Chapter 3

All the way, I tried to pull my hand free.

But Ethan's grip was surprisingly strong.

He even threaded his fingers through mine, turning it into an intertwined hold.

The system slowly announced:

[Hand-holding duration met. Five dollars deposited.]

I looked at the five-dollar transfer notification on SnapChat, my heart aching like crazy.

Taking that money felt like an insult to my intelligence.

At the library, Ethan found a window seat.

He pushed a thick textbook on contract law in front of me.

"Read."

I had no mind to read. My head was filled with how to make him break up with me first.

If he broke up with me, maybe the system would still count it as a failed confession and give me that ten thousand dollars.

I started acting out.

I deliberately dropped my pen on the floor.

*Clink.*

He bent down, picked it up, and handed it to me.

I dropped it again.

*Clink.*

He picked it up again.

The third time, just as I was about to let go, he pressed his hand over mine.

"Lily."

"Huh?"

"Do you have shaky hands?"

I let out a dry laugh.

"My hands are just clumsy."

He sighed, pulling his chair closer to mine.

We were practically touching.

The scent of cedar from him wafted into my nose.

"If your hands are clumsy, then don't write."

He opened the book and pointed to a line of text.

"Read this for me."

I looked down.

"When an unmarried man adopts a female, the adopter and the adopted must have an age difference of at least forty years."

My eyes widened.

"Why are you making me read this?"

He rested his chin on one hand, turning his head to look at me.

"Just a little legal education."

"And a reminder that no such age difference exists between us, so we can only be legally married."

My face flushed instantly.

The system popped up.

[Engaged in academic discussion with target. Reward: Ten dollars.]

I closed my eyes in anguish.

Ten dollars.

I couldn't even buy a decent fancy latte with that.

This life was unlivable.