[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-born-into-villain-s-family-i-have-a-200-rebate-s":3,"chapter-born-into-villain-s-family-i-have-a-200-rebate-s-born-into-villain-s-family-i-have-a-200-rebate-s-chapter-241":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Born Into Villain's Family: I Have a 200\\% Rebate System",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1491876,1939,"Chapter 241: Communication","born-into-villain-s-family-i-have-a-200-rebate-s-chapter-241",241,"\u003Cp>Aurora’s throat tightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What did he mean?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I always see you,\" he continued, eyes still staring into nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Every time I close my eyes... or even when I’m awake... you’re there. I talk to you. I imagine what you’d say. And now... now the illusion is talking back to me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurora felt like she couldn’t breathe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Spencer,\" she whispered again. \"I’m not an illusion. I’m really here. It’s me. Aurora.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spencer let out a short, dry laugh. It didn’t sound happy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked back at her with tired, glassy eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah... sure. That’s what the last one said too. And the one before that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s really me,\" she said again, her voice cracking. \"I saw the post. I heard the audio. I know what it sounded like, but it’s not true. I came straight here because I was scared... scared that you’d be upset.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spencer rubbed his eyes and shook his head slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You always say the right thing,\" he muttered. \"Even my imagination knows how to make it sound real now. That’s messed up, huh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurora reached out and gently took his hand in both of hers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m not in your head, Spencer,\" she said, looking straight into his eyes. \"I’m here. I promise. I’m real. Please... look at me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spencer finally looked at her again, longer this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His brows furrowed. His lips parted slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something in his eyes changed—just a little. Like maybe... maybe he was starting to believe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then he pulled his hand away and shook his head again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re not real,\" he said softly. \"Because if you were real... you wouldn’t come back after hurting me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurora felt her heart break a little more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I didn’t mean to hurt you,\" she whispered. \"Please... just let me explain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Spencer leaned back against the couch again, covering his face with one hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m tired, Aurora,\" he whispered. \"Even fake you... is too much right now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurora didn’t know what else to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurora sat there, still on the floor, her knees aching, her heart even more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, in a small voice, she asked, \"Why... why do you think I wouldn’t come back to you? After everything?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spencer was quiet for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he looked down at his hands and whispered,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because you don’t care about me, Aurora. You never did. Why would you? Why would you even wonder if I was hurt?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurora felt like someone had punched her in the chest. Her breath caught. Her hands curled into fists on her lap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s not true,\" she said softly, her voice shaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I do care. I care about you a lot. But I... I just don’t know how to show it. Sometimes everything feels too big. Too loud. It’s all new to me, and I mess up because I get scared too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spencer looked up slowly, his eyes wide and watery. He looked at her like a sad puppy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Really?\" he whispered. \"You’re telling the truth?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurora nodded slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stood up and gently sat down beside him on the couch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she wrapped her arms around him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I care about you, Spencer,\" she whispered in his ear, holding him close. \"I just... don’t always know how to say it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spencer’s eyes blinked slowly like he was trying to believe it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurora leaned back a little, still holding his hand, and added,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And about Aiden... we’re not together. I swear. He was just trying to tell me how sweet you are. That’s all.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spencer’s lips parted. \"Are you... are you serious?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurora nodded. \"Completely.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She gently pulled away and reached up, cupping Spencer’s face with both her hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Honestly?\" she said softly, looking into his eyes, \"I was the weird one. Not you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spencer blinked. \"What?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I called you creepy and possessive and all that when really, you were just hurt and scared,\" Aurora said, her voice heavy with regret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I didn’t even listen to you. I was just mad because I didn’t know how to deal with it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spencer tried to speak, but she kept going.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I mean... even with Mia. I knew she was a lesbian, but I kept being all friendly with her and even called her baby. I thought it didn’t matter, but I never asked you how you felt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You were just trying to ask for an answer, to calm your heart, and I made fun of you instead.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked down, ashamed. \"I’m sorry...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before she could finish, Spencer grabbed her hands and kissed them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No,\" he said gently. \"Don’t say sorry. Please. I should be the one saying it. You didn’t know... anything about my past. And it’s not your fault.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He smiled a little. \"If I were in your place, I might’ve thought the same way. I just... I don’t let many people close, Aurora. You’re... one of the very few.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurora’s heart ached again, but in a different way this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spencer took a breath and added, \"I don’t know what Aiden told you. But I promise, I’ll try to control my possessive side. I don’t want to scare you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurora let out a small chuckle. \"It’s okay. You’re trying. That’s what matters.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spencer gave her a sheepish look. \"Also... I’m sorry for how I acted. I know I was harsh and—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nope,\" Aurora said quickly, holding up a hand. \"Not your fault. This is our first time figuring things out, right? We’re gonna mess up. That’s just how it is.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"From now on, we talk. Before we jump to ignoring each other or freaking out, we talk. Deal?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spencer nodded slowly, his voice soft.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Deal. I wanted to talk to you, I really did... but I was scared I’d make things worse. That you’d hate me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurora giggled quietly and shook her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I won’t be scared of you, dummy. Yeah, maybe I pushed you away before... but that was just shock. I don’t hate you. I could never hate you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked away, her cheeks turning pink. Then she mumbled, \"I... I like you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes widened when she realized what she said out loud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She slapped her own forehead. \"Ugh! I didn’t mean to—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spencer stared at her, his eyes shining.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wait... what?\" he said. \"You like me? Likelikeme?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurora groaned, hiding her face in her hands. \"Don’t make it weird!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spencer laughed, his whole face lighting up. \"Are you serious?! You’re serious?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurora peeked out from behind her fingers and mumbled, \"Don’t take it to heart. It was just momentary words...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Spencer couldn’t stop smiling. \"Too late. You said it. I heard it. And... it made me really, really happy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurora’s cheeks were burning now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spencer leaned closer, his voice soft again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"By the way... when you said you were real... I believed you. Right away.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurora looked at him, surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then why did you pretend like you didn’t?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spencer shrugged with a little smile. \"Because I knew we needed to talk first. Really talk. And fix things. Before I let myself get too happy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurora blinked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, with a small smile, she leaned her head on his shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re still a weirdo,\" she whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spencer grinned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurora sat there with her head resting on Spencer’s shoulder, both of them quiet now. The room was still.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The kind of stillness that made everything feel like it was moving in slow motion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spencer turned his head slightly and looked at her. Aurora slowly looked up, too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their eyes met.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a second, they just stared at each other, breathing the same air. Aurora’s heart beat faster. Her cheeks felt warm again. Spencer’s eyes were soft, like they were saying a thousand things without words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then... they both leaned in, slow and careful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their lips touched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was soft.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was warm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was quiet and slow and a little shaky. But it was real. It wasn’t like the movies or the books. It was better—because it wastheirs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spencer’s hand came up and gently touched her neck, then moved down slowly until his fingers brushed just above her collarbone. But then... he stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pulled back, just a little, and rested his forehead against hers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurora didn’t say anything. She wasn’t upset. She didn’t pull him closer either. Deep down, she knew this wasn’t the right time to go further. Not yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She still had fears. Still had walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Spencer?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t want to rush. He didn’t want their first time to be quick or confusing or done in the middle of messy feelings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted it to be special. He wanted her to feel safe. Not because she felt guilty or pressured, but because shewantedto.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pulled her closer, arms wrapping around her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Can you stay tonight?\" he whispered into her hair. \"Just... just stay. Please.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurora blinked. She wanted to. She really did. But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My parents will kill me,\" she said softly. \"They’ll freak out if I don’t come home.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spencer pulled back and looked her straight in the eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then I’m coming with you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurora giggled. \"You can’t just show up at my house and crash in my room.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spencer crossed his arms like a little kid. \"Why not? I’ll sleep on the floor.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurora raised her eyebrows. \"Myparentswon’t let that happen.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1540,"2026-06-06T04:03:40.623Z",1,"novelbin.me","7b095df1083928fd3101102b0a42d3425de41b5a84419f5bfc1f8a199092597f","born-into-villain-s-family-i-have-a-200-rebate-s-chapter-242","born-into-villain-s-family-i-have-a-200-rebate-s-chapter-240",614,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fborn-into-villain-s-family-i-have-a-200-rebate-s-cover.jpg"]