They Hated Me in My First Life, But Now I Have the Love System
Chapter 425: Jaw Nearly Dropped

Chapter 425: Jaw Nearly Dropped

“So… how did you get home, Ava?” Carl asked casually as he changed into house slippers. Then, to Ava’s absolute shock, he bent down to help Nnenna with hers too.

Ava’s jaw nearly dropped.

Wait. What?!

Big Brother Carl was always gentle and nice, yes, but never like this. He had never helped her change shoes. Not once. And now he was kneeling in front of this girl, as if it was the most natural thing in the world?

Nnenna didn’t think much of it. To her, this was normal. Carl had always taken care of her. She smiled warmly and said, “Thank you,” in a soft voice, genuinely grateful, but without any hint of pride or manipulation.

Then she stepped fully into the house.

Ava stared after her, still reeling from what she just witnessed. The soft slap slap of Carl’s and Nnenna’s slippers echoed down the hallway like a haunting melody.

Her thoughts were spinning

Why her? Since when? What did she do to get this treatment?!

But before she could spiral further, Carl’s voice cut through her haze like a blade.

“Ava.”

She flinched slightly. “Y-Yes?”

He was still speaking gently, but there was a subtle weight in his tone now.

“Your answer. You didn’t say how you got home.”

“Ava, didn’t you hear me?” Carl’s voice was calm, even smiling, but there was a sharp edge beneath his words, like velvet covering steel.

Ava froze.

She had known Carl since she was little. That tone… it wasn’t loud or angry, but it was dangerous. A warning. Her heart skipped.

“Oh, I followed the driver,” she said quickly, trying to sound casual, like she didn’t sense the change in the air.

“I see,” Carl replied, his eyes narrowing slightly.

There was a pause. Then he asked again, voice still smooth but deliberate, “Was the driver supposed to pick Nnenna up as well?”

Ava’s heart thudded. He knew. He definitely knew.

All the pieces clicked in her mind like a trap snapping shut. Nnenna must have already told him. Or maybe… Carl saw it himself. After all, he did bring Nnenna home.

Her palms grew damp. She knew Carl hated dishonesty more than anything. Playing dumb would only make it worse.

“I’m sorry I left Sister Nnenna behind,” she said quickly, bowing her head slightly and trying to sound genuinely regretful.

But Carl didn’t nod. His smile was still there, but now it was colder. Unmoved.

“I’m not the one you should be apologizing to,” he said quietly.

The silence that followed felt like the air itself was holding its breath.

Ava nodded obediently and turned toward Nnenna, but the sweet expression she had worn seconds ago vanished like a mask slipping off. In its place was a glint of malice. A twisted smile tugged at her lips, gone in a blink.

“I’m sorry, Sister Nnenna,” she said, her voice soft and seemingly sincere.

To Carl, it sounded convincing. But if he had caught a glimpse of Ava’s face at that moment, he would’ve seen the truth, she didn’t mean a single word.

Nnenna met her gaze and smiled, calm, unbothered, even a little amused. Then, without a word, she turned and walked to her room.

Carl blinked, surprised.

That wasn’t like Nnenna. She always tried to maintain peace. A sincere apology, especially one from someone younger, would usually be enough to soften her heart.

So why…?

He was still trying to make sense of her reaction when Ava tugged gently at his sleeve. “Big Brother Carl,” she said, her voice laced with disappointment, “she didn’t even bother to reply. She’s so rude… Did I apologize for nothing?”

Carl looked down at her, unsure how to respond. Her voice sounded hurt, but something about it felt… too practiced.

Still, he didn’t comment. “Maybe she has her reasons,” he said quietly, almost to himself. “I’ll ask her later.”

In the meantime, Carl gently patted Ava’s head. “Be good,” he said with a quiet sigh. “I’ll find out why she acted that way later. But next time… don’t do something so despicable again.”

His voice wasn’t loud, but it struck deep. Ava flinched.

Then, without waiting for a reply, Carl turned and headed off to find Arthur. He was genuinely worried about his old friend.

Part of the reason he had rushed to complete his psychiatry specialization was Arthur. And now, it seemed he had a patient close to home after all.

Ava stood frozen in place, stunned. It wasn’t the first time Carl had scolded her, but this… this was different. He had rebuked her because of Nnenna.

She clenched her fists tightly.

I’ve known him since I was little… she thought bitterly. So how can he change just like that, for someone he barely knows?

Her mind spun in frustration. Who even is, this girl? How come everyone knows her, my brother, my parents, Somto, even Carl, yet I’ve never heard of her before?

She shut off the movie angrily and stood up.

“No matter who she is, let’s see if she still has time to charm my brothers once I’m done with her.”

A storm was brewing in her eyes.

A whole month flew by before Nnenna even realized it. She was slowly getting used to the school’s rhythm, adjusting to the schedule, finding her way around, and understanding the vibe of each class.

She hadn’t registered for a hostel yet. There just didn’t seem to be a need. For now, she focused on familiarizing herself with the school grounds and her routines.

Strangely, she hadn’t seen Somto even once during that entire month. He hadn’t shown up unexpectedly like he usually did. Instead, someone had delivered a new SIM card to her with no note, but she understood right away.

The first number saved on it was his. Carl and Arthur added their numbers not long after when they found out she had a new phone.

Carl, now officially lecturing at the academy, often found himself unconsciously glancing at a particular spot in the lecture hall.