Chapter 789 Secret
And then there was Ross.
Ross lounged casually in the center of the couch, legs slightly apart, wearing a sleek black button-down shirt with the top buttons undone.
He looked like he was ready for a party, not an elimination.
His expression was unreadable—calm, relaxed, almost smug—as if he already knew how the night would end.
The other housemates whispered quietly among themselves, trying not to show favoritism on camera, but it was clear who had the momentum.
Ross's presence was impossible to ignore, and even now, with the threat of elimination hanging over him, he looked completely in control.
He glanced toward the camera with a charming half-smile, then leaned toward Lily and whispered something that made her blush, despite the nerves.
Then, turning to Jason, he simply gave a small nod—a gesture that could be interpreted as respect… or dominance.
The host's voice finally echoed through the speakers, crisp and dramatic.
"Good evening, housemates. Tonight, one of you will be leaving the house for good. The viewers have cast their votes, and the results are in. Are you ready?"
A hush fell over the room. Even the confident ones fell silent.
Ross folded his arms and tilted his head slightly, still smirking.
Lily took a deep breath, her knuckles white. Jason stared at the floor, his heart pounding.
The lights dimmed, the tension skyrocketed, and everyone braced themselves for the name that would change the course of their lives inside the house.
"Our three nominated house contestants—Lily, Jason, and Big D—please step forward."
The host's voice rang through the air like a bell, commanding the attention of every person inside the house and every viewer glued to their screens.
The trio walked slowly to the center of the living room where the eviction spotlight cast its glow like a stage light.
Lily looked nervous, wringing her hands together. Jason's jaw was tight as stone.
And Ross—Big D—stood tall and confident, his hands in his pockets, a lazy smirk on his lips as if the whole thing was already decided.
"It has been one full week," the host continued, her voice smooth but charged with tension, "and during that time, the public has been voting—deciding who stays, and who leaves."
Everyone knew what was coming, but the show wasn't in any rush.
The producers had stretched the eviction segment into a full hour-long special.
Recap clips of each nominee played one by one on the screen—Lily's emotional moments, Jason's calm observations, and Ross's dominating presence and spicy romantic escapades that had turned him into an overnight sensation.
Then came the interviews.
Lily was asked how she felt, and she nearly broke into tears talking about how badly she wanted to stay and prove herself.
Jason spoke humbly, saying that he hoped his honesty and fairness were enough to earn the viewers' trust.
Ross, of course, stole the spotlight once again.
"I'm not worried," he said into the camera with that infamous cocky grin. "They know who the main character is."
The audience erupted into mixed reactions—some cheering, others laughing. The host smirked but kept the show moving.
"And now…" she said finally, holding a sleek black envelope in her hand.
The lights dimmed.
"The name I'm about to reveal belongs to the contestant who has been saved by the public and will remain in the house."
A drumroll echoed.
"Lily…" the host said, looking directly at her. "You are safe!"
Lily gasped, covering her mouth as tears immediately welled up in her eyes.
Without thinking, she turned and wrapped her arms around Ross, who caught her easily and held her tightly.
Her sobs were quiet, but genuine. She buried her face in his chest, overwhelmed with relief.
"Thank you… thank you…" she whispered.
Ross kissed her forehead gently. "I told you, angel. You're not going anywhere."
The house erupted in applause.
Even a few of the other contestants clapped, though some exchanged uncertain glances—especially Jason, who now stood beside Ross as the last two nominees.
"Which means," the host said, letting the weight of her words settle over everyone, "either Jason or Big D will be the first to leave the house tonight."
The tension snapped back like a rubber band. Everyone grew quiet.
Lily moved beside Ross again, holding his hand tightly.
"Let's now hear what the audience thinks," the host continued.
"Was Big D too much too soon? Or did Jason fail to make a lasting impression?"
Another montage rolled, this time of Ross and Jason's biggest moments in the house.
Jason's level-headed calm and diplomacy.
Ross's magnetic presence, his explosive bedroom scenes, and the countless controversies he stirred with both the men and women.
Finally, the host opened the second envelope.
"This… is it," she said. "The housemate who will be leaving the house tonight…"
The camera zoomed in on each face. Jason's. Ross's. Lily's teary, anxious stare.
"…is…"
Another drumroll.
"…Jason."
A collective gasp filled the room. Jason didn't move for a second, and then simply nodded, sighing softly.
"Big D… you are safe."
Lily immediately hugged Ross again, this time nearly leaping into his arms.
The rest of the girls, who had been sitting nearby, stood and rushed over to celebrate with him, clinging to him like he was the king who'd just won a war.
The camera caught Ross laughing softly, surrounded by beautiful women, his arms open wide as they wrapped around him in victory.
He looked into the camera with a wink.
"Like I said… main character energy."
People all around the house buzzed with speculation after the eviction night.
Whispers turned to heated debates, and even some alliances began to shift in the shadows of what just happened.
"I get why Lily got saved," one guy muttered, pacing in the hallway. "Her family's loaded—probably dropped a fortune to keep her in the game."
Another guy sitting on the couch scoffed. "Man, are you dumb? A million votes would cost like ten million bucks. No one's dropping that kind of money on a game show with a one-million-dollar prize. That's just bad business."
"Then what about Big D?" the first guy snapped. "He's not even from some crazy rich background, is he? Why the hell is he still here?"