A Seed

Kevin moved down the stairs with purpose, his eyes locked onto Samantha. She was draped across the couch, her usual spot, flipping through TV channels with the remote in hand. The glow from the screen illuminated her face, and for a brief moment, she looked utterly content in her position—his father's trophy.

Kevin clenched his jaw. The woman who had waltzed into his life, taken over his house, and his father's attention, had always been a sore spot for him. But now, things were different. He had the system. He had control. And he was going to use it.

Samantha barely glanced up at him as he entered the room. She was used to him being quiet, fading into the background like wallpaper. "What do you want, Kevin?" she asked, her voice clipped and uninterested, as usual.

This time, though, Kevin wasn't going to be ignored. He took a seat across from her, his eyes studying her carefully, lingering just a little too long. Not enough to alarm her, but enough to make her notice.

"I just wanted to talk," Kevin replied smoothly, leaning back in his chair with a calmness that wasn't usually his. He could see Samantha's eyes flicker with mild confusion at his sudden assertiveness.

She kept her eyes on the TV but lowered the volume slightly. "About what?"

"You," Kevin said, locking his gaze on her. "You've been such an important part of this house. I think it's about time we got to know each other better."

Samantha finally turned her head, meeting his eyes. There was a slight frown on her face, as if she were trying to figure him out. This wasn't the Kevin she knew—the quiet, awkward kid who usually skulked around the house without making a sound. Something about him seemed… different.

"I'm not interested in small talk, Kevin," she said, her tone dismissive but lacking its usual sharpness. She shifted her position on the couch, trying to maintain her usual distance, but Kevin could tell she was listening more closely now.

The system's screen flashed briefly in his mind: **[Use the Connection skill. Engage her emotions. Bend them.]**

Kevin leaned forward slightly, his voice softening, taking on a more suggestive tone. "You know, I've always wondered… what do you see in my dad?"

Samantha blinked, caught off guard by the question. "Excuse me?"

Kevin smiled, but it wasn't the usual shy smile she was used to. This one was different—confident, almost playful. "I mean, you're gorgeous, Samantha. You could have had anyone. Yet you settled for my dad. It's almost flattering."

Samantha's expression tightened, but Kevin saw the flicker of something in her eyes—uncertainty. His words were cutting deeper than he'd expected.

"Kevin, I don't think it's appropriate for you to be talking to me like this," she said, her voice firm but not as confident as before.

Kevin kept his gaze locked on hers, feeling the system's power working through him. "I'm just curious. Don't you ever wonder if you could've had… more?"

There was a beat of silence. Samantha's fingers tightened around the remote, and Kevin could see the subtle tension in her posture. She shifted uncomfortably, trying to maintain control of the situation, but Kevin could feel it slipping through her fingers.

"What exactly are you getting at?" she asked, her voice softer now, a hint of defensiveness creeping in.

Kevin stood slowly, his movements measured and deliberate. He could see the confusion in her eyes, the uncertainty of how to handle this new version of him. "Nothing… yet."

He began to walk toward the kitchen, but just before leaving the room, he paused and glanced back at her, giving her a smile that was neither innocent nor threatening—it was simply unreadable. The kind of smile that left her unsure whether to be wary or intrigued.

The silence hung between them, thick with unspoken tension.

**[Your step mother's attraction towards you has risen]**

**[+ 6%]**

---

### **Later That Night:**

Kevin lay in bed, staring at the system's interface, his mind replaying the interaction with Samantha. It had gone better than he had imagined. The subtle power shift, the way she had looked at him, unsure of what to make of his new attitude—it had all fallen perfectly into place.

**[Connection skill used successfully.]**

He smirked. It was only the beginning. Catherine might not have realized it yet, but he was in control now.

As he scrolled through the system's options, a new notification flashed on the screen:

**[New Quest: Push Samantha further. Next interaction: 24 hours.]**

Kevin's smile widened. The system wasn't done with her yet—and neither was he.

---

Samantha lay in bed, her thoughts swirling as she stared at the ceiling. She was a thick, voluptuous woman with striking green eyes and blonde hair that framed her face perfectly. Her medium-sized breasts, while attractive, paled in comparison to the real feature that turned heads—her ass. It was the kind of ass that left an impression on anyone who saw her. It had always been her greatest asset, and she knew it.

Yet tonight, none of that seemed to matter. All she could think about was Kevin—her stepson. His unexpected advances earlier in the evening had unsettled her, planted a seed in her mind that she couldn't shake. Part of her wanted to squash the thought, to pretend it never happened, but another part of her was curious. She was tempted to see where this strange, new dynamic would lead.

Her husband, Kevin's father, stumbled into the bedroom late at night, making his usual half-hearted advances. It was routine by now, almost mechanical. He reached for her, his hands clumsy and his movements uninspired. Samantha barely reacted, her mind still preoccupied with thoughts of Kevin.

Even when her husband began to make love to her, it felt like nothing. There was no spark, no connection. She lay there, barely feeling anything at all. It was like her body was present, but her mind was somewhere else entirely. The entire thing felt dry and unremarkable.

She didn't even bother to moan for him. What was the point? She suspected he knew she wasn't into it, that she was just going through the motions, but neither of them cared enough to address it. Maybe that was part of the problem. Maybe that's why he was done within fifteen minutes, rolling over and passing out as though nothing had happened.

Samantha sighed, pushing him to his side of the bed, her frustration bubbling up inside her. She couldn't help but think about how empty their marriage had become. The only reason she stayed with him was because of his money. Financial security was all he offered her anymore. Sex was dull, uninspired, and as far as she was concerned, he'd be better off watching porn and using up all the tissues and lotion they had in the house.

She shifted in bed, trying to get comfortable, but sleep wouldn't come. Kevin's face flashed through her mind again—the way he had looked at her, the boldness in his eyes, the confidence that seemed to come out of nowhere. It was wrong, she knew that. But still, the curiosity lingered. What would happen if she let this play out? Where would it lead?

Samantha sighed again, deciding it was pointless to dwell on it now. She closed her eyes, trying to push the thoughts away. Tomorrow would bring whatever it brought, but tonight, she just needed sleep.

But even as she drifted off, the seed of temptation remained, buried deep in her mind.