Alex woke up on a bed that felt like a cloud. He looked around the penthouse suite. It was bigger than the entire house he’d shared with three roommates last week. He flexed his arm and felt the hard muscle under his skin. The system wasn't a dream. He really was a master of martial arts now, and he really had more money than he could ever spend. "I'm actually rich," Alex whispered to himself. "I'm not the guy who has to skip lunch to pay for a bus pass anymore."There was a light knock on the door. Silas walked in, carrying a tablet and a fresh set of clothes. "Good morning, Young Master," Silas said. "I've prepared everything for your meeting with Miss Chloe Miller. It’s at the Blue Moon Cafe in thirty minutes.""Thanks, Silas. What am I wearing?" Alex asked, looking at the high-end brands Silas was holding."I've selected a silk shirt and tailored slacks, sir. You should look your best.""No," Alex said, shaking his head. "If I show up looking like a prince, people will start as

"What did you say?" Jason asked, his voice shaking with rage."I said it’s a fake," Alex repeated, walking closer. "The glaze is too thick near the base, and the phoenix’s tail has six feathers. The real one only has five. You got ripped off, Jason."Jason burst out laughing. "You? You're telling me about Ming Dynasty porcelain? You can't even afford a bowl of noodles! What do you know about art?""He's right, Jason," Victoria said, her eyes cold as she looked at Alex. "This boy is just jealous. He's trying to make you look bad because he’s a nobody.""Alex, be quiet," Chloe hissed, grabbing his arm. "You're making things worse.""I'm telling the truth, Chloe," Alex said.Just then, Silas walked into the hall. He wasn't dressed as a butler today. He was wearing a suit that cost ten thousand dollars. He looked like a high-end delivery agent. He was carrying a small, silk-covered box."Excuse me," Silas said, his voice commanding the room. "I have a delivery for Mr. Alex Reed.""For him

Alex was almost at the glass revolving doors when he heard the frantic click of heels behind him. He didn't have to turn around to know it was Chloe. She was breathing hard, her face flushed with a mix of shock and confusion."Alex! Stop right there!" she shouted, ignoring the stares of the lobby security guards.Alex turned around, his hands still tucked into his denim pockets. "Hey, Chloe. That was a short meeting. Did everything go okay?""Did everything go okay? You know exactly what happened!" Chloe stepped closer, her eyes searching his face. "The lawyers from Star-Core... they just handed me the keys to the kingdom. They said a mystery owner bought the whole company and gave me an exclusive deal. And then I see you standing in the hallway, acting like you're on a Sunday stroll. Alex, talk to me. Did you have something to do with this?"Alex tilted his head and gave her a small smile. "I told you this morning I'd handle it. I don't like seeing my wife stressed out."Chloe shook

"Jason, leave," Chloe said. Her voice was shaking, but it wasn't with fear. It was with anger. "You brought a fake investigator with fake papers into my home to insult my husband. You’re the one who looks like a criminal right now.""I'm trying to save you!" Jason yelled. "Can't you see? He’s brainwashed you! A guy like him doesn't just happen. He’s a plant! He’s working for someone who wants to destroy the Miller family!""If anyone is destroying the family, it’s you," Alex said, stepping into Jason’s personal space. Jason flinched and took a step back. "You’re so blinded by your own ego that you can't see what’s right in front of you. You think I'm a loser because I don't wear a five-thousand-dollar suit? That’s your mistake. And it’s going to be a very expensive one.""Are you threatening me?" Jason hissed. "I'll have you arrested for trespassing!""This is my wife’s house, which makes it my house," Alex said. "You're the one trespassing. Silas!"Suddenly, Silas appeared from the s

The boardroom at Miller Tech felt charged before the market opened. Polished marble floors reflected the light from the massive screen mounted on the front wall, where the live ticker flickered crimson and gold. The air was layered with expensive cologne, nervous laughter, and the faint tang of champagne already poured too early for victory. Jason Miller stood near the head of the table, grinning as if he had already won. His navy-blue suit looked like a uniform of triumph, and his gold tie clip sparkled each time he gestured toward the display. Chloe sat farther down, the only one in white. Her back was straight, her expression unreadable, but her hands under the table were tense. Jason tapped his smartwatch. “Markets open in ten minutes,” he said, his voice louder than necessary. “I hope everyone brought their congratulations. We’ve been sitting in the shadows of caution for too long. Today we take Miller Tech into the future.” A few board members murmured approval. Some, like