Born Into Villain's Family: I Have a 200\% Rebate System

Chapter 613: Unknown Force

As she stepped into his car, Eugene’s eyes lit up, a hint of excitement flashing across his face.

’Maybe she’s finally interested...’ he thought, trying to suppress his growing hope.

He started a casual conversation, his tone light, but Adriana wasn’t in the mood for pleasantries.

"Why do you keep arranging these ’accidental’ meetings?" she asked directly, her voice calm but sharp.

Eugene hesitated, his grip tightening slightly on the steering wheel.

"I... I realized I was wrong about you before," he admitted, his voice tinged with guilt. "I’ve been regretting it."

Adriana gave a small nod. "I forgive you," she said.

For a moment, relief flickered across his face.

But it vanished just as quickly.

"Now that you’ve apologized," she continued coldly, "stop trying to get close to me like this. I hate it when someone uses such methods."

Her words carried unmistakable disdain.

Eugene fell silent, his chest tightening slightly. After a pause, he glanced at her and said quietly, "You’re being very harsh."

Adriana let out a short, humorless chuckle. "I can be much harsher," she replied. "Do you want to see that side of me?"

He said nothing after that.

When they reached her destination, she stepped out of the car without hesitation.

Eugene watched her for a moment before saying softly, "You’re quite fiery."

Adriana turned back briefly, a faint smirk on her lips.

"And you’re quite boring," she shot back. "Try developing some self-awareness... and don’t contact me again."

With that, she walked away.

Eugene remained silent, her words lingering in his mind.

Adriana believed she had made herself clear.

But she underestimated him.

A few days later, she saw him again.

This time, she was unwell, her body weak, her head throbbing slightly.

Eugene appeared beside her, his expression filled with concern. "Are you okay?" he asked quickly, moving closer.

Frustration flared instantly within her.

She turned to him sharply, her voice rising without restraint. "Do we have any kind of relationship?" she snapped, her eyes blazing with irritation.

Eugene’s expression shifted, a flicker of hurt passing across his face as his shoulders stiffened slightly.

"I understand that your impression of me was bad... and yes, I admit I was wrong before. But that doesn’t mean you have to treat me like this now. I’m here because I’m worried about you."

Adriana let out a soft, mocking chuckle.

"And when exactly did I ask you to take care of me?" she shot back.

Eugene frowned.

"You’re really stubborn," he muttered, his patience thinning.

Without waiting for her response, he pulled out his phone and dialed Peter.

The screen’s glow reflected faintly on his face as the call connected, and he turned slightly away, speaking in a low voice.

His words were quick, almost rushed, as if he were trying to explain something urgent.

However, the conversation ended abruptly, the screen going dark as he lowered the phone.

Adriana folded her arms, tilting her head slightly as she looked at him with open mockery.

"Finished?" she asked dryly, her lips curling faintly.

Eugene exhaled slowly, trying to steady himself.

"You’re both still young," he said calmly.

"You don’t understand how serious these situations can become."

He took a step closer.

"Come with me to the hospital," he added gently. "Just get checked. It’s better to be safe."

For a brief moment, the way he looked at her carried an intensity that felt misplaced, almost as if he were looking at someone far more important than he had any right to.

Adriana noticed it.

Her eyes flickered with curiosity as she asked quietly, "Do you like me?"

Eugene froze, his breath catching slightly as his fingers tightened around his phone. He didn’t answer.

Adriana stepped closer, her voice turning colder, more pressing.

"I asked you something," she said. "Do you like me?"

His silence only deepened.

"I’ve seen many things," she said.

"But I’ve never seen someone as shameless as you. You’re going after your own nephew’s girlfriend... Do you even realize how disgusting that is?"

Eugene’s expression changed instantly, a flash of panic crossing his face. "I can explain..." he started quickly.

But Adriana cut him off, raising her hand slightly.

"There’s no need," she said flatly. "No matter what explanation you give, I’ll only find you more repulsive."

Her voice softened slightly, but the calmness only made her words harsher.

"I’ll tell Peter everything," she continued. "Now leave."

The moment she turned, Eugene reached out and grabbed her wrist.

The sudden contact made her body stiffen, a wave of revulsion shooting through her.

She yanked her arm instinctively, her voice rising sharply, "Let go of me!"

But Eugene shook his head, his grip tightening just enough to stop her from pulling away.

"No," he said firmly. "Not until you listen to me."

Adriana let out a sharp laugh.

"Fine," she snapped. "Go ahead. Tell me. What kind of ridiculous excuse do you even have?"

Eugene exhaled deeply, his shoulders sagging slightly.

"It might sound strange... but I don’t have control over my emotions anymore," he admitted.

He glanced at her, then quickly looked away, as if even meeting her eyes had become difficult.

"It’s like... I feel the need to be close to you," he continued. "As if that’s the only way I can feel at ease."

A faint, almost self-mocking chuckle escaped him as he added,

"You’ll probably think I’m crazy... but I keep having dreams about you. And somewhere in my mind... it’s like I’ve started to think of you as my first love."

Adriana stared at him, her expression unreadable.

Eugene ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident in every movement.

"I know how it sounds," he said quickly. "I know you’ll feel disgusted. But I can’t control it. My thoughts... they don’t listen to me anymore. It’s like something is pushing me, forcing me to feel this way."

His voice dropped further, almost breaking. "It’s like someone has done something to me... something I can’t fight."

For the first time, there was no manipulation in his expression, only confusion and helplessness.

Adriana’s anger faltered slightly.

’This... doesn’t feel like an act,’ she thought.

Eugene clenched his fists, then covered his eyes briefly, his voice filled with frustration.

"I don’t even think I love you... not in that way," he admitted. "That’s why this feels so wrong. If I could stop it, I would."

’This feeling...’ Adriana thought slowly.

Memories surfaced... her time with Henry.

Even after realizing he was a red flag, she had stayed, unable to walk away despite knowing better.

At the time, she hadn’t questioned it deeply.

But later, when she met Peter, everything had become clearer.

’It was like something was pulling me... forcing me to stay,’ she realized.

She looked back at Eugene, her gaze sharpening slightly.

’Could it be... the same kind of force?’

Ariana glanced at Eugene for a brief moment.

"I understand."

When Eugene realized that Ariana neither pushed him further nor tried to judge him, he found himself completely stunned.

’She... actually believes me?’

Even his own parents had once looked at him with hesitation, their trust faltering under suspicion, yet here she was, standing firm without a trace of doubt.

For the first time, he felt a sharp pang of foolishness, realizing how quickly he had judged Ariana based only on what he had seen.

As Ariana stepped outside, Peter rushed toward her the moment he caught sight of her.

Without hesitation, he pulled her into a tight embrace, his arms wrapping around her as if trying to shield her from everything unpleasant.

His voice softened as he murmured near her ear, "I’m sorry... my uncle has become too much of a bother."

Adriana gently shook her head, though her expression remained hesitant, her brows slightly furrowed as if she were caught in a storm of thoughts.

She glanced around before lightly tugging Peter toward a more isolated corner.

She met his gaze and spoke carefully,

"What I’m about to say might sound ridiculous... but I truly feel your uncle might be under some kind of... evil influence."

Peter blinked, a faint hint of amusement flickering across his face as he let out a soft breath.

"You’re overthinking it," he replied lightly. "He was probably just temporarily blinded by emotions. You shouldn’t worry too much about him."

However, Adriana firmly shook her head as she began explaining everything in detail.

By the time she finished, he exhaled slowly, his expression turning grave as his eyes darkened with thought.

"If that’s really the case," he said, "then I’ll look into it."

As silence settled between them, Peter’s mind began racing.

’When did Uncle start changing like this?’

Then, like a sudden spark, a memory surfaced. ’Could it have been after the accident?’

Without wasting time, he began investigating the details surrounding that incident.

The more he uncovered, the stranger everything seemed.

The hospital that had performed Eugene’s surgery was relatively unknown, almost obscure, and there were several suspicious details that they had overlooked at the time.