Dumped on my anniversary, I activated the billionaire system

chapter 3

Trent’s champagne flute stopped halfway to his mouth, the expensive liquor sloshing over the rim and staining his French cuff, but he didn't even notice. He just stared at Julian like he was a cockroach that had crawled onto his plate.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" Trent barked, his face twisting into an ugly sneer as he quickly stepped in front of Julian, blocking his path to the showroom floor. "Did you get lost on the way to the homeless shelter, or did you come here to beg for a handout?"

The blonde girl clinging to Trent's arm giggled, covering her mouth with a manicured hand. "Babe, is this the ex? The one who works as a paramedic? He smells like cheap soap and desperation."

The dealership manager, a slick guy named Vance, frowned and stepped forward, his eyes sweeping over Julian’s wrinkled jacket and scuffed boots with open disgust. "Mr. Sterling, is this guy bothering you? I can have security throw him out before he scares off the other clients."

Julian didn't look at Trent. He just looked at Vance, his expression completely flat. "I'm not bothering anyone. I'm here to buy a car."

Trent burst out laughing, a loud, obnoxious sound that echoed through the quiet, pristine showroom. "Buy a car? Are you high? Look at him, Vance. His boots are held together by duct tape. He probably can't even afford the air freshener hanging from the rearview mirror of my BMW."

Trent stepped closer, getting right in Julian's face, his breath smelling like expensive scotch and arrogance. "Listen to me, you pathetic waste of space. Madison was right to dump you. You're a bottom-feeder who leeches off better people. Now turn around and walk out before I have Vance call the cops for trespassing, because I'm not having your trashy aura ruining my purchase."

The salesgirls nearby were whispering and snickering behind their hands, and Vance was already reaching for his radio to call the guards. Julian just stood there, taking the verbal abuse, letting Trent dig his own grave as deep as he wanted.

"Are you done?" Julian asked, his voice barely above a whisper, but it carried across the room and cut through the laughter instantly.

He stepped around Trent without even looking at him and walked straight toward the matte-black hypercar sitting on the rotating pedestal in the center of the floor. It was a limited-edition Apex GT, a custom build with carbon-fiber everything, looking more like a fighter jet than a car. Julian ran a hand over the cold metal of the hood. "How much for this one?"

Vance sighed, rubbing his temples like dealing with Julian was giving him a migraine. "Look, buddy, I don't know what kind of prank this is, but that car is four point five million dollars. The deposit alone is half a mil. So unless you won the lottery, you need to leave before you scratch the paint."

Julian reached into his jacket pocket. Right as he was about to pull out his smashed phone, his fingers brushed against something cold and heavy. He pulled it out. It was a sleek, matte-black metal card with no numbers, just a subtle gold emblem of a lion. The System had materialized it in his pocket, tied directly to his offshore billions.

"I'll pay in full," Julian said, holding the card out. "Bring the wireless terminal."

Trent snorted, shaking his head. "A black card? Did you steal that from a dead guy? Vance, don't even bother. It's obviously a fake, or it's maxed out."

Vance looked skeptical, but he signaled a salesgirl to bring the terminal over. He typed in the amount, his finger hovering over the screen, clearly expecting it to decline and prove his point. Julian tapped the card against the reader.

*BEEP.*

The screen flashed bright green. *APPROVED. $4,500,000.00.*

The silence in the showroom was deafening. Vance’s jaw practically hit the floor, and his entire demeanor changed in a microsecond. He went from looking at Julian like he was garbage to looking at him like he was a walking gold mine.

"Mr... Mr. Cross! I am so sorry for the confusion," Vance stammered, practically bowing. "Let me get the paperwork started immediately. Can I offer you some champagne? Or maybe some sparkling water?"

Trent’s face went pale, then flushed a violent, angry red. "Wait, what? That's a glitch! He's a broke loser, he doesn't have four million dollars! Arrest him! He stole that card!"

Julian didn't even raise his voice. He just looked at Vance, his eyes cold and dead. "This guy has been harassing me since I walked in, and he's ruining the buying experience. I want him removed from the premises before I sign the title."

Vance didn't hesitate for a single second. He nodded at two burly security guards standing by the door. "You heard the gentleman. Escort Mr. Sterling out. Now."

"You can't do this! Do you know who my family is? I'll buy this whole dealership and fire you!" Trent screamed as the guards grabbed his arms. His blonde side-piece was already backing away, looking at him like he was a total loser, completely embarrassed to be seen with him. They dragged him out the glass doors, his shouts echoing down the street before the heavy doors shut and cut him off.

Julian signed the digital pad, took the keys, and walked out to the driver's seat. The engine roared to life, a deep, guttural sound that vibrated right through the chassis and into his chest. He pulled out onto the main avenue, the city lights blurring past the windshield as the hypercar ate up the asphalt.

He was just starting to enjoy the smooth ride, feeling the raw power of the machine under his hands, when he saw the flashing red and blue lights ahead.

A massive pile-up blocked the intersection, and right in the middle of it, a crushed Rolls Royce was smoking. An old man was collapsed on the pavement, clutching his chest, and a young woman in a sharp business suit was screaming for help while the paramedics were stuck behind the gridlock.

Before Julian could even hit the brakes, the blue screen flashed in his vision again, blocking his view of the road.

*[Ding! Trigger Event Detected.]*

*[Option 1: Drive around the crash and ignore it. Reward: +$50,000 cash, but the old man dies and you lose a massive future opportunity.]*

*[Option 2: Step in and save the old man using God-Level Medical Skills. Reward: +$100 Million, the absolute loyalty of the city's most powerful family, and a unique skill tree