Chapter 1

My name was Germaine Shaw. I'd just graduated from college, and my plain résumé made my job-seeking journey challenging. I'd lost the only job I'd managed to get after the internship ended because I'd turned down my superior's attempts to harass me sexually.

The difficulties faced in my job search got me down. I stayed at home all day, demotivated and depressed.

One day, while doom-scrolling, a new game caught my eye. "This is a romance game where you have all the freedom you need. Meet your destined half in the virtual world—set yourself free and release your pent-up desires!"

Judging from the tagline, I couldn't help thinking the game wasn't a proper one. However, as soon as that thought formed, my rebellious side acted up.

Since childhood, Mom and Dad had kept me on a tight leash. Despite already graduating from college, I'd yet to experience being in a relationship or dating anyone.

For whatever reason, I downloaded the game. When I entered the game after the download was completed, the raunchy start-up screen made me blush.

I flung my phone face down, leaving it there for a long while as I calmed down. Then, I picked it up again and followed the instructions, quickly customizing my avatar's appearance.

After that, I hesitated before selecting the world I wanted to play in. Ultimately, I chose a traditional setting. The screen went black for a long time before the words "Match Found" appeared on it.

A scene formed on the screen—it made me feel hot all over. I saw the female character I'd chosen lying on a bed, her gaze alluring and her clothes lying loose.

A man stood beside the bed. His face was generically handsome, and his deep-set gaze was enchanting as he stared at me. It was almost as if he wanted to see beneath my avatar at the person within.

He slowly approached me and leaned over me, pinning me to the bed. Then, he leaned close and rasped, "How are you going to reward me for helping you resolve such a huge problem, Your Highness? Gold, treasures, or…"

He paused and leaned closer. "Your body?"

His deep and sensual voice invaded my senses through my earphones. I gasped, feeling like I was experiencing this in person. At the same time, I also understood how this game worked. It was an online role-playing romance game.

I'd played games like this in the past, but my counterpart had always been the game's artificial intelligence. In this game, both players were actual people who would converse and flirt with each other.

This realization stunned me into silence. I didn't even notice the guided script that the game had provided, leaving the man waiting for a long while. "Your Highness?"

He was engrossed in the game, but I was still too shy to speak. I could only let out a dazed, "Huh?"

The other player didn't say anything for the longest time after that. I thought he was rendered speechless because I'd caught him off guard by not playing by the game's rules.

I was about to apologize when he chuckled softly. Then, he deepened his voice, making my ears tingle as he spoke. "Don't be nervous, angel. This is just a game, and we don't know each other. Don't be shy, okay? Just act according to the plot."

The way he addressed me made my mind go blank. Then, I thought of the young man staying next door—Mason Locke.

He'd just gotten into college and was cheerful and outgoing. He practically oozed youth and vivacity; he always smiled and called me "angel" whenever he saw me. The sight of his dimples charmed me.

I knew that I had feelings for him, but our age gap and my awkward personality made it hard for me to do anything about the situation.

My thoughts were interrupted by the man's urging over the phone. I apologized to him and continued the game, following the guidance and reciting my lines.

I stammered, "You're too bold, sir. Aren't you afraid I'll punish you for your indiscretion?"

I stared at the screen and watched as the man's character slowly kneeled at my feet to kiss my long legs. I didn't know where it came from, but a burst of courage suddenly overtook me. It compelled me to say something that wasn't part of the script.

"A puppy that only knows how to play hard to get can't be rewarded."

The man grunted. I watched the screen and saw him quit so abruptly that it was as if he'd been disconnected. I thought about waiting for him to come back online, but the doorbell rang just then. I had no choice but to put down my phone to answer the door.

Someone pinned me to it as soon as I opened it. Before I realized what was happening, they pressed their lips against mine.

As I struggled to break free, I saw who the person was—Mason, the man of my dreams. My struggling instantly became weaker.

He kissed me salaciously, running his tongue against my lips and slipping it into my mouth. He wrapped his arms tightly around my shoulders. The kiss dazed me, making my mind go blank. My vision blurred; I couldn't see the look on his gaze.

He released me after a while and buried his head in the crook of my neck. Then, he spoke, sounding aggrieved. "Can a courageous puppy get a reward from you, angel?"

My eyes widened in surprise, and I was at a loss for what to do. It took me a while to process what he'd said. Then, I endured the embarrassment while asking, "Were you the one who matched with me in the game?"

Mason kept his arms around me as he pushed me back inside the house. He blinked, looking pitiful. "Didn't you recognize my voice, angel? I immediately knew it was you once I heard you."

He paused and pouted. Then, he averted his gaze from me and mumbled, "You don't care about me at all."

I ignored his act and sat on the couch, asking, "Why did you lead me to say those things when you knew it was me?"

He dropped his aggrieved act and smiled slyly. It was almost as if he'd set up a trap to lure me in. "I was curious to see how far you could go, angel. I'm really sad, though…

"We were only lucky enough to get matched up because we live close to each other. Wouldn't you have said those things to another man if you matched with them tonight?"

I felt diffident and didn't know how to respond to that. All I could do was turn away and not look at him.

He didn't get mad. Instead, he watched me silently for a while before pouncing on me and pinning me to the couch.