The Heart System

Chapter 848: Chapter 848

Oh, thank fuck Honeyed Word activated. And thank fuck I actually invested some points into it. Because persuading Ivy would take a lot of tries. This was my one and only chance to make things right. I couldn’t mess this up. I had four chances, and I just needed to fill four boxes out of five. No need to play risky. I just had to pick the lowest-risk option.

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Attempting Persuasion

"Maybe your friend is mistaken?

She confused Ms. Komb with

someone else?"

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Base Chance: 30%

Honeyed Words: +40%

──────────────────

Final Chance: 70%

Upon Succeeding: ☑

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Right. The chances were all dependent on the person, so they could differ. There weren’t any fixed possibilities. Fuck, I only had a seventy percent chance, huh? This had to be enough.

"Maybe your friend is mistaken? She confused Ms. Komb with someone else?"

"Nah." She shook her head. "Impossible. My friend Grace knows my mother very well. She didn’t confuse her with someone else."

"We can’t be still sure about that, no? Maybe she..."

"No, Evan. I’m sure. And she is sure."

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Persuasion Attempt: Ivy

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☒☐☐☐☐

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Remaining Chances: 3

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Aaah, fuck. I failed at seventy percent? Talk about a bad luck. Crap, this was a disaster. I had to up my game and pick the riskiest option next time. Three chances wasn’t enough for me to keep picking the safest option that would only get me one tick.

"Ivy, I think you are... like... still on the edge, maybe? You’re..."

"No." She cut me off with a serious tone. "Tell me, Evan. Are you helping my mother?"

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Attempting Persuasion

"No, Ivy. I can assure you.

Why would I do that?"

──────────────────

Base Chance: 30%

Honeyed Words: +30%

──────────────────

Final Chance: 60%

Upon Succeeding: ☑☑

══════════════════

"No, Ivy. I can assure you. Why would I do that?"

"I don’t know. Because you just like helping people?" she asked. "That’s the kind of idiot you are."

"Hey!"

"I’m telling the truth. I like that about you, don’t get me wrong."

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Persuasion Attempt: Ivy

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☒☑☑☐☐

──────────────────

Remaining Chances: 2

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Oh, thank God. Finally, some good news. I had the two ticks now, and I only had two boxes left to fill. Okay, panicking would only end this badly for me. I could try picking the riskiest option and earn another two ticks, which would turn this into a success. Or I could play it smart and pick the safest option twice.

Choices, choices. This was a hard one.

"Look, I love helping people, sure," I said. "But helping Ms. Komb about... getting her hooked up with someone else? Come on, Ivy. You know she wouldn’t trust me with something like that."

"Yeah, just... God, why that hotel, Evan? Why?" She leaned forward with a sigh. "I just don’t get it. She should tell me if she’s seeing someone. That’s just... that’s like... she’s not a kid. She SHOULD tell me."

══════════════════

Attempting Persuasion

"Look, she’s been through a lot.

It’s totally okay for her to want

some distraction in her life.

Don’t you think that’s fair?"

──────────────────

Base Chance: 30%

Honeyed Words: +30%

──────────────────

Final Chance: 60%

Upon Succeeding: ☑☑

══════════════════

"Look, she’s been through a lot. It’s totally okay for her to want some distraction in her life. Don’t you think that’s fair?" I asked, holding my palms open.

And...

YES!

The two boxes filled, and I managed to persuade her. Hell, I didn’t even need to see the confirmation box. Her tense posture loosened, and she leaned back. She then averted her eyes toward the rug in the living room and stayed like that for a while.

I, on the other hand, kept my mouth shut and let the moment pass.

"Her house burned to a crisp in that fire, Ivy," I said. "She had problems at work, and she’s getting used to living with you despite her pride not wanting this. She doesn’t want to be a burden to her daughter. Just cut her some slack, okay?"

"She is not a burden," Ivy said, her voice low. "She raised me. This is the least I could do for her."

"I understand that, yeah." I replied. "It’s... yeah. I understand you."

Damn, was talking this always hard? No, no. I was still panicking a little. I had to calm down.

She got up and put her hands on her waist, then walked behind the couch she had been sitting on. She turned toward me and placed both hands on the headrest, leaning forward. She opened her mouth, but no words came out, as if she wasn’t sure what to say.

"I’m just worried about her," she said. "The... look, I’m just... I want her to be safe. And open when doing... something like this."

"Ivy," I said, getting up. "She thinks she’s being a burden to you by staying here. And the last thing she wants is to worry you with..."

"She is not a burden!" she cut in. "I already told you, man. She is not a burd..."

"Then tell her that!" I raised my voice, matching hers. "Jesus, Ivy. You two haven’t been the same since Chase. Just talk it out. And stop this... whatever this is. Okay?"

"I am trying!" She pushed herself back and slapped her hands against her sides. "I just... I can’t. Evan, I’m trying to talk to her. But... UGH. So annoying. So, so, sooo annoying."

"I know. But you’ll have to keep trying. For your own... and your mother’s sake," I replied. "She was really shaken when she came to me yesterday, Ivy. She’s going to stay in one of the guest rooms, okay? Just cool down."

"Look... if you see anyone coming into her room..."

"I’ll text you if something like that happens." I put both palms up. "Just try to cool down, alright? And don’t fight with her. Please."

"I know." She exhaled, then shook her head. "Okay, okay. I won’t. Just... keep her safe. Okay?"

I nodded. "Hmm. Goodbye, Ivy. And like I said, try to cool down a bit. Then you two can talk things out, alright?"

"Yeah..."

Talk things out, huh?

Hopefully.

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