Harem Tycoon System

Chapter 5: A Disturbing Visit

Caroline stared at him sharply, as if every word that came out of Lucas's mouth was poison. "Don't call me that. We're only tied together because of the Greystone name, and even that is almost over."

Lucas tried to say that he wasn't Lucas but someone else in Lucas's body. However, strangely, every time he attempted, his mouth suddenly locked shut. And the system's warning appeared in his head as a sign of violation.

Lucas lowered his head, not knowing what else to say. The system in his head couldn't be stopped.

He finally realized that this system was real and not a joke. And he also knew that the only way to return to his identity as Ethan was to repair Lucas's relationship with Caroline. And this relationship could never be fixed without the wealth he could obtain with the help of the harem system in his head. That was the conclusion he had come to for now.

There was no warmth in Caroline’s demeanor at all. She walked closer with heavy steps, her face filled with an unmistakable cold expression. When she handed him the glass, her gaze was so sharp that it made Ethan—who was now in Lucas’s body—feel intimidated.

“Drink it,” she said flatly.

Lucas remained silent out of awkwardness.

“Do you think I would poison you?”

Her sarcastic tone was piercing. Lucas could only stare at Caroline blankly, trying to understand the depth of her hatred. Before he could say anything, Caroline continued in a harsher tone.

"Before you die again, Lucas, you’d better sign our divorce papers."

Lucas was speechless, not knowing what to say. He could feel Caroline's anger, but he couldn't defend himself because this was the result of Lucas's actions, not his. And his intelligence made him fully aware that if he agreed to the divorce, his life would be over. The system would judge him as having failed his mission, leading to his death.

"If I die again, then I will never be able to return to my identity as Ethan. I will never be able to reclaim my stolen research!"

Caroline sat down on a chair at the edge of the room, placing the glass on the table with a rough motion. She hugged herself as if trying to protect herself from the bad memories that were beginning to resurface.

"You know, I married you because I thought you would provide a stable life," she said with a bitter laugh. "My parents thought you were a ticket to wealth. But all I got was hell."

Caroline lifted her gaze, her hateful eyes locking onto Lucas once more. "You ruined my life, Lucas. All your affairs, those women... you didn't even care when I cried at night in heartbreak."

Lucas couldn't say anything. Lucas's memories flooded his mind, confirming everything Caroline had said. Lucas was indeed a man full of sins, betraying his marriage multiple times without remorse.

Lucas laughed bitterly in his heart. This felt like a cruel joke. Even the system installed in his head to achieve his goal was a harem system. A system where he had to connect with multiple women to attain success and his objective!

"If I really do it, Caroline will hate me even more and never trust me again, right? That means I'll be even further from my goal. Does this system want to kill me?" Lucas thought anxiously.

Caroline’s voice broke Lucas out of his thoughts.

“I stayed because of Emma. She’s the only reason I’m still here. But now, I want to be free.” Caroline sighed deeply, her voice weakening. "I want my life back. So sign the papers."

Lucas swallowed hard, realizing just how bad of a legacy Lucas had left him. The tense atmosphere in his hospital room was broken by a soft knock on the door. Caroline halted her words, turning toward the door with a surprised expression.

“Come in,” Caroline said briefly.

The door slowly opened, and a man stepped inside. He had a handsome face with perfectly maintained skin, his smile appearing warm yet oddly piercing to Lucas. The man wore casual yet expensive attire—a branded sweater with a small elegant logo, well-fitted jeans, and brand-new leather shoes. His presence immediately exuded an aura of sophistication, a stark contrast to Lucas, who had been living modestly after going bankrupt.

Caroline suddenly changed. Her previously cold expression now turned shy, and a small smile appeared on her lips. She stood up somewhat awkwardly, tidying her hair before greeting the man.

“Elliot,” Caroline said softly, “what brings you here?”

Lucas narrowed his eyes, his heart filling with suspicion. The name sounded unfamiliar, but through the system and Lucas's merging memories, he quickly recognized the man. Elliot Bradford. Caroline’s ex-boyfriend from college, someone who had clearly been an important part of her life—and more importantly, someone Lucas deeply despised.

However, Lucas’s hatred for Elliot wasn't just because of his past with Caroline. There was another, more practical reason—Elliot was the one who had lent Caroline a huge sum of money to cover Lucas's mounting debts. And Lucas, in his arrogance, had never repaid the debt.

Elliot smiled broadly, ignoring the tension in the room. "I heard the bad news about your accident, Lucas. I came here as soon as I cleared my schedule."

Lucas just stared at Elliot, trying to read the true intention behind that friendly smile. Caroline, on the other hand, seemed more open.

“Thank you for coming,” Caroline said with a sweet smile, something that made Lucas feel uneasy.

“How is he doing?” Elliot asked, looking at Lucas with genuine concern.

Lucas hesitated for a moment before replying, “I... still feel weak. But I will recover.”

Elliot nodded, but his gaze seemed to assess him. Caroline quickly took over the conversation, explaining Lucas's condition in a gentle tone that Lucas rarely heard from her.

But what disturbed Lucas the most was Emma’s reaction. The little girl appeared from the corner of the room with a wide smile on her face. "Uncle Elliot!" she called out, running towards the man.

Elliot immediately crouched down, opening his arms wide. Emma leaped into his embrace, giggling. "I missed you, Uncle!"

"I missed you too, sweetheart," Elliot replied, ruffling Emma’s hair affectionately.

The sight caused a strange pain in Lucas’s chest. He couldn't ignore the fact that Emma, his own daughter, seemed more comfortable with Elliot than with him.

"Does she spend a lot of time with you?" Lucas tried to ask in a flat tone, though the emotions of both Ethan and Lucas within him rebelled.

Elliot shrugged casually. "Caroline often asks for my help to take care of Emma when she’s busy. You... were never there for them," he emphasized those words. Then he added, "Besides, I’m happy to do it."

Caroline smiled slightly at that, but to Lucas, that smile felt painful. His jealousy slowly crept in, making it hard to distinguish between Ethan’s emotions and Lucas’s.

"Is there anything else you wanted to talk about?" Lucas asked, trying to mask his unease with a cold demeanor.

Elliot smiled again, this time with a glint in his eyes that was hard to decipher. “Nothing serious. I just wanted to make sure you were okay. After all, I can't just let someone like Lucas Greystone disappear so easily, can I?”

His words may have sounded friendly, but Lucas could sense the sarcasm behind them. As if Elliot was relishing the fact that Lucas was at his lowest point—perhaps even hoping he wouldn’t survive.