THE BILLIONAIRE REBATE SYSTEM

Chapter 4: When Money Refuses to Listen

“Stop recording!”

Security shouted, but no one listened. Phones were everywhere. Hands shaking. Eyes burning.

Derrick stood in the center of the lobby as if the chaos belonged to someone else. Women cried. Men argued. Executives whispered urgently into their phones.

One word rippled through the room. ''Twenty billion.''

“That’s fake,” someone said loudly. “It has to be fake.”

Hawthorne’s face was gray. He grabbed Sophie’s wrist. “We’re leaving. Now.”

Sophie didn’t move. She stared at Derrick like he had crawled out of a nightmare. “You didn’t earn this,” she said. “You stole it.”

Derrick looked at her calmly. “You watched me get beaten and said nothing.”

“That doesn’t”

“Everything after that,” Derrick interrupted, “belongs to me.”

Hawthorne leaned forward. “Enjoy your moment,” he said quietly. “By tomorrow, your accounts will be frozen.”

Derrick nodded. “Try.”

Hawthorne’s lips thinned. “You don’t understand how this world works.”

Derrick stepped closer. “I understand humiliation.”

The two men locked eyes. Then Hawthorne turned away. The doors slammed shut behind him. The lobby exhaled. Luna grabbed Derrick’s arm. “We need to go. Now.”

“Agreed,” Derrick said.

As they moved toward the exit, a reporter blocked their path. “Mr. Wallance! Are you claiming responsibility for the donations?”

“Yes,” Derrick said.

“Are you a philanthropist now?”

“No,” Derrick replied. “I’m paying a debt.”

“To whom?”

Derrick paused. “To myself.”

They pushed through the crowd. Outside, black cars lined the street. One door opened. A woman stepped out. Sharp suit. Cold eyes. “Derrick Wallance,” she said. “I’m Agent Mercer. Financial Crimes Division.”

Luna froze. “We need to ask you some questions.”

Derrick smiled faintly. “I was wondering when you’d show up.”

Mercer studied him. “You’re very calm for someone who just triggered half the global banking alarms.”

“I’m innocent,” Derrick said.

Mercer raised an eyebrow. “No one with your balance is innocent.”

Before Derrick could reply, his phone vibrated. ''System Alert: External interference detected.''

“What does that mean?” Derrick asked internally.

''Host assets under investigation.''

Mercer gestured toward the cars. “Please come with us.”

Derrick looked at Luna. She shook her head. “Don’t.”

“It’s fine,” Derrick said quietly. “Wait for me.”

As Mercer reached for his arm, Derrick felt a sudden heaviness in his chest. ''Warning: Forced compliance detected.''

“What happens if I go?” Derrick asked.

''Probability of prolonged detainment: 87%''

“And if I don’t?”

''System unable to intervene directly.''

Mercer’s hand closed around his sleeve. Derrick pulled back. “No,” he said.

Mercer’s eyes hardened. “Then you’re obstructing an investigation.”

The system pulsed again, slower, colder. ''New Rule Activated: Wealth cannot solve every conflict.''

Derrick’s heart skipped. “What does that mean?” he demanded.

Mercer motioned. “Seize his phone.”

Agents stepped forward. Derrick raised the card instinctively. “Don’t,” Mercer warned. “Bribery is a felony.”

Derrick hesitated. The card felt… heavy. For the first time, the system did not respond. “System,” Derrick whispered internally. “Do something.”

No answer. A hand grabbed his wrist. Pain shot up his arm. Derrick winced. ''System Punishment Triggered.''

His vision blurred. “What punishment?” he gasped.

''Loss of protection: Temporary.''

The world tilted. Derrick collapsed to one knee. Luna screamed. “Derrick!”

Mercer stepped back. “What’s wrong with him?”

Derrick clutched his chest. The pain was familiar. Too familiar. Fear. Real fear. For the first time since the accident, He felt weak.

''Lesson: Power without resolve invites restraint.''

Mercer hesitated. “Call medical.”

Derrick forced himself upright. “No,” he said hoarsely. “I’m fine.”

He looked at Luna. “Go,” he told her. “Please.”

She shook her head violently. “I’m not leaving you.”

Mercer studied them both. Then her radio crackled. “Stand down,” a voice ordered. “Higher authority.”

Mercer frowned. “Understood.”

She stepped back. “You’re lucky,” she told Derrick. “For now.”

The agents withdrew. The cars pulled away. Silence settled. Luna grabbed Derrick. “You scared me.”

He laughed weakly. “Good. Means I’m still human.”

They got into a car. As it drove away, Derrick stared out the window. Money had failed him. The system had let him fall.

''Host reflection required.''

“What do you want from me?” Derrick asked.

''Growth.''

Luna broke the silence. “They showed that video… the one of you kneeling.”

Derrick closed his eyes. “I didn’t want you to see that.”

She hesitated. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because,” Derrick said quietly, “I didn’t want to be that man anymore.”

Luna reached for his hand. “You aren’t,” she said.

Derrick squeezed back. Across the city, in a dark office, Hawthorne slammed his fist onto a desk. “He resisted,” Sophie said nervously. “The agents backed off.”

Hawthorne’s eyes burned. “Then we escalate.”

“How?”

Hawthorne turned to a screen showing Derrick’s profile. “We take what money can’t protect.”

Sophie smiled slowly. “His past?”

“No,” Hawthorne said. “His future.”

Back in the car, Derrick’s phone buzzed. A new message. Unknown Number. “Do you know why the System chose you?”

Derrick stared at the screen. Another message followed. “Because you were meant to lose everything twice.”

His blood ran cold. ''System Notification: Origin inquiry detected.''

Derrick whispered, “What are you not telling me?”

The system remained silent. The car disappeared into the night. And for the first time since gaining his fortune, Derrick felt hunted.