Bankrupt Tycoon? No Problem – This Villainess Will Make Him Rich Again

Chapter 190: Chapter 193: Only One of You Can Live

"Eight Favorability points?" Renee Sinclair’s eyes widened in astonishment. "I actually... earned Favorability points from Felix Preston?"

The mechanical female voice replied, [Yes, Host. With an increase of eight Favorability points, the pain you’re enduring will be reduced by a corresponding eight percent.]

Renee Sinclair nodded. She subconsciously went to press a hand to her chest, but a twitch of her wrist reminded her that her hands were full. She couldn’t touch the spot over her heart, which was still aching with a dull numbness.

"How much time do I have left?" she asked in a cold voice, staring at the steps beneath her feet.

The mechanical female voice: [Host, you have five months left. If you still haven’t completed the mission in five months, the system will automatically initiate the obliteration procedure. When that happens, both you and I will be wiped from existence.]

"...I understand." Renee Sinclair lowered her gaze, her expression impassive, showing no particular reaction.

The mechanical female voice: [Sonia Quincy has now given birth. Not only is Felix Preston a father, but he and Sonia have also reconciled, and their relationship is sweeter than ever. Host, if you don’t take action to destroy Felix Preston’s happy family soon, it will truly be too late.]

"Hmph..." Renee Sinclair let out a cold laugh. "Take action to destroy Felix Preston’s happy family? What action do you think I can possibly take? Try the same old trick and become his mistress again?"

The mechanical female voice: [Of course not. You’ve already walked that path and failed, Host, and you’re still suffering the consequences. But if you’re in a hurry to die, you’re welcome to try it again.]

Renee Sinclair: "...So you know I’ll die if I try to be the other woman?"

The mechanical female voice: [Which is precisely why I’m suggesting you find another way, Host.]

"..." Renee Sinclair rolled her eyes at the empty air in front of her. "If I could think of another way, I never would have agreed to cooperate with Sonia in the first place."

[Hmph...]

The mechanical female voice seemed to chuckle. [Host, seeing as we’re both on the verge of death, I can offer you a new idea.]

"...What idea?" Renee Sinclair asked.

The mechanical female voice: [I can advance you some Favorability to make Sonia Quincy disappear from this world for good. You can keep her child. If you’re willing to become the child’s stepmother, I imagine Felix Preston would be very grateful.]

[For instance, just now, didn’t you receive those eight Favorability points from Felix Preston precisely because you helped his child?]

"Heh," The system’s presumptuousness made Renee Sinclair laugh. "System, you actually think Felix Preston gave me eight Favorability points just because I helped his child?"

The mechanical female voice: [Wasn’t that the reason?]

"No!" Renee Sinclair’s tone was firm, her gaze cold and resolute. "The reason Felix Preston was willing to give me those eight Favorability points has nothing to do with me helping his child. He’s dropped his hostility because I’m treating Sonia well."

"Only when I stop hurting Sonia and stop trying to destroy their relationship does he lower his defenses and give me a chance to earn Favorability!"

[So?] the mechanical female voice asked calmly.

Renee Sinclair: "So I have to understand this: my Favorability isn’t given by Felix, it’s given by Sonia. Only by treating Sonia well will Felix let me live."

"System, the key to moving Felix isn’t trust or companionship, nor is it support or protection. It’s Sonia. Only Sonia can truly move his heart."

[And?]

The mechanical female voice asked again in that same tone, [So, Host, you’ve decided to treat Sonia well from now on?]

"..." Renee Sinclair said nothing.

The mechanical female voice: [But that won’t keep you alive, Host. Without winning Felix Preston’s heart for real, your Favorability will never reach one hundred percent. And if it doesn’t reach one hundred percent, the system can’t register the mission as complete. In five months, you’ll be obliterated all the same.]

"..." Renee Sinclair bit her lip, still not saying a word.

The mechanical female voice: [Host, you’ve correctly identified the key to earning Favorability from Felix Preston, but you seem to have forgotten our mission has a time limit. Even if you can gain enough Favorability to stay alive by being nice to Sonia, you’ll never complete the mission. Sonia can’t save you. If you want to live, your only choice is to harden your heart and make her disappear.]

[I know Sonia is innocent, but it’s fated that between the two of you, one lives and one dies. It all comes down to your choice, you see.]

[Everyone in the world is selfish. I doubt anyone is magnanimous enough to trade their own life for someone else’s, are they?]

"..." Renee Sinclair sighed. "Does it have to be this way? Is it really necessary for one of us to die?"

The mechanical female voice: [Well, if you can think of a more peaceful way to make Felix Preston willingly give his heart to you, then of course Sonia doesn’t have to die.]

"..."

Renee Sinclair didn’t reply to the system. She stood there in the stairwell for a moment, head bowed, then readjusted her grip on the nutritional gifts and started up the stairs.

Outside the hospital room, a number of reporters were still milling about the corridor, disguised as family members of maternity patients. As Renee Sinclair walked past with her bags, one of them recognized her and eagerly started to rush forward for an interview.

Fortunately, the Shaw Family had arranged for bodyguards in advance. Before the reporter could corner Renee, a bodyguard materialized and intercepted them.

The reporters didn’t dare mess with these hulking figures, so they could only retreat in disappointment to wait for another chance.

CLICK—

The door to the room was pushed open gently, and a wave of joyous laughter instantly spilled out.

Members of the Shaw and Preston families, along with a few of Sonia Quincy’s close friends, were all in the room. When they saw Renee Sinclair come in, Hannah Sutton was the first to wave her over.

"Renee, come quick! Sandy’s smiling!"

"Coming." Renee Sinclair put on a smile, setting down the gifts before walking over to Hannah Sutton.

"Sandy, give us another smile."

Felix Preston held his son, rocking him gently as he patiently coaxed the baby.

"Sandy, how about another smile?"

"Come on, Sandy, be a good boy and smile again..."

As if he understood his dad’s words, Sandy immediately scrunched up his eyes, cracked a grin, and gave an obedient little smile.

"Aww..."

That little smile melted everyone’s hearts. Hannah Sutton clutched her chest, saying admiringly, "Bloom, your son is just too adorable!"

Sonia Quincy raised a proud eyebrow. "Of course he’s adorable. He’s my son."

"Sonia, look." Felix Preston brought the baby over to her. "He just smiled again."

She reached out to take the baby, and before she could even try to coax him, Sandy’s eyes crinkled and he started smiling again.

When he finished smiling, he just stared at Sonia with his big, round eyes.

Felix Preston gently pinched his cheek and said softly, "You know that’s Mommy, don’t you?"

"URP..." The little guy suddenly let out a burp, as if in response to Felix’s words.