Born Into Villain's Family: I Have a 200\% Rebate System-Chapter 213: Quitting

[Good decision. This will reduce emotional backlash.]

"I just need to keep him from thinking I played with his heart," she whispered. "And protect myself."

As her fingers moved quickly across her screen, Eleanor began editing.

Once she was done, she sent the video to Theodore.

[Host, what are you doing?]

Eleanor smirked and replied,

"I will send this video advance and act as if I sent it by mistake. In this way, even if Aurora shows the video to Theodore, he would have doubts and confront me. Then I will twist the facts and make Aurora seem the guilty party here."

...................................

Theodore’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out and blinked in surprise.

"Huh... Eleanor just sent me a video."

Aurora’s head whipped around. "Wait, what?"

Adriana leaned in. "Did she say why?"

"No," Theodore said slowly, eyes scanning the message. "She just said, ’sent by mistake’."

Aurora narrowed her eyes. "Play it. Right now."

Theodore hesitated for half a second before tapping the video.

The screen lit up with Eleanor’s familiar face, sitting in the same spot as the one in Aurora’s recording.

Her voice came through, calm and steady.

"Though Theodore is very good, and I really like him as a friend..." she paused—then, unlike before, her eyes softened and she added,

"I think I might actually have feelings for him. I’m just scared he won’t feel the same."

The video ended.

There was a beat of silence.

Aurora let out a sharp laugh, almost bitter. "Wow. Just wow."

Theodore looked stunned, eyes glued to the screen as if trying to find a glitch.

"But that’s... that’s not what she said in your video."

"Exactly," Aurora snapped.

"She edited it. She cut the parts where she denied everything and added that fake confession."

Aurora crossed her arms. "And this is the girl you’re in love with. Still think she’s too innocent to play mind games?"

Theodore didn’t reply. His jaw was tight, brows drawn together in frustration. His fingers tapped his phone again, replaying Eleanor’s version.

Her voice was so clear, so believable.

"I think I might actually have feelings for him..."

He wanted to believe it. So badly.

But his heart clenched as he remembered the hesitation in her real words, the nervous eyes, the lack of certainty, and her words stating that she doesn’t have any feelings for him.

He glanced up at Aurora and Adriana. They didn’t need to say anything.

The look they gave him said it all: She’s playing you.

"She wouldn’t..." he began, but his voice cracked. "No. That’s not like her. She wouldn’t lie like this."

Aurora sighed loudly. "You saw the original, Theo. And now you’ve seen the edited version. Don’t act blind."

Theodore rubbed his forehead, trying to make sense of it all. "But why? Why go through all this trouble?"

"To keep you," Adriana said quietly. "To keep her image. To keep your heart on a leash. Pick one."

A frustrated sound escaped Theodore’s throat.

"How is this even possible? She acted like she was scared to open up... I thought she was just shy."

Aurora shook her head. "She’s not shy. She’s strategic."

Theodore slumped back on the couch, staring up at the ceiling. He didn’t want to admit it. But deep down, a part of him knew. Eleanor had twisted the truth.

So, how many times had she lied to him?

He doesn’t know.

For the first time, Theodore felt as if he were too naive.

Aurora watched Theodore for a long moment as he slumped deeper into the couch, his expression blank. His eyes were red, though he tried to hide it.

The silence between the three of them was heavy.

Finally, she stepped forward and gently asked,

"Theo, do you want to eat something? I can make your favorite."

Adriana, who had also been watching him with concern, added quickly, "Yeah, or we can order something. Or just... hang out. You know, like old times."

Theodore gave a small, tired smile,

"I am fine. I just need to rest."

With that he will stand up and walk in his room.

Aurora nodded and got up, heading down the hall with Adriana close behind. They stopped outside Theodore’s door. Aurora hesitated, then knocked gently.

"Theo? Are you okay?" she asked, her voice gentle.

There was a pause, then a cheerful—too cheerful—reply came through the door. "Yeah, totally fine! Don’t worry about me."

Aurora and Adriana exchanged a look.

Then they started banging on the door. "Theodore," Adriana called, "open up!"

"Theo, come on," Aurora added, not bothering to hide the worry in her voice.

Finally, the lock clicked, and the door opened.

Theodore stood there, his hair slightly messy, and his eyes puffy and red. He tried to smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

"I’m fine," he mumbled. "You’re both overreacting."

Adriana didn’t wait. She stepped forward and hugged him tightly. Aurora followed suit. Theodore stood stiffly at first, then let out a slow breath and closed his eyes.

"I wasn’t crying," he said, voice low. "You’re imagining things."

Neither of them replied. They just held him tighter.

After a while, he whispered, "My leg’s aching from standing too long."

Both girls pulled back instantly and helped him sit on the bed.

"I’m not a porcelain doll," he said with a weak smile. "It’ll be fine in two days."

He looked down at his hands, then murmured, "Maybe Eleanor just didn’t want to ruin her image in my eyes."

Aurora snorted softly, touching the fading bruise on her arm. "She’s smart, I’ll give her that. And tricky. Maybe in the future she’ll try to trap you again."

She paused, her voice steady but laced with emotion. "I’m not saying you can’t be friends with her. That’s your choice. But just... remember what she’s capable of. A girl like that will land you in trouble, Theo."

Theodore didn’t argue. He just nodded slowly, his gaze fixed on the floor.

After comforting him for a while longer, Adriana and Aurora left the room, letting him rest.

Back in her own room, Aurora sat at her desk, fists clenched.

She hated seeing Theodore cry.

Opening her laptop, she typed rapidly, her fingers flying across the keyboard. She hacked into Eleanor’s phone, determined to find something—anything—she could use.

But the files were clean. Spotless. Too spotless.

Her brow furrowed. "That’s not possible."

Either Eleanor was hiding her tracks too well, or something else was protecting her.

Aurora leaned back in her chair, eyes narrowed.

It’s the system... It has to be.

Because no human girl could be that clean.

"I should start with her family...Maybe I would get some info." Aurora muttered.

................................

That entire night, Aurora used her hacking skills to get information about Eleanor’s family.

At midnight, feeling thirsty, she would walk out of the room and walk toward the kitchen.

The cold night air brushed against Aurora’s skin as she stepped out of the kitchen, a glass of water in her hand.

Her feet paused when her eyes caught a faint silhouette standing out on the balcony.

At first, her heart skipped a beat. Was that a ghost? she wondered, frozen in place.

Her instinct told her to turn back and run. But then her mind kicked in.

What if it’s a thief? What if someone sneaked in to rob us?

Gripping her glass tighter, she tiptoed toward the balcony. The figure was tall, dressed in all black, blending into the shadows.

Aurora’s throat tightened. Still, she forced herself forward, adrenaline racing through her veins.

She reached out and tapped the stranger’s shoulder with shaky fingers.

The person spun around, eyes wide in shock. "AH!"

Aurora also screamed, dropping her glass with a loud clink. "YOU?!"

It was Theodore.

Quickly, he stepped forward and covered her mouth with his hand. "Shh! Don’t shout!"

Aurora’s eyes were wide, heart pounding against her ribs. She gave a small nod, and Theodore slowly removed his hand.

They stared at each other, breathing hard, still recovering from the shock.

"What are you doing out here?" Theodore asked first, frowning.

"I came to drink water," Aurora said, voice defensive. "I didn’t know you’d be lurking around like a horror movie character!"

Theodore sighed and leaned on the railing. "I was just... admiring the view."

Aurora narrowed her eyes. "Liar."

He blinked at her, then let out a small chuckle. "Is my acting that bad?"

"Terrible," she muttered, rolling her eyes. "You wouldn’t even get cast in a school play."

That made Theodore laugh louder, a real laugh this time.

"I was actually thinking about quitting the acting industry," he said, surprising her.

Aurora’s head snapped toward him. "What? Are you serious?"

He nodded, face suddenly calm. "Yeah. Maybe it’s time."

"Is it because of Eleanor? Did she say something to you?" Aurora asked with furrowed brows

"No. Acting...doesn’t seem the same anymore." Theodore replied with a light smile, but Aurora could see the pain hidden in his smile.