My Milf Conqueror System novel Chapter 20

Chapter 20: Misdirection

The photo was blurry, taken from across the street, but the silhouette was unmistakable. The dark jacket. The way I carried my bag. The time stamp: 8:04 AM.

Who is the mystery guy dating Sofia Aldridge?

I stared at the screen, my thumb hovering over the comments. They were already exploding.

Wait, is that a student?

No way. She dates billionaires, not frat boys.

I saw that guy at the gym yesterday. He was benching 225.

Looks like the quiet kid from Econ. Jake something?

My stomach dropped. Jake something.

I wasn’t invisible anymore. I was viral.

I shoved the phone in my pocket as Sofia walked out of the bathroom, wrapped in a towel, her hair damp. She looked relaxed, happy. She had no idea.

"Everything okay?" she asked, noticing my expression.

"Yeah," I lied smoothly. "Just checking emails. Boring stuff."

She walked over and kissed my cheek. "Come back to bed. The emails can wait."

I forced a smile. "In a minute. I just need to... make a call."

She frowned slightly but didn’t push. "Don’t be long."

As soon as she closed the bedroom door, I pulled my phone back out. The post had jumped to the top of the feed.

[Social Threat Detected]

[Exposure Risk: High]

[Objective: Control the Narrative]

I couldn’t delete the post. I couldn’t hack the app. But I could control how people reacted.

If I denied it, I looked guilty. If I confirmed it, I became a target for every jealous guy on campus and every tabloid reporter in the city.

I needed a third option.

...

The next morning, walking onto campus felt like walking into a minefield.

Heads turned. Whispers followed me. People who had never looked at me twice were suddenly staring.

"Is that him?"

"No way. He’s a nobody."

"But look at the jacket. It’s the same one."

I kept my head up, my expression neutral. The System hummed in my ear.

[Passive Skill: Emotional Composure (Level 2) Active]

[Social Pressure: High]

I walked straight to the coffee shop. The line was long, but as I approached, it seemed to part. People moved out of my way. Not out of respect, but out of curiosity.

I ordered my black coffee. The barista, a girl named Maya who usually ignored me, lingered as she handed me the cup.

"So," she said, lowering her voice. "Is it true?"

I looked at her. "Is what true?"

"The post. About Sofia Aldridge."

The entire shop went quiet. Everyone was listening.

I took a sip of my coffee, calm, deliberate.

"Sofia Aldridge is a client," I said. "I do consulting work for her firm."

It was the truth. Technically.

Maya blinked. "Consulting? You’re a sophomore."

"I’m good with numbers," I said. "And she pays well."

I dropped a five-dollar bill in the tip jar and walked out.

The whispers exploded behind me.

Consulting?

He’s lying.

No, dude, I heard he crushed the midterm. Maybe he’s a genius.

[Narrative Shifted: Mystery -> Competence]

[Respect Gained: +10]

[Suspicion Remaining: Moderate]

I had bought myself some time. But I knew it wouldn’t last.

I found Ethan in the library. He was staring at his phone, his mouth open.

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