Betrayed Into Wealth

Chapter 2

“What?” Brian asked quietly.

The words just slipped out of his mouth. His head felt blank, as if his brain refused to process what he had just heard. He stood stiffly, staring at Lily, who stood before him without a trace of guilt.

“Alex and I love each other,” Lily replied, repeating herself in the same tone, flat and unhesitating.

It wasn’t that Brian hadn’t heard. Every word resonated clearly in his ears. However, the pain was so deep that it was hard to breathe. His chest felt tight, his throat dry.

“But… we’re getting married,” Brian muttered unconsciously.

The words came out softly, almost a whisper. Not to Lily, but more like a reminder to himself of the plan he had been holding onto.

Lily snorted slightly. Her face turned cold.

“You think I want a hard life with you?” she said sharply. “You think I can survive in that small, shabby apartment? I’m realistic, Brian. I choose Alex. I want a better life. Not a life of misery.”

The words hit harder than any other punch. Lily said them without hesitation, without any burden. It was as if everything they'd been through had never mattered. As if this separation was simply a logical choice he'd long prepared for.

Brian stared at Lily for a few seconds, trying to find any trace of guilt on her face. But all he found was determination, even relief.

He said nothing more.

Brian turned and walked away. Leaving the room, leaving behind the memories he'd been nurturing, and the wounds that were beginning to open. As he passed Alex, he paused for a moment.

Alex stood there, naked, wiping the blood from the corner of his lip. But a sinister smile was etched clearly across his face.

"Thank you for taking care of Lily for me all this time, Brian!" Alex shouted from behind.

Brian didn't look back.

In the middle of the night, the city was deserted. The streetlights were dim, and vehicles were barely visible. But inside Brian's head, the atmosphere was chaotic. His thoughts were full, noisy, like many voices blending together.

He rode his motorcycle aimlessly, his hands gripping the handlebars tightly, the throttle pulled harder than usual. The night wind hit his face, cold, but unable to quell the heat in his chest.

As he crossed a bridge, his thoughts drifted back to Lily's words. About the hard life. About the run-down apartment. About the choices that were considered more sensible.

Without realizing it—

Braak!

The motorcycle swerved. In a matter of seconds, everything happened so fast. The vehicle seemed to float before finally being thrown down. Brian closed his eyes, feeling the strong gust of wind hit his face.

There were no screams. There were no witnesses.

Byuur!

Brian's body fell into the water along with the motorcycle. The cold water immediately enveloped him. Despite his panic, he didn't lose consciousness. He tried to move, swimming toward the surface, then to the riverbank with what little strength he had left.

His breath was labored as he finally made it to shore. His body was soaked, trembling, and covered in small wounds.

"I'm... still alive," he muttered softly.

Brian sat limply. He let out a heavy breath, staring up at the night sky. The moon hung overhead, bright and serene, as if mocking his disarray.

Annoyance, anger, and emptiness all mixed together.

With trembling hands, Brian felt for his pants pocket. His phone was still there. Miraculously, it was still on. But it felt incredibly hot in his hands.

The phone screen suddenly lit up brightly.

Brian's eyes widened when he saw an unfamiliar display. The screen seemed to be installing something. Line after line of code moved quickly, accompanied by symbols he didn't understand.

"Tiiit!"

A notification appeared.

[System activated.]

"What the hell?" Brian muttered in confusion.

Before he could turn off the phone, the screen changed again. Another, clearer message appeared.

[Please select the system you wish to control.]

The sentence kept appearing over and over again every time Brian tried to ignore it. He rubbed his face roughly, thinking his mind was starting to get muddled from exhaustion and emotion.

But the screen was real. Too real to be a hallucination.

Hesitantly, Brian pressed one of the available options.

The screen flickered again.

[Okay, the system is activated.]

[Please follow the instructions and you will receive fifty percent of the total cost.]

Brian stared at the screen for a long time. Raindrops from the river were still dripping from his hair and clothes. His body was cold, but his heart was beating rapidly.

“What is this?” Brian asked softly, confused.

In the midst of the destruction of his life, something illogical had appeared. And Brian had no idea that this small decision would change the entire course of his life.