Reign Of Loner

"We're back, Mom!" I called out, pushing the front door open and holding it for Isabel. The familiar scent of home—a mix of Mom's floral air freshener and something warm from the kitchen—greeted us.

"Hey, you two! Perfect timing!" Mom's cheerful voice floated out from the living room. "Someone came to meet us."

Isabel and I exchanged a curious glance before stepping into the entryway. My smile froze on my face, and I heard Isabel let out a small gasp beside me.

Sitting on our plush beige sofa, sipping a cup of tea as if she were a queen holding court, was a woman whose beauty could genuinely be described as intoxicating. Her platinum blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders like a waterfall of liquid silver, and her eyes, a startling shade of lilac, seemed to hold a universe of secrets. Fair, delicate skin, and lips the color of a rosy dawn. It was my Aunt Christine, Mom's younger sister.

"Aunt Chris!" Isabel squealed, dropping her bag and rushing forward.

Aunt Christine's face broke into a dazzling smile. "How are you both doing, kids?" she chimed, her voice as smooth as silk.

"We aren't kids anymore, come on," Isabel grumbled playfully, melting into our aunt's embrace.

"Okay, okay, I understand," Aunt Chris laughed, giving Isabel one last squeeze before her lilac gaze shifted to me. She looked me up and down, a slow, appraising smile spreading across her perfect lips. "Adam. You grew taller. The last time I saw you, you were just a lanky teenager."

"Yeah, I grew a little," I said, feeling a bit self-conscious under her intense stare.

"A little?" she purred, rising from the sofa and walking towards me with the fluid grace of a cat. "It looks like someone's been working out."

A grin spread across my face. "Not much, just started recently. But let's not talk about me. You're just as gorgeous as the last time I saw you. Still charming, still spectacular… my beautiful Aunt."

The words slipped out before I could stop them, smooth and confident. A faint blush colored her cheeks, and she turned to my mom with a theatrical sigh. "Sis, our little Adam has really grown up. Now he's blatantly flirting with me."

Mom chuckled from the couch. "Don't feel too special, Chris. He's been flirting with me, too."

Aunt Christine turned back to me, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "You are such a bad boy, making your aunt and your mom blush like this," she tutted, shaking her head. "Hmmm… you deserve a punishment."

Before I could even think of a witty comeback, she closed the distance and pulled me into a hug. A very, very enthusiastic hug. My face was suddenly pressed against her ample, soft breast, and the world became a suffocating, perfumed, and strangely exciting blur.

When she finally let me go, I took a deep, gulping breath. "Aunt," I said, trying to regain my composure, "what did I do to deserve that?"

"You're getting naughty," she said with a wink. "So I had to punish you."

"Then what am I supposed to call a beautiful woman like you?" I shot back with a smirk. "Just telling the truth."

Our cheerful banter filled the room with a light, happy energy. Mom and Isabel were watching us, smiling. It felt… nice. Normal.

"You know," Aunt Chris said, her tone turning more serious as she sat back down, "I'm so happy. Seeing all of you like this. The last time I was here, Adam, you were so… distant. You wouldn't leave your room, wouldn't talk to us. Joyce, Isabel, and I were so worried about you. But this… talking with you like this is just wonderful."

"Yeah," Mom agreed, her eyes soft with emotion. "We were just saying it feels like a miracle. Like our old Adam finally came back to us."

"You know what, Aunt?" Isabel piped up from her spot on the floor, where she was now leaning against Aunt Chris's legs.

"What is it, baby?"

"Adam's gotten so much nicer," Isabel said, beaming at me. "We're all really happy."

All their praise made me feel a little warm inside. "I was just immature," I said, shrugging it off. "Distracted by stupid things."

"It's okay, darling," Aunt Chris said, her voice full of genuine affection. "As long as you've come back to us, we're willing to forgive any mistake."

"Chris is right, dear," Mom added. "We all love you so much."

We continued our little family reunion, the conversation flowing easily. But then Mom glanced at the clock on the wall. "Oh, look at the time! I got so caught up in talking I completely forgot about dinner."

She started to get up, but I was already on my feet, stepping in front of her. "Mom, you rest today," I said firmly. "I'll make dinner."

The idea had popped into my head instantly. Yesterday, the system had issued a new side mission, one that was always active.

[Side Mission]: Great Son

[Objective]: Help your mom in house chores and become an ideal son.

[Duration]: Ongoing

[Penalty for Failure]: None

[Reward]: Prayer Coins, based on the amount of workload eased.

It was a perfect opportunity. Help Mom, earn some points with the family, and get rewarded by the system. A win-win-win.

Mom looked amazed. "You, Adam? Are you sure? You don't have to."

"I want to," I insisted. After a few more seconds of gentle persuasion, she finally relented, sinking back into her chair with a relieved sigh.

I headed into the kitchen, leaving the three of them to their chatter in the living room. I felt a surge of purpose. I wasn't just cooking; I was completing a mission. I decided to make my specialty: a creamy tomato and basil pasta with garlic bread on the side. Simple, but always a crowd-pleaser.

An hour later, I carried the steaming dishes out to the dining table. The aroma filled the house, and everyone's eyes lit up with curiosity.

"Wow, Adam!" Aunt Chris exclaimed as she sat down. "I never knew you were such an amazing cook, my dear nephew."

"Chris, you don't know the half of it," Mom said proudly. "Our Adam is a very experienced cook."

"Yeah!" Isabel chimed in, already twirling pasta onto her fork. "Adam's pasta is my absolute favorite."

I felt a little embarrassed by all the praise. "Please, don't praise me too much," I said, taking my seat. "I'm only good at cooking because, back in the day, Dad usually came home late. So, I ended up making dinner most of the time."

The moment the words left my mouth, the cheerful atmosphere in the room turned heavy and silent. The mention of my father always did that. He was a ghost at our table, a painful memory we all tried to avoid.

To break the sudden tension, I cleared my throat and changed the subject. "Hey, you know what I was thinking? The four of us should go somewhere. Spend some quality time together."

Isabel jumped on the idea immediately. "Yeah! Adam's right! Aunt Chris came all this way to visit, we should definitely go somewhere fun."

"I agree with the plan," Mom said, a small smile returning to her face. "But I don't think Chris will be able to. I'm sure she's very busy."

"No, no, everything's fine," Aunt Chris said, waving her hand dismissively. "I actually just completed my last shoot."

Her words hung in the air. I looked at her, confused. "What do you mean, 'last shoot'?"

She took a deep breath and looked around the table at us. "I'm retiring from my modeling career," she announced. "I've earned enough money. I'm free now. I'm even thinking of shifting closer to you guys."

For a full minute, no one said anything. Retiring? She was at the peak of her career. It didn't make sense. But seeing the look on her face, I knew now wasn't the time for an interrogation. It was time for a celebration.

"Then this is amazing news!" I declared, raising my glass of water. "Aunt, if you'd told us you were retiring, we would have thrown a grand party! But we can still celebrate. Let's have a toast! To celebrate Aunt Chris's retirement!"

"Yeah, yeah! Let's do it!" Isabel cheered, raising her glass. "A toast to one of the best models in the country!"

"To my little sister," Mom said, her eyes shining with pride.

"To my inspiration," I added with a grin.

We all clinked our glasses together. "To Christine, the best model in the country!" we shouted in unison.

Aunt Chris's eyes welled up with tears. She quickly wiped them away, but she couldn't hide her emotional smile. "You guys are so sweet," she sniffled. "Thank you so much."

"Everyone, wait here for a few minutes," I said, pulling out my phone. "I just ordered a cake. It should be on its way."

They all looked at me with shocked expressions.

"When did you do that, Adam?" Mom asked, bewildered.

"Yeah! When?" Isabel echoed.

I just gave them a smug grin. "Just now."

Everyone was pleased, the happy atmosphere fully restored. But as we laughed and talked, I couldn't shake a nagging feeling. Something was off. Aunt Chris was hiding something behind that beautiful smile. I would ask her about it later. For now, I would just enjoy the moment.

The cake arrived, we celebrated, and before we knew it, it was getting late. As we started clearing the table, Mom suddenly gasped.

"Oh my god!"

"What happened, Mom?" Isabel asked, alarmed.

"Chris came without any notice, so I didn't have time to clean the guest room! It's a mess. Where is she going to sleep?"

"Aunt can just share a room with one of us for the night," I suggested logically.

Aunt Chris immediately agreed. "Yeah, Adam's right. It's no problem."

"Chris, you can sleep with me," Mom offered.

"No, no," my aunt said, shaking her head. Then, she turned to me with a playful smile. "I'll sleep with Adam. You don't mind, do you, Adam?"

"No, I'm fine with it," I said, trying to sound casual, even though my heart skipped a beat.

"Then it's decided!" Aunt Chris declared. "I'll sleep in Adam's room. I'm going to get ready for bed now. Adam, come whenever you're ready."

She sauntered off towards my bedroom, leaving me with my mom and sister.

"Are you sure you're okay with that?" Mom asked, looking a little concerned.

"I'm okay, Mom. It's just for one night."

After they went to their rooms, I finished cleaning up the kitchen. As usual, I decided to check on Mom and give her a quick massage to help her de-stress. It was part of my 'Great Son' mission, and I had the [Skill: Expert Massager] I'd bought from the system, so it was always effective.

I knocked softly on her door before entering. She was in the middle of her nightly skincare routine, sitting at her vanity table. When she saw me in the mirror, she smiled. "What is it, darling?"

But her words barely registered. My brain short-circuited. She was wearing a delicate, lacy white lingerie set. It was elegant, but on her mature, curvaceous body, it was… breathtaking.

How erotic does she look? The thought slammed into me, unbidden. Those thick thighs, those huge breasts… she's so sensual.

I just stood there, zoned out, staring at her reflection.

"Adam? What's wrong? Are you okay?" her voice, louder this time, snapped me back to reality.

"Uh, nothing, Mom. Everything's fine," I stammered, my face heating up. "I just came to give you your massage."

"Oh, how sweet of you," she said, her voice warm. "I could really use one. My shoulders are so stiff after today."

She moved to the bed and lay on her stomach, her back to me. The lingerie was slightly see-through, and the shape of her round, full ass was clearly visible through the thin fabric. I swallowed hard, forcing the inappropriate thoughts away. I was here to be a good son, not a pervert.

I started with her shoulders and back, my fingers expertly kneading the tense muscles. She let out a soft sigh of pleasure.

"Darling, you do so much for me," she murmured. "Helping with chores, giving me massages… thank you so much."

"You work so hard for us, Mom," I replied, my voice a little rough. "I'm not doing anything special. And I'm massaging you because I love you."

"I love you too, sweetie," she said softly.

As I continued, my hands moving lower down her back, she suddenly said, "Baby, can you massage a little lower?"

My hands froze for a second before I moved them down to her backside. The moment my palms made contact with her soft, smooth skin, a jolt went through me. Her ass was so round, so bouncy. The urge to just grope her, to squeeze her, was overwhelming. I clenched my jaw, fighting for control.

She was clearly enjoying it, showering me with praises. "You have magic hands, Adam…"

Then, as I was working on a particularly tight muscle, I felt her body tense, and a soft, breathy sound escaped her lips. A moan?

I stopped immediately. "Mom? Are you okay?"

"Yes… everything's fine," she said, her voice a little strained. "It's just… you're very good at this. It's getting late now. I think you should get some sleep."

"Okay, Mom," I said, quickly standing up. "Goodnight."

I practically fled the room, my heart pounding in my chest.

(Joyce's Perspective)

I lay there, my face buried in my pillow, my body trembling. It was just like yesterday. The moment his hands touched me, I was on fire. My panties were soaked. I had tried to convince myself it was just because it had been so long since a man had touched my body. But that wasn't true. It was only when Adam touched me.

I was fine all day. But then he hugged me this morning, and I was blushing like a schoolgirl. Yesterday, I was on the verge of climaxing from his massage. Tonight, I actually moaned in front of him.

He touches me in such a caring, innocent way, but my mind… my mind goes to such weird, taboo places. For a second tonight, when he first came in, I thought I saw him staring. Not like a son looks at his mother, but like a man looks at a woman. No, no, that must have been my imagination. My sweet Adam is just trying to help me, and here I am, thinking these erotic thoughts.

But I can't deny it. I can't deny the conclusion I've come to. I only get this excited when he touches me. But why? Why the hell am I so turned on by my own son? My love juice is practically dripping out of me. This is so indecent. I am so frustrated with myself.

(Joyce's Perspective ends)

I went straight to my room, needing to clear my head. When I walked in, I found Aunt Chris already lying on my bed. She looked like a sleeping goddess. She'd changed into her pajamas—a pink silk camisole with thin straps and matching shorts that did very little to hide her perfect figure. I was enchanted all over again.

What the hell is wrong with me tonight? I thought, shaking my head. I remembered what the system had said, that missions appear because of my own desires. The thought made my mind even more unstable.

I quietly lay down on the bed beside her.

"Where were you?" she asked softly, her eyes fluttering open.

"You're still awake," I said, surprised. "I was giving Mom a massage. She said I have miracle hands. Do you want one?"

She laughed, a low, musical sound. "I'd love to try, but not today. Besides," she added, turning to face me, "it looks like we're going to be living together for a while. There will be plenty of time."

I looked at her, the earlier nagging feeling returning. "Aunt Chris… I know you didn't just randomly give up modeling and retire. Tell me what really happened."

She turned away, avoiding my gaze. "Everything is fine. I just wanted to rest and spend time with all of you."

I wasn't buying it. I looked into her eyes, channeling some of the intimidating aura I'd been developing. "Come on, tell me. I might not be able to help, but I know one thing for sure. That's not the truth."

My directness broke through her defenses. Her beautiful face crumpled, and she started sobbing quietly.

"Oh, Adam," she cried, her voice muffled by the pillow. "I didn't want to give up. But that scumbag manager of mine… he wanted me to sell myself to get more important roles. Everyone… every producer, every director… they were all trying to sleep with me. My dignity is more important than my career. So I left that disgusting industry. I'd rather give up on my dream than sleep with a bunch of random pigs."

Hearing her story, I felt a wave of sympathy, but it was quickly overshadowed by a profound sense of admiration.

"That's why you're my inspiration, Aunt," I said, my voice filled with sincerity. "I'm so proud of you. You're the bravest person I've ever met. You were willing to give up your childhood dream to protect yourself. You deserve my respect. You are my pride, Mom's pride, and Isabel's pride. I support you. And I really love you for it."

I meant every word. She looked up at me, her tear-streaked face full of surprise. "You're still so mature for your age," she whispered. "This secret has been eating me up inside, but telling you… I feel lighter. Thank you, Adam. You're so sweet." She managed a small, watery smile. "If we weren't related, I would have definitely dated you."

The comment hung in the air, making things a little awkward for a second. But then she just shook her head, as if dismissing the thought. "Now," she sighed, "I think I can finally sleep peacefully."

I started stroking her hair gently, smoothing it back from her forehead.

"What are you doing?" she asked, her voice sleepy.

"I'm helping you to sleep, Aunt."

"Oh, gosh," she murmured, her eyes closing. "I think the roles are supposed to be reversed… but I'm liking this."

A few minutes later, her breathing evened out, and she was fast asleep.

I lay there in the dark, my mind buzzing. I quietly summoned my status white screen. The moment I did, a flurry of notifications popped up.

[You have received 240 Prayer Coins!] [You have received 150 Fear Coins!]

How did I get so many? I asked the system mentally.

[Prayer Coins awarded for: easing your mother's workload, gaining a devotee's admiration(Ken), consoling your aunt, apologizing to your sister, and helping your friend Jack. Many students are inspired by your victory over the bullies Charles and Joey.]

[Fear Coins awarded for: defeating and humiliating Joey and Charles, accepting Stacy's challenge, and creating an imposing and dominant aura among your peers.]

That made sense. But there was more.

[Side Mission]: Saviour

[Objective]: Save your friend Jack.

[Duration]: None

[Penalty for Failure]: No penalty

[Reward]: Skill: [Experience Strategist], Passive Skill: [Self-healing]

I almost sat bolt upright in bed. Two new skills!

[Skill Explanation: [Experienced Strategist] is a unique and powerful skill. With it, you can analyze any situation and formulate multiple effective plans, turning the tide of any conflict if used correctly. [Self-healing] is a lifeline in battle. During any moment of rest, your health and stamina will automatically begin to rejuvenate.]

Excitement coursed through me. These were game-changers. I immediately opened my full status page to see the changes.

Status:

Name: Adam Wilson

Strength: 80

Agility: 74

Endurance: 70

Mentality: 92

Intelligence: 90

Mana: 50

Potential: Undetectable

Skills: [Normal Close Combat], [Boxing Proficiency], [Weapon Expertise], [Expert Massager], [Experienced Strategist]

Passive Skills: [Great Leader], [Self-healing]

Coins: [Prayer Coin: 280], [Fear Coin: 150]

Looking at my updated status, a deep sense of satisfaction washed over me. The challenges were immense, but I was growing stronger. Much stronger. Lying there in the quiet room, next to my sleeping aunt, I felt a fragile peace settle over me before I finally drifted off to sleep.