"Just wait a bit longer, alright? There's this rumor going around… about a 50-floor tower that showed up a year ago. They say a relic is hidden inside—a flower that can heal anything."
I kept my face blank, but deep down, I knew it was too good to be true.
"And what about Father? Does he believe it as well?"
The confidence in her expression faltered. The father I remembered had always been cold, placing more importance on his company than on his own son
"A one-billion bounty is waiting to anyone who retrieves it; that's how desperate he is to see you healed. There's still hope. So please… hang on a little longer."
I almost laughed when she mentioned the bounty.
That flower was more about benefiting the company than saving me, and I would be lucky if that guy even put me first.
During the three years Ace was hospitalized, that jerk never once showed up. Anyone who thought he was a good father was either blind or completely stupid.
I didn't consider myself a good person, but I would never, in my life, treat a family like that
Pushing that thought aside, I focused back on her, one of my targets, and it was easy enough to make her spoil me, given how much she doted on me.
"I'm thirsty," I whispered, letting my voice sound a little weak. "Could you help me drink?"
A soft white glow lit her eyes—a sign that my ability had activated. As far as I knew, I was the only one who could see it.
"Okay,"
She picked up the cup and gently brought the straw to my lips.
I took a drink, then faked a pained expression.
"Sorry My head… Could you maybe… rub my it a little?"
Again, she didn't hesitate. She put down the glass and gently traced comforting circles on my temples.
This was another test. I wasn't just asking for comfort—I was stacking effects.
And so far, it was working.
She didn't ask any questions, since every request was normal.
"Thank you. Could you… hold my face for a bit? It helps. Makes me feel safe."
She squeezed it gently. I couldn't really feel her touch, but just having her this close—those soft lips, that tight blouse, the way her ample chest subtly moved with each breath, was more than enough to enjoy.
"Aunty," I called her, voice soft, the way a child sounds when too weak to smile. " Sing me a song."
"Sing? What kind of genre?"
"Anything," I replied. "Your favorite."
Her eyes lit up, sweeping away every trace of hesitation. She began to hum, awkward at first, but the tune soon flowed naturally.
When she finished, I asked her to keep going, curious to see where her limits were.
"C...Can you kiss my forehead? I miss my mom…she used to do that for me when I'm feeling lonely,"
I let my voice tremble as tears slowly slid down my cheeks.
My acting was spot-on. Maybe it was the whole bedridden thing. It made it easier to cry. Easier to sell the helplessness.
Not a moment of hesitation, she simply leaned in and kissed my forehead.
"Please… do it again,"
Without hesitation, she leaned in and followed my command.
I made her do it repeatedly, each command wearing down another mental barrier. Then, with a subtle shift in tone, I steered her to my cheek.
Each time, she obeyed without question, completely unaware that her thoughts were no longer just her own.
I hesitated before the next command, unsure if I was pushing too far. But I gave it anyway.
To my surprise… she leaned in closer and her soft lips made contact with mine.
It was brief, awkward, and yet very arousing.
Breaking down the defenses of a mature, married woman sent a thrill through me. No wonder that kind of story was so popular in doujins.
"Aunt Ellie… something's wrong my body. Please massage it."
She looked down, her attention drawn to the blanket where a bulge begun to rise.
"It's aching... You need to rub it."
Due to her being too deep in trance, her hands reflexively did what I told her to.
She began moving her palm over the fabric. Our breaths mingled, and I could feel the warmth of hers — she was getting a little hot from the erotic act of massaging her step son's stick.
It was only when she felt the damp sensation from the blanket that she broke from my skill.
Blushing from head to toe, she shot to her feet and gasped, "Oh my god, what am I doing?"
"It's alright, Aunt Ellie. I would never tell anyone. You're the only one who truly cares about me. The only person I can trust."
There was a noticeable pause in her reaction this time.
"I'm sorry, Ace. Please… forget we did that. It was my mistake." She took her bag, ready to leave.
"Please stay a little longer. " I asked, letting my ability sink into every word.
"I'm sorry," she murmured softly.
It failed. That meant she was under enough stress to break free from my ability.
"It's alright. Aunt Ellie, will you come see me every day from now on?"
This time, her eyes lit up.
"Of course. I'll come." A soft smile crossed her lips before she nodded and quietly stepped out of the room.
That was close. I got too greedy, and it nearly put me in a tough spot. But I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy every second of it.
Damn, I wanted to do more with her. The moment I got my motor skills back, I was 100% going to make her my woman.
Why should I care about Ace's father's feelings anyway? The guy's a jerk. He hasn't visited his son even once. That tells everything about his character.
And based on the memories I got, the relationship between Ace and his father was never good. The guy was always too busy running his company.
[Mission Reward : Acting Card]
About time I got it.