Chapter 4System Glitch: The Romance Protocol

I hit the ground hard, landing right on the broken glass.

Red wine mixed with blood, staining my dress.

Shards cut my leg like countless razor blades, burning with pain.

Blood flowed like a stream down to my ankle, dripping onto the floor.

More and more people looked over.

The guests here were either rich or powerful—corporate tycoons or industry upstarts.

I saw fear, disdain, and condemnation for Sophie's actions on their faces.

Good.

If I had been a second late, I would be the one facing this.

After all, Sophie is the heiress of the Su Group. Framed for harming her? My current identity couldn't handle that charge.

Cypher walked over.

His voice was cold.

"What happened?"

I had to admit, his acting was impeccable.

If I didn't know he wasn't Julian, I wouldn't have noticed the switch.

Seeing him, people scrambled to explain.

Accusing glares stabbed at Sophie like knives.

Sophie panicked, stepping back in confusion.

"It wasn't me. I didn't do it.

"It was you! You framed me! You did it on purpose!

"Julian, believe me, I didn't push her!"

She grabbed Cypher's sleeve, teary-eyed and pitiable.

Cypher looked at me calmly.

I don't know why, maybe intuition.

I felt he wasn't happy right now.

His eyes were bottomless pools of cold darkness.

Afraid he'd side with Sophie, I bit my pale lip, my wet eyes reddening, looking at him with grievance.

"Julian, don't blame Sophie. She probably didn't mean it.

"I just lost my balance. Don't worry about me.

"I... I can get up."

I frowned in pain, trying to stand, but my leg gave out, and I fell back down.

Glass dug deeper into the wounds, blood flowing freely. The pain made tears roll down my cheeks.

Cypher scoffed, a mocking smile appearing.

His voice was unhurried.

"Aria.

"You're really smart."

He brushed off Sophie's hand and picked me up.

?

I froze for a second.

He praised me? And held me?

Did his affection for me surpass Sophie's?

I felt a burst of joy.

But the next second, my face froze.

[Cypher Affection -5.]