This Life, I Will Be the Protagonist

Chapter 36: Stealing From Thirty-Seven Players at the Banquet

After wishing Zoey and Rick a happy wedding, Rita excused herself to leave. Zoey, clearly pleased with the wedding gift, personally escorted her to the door and even arranged for a Lopez family driver to take her home. It was evident that Zoey was not only satisfied with the gift but also appreciated Rita's tactfulness.

The next day, Rita was unexpectedly invited by Zoey to visit their new home—a villa within the Lopez family estate, which had been prepared as a marital residence for Zoey and Rick. Rita had previously assumed it was occupied by other members of the Lopez family and hadn't imagined it was reserved for the couple.

Upon entering, Rita noticed a faint blue light glowing beneath her feet, accompanied by the scent of revealing potion, though there was no visible mist. It seemed the Lopez family had upgraded their security system using advanced technology. Zoey casually explained, "Oh, don't mind it, it's just pressure sensors, no harm."

Rita understood immediately. Having spent most of September in Vancouver collecting weapons, she hadn't been to the Lopez estate in a while. She figured the entire main house must now be outfitted with such systems, and likely, the White family had also come up with countermeasures. Rita quickly decided she would avoid both the Lopez and White families for the time being.

After all, where there's detection, there's likely a corresponding capture system.

After a tour of the marital home and staying for a meal, Rita prepared to leave. She could tell how much Zoey appreciated the wedding gift.

Before departing, Rita told Zoey, "On your wedding day, I'll use my talent to boost your luck to full! Don't worry about a thing!"

Zoey's expression froze momentarily. Her luck had once been maxed out at 10, but mysteriously dropped to 8, which had led her to suspect everyone around her. She even investigated whether Rita, being a potential player, had some sort of **Divine Gift** that could curse people.

However, Zoey quickly adjusted her demeanor, smiled, and instructed the Lopez driver to take Rita home. She even had a second car follow behind, filled with gifts for Rita.

That evening, during dinner at the Wilson family villa, Rita showered Zoey with praise.

Rita's casual glance at Sanchez seemed nothing more than idle curiosity toward the wedding guests. She kept her focus on the food, smiling and clapping at the appropriate moments, playing the part of an unassuming relative. Even though her maxed-out charm often drew people's attention, she remained low-key.

And yet... this inconspicuous relative with her unassuming demeanor managed to use her **Chávez watch's Insight** skill to steal from thirty-seven players at the banquet.

These were all "familiar faces" from her past life.

The more she stole, the angrier she became. Nearly every one of these people had crossed her before, making her wonder if she had some natural talent for attracting enemies.

Now, though, she understood—Rick had been using her as his **tank**, diverting all the aggro toward her.

By the end of the banquet, Rita had stolen **2 points of constitution, 2 points of strength**, and **1 point of intelligence**.

After the party, Rita tactfully escorted Samuel and Scarlett home. They didn't stick around to crash the wedding night celebrations. While the Lopez family could playfully harass the couple, if the Wilson family joined in, it would be seen as overstepping boundaries.

Lopez family members arranged for a driver to take them home. In the car, Samuel, who had kept up a cheerful facade all day, finally relaxed. He slumped in the backseat, staring emo-ly out the window.

Rita asked a few probing questions, but Samuel remained silent. Understanding his mood, she didn't press further.

Upon returning to her own villa, Rita prepared a feast for her backyard's "Cat Motel." Since gaining the **God of the Culinary Arts**, she had developed an obsessive compulsion when it came to cooking. If the ingredients weren't cut perfectly, it bothered her. If the heat wasn't just right, it irritated her. If the dish didn't score high enough, she felt like a failure...