Dark Lord Seduction System: Taming Wives, Daughters, Aunts, and CEOs novel Chapter 69

Chapter 69: Price of Patience

I gave her my most respectful nod—the kind I usually reserved for judges, clients, and scary women with high emotional intelligence.

"Nice to meet you, Maria."

"Ah, el novio!" Maria said, looking me up and down with the kind of assessment that only mothers and mother-figures could pull off. "Madison talks about you constantly."

"All good things, I hope," I said, and Maria laughed.

"Mostly good things," she said with a wink that made Madison blush.

"Maria!" Madison protested, but she was trying not to laugh.

"I’m just teasing, mija," Maria said gently. "It’s good to see you happy."

The genuine affection between Madison and Maria was obvious, and I realized that this woman was probably more of a parent to Madison than her actual parents who were always traveling for business.

She smiled again, but this time it was warmer. Like I’d passed the first test. "If you’re hungry, I made arroz con pollo. It’s still warm."

God help me—I almost proposed on the spot.

"Thank you," I said, and meant it.

"Buenas noches, señorita Madison," Maria said with a warm smile. "Your parents called—they’ll be in San Francisco until Tuesday."

"Gracias, Maria," Madison replied, then turned to me. "My parents are always traveling for business. I’m used to it."

The way she said it tried to sound casual, but I could hear the loneliness underneath. Growing up in a mansion but spending most nights alone probably sucked more than growing up poor with a family that actually gave a shit about you.

"I’m gonna go shower and get ready for bed," Madison said, taking my hand. "You want to wait in my room?"

"Sure," I said, following her up the massive staircase that probably cost more than my entire house.

Madison’s bedroom was exactly what you’d expect from a rich girl, but somehow it felt more personal than the rest of the house. Photos of friends, books that looked actually read, clothes draped over chairs like a normal teenager’s room instead of a museum display, thngs that I didn’t see in the first visit.

"Make yourself comfortable," Madison said, grabbing pajamas from her walk-in closet. "I’ll be quick."

While she showered, I sat on her bed—which was bigger than my entire bedroom—and tried to process everything that had happened today. When the week started, I was a poor kid with supernatural abilities. Tonight, I was sitting in a mansion, dating a girl who was destined to inherit a real estate empire, with $300,000 in my bank account and profitable trades running on my phone.

Life really does come at you fast sometimes.

Madison came out of the bathroom wearing silk pajamas that probably cost more than my car, her hair damp and her face clean of makeup. She looked younger like this, more vulnerable. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

"You look beautiful," I said, and meant it completely.

"Shut up," she said, but she was smiling as she climbed into bed. "Come here."

I kicked off my shoes and lay down next to her, pulling her close so her head was resting on my chest. The room was quiet except for the sound of our breathing and the distant hum of city traffic far below.

"Peter?" Madison said softly.

"Yeah?"

"Sing for me."

I laughed. "What?"

"You heard me. I want you to sing me to sleep."

"Madison, I don’t really—"

"Please?" she said, looking up at me with those eyes that could probably convince me to rob a bank if she asked nicely enough.

The thing is, the system had downloaded pretty much every skill imaginable, including musical abilities I’d never had before. I could probably play any instrument, sing in any style, compose symphonies if I wanted to.

"What do you want me to sing?" I asked.

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