To say Nathan was shocked would be an understatement.
He… never expected a man so polite and kind to be cheating on his wife.
There could be no other explanation for what he'd just witnessed downstairs.
That young girl. That kiss. The way his hand lingered on her waist—intimate, unrestrained. It all screamed of an affair.
'Who could've thought?' Nathan muttered inwardly, his mind replaying the scene again and again.
But then, another thought struck him. 'Wait… if he's really cheating, doesn't that mean I'll have to seduce Hannah after all?'
[Host, remember, you have ten days.]
Nathan took a slow, deep breath as the glowing words faded from his vision.
There was no doubt anymore—if he wanted to save his brother, he'd have to reach Hannah's heart.
He'd spent enough time around her to know she wasn't the kind of woman who'd fall easily. She rarely socialized, had no close friends, and barely went out except for errands. Everything about her screamed of a quiet, sheltered life.
So yes, her husband was likely her first—and only—love.
She had once told him over tea that she and Logan had started dating back when he was in medical school.
That kind of bond ran deep. He couldn't rush things. He'd need to move carefully, make every step count, and only strike when the time was right.
But time… was the real problem.
Biting his lip, he stood before the familiar door. Not wanting to keep her waiting, he pressed the bell.
*Click.*
The door opened a moment later, revealing a warm, smiling face.
"Ah, you're back." Hannah's eyes flicked to his hands. "You didn't bring anything?"
"Yeah...i thought of buying something sweet" Nathan said with a sheepish smile as he stepped inside. "But they ran out of my favorite flavors of ice cream."
Hannah giggled. "Still as picky as ever, huh?"
He shrugged. "I mean, at least food should meet a certain standard, right?"
The aroma of freshly cooked food filled the dining area as he entered. The table was neatly set for three, though one plate lay flipped upside down.
"Come, eat," she urged, sitting across from him.
Nathan nodded, settling down. "Everything looks amazing."
"First eat," she teased lightly, "then decide if it deserves a compliment."
Nathan stabbed a fork into a meatball and took a bite. His eyes widened slightly. "Wow… this is really good. If I ever become a millionaire, I'm hiring you as my personal chef."
Hannah laughed softly, her smile never fading. "I'm sure you'll be successful, Nathan. Whether you'll still need me then, though—that's another question."
As they continued eating, Nathan discreetly asked in his mind, 'Can you show me her favorability?'
[Yes, host.]
[Target: Hannah Park]
[Favorability: 40%]
[She sees you as a friendly figure she can trust.]
[Note: Every 10% of growth grants the host a reward.]
[Note: A favorability of 70% means the target views you as a potential partner.]
Nathan smirked inwardly. That was good progress. He'd been visiting her often enough that their bond had naturally grown.
As they ate, he asked casually, "Where's Olivia? The house feels a bit too quiet today."
Hannah smiled faintly. "She went to bed early. Said she wasn't feeling too well."
Nathan's brows furrowed. "Is she okay?"
"Don't worry," Hannah assured gently. "It's probably just the wind."
Nathan nodded, twirling his fork through the pasta. The conversation drifted to lighter topics—work, hobbies, everyday things. He noticed how careful she was with her words, never once mentioning Dennis's name.
Truthfully, Nathan didn't know how to feel about that. But at least, for now, his brother still had a chance.
"Well," Hannah said, standing and gathering the dishes, "I hope you liked the food. I can't offer you any dessert, though."
Nathan tilted his head. "But I thought you baked a cake today?"
*CLANK.*
The plates in her hands trembled. Hannah froze, her eyes wide as she stared at him.
"Y-You knew?" Her voice trembled slightly.
Nathan nodded. "The moment we stepped inside, I knew you baked something."
Her shoulders relaxed as she sighed. "More like, I burned something… again."
Hannah had always been bad at making sweets. She'd tried many times before, mostly because her husband loved desserts. But every attempt ended the same way — in smoke and disappointment.
The last time, she had almost burned the microwave and got yelled at by Logan. That memory still stung a little.
That's why she'd been so careful this time, paying attention to the temperature and timing. And yet… she still failed.
"Miss Hannah," Nathan called softly, "if you still have it, I want to eat the cake."
Hannah sniffled. "Why would you want to eat something so awful?"
Nathan smiled faintly. "Because after all the effort you put into it, I'm sure it'll taste good. Now, come on. I'll handle these — you get me some cake."
He took the plates from her, their fingers brushing for an instant. The brief touch made her heart skip a beat.
The sadness faded from her face, replaced by a faint blush as she smiled softly.
Turning away, she walked to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator, carefully taking out the cake.
Meanwhile, Nathan rested the dishes into the sink, his eyes drifting toward her.
And just as he thought—
[Favorability: 45%]