I would like to offer my version of Steph’s “terrible secret”. Based on the "BBC and cuckold" stereotype. I don't want to offend anyone, it was created solely for entertainment.
Steph cheated on MC at a Christmas party (maybe earlier) with Jason (open marriage with Tori) or another BBC (she could have been pushed to this by Tori, the story mentions long conversations at the party between Steph and Tori + alcohol). Unexpectedly, sex with the BBC and his sperm had an incredibly healing effect on Steph's condition (hello stereotypes). And now she needs to do this regularly, which is difficult without MC’s knowledge. In a darker version, Steph has to get pregnant and give birth to the BBC (stereotypes). This is why Steph, Jason and Tori, using lies, manipulation and betrayal, force MC to come to the idea of an open marriage with Steph. The strategy for action in this direction was discussed at that very dinner and during a telephone conversation (the telephone conversation made adjustments to the plan). By making the MC think that he is in charge, in reality this is a lie. The MC should allow Steph to do all this himself. An indirect confirmation of Steph’s betrayal is how easily she rushed to have sex with others (hello great love and happy marriage in the prologue). Like jumping into the sea from a cliff, no doubts, no worries. Steph never suggested stopping, taking a breath, digesting new sensations and relationships. She's gone through all this a long time ago. She rushes like a steamroller, any doubts of the MC (doubts for beginners are the correct reaction to a new experience) drive her into a rage. High confidence and dom1 make the MC blind with the intelligence of an amoeba (this is what the classic stereotype of a cuckold looks like in games, but in this story he is an alpha male). The big and huge reward promised by the authors for the MC will be a child from the BBC (almost poetry) and he will be immensely happy about it. For this, the authors of the game constantly talk about the MC’s great love for Steph, he will forgive her everything and will never kick her away, but will apologize for a long time for not offering it himself earlier.
The "secret" version was created for entertainment purposes only. Not a single character in the game was harmed (except for the MC).
My only hope is for a mod with true endings. HUGE THANKS TO THE AUTHOR, who made the alternative mod and walkthrough mod.
P.S. Steph, Tori and Jason evoke negative impressions (lying bitches), no matter how the authors of the game justify them. Jason is not MC's friend at all and may be behind the problems at work. If at the beginning of the game I agreed to have sex with MC + Tori + Jason, now, having tried different options for passing, it’s definitely NO. Tori explains Jason's lie about threesome by talking in the office, but if you want, you can find a neutral place where you can tell everything honestly. Donnie is unpleasant, but he could be made an example of poor partner selection by newbies (a real-life situation). You just need to give the MC the opportunity to say “STOP” already during sex, when the situation gets out of control.
You mentioned two ways to avoid the Steph, Tori and Jason scene. If the first method looks correct, the couple sets certain rules for themselves, then the second is strange. The MS gives consent until the whole situation is clarified and then does not influence anything. As an example, you came to a restaurant and ordered meat, and they brought you spaghetti. Would you eat spaghetti just because you decided to eat at this restaurant? Yes, the couple agreed on the framework, but you are going to another couple for the first time, there is a high probability of unpleasant situations (like Tori’s phrase “plans have changed”). In a conversation with Tori, in all passages, the MC only says “YES”
But single women are fun, but you need to diversify their characters, make them different preferences in sex (public sex, BDSM, etc.). More unexpected meetings with them, spontaneous sex. For example, MC and Paul decided to have a barbecue and talk about women without women. At some point they will decide to call the ladies or invite the neighbors (not Steph and Tori) and the flywheel will begin to spin. There are plenty of options. I was always surprised how monotonous sex is in 99% of novels, like matches in a box. But that means more work playing the side paths. They won't do it. Now even the atmosphere of the game does not correspond to what the authors say, what third-party characters are. Sadly.
