Chapter 48: Being Bennett was easy for betty

Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Being Bennett was easy for betty After steadying her breath, Betty forced her legs to move and staggered back toward her apartment. On the stairwell, she paused, brows rising when she spotted Claire in uniform climbing the steps. Feeling the weight of her gaze, Claire turned, blinking in surprise."Huh? Miss, why haven’t I seen you around here before? Are you visiting a resident?" Betty shook her head, her lips tugging into an awkward half-smile. ’Why does it feel like being Bennett was easier... better than having to explain this nonsense to everyone?’ She cleared her throat. "Ahem... I’m Bennett. Don’t you remember?" Claire’s eyes flicked up the stairs toward Betty’s apartment door, then back at her face."...Are you joking with me?" Betty quickly launched into recounting her "tear baby" behavior, grasping for proof. "Alright, alright—enough details," Claire interrupted, holding up a hand. She leaned in, narrowing her eyes as she stepped closer. Her face hovered only inches from Betty’s. "Hm... you’re still handsome. I’m okay with it," Claire murmured under her breath. Betty’s lips twitched. With a groan, she covered her face with one hand and gently pushed Claire back a step."Don’t come so close, and what do you mean ’okay with it’?" "U-uh—h-hurgh—hey, that’s rude! You can’t just push me away like that!" Claire stammered, her cheeks burning red as she scrambled for excuses, clearly trying to change the subject. Betty narrowed her eyes, one hand settling on her hip as she watched Claire fidget, waving her hand awkwardly while her cheeks flushed crimson. "Cough, cough... o-okay, I believe you. Go on now, I still have my duties to attend to," Claire muttered before hastily turning away. Betty’s gaze lingered on her retreating back, her lashes lowering in thought.’Strange... why didn’t she question why I was pretending to be a man?’ As soon as Claire disappeared from view, Betty ascended the stairs and made her way to her apartment. Click. She pushed the door open and collapsed onto the bed, her body sprawled halfway off the edge, face buried in the pillow. "Man... that was intense," she muttered, her voice muffled. "Did the original Betty want to meet Emma? Is that why those feelings hit me so hard?" Rolling over, she stared up at the stark white ceiling, her chest rising and falling with a slow breath. "Then... is the real Betty still inside me somewhere? Or are these just her lingering emotions?" ’Does that mean... I’m forcefully taking someone else’s life?’She froze, the thought weighing heavily. ’Wait... did I just go soft?’ Sitting up, she pinched her chin hard until it reddened, trying to ground herself. "Huh... if it were the old me, I wouldn’t have cared about something like this. So why does it feel... wrong now?" --- "Princess, did that friend of yours leave?" Emma descended the staircase, her earlier tears erased, a gentle smile gracing her lips. Lilian, seated on the couch, lifted her head toward her."Yes, Mom. They’ve already gone." Emma nodded softly, coming down the last steps. She sat beside Lilian and gently took her daughter’s hand, curling her fingers around it. "Princess... do you know who that friend of yours was?" Lilian’s eyes flickered, her smile tightening into something forced."Ahaha... Mom, she’s just a friend of mine. Ahem... why do you ask?" Emma shook her head faintly, closing her eyes as if listening to her heart. "When I looked at her... I felt something. Even though her face is a little different, I could swear... she’s mine. I could feel it in my heart, like she’s my daughter." Emma’s eyes widened, and she quickly turned to Lilian, guilt flashing across her face. "I’m sorry, dear. I know you still carry fear in your heart... but I can’t bear to let her go. I’m still angry at James for making that decision—and furious that he dared to send those papers." Fresh tears welled in her eyes. Lilian leaned in, wrapping her arms around her mother and gently resting her head on her shoulder. Emma’s voice trembled. "I still can’t imagine... how my daughter must have felt when she saw those papers. She must have been shattered inside." Lilian felt the damp warmth spreading across her shoulder. With a soft sigh, she threaded her fingers gently through Emma’s hair. "Mom... I’ve already told you. I don’t fear my sister anymore. And I understand how much you’re hurting." Emma shook her head against her daughter’s shoulder, her voice breaking. "I know, dear. But you only said that after the apocalypse began. Before then... even hearing Betty’s name would frighten you." Lilian’s lips twitched, her thoughts turning bitter. ’That original Lilian could’ve won an award if the apocalypse hadn’t happened—acting her whole life without a slip.’ A sudden ding echoed in her mind. [Objective 9: Allow Emma to meet with the female lead’s body—without revealing she is her daughter. Reward: Friendly points of female lead +6, current points -1.] Her brow furrowed, a deep frown cutting across her face.’What the hell? Why can’t Mom know before they meet?’ Her fingers curled into fists on her lap. And why... why are the last two tasks only about Betty? Before this, the system never once forced anything connected to her. She glanced back at the translucent screen, her lips twitching when her eyes landed on Betty’s stats. The Friendly Points had slipped below neutral, dipping into the negative. ’What the—? Why is it negative now? Last I checked, it was neutral.’ Her jaw tightened. ’System, explain.’ [Answer: The female lead is currently experiencing mild hatred toward the host.] A metaphorical question mark popped above Lilian’s head. ’Hatred? For me?’ Her brows knitted tighter. ’I didn’t even do anything! Even with the original Lilian, her feelings were neutral. So what changed?’ "Princess, can you call that friend of yours again? I just want to meet her." Turning her head, Lilian blinked, seeing Emma’s bloodshot eyes and her pale face. "Okay, Mom, I will, but I think I cant call her right now, she should be outside base." Emma nodded ligtly, and mumble to herself. "I understand, but call her when she come."