Chapter 4

Grant Estate was blazing with lights, every corner shining like they were expecting royalty.

As soon as I stepped inside, the air felt thick. like I'd walked into a full-blown family interrogation.

Richard sat at the head, his face dark like thunder. My mother, Linda Grant, was off to the side, eyes red from crying. Andrew Grant, my so-called brother, stared at me, looking bored out of his mind.

Sophie was snuggled up in Linda's arms, sobbing with her shoulders shaking, putting on the perfect act of a pitiful victim.

She could win an Oscar.

"You finally remembered your home, huh?" Richard barked, slamming his hand on the table.

I casually dug in my ear, strolled over to the couch across from them, and plopped down, crossing my legs.

"Didn't you call me back? Yelling so loud. What, scared I'd miss it?" I replied with a lazy smirk.

"What's with that attitude?" Richard was so furious that his beard was practically shaking. "Apologize to your sister right now."

I glanced at Sophie. "Oh? I actually hit you?"

Sophie shrank back, hiding in Linda's arms. She whispered, "Madison didn't mean it. She just... wanted to push me away so I couldn't help Ryan..."

"Hear that? She said I didn't mean it," I said, spreading my hands. "So why should I apologize?"

"You..." Richard was speechless.

Linda spoke up, disappointment heavy in her voice, "Madison, how could you treat Ryan like this? Even if you two broke up, you shouldn't mistreat him like that. He's such a good guy."

Good guy? Please. You hadn't seen him when he was being a real flirt.

Andrew snorted, "She can't stand seeing Sophie and Ryan getting close. She's jealous out of her mind."

The whole family, perfectly in sync, all ganging up on me.

I laughed, "Are you finished? Good, now let me speak."

I lowered my legs, leaned forward, and looked each of them in the eye.

I said, "First, Ryan is my ex. I can mess with him however I like, and it's none of your business.

"Second, Sophie, stay away from Ryan. It grosses him and me out.

"Third," I paused, locking eyes with Richard. "You want to freeze my card, right? Fine. Do it now."

I pulled out my phone, opened my banking app, and confidently showed them my balance.

"See that? Eight figures. The pocket money you give me? Honestly, I couldn't care less," I said.

All three of them were stunned, fixated on my phone screen, their eyes wide with shock and confusion.

The system said, "New mission triggered: Family Humiliation.

"Mission description: Make Ryan show up and serve coffee to the Grants like a servant, totally shattering his pride.

"Mission reward: 10 million in cash.

10 million. My breath caught.

The system really knew how to dance right on my nerves.

Make Ryan play servant for these people? I couldn't do it.

"System warning: This is a mandatory main quest. If the host refuses, level one punishment will be triggered: electric shock."

A powerful jolt of electricity shot through me. My whole body convulsed, and I almost tumbled right off the couch.

I was completely numb, pain aching deep in my bones.

"Madison, what's up?" Linda was startled by my reaction.

"I'm fine," I said through clenched teeth, gripping the armrest to steady myself, cold sweat already breaking out on my forehead.

Fucking system.

I was cursing the system out in my head.

I pulled out my phone, my fingers shaking as I texted Ryan.

[The system's lost it. Forced quest, 10 million cash. Basically... you have to come to my place and play servant, serving coffee for them. Don't come. I'll tough it out. It's a shock, not gonna kill me.]

After sending the message, I felt totally wiped out.

Another jolt of electricity slammed into me, even worse than before.

I let out a muffled groan, my vision blurring as everything started to go dark.

"Madison, what the hell are you doing?" Andrew shouted impatiently.

Just as I was about to pass out, my phone rang.

It was Ryan.

I picked up, and his calm voice came through. "Open the door."

I froze. "What?"

"I'm at your door," Ryan said. "Don't push yourself. Let me do this."

"No way. Ryan, this is humiliating," I protested.

"But it's 10 million." He chuckled. "That's a hell of a payday. Would be a waste to pass it up. And..."

He paused, his voice dropping so low and soft that only I could catch the meaning behind it.

"I'm not going there to be their servant," he said. "I'm your knight."