Chapter 2

The next day, Steve Hart got up from his bed with red eyes.

Steve Hart had trouble sleeping, staying awake all night because something called the system kept disturbing his thoughts.

"System, you said I could seek revenge with your help. Is that true?" asked Steve Hart.

Shortly after, a holographic screen containing a direct message appeared.

[Correct, Master Hart]

"How can it be? How will that work?" asked Steve Hart.

[Very soon, Master Hart will find it out]

Steve Hart ruffled his hair. All night, he had tried to satisfy his curiosity, but the system always provided similar answers.

"Enough, I might be late if this continues," said Steve Hart as he left the room.

Steve Hart immediately tidied up his wife's family's luxurious home to complete his task. He was a bit rushed as he had to leave for somewhere later.

Around 10 a.m., Steve Hart finally finished his work. He had already changed his clothes and freshened up to leave.

"Where are you off to so early?"

Steve Hart turned to see who was speaking, and it was Agatha sitting in the living room reading her favorite magazine.

Steve Hart didn't respond immediately. He looked around as if searching for something.

"Callista left earlier in the morning, no need to worry," said Agatha, as if she could read Steve's mind.

Steve breathed a sigh of relief. He wouldn't have to endure further mistreatment from Callista, who was only temporarily staying in the luxurious house.

"My parents will return from their business trip this afternoon. If you really intend to leave, it's better to come back quickly, or they'll be upset," Agatha continued shortly after.

Steve felt as if lightning had struck his head upon hearing this. His wife's cousin had just left, but his in-laws were coming back. It was akin to going out of the crocodile's mouth and into the tiger's den, as their treatment of Steve wouldn't differ much.

"I understand. I won't be long before I return," said Steve Hart.

"In that case, take this," said Agatha, handing two $100 moneys to Steve.

At first, Steve Hart rejected his wife’s gift. But as Agatha forced him to accept it, he received the money without saying much. To be honest, receiving the money from his wife made him feel bad. Somehow, he was the person who should do that to Agatha.

"Don't feel too bad. Besides, this is part of the contract, isn't it, my husband?" said Agatha suddenly, as if she knew what Steve was thinking.

Steve clenched the $200 tightly in his hand, knowing he only had to wait for the remaining year to receive the promised $500,000 from Agatha as part of their contract marriage.

During this time, Steve Hart had decided to accept the consequences of being the useless son-in-law of the Cattegirn family, who enjoyed oppressing him.

Steve Hart bid farewell to Agatha. He left the house with a mixture of feeling.

[Why is Master Hart sad? Isn't there anything to worry about because the System is here?]

Steve Hart only glanced briefly at the system's message, then said, "Shut up. How can I rely on you when I don't even know your purpose?"

Steve Hart headed to a bus stop quite far from his wife's family's mansion. He boarded a bus that stopped before heading towards downtown Avebury.

After getting off the bus, Steve Hart walked a considerable distance until he reached a large hospital nearby.

"Can we assist you?" asked the receptionist.

"I'd like to visit Adaline Hart. Is she available?"

"Oh, Mrs. Adaline is in room 30 on the third floor. After being critical for a while, her condition has improved enough to receive visitors," said the receptionist.

Steve Hart sighed with relief, feeling guilty for not visiting earlier.

"I'll go see her, then," said Steve as he took his steps.

It didn't take long for Steve to reach the specified room. He entered and saw a middle-aged woman lying with a pale face.

"Mom..."

Steve Hart sat beside the woman's bed, tightly holding her hand. Memories flooded his mind, taking him back about three years.

On the day of his high school graduation, Steve Hart received bad news about his mother being in an accident.

It left his mother in a critical condition for a long time, requiring intensive and costly care that made Steve's life bleak, as he had no idea where to get that much money.

Coincidentally, Agatha Cattegirn, a popular student at his school, suddenly offered Steve a contract marriage shortly after their graduation day.

Knowing Steve's mother's condition, Agatha Cattegirn promised $500,000 at the end of the four-year contract and would cover his mother's medical expenses during that period.

That was how Steve's marriage to Agatha was formed under a contract. Only he and Agatha knew about it, which made his wife's family consider Steve a parasite trying to cling to Agatha.

"All the insults I've endured... Mom." Steve gazed at his unconscious mother, even after all this time.

Steve was still absorbed in looking at his mother's face when the door burst open. The sound of the door being forcibly opened made Steve turn to see who it was.

"You jerk, don't you know my mother is being treated here?!" Steve exclaimed in anger.

Steve was taken aback when he recognized the person who had just broken into the room, none other than the person he least expected to meet there.

"What? Are you daring to curse at me?" Callista looked angry.

"You... how can you be here?" Steve Hart was full of question marks.

"Why not? Besides, this hospital belongs to my family. Moreover, I am now responsible for everything that happens here."

Steve Hart cursed inwardly. Of all the Cattegirn family businesses in Avebury, he questioned why Callista had been appointed to manage the hospital where his mother was being treated.

"Oh... look who's this ragged old woman? I wonder if something happens to her, will you still dare to curse me again?" Callista said with a meaningful smile.

"Don't you dare touch my mother!" Steve Hart lost his composure, raising his voice.

[Mission triggered, silence Callista Cattegirn and prove that Master Hart is no longer someone easily oppressed]

"How?" muttered Steve Hart.

[The system will provide $50,000 as initial capital. Use the money to solve this problem]

[Additionally, all the money Master Hart uses for mission purposes will be doubled and returned to Master Hart's account as a success reward]

Shortly after, a message notification sounded on Steve's phone. He immediately checked the message, which showed a sum of money had been deposited into his account.

"What... is this system thing really giving me $50,000 for free?" muttered Steve Hart, finding it hard to believe.