don’t make a fuss. It’s over.”
How ridiculous.
He said it was over, but he had believed his childhood sweetheart without question and thrown all the blame onto me.
My reputation and dignity meant nothing to him.
I refused to back down.
“I didn’t steal it!”
I tried desperately to explain, but no one cared.
Little by little, Ethan lost patience with soothing me. A flicker of mockery passed through his eyes, and then his expression turned completely cold.
“What’s the point?”
His gaze was as careless and dismissive as if he were looking at a small pet.
Chapter 3
“I’ve already given you a way out. What more do you want?”
He leaned closer, his tone almost indulgent.
“Don’t be afraid. I’m not going to punish you. So what if you caused a little trouble? It’s not as if I can’t clean it up for you.”
The people around us immediately began whispering.
“So Evelyn’s bracelet really was stolen by Claire?”
“Isn’t it obvious? That poor girl with no class has been clinging to Ethan every day. Isn’t she just trying to get money out of him?”
“Look at her. She’s wearing black-rimmed glasses, and she’s so horribly dressed. What is that cheap fabric? I might break out in a rash just standing near her. The color is decades out of date. Even my grandmother wouldn’t wear it. Why would Ethan like her?”
“Exactly. That bumpkin has nothing going for her except her grades. How could she possibly compare to our princess?”
“Evelyn’s so unlucky. She and Ethan are the perfect pair. Who could have imagined that Ethan would confess to Claire?”
The System praised me.
【Excellent. The heroine’s Reputation Score is very high right now. Keep it up.】
That was the nature of being a side character. We did all the thankless work.
I acted as though I couldn’t bear the whispers any longer and shoved Ethan away.
“I said it wasn’t me! I didn’t take it! Since none of you believe me, let’s call the police and have them investigate!”
I pulled my smartphone from inside my coat, but Ethan grabbed my arm. His voice grew colder with every word.
“All right. That’s enough. Stop pretending, okay?”
There was a trace of mockery in his voice.
“Didn’t you tell me last week that you could barely afford your graduate tuition?”
He paused, watching the color drain from my face.
“And you know I have friends at the police station. Even if you make a scene, won’t I still be the one who has to resolve this for you?”
A moment ago, I had been shouting that I wanted the police to prove my innocence.
Now I fell silent.
Slowly, I lowered my phone, as if all the strength had been drained from my body.
At last, Evelyn smiled and patted Ethan’s hand with exaggerated gentleness.
“Enough. Don’t pressure her. She’s your girlfriend. If she took it, then she took it. Consider it a gift from me. I’m not petty.”
She turned her bright smile on him.
“And you promised to buy me a new bracelet. You’ll come shopping with me this weekend, right? I want the most expensive one.”
Ethan gave her an indulgent smile.
“Of course. Whatever you want.”
Standing together, the two of them looked like a perfect pair: one sweet and charming, the other utterly devoted.
The System was deeply satisfied.
【Very good. The hero and heroine’s chemistry is perfect. Host, it’s time for you to leave the stage.】