Suddenly, it hit him—harder than any realization he'd had before. Cuckolding didn't have to be about revenge. It wasn't just about crushing people who had wronged him, tearing down their perfect lives. Mrs. Avery wasn't like the others—she wasn't Clara, Jessica, or anyone from his step-family who thrived on hurting him. She was lonely. Vulnerable. Deserving of more than just the empty, neglected life she was stuck in. Maybe, just maybe, she needed someone to care about her, to make her feel appreciated.
His eyes flicked to the cookies she'd baked, still warm and soft, the plate placed in front of him with care. Something about it felt almost… tragic. Here she was, offering him something he hadn't had in so long—kindness, warmth, attention—and yet, she wasn't even aware of how much it mattered to him. How much it probably mattered to her, too.
[New Revelation Unlocked.]
A soft ping echoed in his mind, drawing his focus to the glowing interface. His eyes scanned the message, heart pounding a little harder now.
[Revelation: Cuckolding can be about offering love, not just revenge. Mrs. Avery needs someone, and that someone is you.
Reward: 10 Netori Points. New Quest Unlocked.]
Dick swallowed, his fingers twitching slightly as he processed what the system was offering. It wasn't just about tearing people down. It could be about something… deeper. More meaningful. The system wasn't blind to this—hell, it was encouraging it.
His gaze drifted back to Mrs. Avery as she moved around the kitchen. She deserved to be cared for.
[Main Quest: "Love Through Cuckoldry."
Objective: Win over Rebecca Avery's heart by offering her the love and attention she craves. Slowly cuckold Rick Avery by becoming the emotional and physical support she needs.
Reward: 20 Netori Points. Unlock Special Ability: Emotional Rejuvenation.]
Mrs. Avery turned back to him, her smile soft but distant. "You've barely touched your cookie," she said. "Is everything okay?"
Dick nodded, forcing himself to pick up the cookie, taking another slow bite. "It's good," he muttered, though his mind was miles away now. "Thanks, Mrs. Avery."
Her smile widened slightly. "I'm glad," she said softly, leaning against the counter again. "It's been a while since I've had anyone over for dinner."
Getting up, surprising even himself, Dick moved toward Mrs. Avery and wrapped his arms around her. It wasn't premeditated, just instinct. His old self would've never dared, barely tall enough to reach her chest, let alone embrace her without feeling small, weak, or repulsive. But now? Now he stood taller—literally. His transformation over the past month had been nothing short of unreal. Even his height had changed, growing from 5'5" to 5'9", and the weight he'd shed made his body feel stronger, more in control. He no longer stank of sweat and gamer funk, no more greasy hair that clung to his forehead like a wet rag.
Mrs. Avery stiffened at first, clearly caught off guard. Dick could feel her warmth against him, her body softer than he expected. Her hesitation lingered for a moment before she relaxed, her hands slowly lifting to rest on his back. She leaned into him slightly, letting out a quiet sigh as if this simple gesture of human contact was something she hadn't felt in a long time.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely audible, but Dick heard the emotion in it. She wasn't just thanking him for the hug—this was more than that. This was a thank you for seeing her, for noticing the loneliness she'd been hiding for so long behind that perfect smile and spotless house.
"You don't have to thank me," he said. Mrs. Avery's hands slipped away from his back, her fingers brushing against his arms as she stepped back.
"I just… I haven't…" She trailed off, biting her lip as if trying to find the right words. But there were no words for this, not really.
"It's okay," Dick said softly, cutting through the awkwardness. "You don't have to explain."
She smiled weakly, nodding as she turned back to the counter, her hands trembling slightly as she grabbed the dish towel.
[Main Quest Progress: "Love Through Cuckoldry."
Relationship Status: Mrs. Avery—Level 1: Affection.]
Dick watched her for a moment longer before stepping away, giving her the space she needed. He felt the shift between them, subtle but undeniable.
"I should get going," Dick said, his voice cutting through the quiet kitchen. He didn't want to overstay his welcome. The connection had been made, and now he needed to let it grow.
Mrs. Avery turned to him, her eyes still glistening with unshed tears. She smiled, a real, genuine smile this time. "Thank you for stopping by, Dick. It's been... really nice having you here."
He nodded, his own smile small but sincere. "Anytime," he said, meaning it.
As he walked toward the door, Mrs. Avery followed him. Before he stepped outside, she placed a hand on his arm, stopping him.
"Don't be a stranger, okay?"
Dick glanced at her, seeing the hope in her eyes. She wanted him to come back. Needed him to.
"I won't," he promised, stepping out into the cool evening air.
The door clicked shut behind him, and Dick stood on the porch for a moment. The reality of what awaited him back home snapped into place. Home. A place where no one smiled at him like that, where every breath felt like a mistake.
Jessica's mocking text flickered in his mind: "u comin home fatty? moms pissed lol" He knew what that meant. Clara had something lined up for him, but for the life of him, he couldn't remember what it was. It didn't matter. She'd find a reason to tear him down the second he stepped through the door. Ryan's car's here. Great, just what he needed—the smug prick all over Jessica, reminding him what it was like to actually have people respect you.
He stepped inside, quietly pushing the door closed behind him. The familiar scent of expensive perfume and cleaning products hit his nose.
Voices from the living room caught his attention. He edged closer, staying in the shadows of the hallway. Ryan's voice, deep and confident, cut through the quiet.
"Come on, babe, you know you love it when I do this."
Dick leaned around the corner just enough to see Jessica, draped over the armrest of the couch, her shirt pulled up slightly. Ryan's hand was firmly gripping her ass, squeezing it as he pressed up against her. His other hand lazily rested on her thigh, his fingers inching higher.
Jessica let out a fake little moan, pushing her hips back into him with a smirk. "You're such a dick, Ryan," she teased, but it was clear she was loving the attention.
Dick's stomach turned. He'd seen this shit before—Ryan groping Jessica like she was some kind of trophy while she giggled and soaked up every second of it. But today, something about it felt different. It pissed him off more than usual. Maybe because, for the first time, he wasn't just the passive, beaten-down loser watching from the sidelines.
Ryan's eyes flicked toward the hallway, locking onto Dick for a split second. His smirk widened, almost like he'd been waiting for him to show up. He squeezed Jessica's ass again, this time with a little more force, making sure Dick saw every bit of it.
"What's up, Dick?" Ryan said, dragging out his name with that mocking tone. "You gonna stand there all night, or you wanna take notes? Maybe you'll learn how to actually handle a girl."
Jessica laughed, her eyes narrowing as she twisted in Ryan's lap to face Dick. "A girl?" she sneered, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "All he needs to learn is how to handle his toothpick of a dick." Her hand mimicked a jerky, up-and-down motion, the space between her fingers barely an inch apart. "Like this, right, Dick? God, what a joke."
Ryan chuckled, squeezing her tighter as she wiggled in his lap, clearly entertained by her own cruelty. "You're ruthless, babe," he said, kissing her neck with exaggerated slowness, his eyes flicking back to Dick. "But hey, she's got a point, man. You ever even touched a girl? Maybe you need me to give you some pointers." The smirk on his face was pure arrogance, each word twisting the knife deeper.
Jessica twisted in Ryan's lap again, her legs draped over his as she leaned back provocatively. "Come on, Ryan. Don't waste your breath on him. He's probably gonna jerk off to this later anyway." She rolled her eyes, her tone full of venom.
Ryan snickered, his hand slipping further under Jessica's shirt as he leaned into her neck. "You're probably right," he whispered, his voice dripping with mockery. "Let's give the poor guy something to imagine." He raised Jessica's skirt a little, exposing more of her bare thigh while his fingers grazed the hem of her shirt, pulling it up just enough to reveal her toned stomach.
Jessica giggled, clearly loving the attention, and arched her back against Ryan, making sure Dick had the perfect view. "Aw, don't be mean, Ryan," she cooed, her eyes flicking to Dick with that same cruel smirk. "You'll make him cry again."
Ryan's hand slid higher, his fingers brushing the curve of Jessica's breast. "You like that, babe?" he whispered into her ear, his voice low but loud enough for Dick to hear. "Bet he's loving this view right now." Ryan's eyes darted back to Dick, a smug grin plastered on his face as he leaned in to kiss Jessica's neck, making a show of it.
Ryan reached down, slipping his hand under Jessica's skirt, making her gasp softly. "Let's really put on a show, huh, Dick?" Ryan said, his voice dripping with arrogance. "Maybe if you're lucky, you'll learn how a real man does it."
Jessica moaned softly as Ryan's hand moved, her eyes never leaving Dick. "Maybe you should take a picture, Dick," she sneered, her voice sweet but filled with venom. "It'll last longer."
Ryan's laugh boomed through the room as he leaned back, pulling Jessica fully into his lap, his hands still exploring her body. "Yeah, take a picture, Dick. Show it to your therapist later." Ryan leaned down, his lips brushing against Jessica's ear as he whispered something that made her giggle, her body curling into his.
"I'll catch you later," Dick said casually, as if he hadn't just walked in on Ryan and Jessica's little show. He didn't even blink, didn't stammer. Instead, he threw them a lazy wave, turning his back on the two, completely unbothered.
For a split second, Jessica froze, her mouth hanging open in disbelief. She was used to Dick scurrying away, blushing, maybe even mumbling some pathetic apology. Not this. Her eyes narrowed, the realization of his indifference setting in, and the fury that followed was almost immediate.
"You little fat fuck! Come back here!" she shrieked, her voice cracking with rage. It was like the concept of Dick brushing her off was unthinkable, completely beyond her reality.
Dick didn't even bother glancing back. His pace remained steady as he walked through the hallway, heading toward Clara. Finding her first was the smarter move. If Jessica was pissed now, he could only imagine what Clara would do if she heard about his little interaction too late. Better to face her directly.