Grind-to-Cash System: Buy SSS Skills to Spam them Infinitely with Cash-Chapter 37- Asperia’s Struggles

"That... that’s real, isn’t it?" Mirea whispered.

The words made the air tighten around Asperia’s chest.

"...."

She didn’t respond. She didn’t even move. Her lips pressed into a thin line, eyes fixed on the flickering firelight far away.

The warm glow touched her cheeks, but her expression stayed unreadable—silent as stone.

Inside, a storm raged. The knowledge hit her like a cold wave: imprint meant Vex would be with Maira in the most intimate way.

Asperia tried to push the thought away, but it clung to her, like a shadow she couldn’t escape.

She had seen Vex naked before—his body strong, every muscle defined and powerful.

And now, imagining that body against Maira’s, moving with her, twisted a feeling inside her.

A sharp pang of jealousy mixed with discomfort she couldn’t shake, like an ache deep in her bones.

Her chest felt tight, her breath shallow, each second stretching, the thought of him with Maira making her stomach twist painfully.

Vex turned toward her. His voice was low, steady. "Tell me how to imprint her."

Still, Asperia said nothing.

He waited, the silence stretching between them.

Then he stepped closer, closing the space. "Asperia," he said, firmer now. "Tell me."

She slowly turned to face him. Her face stayed calm, unreadable, but her eyes flickered with tension. Not tears. Not anger.

Something heavier, suffocating—like a weight pressing down on her chest, squeezing tight enough to make her breath hitch.

The image formed in her mind unbidden: Vex pressing himself against Maira. The heat of their bodies tangled together, raw and close.

The thought of him inside Maira—intimate, invasive—made her stomach twist.

It wasn’t just jealousy or anger, though those flickered there too. It was a strange, unwelcome ache, an emotion she barely understood and wasn’t sure she wanted to face.

Her chest felt like it might cave in, tight and restless, as if her heart was trying to push out that image and failing.

She swallowed hard, trying to steady herself. Why did it bother her so much?

Maira needed this—needed him.

It should be enough to heal her health and give her a good life. But the cost of what Asperia would lose wasn’t something she could bear. freewebnøvel.coɱ

"No," she said softly.

His brows drew together. "Why?"

"Because I said so." Her tone was flat, but the tightness in her jaw gave away the burden behind her words, the fight she was holding inside.

"That’s not a reason," he said quietly. "This could help her. Fix her."

She didn’t answer.

Vex took another step closer. "Why are you doing this?"

Frustration cracked through her careful calm. She turned away, lifting her chin as she moved to the far side of the chamber, trying to put distance between herself and the pressure in his voice. "I’m tired."

"That’s not what I asked."

She paused, her back still turned.

He stared at her, chest muscles flexing subtly with each breath. His hand lifted, fingers curling into a fist, then slowly unclenching. The air felt thick between them, heavy with unspoken things.

He took a deep breath and stepped forward.

"Asperia."

She didn’t turn.

His hand reached out and caught her wrist.

She froze, every muscle taut.

"I’m not letting go until you tell me."

Her shoulder tensed. "Let go."

"No."

"Let. Go."

"No."

Her fingers trembled faintly. "Vex."

He stepped in behind her. His voice dropped low, insistent. "Why are you hiding it?"

She whipped her head halfway toward him, eyes smoldering with restrained storm, but her lips trembled. "Because you don’t need to know."

"I do."

"You don’t."

"It’s about Maira. If I can help her, I—"

"It’s not about her anymore!" she snapped, the words bitter in her mouth.

Silence fell.

Asperia inhaled sharply, regretting her sudden outburst. She looked down, biting her lower lip hard enough to taste blood.

The weight of her feelings pressed down on her, dizzying and overwhelming. She couldn’t explain it—couldn’t even begin to.

All she knew was that the thought of Vex with Maira, the way he would take her, make love to her—she hated it, even though she knew she shouldn’t.

"What has happened to you, Asperia?" Vex’s voice was quieter now, but no softer.

She didn’t answer. She couldn’t. Her mind was a mess of contradictions—logic and emotion clashing in a violent tide she didn’t know how to escape from.

She pulled her hand free.

Vex didn’t fight it this time.

The silence that followed wasn’t peaceful. It was tense. Breathing, barely.

Then—

A shuffle. A sound.

They both turned.

Vex stepped forward a bit, his brows slightly furrowed, eyes flickering between them like he’d seen something he shouldn’t. His usual lazy calm was gone, replaced by something unreadable... almost solemn.

Asperia noticed the shift in his expression—tight lips, a stillness in his posture. It wasn’t mischief or judgment. It was concern. No, not just concern. A question he wasn’t voicing.

Her chest clenched.

He didn’t say anything to her.

Instead, he turned to the sisters.

Maira stood near the far side of the room, uncertain. Her hands clasped in front of her, white-knuckled. Her eyes flicked between Vex and Asperia, confused.

Mirea, too, looked unsure—her gaze darting to Asperia, waiting, maybe for clarity or explanation.

That gaze made something cold settle in Asperia’s stomach.

’They didn’t understand. Of course they didn’t. Why would they?’

Asperia forced her spine straighter. Her expression didn’t change, but her mind recoiled. Shame curled in her gut, bitter and hot. She felt it in the slight waver of her breath, in the too-still way she held herself.

What did they think she was doing? Refusing to help them? Letting Maira suffer?

Her throat tightened.

Vex glanced at her again. Then, without a word, he backed away. He didn’t argue. Didn’t ask questions. But that calm look on his face—quiet, knowing—somehow said too much.

She couldn’t take it anymore.

With a clipped motion, she stepped forward and grabbed Vex’s wrist.

"Follow me."

Her voice was curt, controlled. Not cold. Just—firm. Contained.

Vex hesitated for a heartbeat. Then he allowed himself to be pulled, wordlessly.

Asperia turned to the sisters briefly. Her jaw was set. Her voice tried to be neutral, but something in it trembled just slightly under the surface.

"Good night. We’ll talk in the morning."

There was a flicker of surprise across both girls’ faces.

Vex blinked, still getting pulled away by Asperia, clearly still trying to make sense of what was going on.