I Level Up with the Trillionaire System

Chapter Two: A Costly Price for Debt

Jack's hands gripped the steering wheel, eyes transfixed on the road. Right now he was speeding to the hospital, tears streaming endlessly from his eyes. As if Mary's betrayal was not enough, his mother had died on the same day.

At this point, it was already clear the universe was against him. He'd finally lost everything that mattered dearly. Whatever spark of hope he had left… it had been snuffed out in a whiff, like a dying breath.

The car tyres screeched to a halt when he reached the hospital premises, drawing the attention of everyone present. He jumped out briskly, forgetting to turn off the ignition, and rushed into the hospital.

He arrived when the nurses were covering his mother’s corpse, Margaret weeping beside her. His sister's face was wetted by so many tears, eyes lowered. She didn't even look up, even when he came in.

Jack faltered just as he entered the room, eyes fixated on the corpse. Even till her last moments, his mother still had her peaceful expression.

Jack lowered his head, teeth gritted. “You didn't even fight, huh?” He said bitterly, his voice raspy.

The doctor, wearing a white coat, stepped forward and placed his right hand on Jack's shoulder. “I'm sorry for your loss,” he said, voice flat as though practiced. It was as if he'd seen too many deaths to even care.

“You're sorry?” Jack glared at the man, veins bulging out of his hands. “Is that all you have to say?”

He clenched his fists and snorted, lips trembling and heart palpitating. He knew what he'd gone through to pay his mother's bills. The huge amount of money from the loan sharks came at a grave cost. She should have at least survived, and then he would have figured out the rest. But now, the debt he had taken had been rendered all for naught.

“Tell… tell me this is a dream,” he stammered, his gaze drifting toward Margaret.

The eighteen-year-old girl finally raised her head, eyes transfixed on Jack. With a raspy voice, she said, “Jack…”

Grief outweighed her heart and she couldn't complete her statement. Biting her lips, she tilted her head to the side and continued crying.

It was now two of them against the world, Jack realized painfully. Their father, Mr. Neuman, had been assassinated some years ago, and now this.

“Mr. Jack, the corpse will be sent to the morgue,” the indifferent doctor said, nudging at his glasses. “We'll discuss how to hold her funeral.”

With those words, he stepped out without even glancing back at the Neumans. The nurses followed shortly, letting out long sighs as they left the room. Now, it was only Jack and Margaret left in the room.

The young girl sniffed and bit her lips, gaze drifting toward Jack. “Jack… is Mary aware?” She asked, wiping snort off her nose.

“Mary…” Jack's shoulders sagged, his voice becoming raspier. It was like dying breath, short and ragged.

Margaret waited for him to finish, unaware of what had transpired earlier. Mary was like an elder sister to her, so she didn't expect the betrayal.

“We're getting divorced,” Jack said, lips quivering. “The divorce papers are arriving tomorrow.”

He gritted his teeth in a vain attempt to prevent himself from crying. His facial muscles quivered under the pressure, his eyes becoming more moist.

Margaret's eyes narrowed, then as if she didn't get what Jack had just said, she asked, “What are you talking about? You're supposed to pick her up from her parents’ place.”

Jack exhaled, eyes transfixed on his sister. “She was never at her parents’ place, but at home with someone.”

He didn't need to go into details of what had happened. His sister was smart enough to figure out the rest.

“What…?” Her eyes quivered, body shuddering as she staggered backward. “How?”

He didn't know how to explain, since he didn't know the answer himself. Memories of his loving wife flashed through his mind. He recalled how she'd been supportive and caring in his glorious days. Those memories made him doubt his sanity, as if everything that had happened was just a nightmare.

“Let's go home,” he finally said, sauntering off.

Margaret cast one last glance at their mother's corpse, more tears trickling down her face. A painful sigh escaped her lips as she turned around and left.

Thirty minutes later, they were on their way to Jack's house. When they alighted and got in, Jack realized James and his wife were gone. She had taken all her property, leaving the house almost empty.

“I'm selling this place,” Jack finally broke the news to her.

“No!” Margaret whipped her head in his direction. “You can't do that, Jack!”

“I can't afford your fees…” he replied, even though this hadn't been his original intention. “You have to go to the university.”

Now that Mary was divorcing him, it seemed that the hex was gone. He could finally focus on his only family and it made his heart tighten. He realized that he'd neglected his mother and sister when he was wealthy.

Even though he'd been sending them money, he'd done more for Mary's family. And now he realized money wasn't everything. He should have at least spent more time with them.

The siblings stood in silence, staring at the house once more. They had stayed here for years, seeing it as their home. Now it'd be a reminder to Jack that he'd once been in a prestigious position. It seemed like a dream… their happiness all those years.

There was a distant revving of a car engine close by which they failed to hear. Hurried footsteps alighted the stairs to the porch before halting. There was a brief silence, only the sound of the ticking clock in the living room was heard.

A few moments later, a ferocious bang on the door jolted them from their sorrow. They exchanged glances before looking at the door which was sent crashing down afterward.

A man walked into the room, eyes glaring at Jack and a scowl on his face. He was burly and tall, a perfect description of a neanderthal. Three men followed behind him, all of them wearing mean expressions.

“Well, well, well…” the man sized up the siblings, then moved his eyes to the living room. He had a calm deposition, hands in his pockets, as if he owned the world.

“Winston…” Jack's face paled as if he were staring at a ghost.

This man owned the loan shark operation which had loaned him money to pay his mother's hospital bills. He'd borrowed the hefty sum of five hundred thousand dollars, with an outrageous interest of six hundred thousand dollars.

Jack had been very desperate, so he'd readily agreed. He'd thought his mother would survive and he'd find a new job, but the universe had other plans.

“I'm here for my money, Jack!” Winston blared at him. “I don't have time for pleasantries!”

“Please give me a few days at least…” he said, eyes pleading desperately.

Margaret's eyes switched between Jack and the men in puzzlement. “What's going on, Jack?” She asked, but no answer came.

“We're here for the collateral,” Winston huffed, pointing at the living room. “And we're taking this house!”

He spoke with a heavy tone, as if he owned Jack's life. There wasn't any space for negotiation, his words final and absolute.

Jack couldn't believe his ears and collapsed to the floor. This was simply outrageous! How could they simply take his house as collateral? This hadn't been agreed upon!

But he couldn't argue as he knew the costly price of borrowing. He hadn't expected anything less.

“And we're taking your sister along,” Winston said, dropping the bomb that finally shattered Jack.