Chapter 22: Morning After

Roman woke up to the sensation of weight on his chest. Groggily, he opened his eyes to find a tangled mess of blonde hair spread across his torso. Memories of the previous night's passionate encounter with Sophia came flooding back. He smiled, recalling the intensity of their lovemaking.

Carefully, Roman moved Sophia's limp arm off his chest, trying not to disturb her. He took a moment to admire her naked body, her curves and contours illuminated by the soft morning light filtering through the windows.

After his admiration, Roman slipped out of bed and made his way to the bathroom. As he began to freshen up, he noticed a notification on his phone:

"[ $10,000 has been sent to your bank account. $20,000 has been gifted for receiving the first reward ]".

Roman's eyes widened as he stared at the message. The free $20,000 was an unexpected bonus! He felt a surge of excitement, thinking about the possibilities this influx of capital presented for his business. He stood there, lost in thought, trying to process the sudden turn of events.

As he gazed at his reflection in the mirror, Roman couldn't help but feel grateful for Sophia's help and support. Her introduction to key connections and her faith in his business had already yielded tangible results. He made a mental note to express his gratitude when she woke up.

With a sense of hope and determination, Roman stood in the bathroom, his mind racing with ideas and possibilities. This was just the beginning of something big, and Roman was ready to seize the opportunities that lay ahead.

..

Roman got out of the bathroom, wearing only his pants, and opened the door to find Sophia awake, lost in thought. He walked over to the bed and cuddled up beside her, kissing her cheek. "Morning," he said, trying to sound cheerful. But Sophia's unresponsive gaze told him something was bothering her.

"What's on your mind?" Roman asked, trying to sound concerned. Sophia turned her head, looking at him with an unreadable expression. "Am I not enough?" she asked in a monotone voice.

Roman's initial response was instinctual. "Of course, you're enough!" he said, trying to reassure her. But Sophia's next question caught him off guard. "Then why do you want to add other women to this?" Roman's mind raced as he tried to come up with a response. He hadn't expected her to bring this up so soon, especially not after last night's passionate encounter.

"Do we have to talk about this now?" Roman asked, trying to stall for time. He knew that if this conversation went any deeper, he would be in trouble. He couldn't reveal the true reason behind his desire for a polygamous relationship – the magical system that rewarded him for sleeping with older women. That would be ridiculous and hurtful to Sophia.

Roman remembered how eager he had been when he first got the system, thinking it was a quick way to get rich. But over the past month, he had developed genuine feelings for Sophia. Last night's intimacy had only strengthened those feelings. He couldn't bear the thought of hurting her or losing her trust.

Imagine if he told her the truth – that he had a system that gave him money for sleeping with women. She would question his intentions, his sincerity, and his feelings for her. Even if he professed his love or liking for her, she would likely think it was just a manipulation to keep her in the relationship.

Roman knew he had to tread carefully. He couldn't reveal the truth, but he also couldn't keep ignoring Sophia's concerns. He needed to find a way to address her fears without revealing the secrets of the magical system. But for now, he just held her close, trying to reassure her without saying a word.

Roman signed, "Look Sophia, I don't want to lie to you and tell you that I'm doing this because of religious or philosophical reasons. I know that saying that would make it easy for you to accept and agree, but I don't want to lie because I do feel something for you—" He explained, trying to make her understand, but she cut him off.

"Then what's the reason, Roman? You can't tell me you don't want to lie to me and not tell me anything." Sophia was a strong one; she was rich, older, and smart. It wasn't like she was dependent on Roman for money, or if she left Roman, she'd struggle. No, she had no reason to keep up with this.

"Because it's my desire, okay? Look, I don't have a profound reason; I just desire it." Sophia turned her back when she heard that. Roman embraced her from behind, his bare chest touching her bare back. "I know I don't deserve it; in just a span of such a small time, you've done so much for me, and here I come asking for more. But just give me a chance, okay."

Sophia's silence was deafening, and Roman's words hung in the air like a challenge. He knew he was taking a risk by being honest, but he couldn't bear the thought of lying to her. He held her tightly, his face pressed against her back, his breathing slow and deliberate.

After what felt like an eternity, Sophia spoke, her voice measured. "Roman, you're asking me to share you with other women. You're asking me to be okay with you pursuing multiple relationships. That's not something I can just accept overnight."

Roman nodded, his face still pressed against her back. "I know, Sophia. I'm not expecting you to. But I'm asking you to consider it. Consider the possibility that this could work for us. That we could find a way to make it work, together."

Sophia turned to face him, her eyes searching his face. "Why, Roman? Why is this so important to you? You're not even giving me a good reason. You're just saying it's your desire."

Roman took a deep breath, his eyes locked on hers. "Because, Sophia, I want to experience life to the fullest. I want to explore my desires, my passions, and my interests. And right now, this is something I desire. I know it's not conventional, but I'm willing to work with you to make it work."

Sophia raised an eyebrow. "You want to experience life to the fullest? That's a pretty vague reason, Roman."

Roman nodded. "I know it is. But it's the truth. And I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make this work for us. I promise to prioritize our relationship, to prioritize you. I just need you to give me a chance."

Sophia sighed, her eyes never leaving his. "I need time to think, Roman. I can't just give you an answer now."

Roman nodded, his face still pressed against her back. "I understand, Sophia. Take all the time you need. I'll be here, waiting for your answer."

The silence that followed was heavy with tension, each of them lost in their thoughts. Roman knew he had taken a risk by being honest, but he couldn't bear the thought of lying to her. He could only hope that she would see the sincerity in his eyes and give him a chance to make it work.