After Being Humiliated, I Awaken An Infinite Spending System

1

The rusted iron gates of the factory clanged shut.

Caleb walked out into the cold morning air. His muscles burned and bones ached.

This was the end of his third shift in twenty-four hours.

His hands were covered in cuts and thick black grease. His eyes were completely bloodshot.

But as he fixed the strap of his cheap canvas backpack, his fingers brushed against a box inside. A tired smile appeared on his dirty face.

For four long years, he had lived like a ghost.

He ate cheap instant noodles, slept three hours a night in a damp basement, washed dishes, moved heavy crates and ran factory machines.

Every single dollar he made went to one place... Crestwood University.

Today is his girlfriend's graduation day.

He thought of Chloe... pictured her beautiful smile and thought to himself that every drop of sweat and missed meal was worth it, just to see her succeed.

Suddenly, a loud crack of thunder shook the sky and a heavy rain began to fall.

He took off his thin jacket and wrapped it around his backpack to protect the box. Then, he started to run.

His taped-up sneakers splashed through the deep puddles as he ran all the way to the grand plaza of Crestwood University.

He arrived completely soaked. Cold rainwater was dripping from his messy hair while his cheap shirt stuck to his cold skin.

He stood at the edge of the plaza and carefully took the pristine orange Hermes box out of his bag and held it like his life depends on it. He had skipped lunch for a whole year just to buy this box.

Through the crowd of colorful umbrellas, he spotted Chloe standing under a large, dry pavilion. She was surrounded by wealthy students that wore sharp suits and designer dresses. While Chloe wore a custom white dress.

She looked perfect... looked like she belonged to a completely different world.

Caleb walked forward and pushed past the rich students.

"Watch where you are going, trash!" a boy in a nice suit yelled.

"What is that smell? Did a sewer pipe break?" a girl with a pearl necklace asked, covering her nose in disgust.

"Seriously, who let a common laborer into the campus gates on graduation day?" another wealthy student sneered.

Caleb ignored them and only had his eyes on Chloe.

"Chloe!" he called out.

His voice was rough but full of joy.

He stepped into the pavilion and proudly held out the orange box. "I made it on time. Happy graduation."

The loud talking under the pavilion stopped at once.

Dozens of rich kids turned to look at Caleb. Their eyes were full of shock and disgust.

"Who is this beggar?" one of them asked.

"Is he holding a Hermes box? He probably stole it from the trash," another one said.

A third student laughed loudly. "Look at his shoes! They are literally held together by duct tape."

Caleb waited for Chloe to smile... waited for her to run into his arms like she always promised. But instead, her face twisted in pure disgust and took a fast step back.

She pulled her white dress tight against her legs, acting like Caleb had a deadly disease.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

Her voice was cold and sharp.

Caleb blinked... the rainwater dripped into his eyes. "I brought you a gift. I promised I would be here."

He held the box higher but Chloe did not take it. She slapped his hand away with all her strength.

The orange box flew into the air and hit the wet marble floor.

The lid popped off and a perfect, expensive leather bag fell out and landed right in a muddy puddle.

Caleb stared at the ruined bag... his heart dropped. "Chloe? What are you doing?"

"What am I doing?" Chloe laughed... a cruel, high-pitched sound. "Look at yourself, Caleb. You smell like grease and poverty. You are an absolute disgrace."

The rich crowd laughed loudly with her.

"Look at the dirty factory rat," a student mocked.

"He actually thought he could stand next to her," a girl giggled from the back.

Caleb felt cold. "But... I paid your tuition. I worked three jobs for four years. I gave you everything."

Chloe looked at him with cold, dead eyes. "And I graduated. I am in a high social status now. You are just a pathetic loser from the slums. We are over. I do not match with garbage."

Caleb could not breathe. The betrayal hit him harder than a physical punch.

Before Caleb could say another word, the loud roar of a sports car echoed across the plaza.

A sleek black Bugatti drove up to the pavilion and stopped perfectly.

The crowd of students gasped in awe.

"Is that... Julian Vance?" one of them asked.

"The heir to the Vance Group! What is a billionaire doing here?" another student asked.

The car door opened and a handsome young man stepped out. He wore an Italian suit that cost more than a house and a diamond watch shined on his wrist.

Julian Vance walked straight up the steps and went directly to Chloe, wrapped his arm around her slim waist.

Chloe leaned into him at once. Her cold face turned into a bright, submissive smile.

Caleb clenched his fists. "Chloe... who is this?"

Julian looked at Caleb, looked him up and down with supreme arrogance.

"So, this is the charity case you told me about?" Julian sneered.

He looked at the Hermes bag in the mud and stepped on it with his expensive leather shoe.

"A basic Hermes bag? What a pathetic attempt to play with the big leagues," he sneered.

Caleb felt his blood boil... his nails dug deep into his palms.

Julian smirked at Caleb. "Honestly, I should thank you."

Then pulled Chloe closer. "You were the perfect stepping stone. You paid her bills, fed her and polished her up just enough so she could catch a billionaire's eye. Good job, peasant."

The rich students laughed loudly.

"What a complete idiot," one of them said.

"He raised a wife for Young Master Vance!" another said.

"He literally starved himself so another man could reap the rewards," a boy laughed.

The deep shame and betrayal broke something inside Caleb. His despair instantly turned into a blinding rage.

"You bastard!" Caleb roared.

He lunged forward and aimed a heavy punch at Julian's smiling face. He wanted justice.

But Julian did not even blink. He just raised his hand and snapped his fingers.

Four huge men in black suits stepped out from behind the Bugatti.

Before Caleb could land his punch, a giant fist slammed into his face.

[Crack]

Caleb's nose broke.