Chapter 9: No Escape

In the original novel, the male lead is a yandere.

When he’s in control, he’ll do all kinds of crazy things—with ties, belts, handcuffs, you name it...

So the original heroine also tried to run away.

Every time she was caught, things only got more intense... her face would turn bright red.

When I came to, Derek had already brought me back to his house.

The house sprawled over the bluff, with a wraparound porch and hurricane shutters, the kind of place you’d see in a Southern Living magazine. Security cameras watched every inch of the driveway, and the sound of waves crashing below was the only reminder this place was even on the same planet as everyone else.

He went to shower without a word. I lay on his giant bed, lost in thought:

"The ‘performance’ he wants... surely it’s not what I think, right?"

System: "I can see all the nonsense in your head, but there’s no other way. Why not give it a try?"

"Try my ass! The male lead is supposed to be devoted to the heroine. If I mess up, what if he kills me?"

"I think he wants to kill you even before you mess up."

"..."

"Host, what did you say to Derek in the car just now? Why is his danger level still rising?"

"Uh..."

In the car, he sat motionless, pinning me down, but didn’t say a word.

I just kept babbling.

For example:

"Did you have a fight with Natalie? Girls like to throw little tantrums. Just talk to her and she’ll be fine."

"Why aren’t you talking... Don’t know how to talk to her?"

"I’ll teach you. Say ‘be good’ for me."

System: "..."

The bathroom door opened quietly.

Derek came out in a bath towel, his tall silhouette reflected in the glass.

Steam curled around him, catching the city lights—he looked less like a CEO and more like something out of a Calvin Klein ad. I swallowed, unable to look away.

A faint whiff of his cologne drifted over, warm and sharp, mixing with the humid air. The city lights pressed through the window, painting his skin gold.

System: "Host, you’re on your own."

I exploded: "Wait! Don’t go! System!"

Derek turned off the bathroom light.

Step by step, he was already in front of me.

I held my breath and shrank back.

What I should and shouldn’t say...

This man’s body was absurdly good.

I’ve touched so many different types of abs, but none—

—but none ever made me forget my own name. Or forget why I should run.