My Abuse System Matched Me with a Lovesick Male Lead

Sean Parker's first love, Thea Smith, is back. The comments flood in, as everyone is waiting for me to frame her and then get brutally exposed. But the system I'm bound to is an angst system. So, I can only earn points by suffering. Only with full points can I win ten billion dollars. I'm scratching my head as to how to rack up points when Thea suddenly cuts her own face with a knife. She points at me accusingly and cry, "Why did you ruin my face?" I'm overjoyed. It's finally here—this is the part where I get tormented! But Sean points to the corner coldly. "The surveillance camera is on. Do you want me to replay it?" The air freezes, and I see a line of text appear above her head. It reads, [Angst Points: +25] Countless comments pour in like a frenzy. "Holy crap! Is Thea also bound to a system?" "No way. Are both the evil supporting character and the scheming female lead players who are farming points?" I look at the 25 points Thea scored so easily and think about the 15 points I've painfully accumulated over six years. I clench my fists. This isn't some tragic romance story. It's clearly a cutthroat competition between players! In that case, it is time for me to fight back. Chapter 1 In that instant, the comments section went wild. "Stella can't keep her expression in check anymore!" "I mean, even without the supporting female lead's move, the female lead will still gain points if she puts the male lead through the original angst-filled plotline. I'm betting on the female lead!" "It's a pure cutthroat competition!" I found it completely unfair! It was a clear case of the system abusing its power! "I need you to take Ms. Smith to the guest room and call Dr. Lewis over." Sean Parker's voice snapped me back to reality. He then turned to me and said indifferently, "I need you to come with me, Stella." Those in the comments section were still spamming frantically. "Thea should be at 30 points now. Stella only has 15 points. She's falling way behind!" "It's so cutthroat! I bet those working for the system are having it rough!" "It seems like Mr. Parker isn't sticking to the plotline either—Stella will have a tough time getting points now!" I was completely frustrated that a rival had suddenly shown up, getting in my way of winning the ten-billion-dollar prize. Sean turned to look at me once the study door closed, cutting us off from the outside world. "You're acting strange, Stella." He looked at me sharply. "You were falsely accused, yet you weren't furious. You even seemed… to be looking forward to it." I instantly felt a shiver run down my spine. Sean's observation skills were too frightening. "D-did I seem like that?" Sean's gaze remained locked on mine. I felt uncomfortable under his intense gaze. "I'll take my leave now if there's nothing else, Mr. Parker." I had to rethink my point-earning scheme. Thea Smith, my rival, was too cutthroat. She'd immediately scored 25 points by pretending to be the victim. Sean, on the other hand, wasn't following the plotline. It was impossible to keep going like this! Suddenly, Sean said, "You'll be staying in the guest room tonight since Thea is currently occupying your room." I froze for a moment, though I was secretly ecstatic. After all, I knew that having Thea—Sean's first love—snatch my room was a classic plot point in an angst-filled storyline. I felt that this wave of angst had to be worth at least five points. Sean shot me a scrutinizing look. "Got it, Mr. Parker," I replied before I turned to leave in a hurry. I had just grabbed the door handle when I suddenly heard Sean's voice from behind me. "You and Thea are being really strange. I have no idea what you're up to, but you'd better not take it too far under my watch, Stella." Those in the comments section went wild again. "Mr. Parker looks so cool saying that!" "Stella's eyes suddenly lit up! She is definitely plotting how to exploit the system for extra points!" "I can't believe that the dual-system player is being warned by the NPC!" I pulled the door open and said without looking back, "You can rest assured that I'll be very well-behaved, Mr. Parker." I was walking down the hallway when the system notification sounded. [Detected: "Room Change" event] [Origin: Sean's subjective arrangement] [Emotional Damage Rating: Low] [Angst Points: +1] [Current Progress: 16/100] I was on the verge of protesting when I found out that I had only gained one point, but then I suddenly heard a noise coming from the second floor. Thea was standing at the head of the stairs with gauze on her face. She smiled at me subtly, looking gentle and dignified. Chapter 2 Thea then raised her hand and tapped her forehead lightly—a quick, fleeting gesture, but the defiance in it was unmistakable. She was telling me that her points were higher than mine—that the game was already hers. In that instant, the comments section flashed before my eyes. "35 points for the female lead for now!" "You can do this, Stella! You're only 19 points away!" I clenched my fists. I would show her exactly what real high-stakes point-grinding looked like. It was 2:00 am when footage of Thea clutching her bleeding face went viral and topped the trending list, with several trending hashtags. #SeansFianceeDisfiguresHisFirstLove #StellasTrueColorsRevealed #StayStrongThea I was being dragged by the entire online community as a cold-blooded villain. I stared at my phone, feeling thrilled. This massive wave of online harassment probably fell under "medium social harm", which had to be at least worth 15 points. "Has Stella lost her mind? How could she cyberbully herself?" "If the male lead blames the female lead for this, isn't Stella gifting the female lead free points?" "Stella has to have a Plan B. Otherwise, this plan is just plain stupid!" Of course I had a backup plan. I rubbed my eyes to make them look bloodshot and teary before I acted all guilty and walked toward the study. I noticed Sean sitting there, staring at the trending page filled with malicious posts. "I'm so sorry, Sean. I'm the one who posted the video using an alternate account registered under my name." Sean cocked his brow slightly. I forced out a few tears, adding, "I was just scared you guys would get back together. I wanted to frame Ms. Smith so you'd see her as manipulative and despise her… I didn't expect it to blow up like this. What should I do now, Sean?" I sneaked a look at him, wanting to see his reaction. I wanted him to blow up and lash out at me. I needed those points. Sean didn't lose his temper right away. He leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers on the desk as his gaze swept over me. He then repeated what I said. "You used your alternate account that was registered under your name?" "Yes, I registered that account using my information." It was suddenly silent all over—a heavy, unsettling quiet that made my pulse race. I frantically called out to the system in my mind. "Where are my points? Hurry up and validate it now! He's going to lose it any second!" Out of nowhere, Sean's laughter broke the silence. He then asked, "You know your right pinky curls up every time you lie, right, Stella?" I froze instantly. He closed his laptop and continued, "Did you post that video to set her up, or was it… to make everyone turn on you, Stella?" I felt a jolt of alarm, wondering how he had seen through my entire plan. Sean rose from his seat and grabbed his coat. "I'll deal with the social media fallout, and as for your part in this…" He walked toward the doorway, his voice tinged with a faint, almost imperceptible trace of resignation, while saying, "You shouldn't do something so foolish again, Stella." I stood there, stunned. I then whispered, "What about my points, System?" [System Decision: Social harm has occurred, but the target subject didn't exhibit clear anger, blame, or other negative sentiment.] [Angst Points: +5] [Current Progress: 21/100] I nearly stopped breathing from shock when I realized that I had only gained five points. Those in the comments section burst out laughing. "Stella went all out with those moves but ended up with that pathetic result!" "That male lead definitely treats the supporting female lead differently. He didn't even scold her for this." "Mr. Parker is on another level—Stella doesn't stand a chance!" "Hold on! Here comes the female lead!" It was then that the door to the study swung open, and Thea walked in elegantly. She looked smug and satisfied, even with the bandage still covering her injury. She whispered, "How does it feel to have your plan blow up in your face?" I pointed at my face and replied, "It's nothing compared to the pain of being disfigured." Thea's smile faltered. She suddenly furrowed her brow, pressed her hand to her upper abdomen, and turned ghastly pale. In that instant, the comments section erupted with excitement. "Here we go! Here comes the major tragic plot point!" "That female lead was rushed to the hospital after her stomach ailment flared up, and the male lead, caught up in the chaos caused by the supporting female lead, couldn't be there for her. She wept alone all through the night until morning." "That scene was utterly heart-wrenching. It's easily worth a minimum of 20 points!" Chapter 3 I felt a sharp pang in my chest after hearing that Thea would obtain 20 points. I wasn't about to just stand by and let her swoop in and take it all. Thea was rushed to the hospital, while Sean was still at the office, cleaning up the mess I had created. I watched the ambulance's tail lights fade into the distance and made a snap decision. I pulled on a mask and a hat, then made a beeline for Parker Group. I pushed open the door once I noticed that the lights in the CEO's office were still on. "You should go check on Thea—she's in the hospital right now for her stomach ailment." Sean looked up from the pile of documents with dark circles under his eyes. "There are doctors at the hospital." "Thea needs you by her side," I said, refusing to back down. Sean set his pen aside and fixed me with a sharp look. "What are you playing at, Stella? You're the one who was worried about us getting back together, weren't you?" I faltered, then scrambled to cover my tracks. "I just think that if the press catches us visiting her at the hospital together, those rumors about us being at odds will disappear on their own. It's a smart PR move for both you and Parker Group." Sean watched me in silence, his eyes searching as if to strip away my every pretense. "Do you really mean that, Stella?" … In the hospital ward, Thea nearly lost her composure at the sight of Sean and me. She quickly forced herself back into character, resting weakly against the bed. "You guys didn't have to come over. I'm doing fine. It's just a recurring ailment." "You should stay here with Ms. Smith, Sean," I thoughtfully suggested. Sean's gaze turned probing as he looked at me once more. I explained, "I'm sure Ms. Smith must be feeling miserable being all alone in the hospital." Thea gently refused the suggestion, saying, "I don't think that's a good idea. I mean, the public hasn't calmed down yet, and if you are caught staying here with me, the netizens will only be more certain that Ms. Stewart's jealousy led to my injury. You two should head back together. I'll be fine on my own, Mr. Parker." It was a brilliant reverse-psychology play. If I actually took her advice and left, her "lonely hospital stay" would have sent the emotional damage through the roof. Those in the comments section had already reached a fever pitch. "That female lead is playing 4D chess while everyone else is playing checkers!" "Stella actually assisted her rival!" "Does Mr. Parker trust anyone at all? He seems to be suspicious of everyone right now." Sean was swayed by Thea's reasoning. He told Thea to get some rest before turning to me, saying, "Let's go, Stella." I suddenly said, "Hold on." I wracked my brain as they turned their attention to me. I had to stop things from playing out like this. "I agree with you, Ms. Smith. It would look terrible if Sean were caught here by himself, especially with the rumors still going around." I added softly, "Ms. Smith just returned from abroad, and now she's even hospitalized. It wouldn't be right to leave her here without anyone to look after her, Sean. Those stomach pains can be absolutely agonizing." I hesitated briefly before continuing, "Why don't both of us stay with her tonight, Sean?" There was a momentary lull in the hospital ward. Sean cocked his brow, obviously caught off guard by my suggestion. Thea's expression nearly faltered. "I wouldn't want to impose on you both like this. I—" I cut her off, saying, "It's no trouble at all. I'm partly responsible for the drama on the trending list, so the least I can do is stay here and look after you tonight." In that instant, the comments section blew up. "Is this Stella's latest move? A sleepover for three in the hospital ward?" "Is this some kind of twisted comedy? Thea is about to lose her composure!" "Stella knows exactly how to shake things up!" Sean suddenly grabbed my wrist with enough force to nearly snap my wrist, dragging me out of the hospital ward before I could say a word. He towered over me in the sterile glow of the hallway, his shadow engulfing me. He growled, his voice carrying suppressed rage, "Stella…" "Yes?" He hovered over me, his presence cold and overbearing. "You were so keen to have me come to the hospital tonight. Was it truly for Parker Group's reputation or merely to make her miserable?" I felt a shiver run down my spine, along with a heavy, stifling weight in my chest. Chapter 4 It was then that the system notification sounded. [Detected: "Misunderstood and Pressured" event] [Origin: Sean's subjective intimidation] [Emotional Damage Rating: High] [Angst Points: +50] [Current Progress: 71/100] I was finally ahead with 71 points, but I couldn't bring myself to feel happy about it. Sean returned to the hospital ward to grab his coat. He then turned to Thea and said, "I've got a meeting to get to, so you should get some rest, Thea." I was practically dragged along and shoved into the car. I could feel the stifling atmosphere during the drive back, along with a dull, agonizing pain in my chest. "It's a shame that Mr. Parker ended up leaving. Thea actually managed to score ten points." "Stella got 50 points! That move paid off big time!" "Stella seems to be catching feelings. She must have suffered real heartache to earn those 50 points." "You have to hang in there, Stella—money matters more than men!" I couldn't help but wonder if I had actually caught feelings for Sean. I immediately pushed that thought away, thinking that no man was worth more than a ten-billion-dollar payout. I couldn't possibly have caught feelings for him. I was certain that the 50 points were nothing more than a plot requirement. It wasn't long before we pulled up into the garage of the Parker residence. Sean turned off the engine but remained inside the car. He asked flatly, "What kind of game are you and Thea playing exactly, Stella?" I felt a sharp pang of tension, but I quickly plastered a guileless grin on my face. "I'm afraid I don't follow, Mr. Parker—" Sean directly cut me off and accurately uttered two specific terms. "Points? Scores?" I instantly felt my blood run cold. How did he find out about it? How was that possible? Sean's gaze was piercing. "You and Thea had been acting weird ever since she returned from abroad. Thea is staging herself as a 'damsel in distress', while you're constantly putting yourself in the line of fire and getting blamed for being the villain. "What exactly are you two fighting over, Stella? And I'm just the scoring metric for this game, aren't I?" I opened my mouth to say something, but I was so choked up that nothing came out. I was completely struck dumb. Those in the comments section instantly went into a frenzy. "Holy shit! Mr. Parker saw right through the game!" "Is the NPC actually gaining self-awareness? I never saw this plot twist coming!" "Does that mean the male lead has been watching the whole time? That's honestly so terrifying!" "I-I…" I couldn't even think of a single response. Sean suddenly leaned back into his seat and closed his eyes. He opened them again, and this time, they were filled with nothing but profound weariness. He didn't press any further, merely saying, "Get out of the car." … I tossed and turned all night, Sean's haunting question playing on loop in my mind. I wondered exactly how much he had figured out and if he was going to compromise my strategy. I refused to just wait for the axe to fall. Instead, I started piecing together a risky new plan. I made a point of meeting a handsome "temporary boyfriend" outside our place the following morning. I made sure we were positioned so that someone could snap a photo that looked intimate from the right angle. I knew Sean's mother, Maddie Johnson, had people keeping watch near the residence, so this was an opportunity I couldn't pass up. That evening, I was summoned to the main hall, just as I had hoped. The air was thick with tension. Maddie and Sean's father, Jared Parker, were seated in the main seats with somber expressions. Thea was present as well, gauging the situation with a calculating look. Jared threw a stack of photos on the coffee table and bellowed, "What's the meaning of this, Stella?" Maddie didn't bother holding back. "How can you be so shameless? You ought to know that the Parker family will never accept a daughter-in-law like you! Your engagement to Sean is over. Pack your things and leave immediately!" I knew it was finally my cue. I threw myself into the role, my voice trembling with feigned desperation as I cried, "It's not what it looks like! He's just a friend! I'm sincerely in love with Sean!" Maddie sneered. "You call this sincerity? Do you not see the photos on the coffee table? Do you take us for fools, Stella?" It was then that Thea grabbed Maddie's arm and said reassuringly, "Please calm down, Maddie. I'm sure Ms. Stewart didn't mean any harm. She might have just been reckless for a moment. "You know how social people are these days—it's common to have close friends of the opposite gender. It could just be the way the photo was taken, Maddie." Chapter 5 I instantly realized that Thea was preventing me from racking up points. Those in the comments section realized it too. "Wow! Thea has gotten smarter! She's doing a reverse play now!" "She stood up for Stella, which stopped Stella from earning points for being falsely accused!" "It's a battle between two experts, where every move is decisive!" I realized things were taking a turn for the worse. If Jared and Maddie were swayed by Thea, all my acting would have been for nothing. I was just about to double down when Sean, who had been standing silently in the shadows, walked out. His gaze was no longer probing or weary. Instead, it was a freezing, penetrating stare marked by a visible trace of revulsion that seemed to see through everything. "You can drop the act now, Thea. I'll get to the bottom of the situation with the photos, Mom and Dad, but before I do, I have something I'd like to ask." He looked at Thea and asked, "How credible are her words if she is capable of harming herself just to frame someone before putting on a show of kindness to confuse us further?" Thea turned pale in an instant—and this time, her reaction was genuine. Just as I had expected, the comments section relayed the whole situation. "Holy shit! Thea suffered multiple blows—her true self exposed, the male lead's complete disgust, and her plan completely ruined!" "Oh my god! Thea's emotional damage rating is off the charts, gaining her 50 angst points!" "Thea's current progress is 93/100!" "Holy! That really did a number on her!" "Thea is at 93 points now, Stella!" I felt a massive jolt of shock, and at that exact moment, my system notification sounded. [Detected: Multi-Trigger Event—"Slandered for Cheating" and "Severely Humiliated by Elders and Forced to Terminate the Engagement"] [Origin: Jared and Maddie exerted direct pressure, but the points have been halved because the mission target took your side] [Angst Points: +20] [Current Progress: 91/100] I felt my heart racing when I realized I had reached 91 points. I only needed 9 more points! Thea made her move just then. She rose to her feet and offered Jared and Maddie an apologetic bow. "Please don't blame Ms. Stewart for this, Jared and Maddie, as I'm the one at fault here. "I never should have returned from abroad. My presence has disturbed Sean and Ms. Stewart's lives, driving her to do such… irrational things." She then turned toward Sean and said, "I'm so sorry, Sean. I'll get out of your way and never bother you or show up in front of you again." Having said that, she clutched her chest and stumbled toward the door. In that instant, everyone in the comments section blew up. "Here it comes—the ultimate play for sympathy!" "Thea is going for it! She's gunning for a perfect score with the 'heartbroken exit' scene!" "You have to stop her, Stella! She'll win if she manages to leave!" "Is Mr. Parker going to let her walk out?" I couldn't let her scheme succeed. I nearly spoke up right then and there. "Hold on," Sean suddenly said. Thea froze mid-step. "You're using a retreat as an attack to gain pity, aren't you? Do you plan to collapse at the entrance just to show off how much you've 'sacrificed' and been 'wronged', Thea?" Sean asked. "Holy shit! Mr. Parker is absolutely savage!" "Sean's words hit deep! He basically shredded the female lead's script and then ground it under his heel!" "Did you see the female lead's expression? She's actually losing it!" "Where's the system? Give the score already!" It was then that the system popped up and made an announcement. [Update: Thea was struck by "Complete Exposure and Public Mockery of Ultimate Intent", "Total Destruction of Dignity", and "Reaching the Pinnacle of Hopelessness"] [Emotional Damage Rating: Catastrophic] [Angst Points: +8] [Thea's Current Progress: 99/100] Thea was at 99 points, lacking only one point.