Conquering Ladies With My 10x Rebate System
Chapter 66: Drama

Chapter 66: Drama

"So you want us to find a way to face the dream," Caleb said slowly, his tone guarded.

Sophia nodded, her gaze shifting between the two of them. "Eventually. But first, we protect ourselves. We find others who are willing to understand. And above all—we make sure Naya survives."

’But what’s the point of hiding?... That bastard is still out there, walking free like nothing happened,’ Caleb thought, his jaw tightening.

His fists clenched at his sides.

’No. I can’t let this slide. Not like this.’

He took a deep breath, steadying his thoughts before locking eyes with Sophia.

"So, from everything you’ve said... you’re implying that X has a way to sense the cards? To find any cardholder they want—like some kind of tracker?" Caleb asked, needing confirmation.

Sophia paused as she looked at him—really looked.

There was something dangerous in his eyes now. A cold fire. The kind of look that sent a chill down her spine.

Like someone ready to kill.

’Don’t tell me... he’s actually thinking of going after them...’

For some reason, Sophia understood that look all too well. It was familiar—like she’d seen that same unshakable stubbornness somewhere before.

"Well... yes. That’s what the card does," she replied carefully, watching him.

"So that means we can bring X to us?" Caleb asked again, one brow raised.

’He really wants to do this? Is this man crazy?!’ Sophia’s thoughts spiraled as her eyes widened in disbelief.

She cleared her throat, mentally resetting herself.

’Maybe I didn’t explain it clearly enough,’ she thought, regaining her composure.

She looked Caleb straight in the eyes. "I’m sorry if I wasn’t clear before... X has been around for decades—maybe even centuries. No one’s ever succeeded in wiping them out. Many have tried, and every one of them ended up in an early grave."

She paused, letting her words sink in.

"X feeds off negativity. It’s what sustains them. And while they may look human, whatever they are... they’ve lived far too long to still be called that. I don’t even know how many members they have now," she added, her voice steady, but her eyes pleading for understanding.

But Caleb’s expression didn’t change. His green eyes still held that dangerous glint—cool, unreadable, and unshaken.

"Sophia..." he began, his tone low, "X killed Julia—your friend, if I’m not mistaken."

His voice sharpened as he continued.

"I don’t care if they’re human, or some occultic freaks feeding off misery. The moment they crossed that line, they made this personal. You say they’ll keep coming—fine. But if they’re going to bring the fight to us again and again... then I’d rather strike first."

His eyes narrowed, voice like steel. "I’m not interested in running. I won’t live my life looking over my shoulder. If they want trouble, I’ll give them hell."

"You don’t under—"

"There’s nothing to understand, Sophia," Caleb cut in, his voice sharp and unwavering. "They’re coming for Naya, and I’ve already promised her—and myself—that I won’t live in fear of anyone. Let them come. I’ll use that to my advantage."

His hands clenched into fists.

"One by one, I’ll hunt down every single one of those freaks. I won’t let anything happen to either of you. Especially not Naya."

The room fell into stunned silence.

All eyes were on him.

Naya, seated at his side, was completely speechless. She turned her head to glance at him, her heart thudding louder in her chest as her gaze locked onto his eyes.

Those determined green orbs burned with something fierce—protective, powerful.

Her cheeks flushed pink.

’This idiot...’ she thought, struggling to keep herself from smiling like a fool. Her fingers curled lightly on her lap. Part of her wanted to throw her arms around him.

Even Helene stared wide-eyed, her breath catching in her throat. A spark lit in her chest. Her heart skipped—then melted.

’He’s... amazing,’ she thought silently.

But then, her mind wandered—back to the elevator.

The memories played like a film reel: the heat, the kiss, the feel of his hands.

Her face turned crimson in an instant. She lowered her head, unable to meet anyone’s gaze.

’How the hell did that even happen?!’ she screamed in her mind, her fists tightening on her lap.

On the other side, Sophia’s eyes never left Caleb.

Sophia’s heart pounded. She’d seen bravery before—but not like this. Not when it was personal.

She watched him with a different kind of wonder.

’This man...’ she thought, lips parting slightly as a quiet chuckle escaped her throat. ’I want him.’

Naya’s fingers brushed his without thinking. Helene kept darting glances at him, cheeks flushed. Even Sophia’s eyes lingered too long.

Then—

{Ding!}

A bright flash flared in front of Caleb as the system screen came to life:

{Affection Meter – Naya: 80/100 💗}

{Affection Meter – Helene: 65/100 💗}

{Affection Meter – Sophia: 70/100 💗}

’What the hell...?’ Caleb blinked, confused. ’How did they jump that fast? What did I even do?’

His eyes twitched as he stared at the numbers, as if expecting them to drop back down.

Across from him, Sophia was still watching. Her gaze flicked briefly to Naya, then back to Caleb.

A sly smile curled at her lips.

’I’ll take him... no matter what.’

"Well, if that’s your goal... then sure. I’ll do everything I can to support you," Sophia said, her voice smooth like silk and her smile radiating the confidence of a woman who knew she was about to steal the spotlight.

She sauntered over to Caleb like she was walking a runway, tilted his chin up with two fingers, and before he could blink—smack—planted a kiss right on his lips.

Naya’s eyes bulged so wide, it looked like her soul was trying to escape through them.

Caleb blinked. Once. Twice. His brain blue-screened.

Helene, who’d had her head down all this while, slowly raised it at the exact moment their lips met—like a tragic heroine catching the final blow of a betrayal she never saw coming.

The air cracked.

Sophia broke the kiss and leaned in like she was about to deliver the punchline of a dark joke.

"But you should know," she whispered, her breath warm against Caleb’s ear, "saying things like that... can make any woman fall for you, sweet boy."

Ding! That was the sound Caleb imagined his soul made as it briefly tried to flee his body.

He sat bolt upright like someone had plugged a USB cable into his spine.

Sophia stepped back with smug satisfaction, clearly proud of the nuclear bomb she’d just dropped into the room.

And then... silence.

Awkward, deadly silence.

Naya’s expression was a slideshow of emotions: shock, disbelief, mild arson, and what looked like mental calculations for a hit list.

Helene’s mouth hung open like she was buffering. A single blush crept up her neck at 2% a second.

Even Caleb—our confident, green-eyed protagonist—looked like he’d been caught cheating on a test he didn’t study for.

No one moved.

The tension in the room had upgraded from drama to telenovela. If someone had slapped someone else just then, it would’ve felt right.

And through it all, Sophia just smiled and dusted invisible ash off her shoulder like, "You’re welcome, bitches."

"That aside," Sophia said, casually strolling to the center of the room like she hadn’t just kissed the life out of the conversation, "I think we should have somewhere to plan all this, right? I mean, if you seriously want to go up against X, then we need a proper strategy. Don’t tell me you plan to just storm in guns blazing."

Caleb still sat there, mildly stunned, his mind catching up to everything that had just happened.

Slowly, he lifted his head, locking eyes with her bright blue gaze.

And in that moment—just for a flicker of time—he saw it.

The Sophia Gracia.

The one from his past life.

The one whose fierce confidence once matched his own stride for stride.

The one who used to outwit him in debates, challenge his pride, and somehow still help him build his empire.

It was like déjà vu. Like falling all over again.

But then reality knocked.

Caleb blinked and a wry smile tugged at his lips.

’Her charms are still as potent as ever... but not this time.’ He straightened in his seat, composure sliding back into place like armor.

"You’re right," he admitted, nodding. "We do need a plan."

’And I definitely need to figure out what kind of nonsense you’re cooking up this time.’