Chapter 1 – New Beginnings
...
Ryan Hale shifted the last of his boxes into the living room of his new rented house and let out a deep breath. The faint scent of fresh paint mixed with the cool suburban breeze coming through the half-open window. It wasn't much—just a modest two-story with a small lawn out front—but after the last few months, it felt like a fresh start.
The past had been messy. His college breakup had left him drained and uncertain. And losing his parents in that car crash six months ago? That was the kind of pain you didn't expect but had to learn to live with.
At 22, Ryan wasn't exactly sure where his life was headed, but one thing was clear: he needed peace. No drama. No complications. Just quiet, steady days focused on his freelance graphic design work.
He dropped onto the couch, running a hand through his short brown hair. His phone buzzed with a message from a client—nothing urgent. Good.
Then came the sudden drip... drip... drip from the kitchen.
Ryan frowned. He hadn't even looked at the faucet since moving in. He stood up and walked into the kitchen. Sure enough, water was leaking steadily from the old, slightly rusty tap.
Of all the things he expected on day one, a leaky faucet wasn't one of them.
Sighing, Ryan grabbed a towel and started turning off the water valve under the sink. But the faucet kept dripping no matter what he did.
"I guess I'll have to call someone," he muttered.
The moment he turned to leave the kitchen, a voice called out from the house next door.
"Hey! You new around here?"
Ryan turned and saw his neighbor—a woman about his mom's age, maybe a little older—walking over with a friendly smile. Her dark hair bounced with every step, and she had a warmth in her eyes that instantly made Ryan feel less like an outsider.
"Yeah," he answered. "Just moved in today. Ryan Hale."
"Claire Benton," she introduced herself, extending a hand. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask. It's a quiet neighborhood, but people look out for each other."
Ryan shook her hand. Her grip was firm but gentle.
"Thanks, I appreciate it. Actually, funny thing… I was just dealing with a leaky faucet situation."
Claire glanced into the kitchen window. "Oh, that old thing? It's been acting up for weeks. I've been meaning to fix it but haven't had the time."
Before Ryan could respond, she tilted her head slightly and smiled playfully. "You seem handy. Mind if I come over and take a look?"
He hesitated a moment, then nodded. "Sure, why not."
As Claire followed him inside, Ryan noticed the scent of her perfume—soft and inviting, like vanilla mixed with a hint of something floral. It was comforting, oddly soothing.
The faucet was old, and the leak was coming from a worn-out washer inside. Ryan dug around in the cabinet under the sink, hoping to find a spare part. No luck.
Claire leaned over his shoulder, her breath warm against his ear as she asked quietly, "Need me to run to the hardware store? I'm free this afternoon."
Ryan blinked. "Uh, sure. That would help."
She smiled again, this time with a hint of mischief. "Don't worry, I won't keep you long."
Later that afternoon, Claire came back with a small bag of tools and replacement parts. They worked together in the kitchen, their hands occasionally brushing as Ryan tightened a bolt or adjusted the faucet head.
The air between them grew charged—not awkward, but quietly electric.
"Thanks for helping me out," Claire said when the faucet finally stopped dripping.
Ryan shrugged. "No problem. I guess it's a good way to break in the new place."
They stood there for a moment, the silence comfortable, until Claire's phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen and frowned.
"Custody hearing tomorrow," she muttered, more to herself than Ryan.
Ryan caught the shadow in her eyes. "If you want to talk, I'm here."
She nodded but said nothing more.
Later that night, Ryan went to bed feeling oddly restless. The quiet of the house was comforting but also unfamiliar. He stared at the ceiling, his mind wandering back to the moments with Claire.
Then suddenly, his phone buzzed loudly.
Confused, he grabbed it from the bedside table.
On the screen, a bold message appeared:
[Welcome to the Mom-Next-Door System!]
[Your mission: Heal the hearts of lonely MILFs, one "intimate connection" at a time.]
[Each bond grants emotional strength, relationship perks… and wild, unforgettable nights.]
Ryan blinked. Was this some kind of prank? A weird app notification?
He tapped the message. Another window popped up:
[Target Locked: Claire Benton]
Status: Trust Level 1 | Lust Level 0
Next Trigger: Evening Chat + Comforting Gesture
Potential Reward: Emotional Skill – "Warm Embrace"]
His heart beat faster, but he tried to brush it off as a bizarre coincidence or a glitch.
Then, inexplicably, he heard a voice—not in his ears but inside his mind.
"Ryan…"
He jumped and looked around. No one was there.
The voice was soft, a little hesitant. Familiar.
"Ryan, it's Claire. Thank you for today…"
His breath caught. Was the system real? Was he suddenly able to hear her thoughts?
He tried to shake his head. "No… that's impossible."
But as the minutes passed, the sensation grew stronger. Emotions, memories, and the faintest whispers of loneliness from Claire reached out to him like invisible threads.
Ryan sat up in bed, heart pounding. The quiet suburban night suddenly felt very different—full of possibilities, but also unexpected responsibility.
What was this system? Why him? And how was he supposed to heal the hearts of these women… through connection… and intimacy?
He didn't have answers. Only one certainty.
His quiet life was about to get a lot more complicated.
...
Heyy~ Author here!
This is my new novel "Mom-Next-Door System"
I really hope you'll support this story! I'm just a novice writer, so please don't expect too much from me… but I'll do my best to make it enjoyable for you all.
Let's enjoy this wild ride together~ (¬‿¬)
Hehe… things might get a little spicy here and there, so buckle up.
~ (¬‿¬) Stay tuned & thank you for reading!