2025-11-23 20:56:20Rain returned the following morning.
It always did in London, falling in slow, apologetic sheets that blurred everything into grey.
Rafe sat by the window of his modest South Bank flat, the glow of his laptop screen reflecting off the mug of black coffee beside him. The city outside hummed faintly, buses growling, footsteps splashing through puddles, a siren in the distance.
On his screen, a spreadsheet blinked back at him.
Company names. Stock prices. Notes scribbled like scattered thoughts.
Finance for beginners, the title of the tab read.
He leaned back and rubbed his eyes. Two weeks ago, he wouldn’t have cared about the importance of a portfolio. Now, he was consuming everything he could, equity, valuation, market trends, leverage ratios.
Not because he suddenly adored numbers.
But because numbers were the language of those who had ridiculed him. Those he wanted to crush.
Clara’s father had once scoffed across their dinner table, his voice dripping with disdain.
“You wouldn’t last a day in the boardroom, Rafe. Stick to errands.”
Rafe had smiled then, swallowing his pride like acid.
But tonight, he smiled differently.
The System’s voice cut softly through the quiet.
> [Guidance Activated: Financial Growth Pathway Initiated.]
> [Objective: Identify undervalued assets within 72 hours.]
"Undervalued assets," Rafe whispered. "Just like me, right?"
[Perhaps. Trust your instincts.]
He raised an eyebrow. "You seem quite pleased today."
[Not pleased. Motivating. Keep in mind, true power lies not in wealth, but in comprehension.]
Rafe nodded thoughtfully. "Comprehension, huh..."
He looked at the cracked mirror propped against the wall. His reflection appeared different lately, sharper gaze, more upright stance. The failure that once defined him was gradually fading away.
By noon, he found himself in a public library, the same one he used to frequent during his broke student years.
This time, he wasn’t there seeking warmth or free internet, he was there to learn.
The System had pinpointed several companies:
A small energy company in Bristol, barely surviving. A tech startup that had recently lost backers due to "market instability."
An organic food distributor with slim profit margins but increasing demand.
Every company seemed on the brink of failure. Yet Rafe recalled what the System user, Noah Ward, had shared with him that night on the rooftop:
"The System isn’t your enemy, neither is it your friend.”
So Rafe immersed himself, cross-referencing reports, watching tutorials, even reaching out to business students online. His mind was ablaze with numbers, graphs, patterns, but beneath it all, a singular truth emerged:
His in-laws had constructed their empire on arrogance and corruption. He would reconstruct his life with precision.
Three days went by.
Sleep became a distant thought, meals a haze.
At one point, the System spoke again:
[Observation: 92% focus rate maintained for 48 hours. Cognitive enhancement noted.]
[Skill upgraded: Analytical Thinking +15%.]
He chuckled softly. "Looks like I’m finally excelling at something other than being embarrassed."
When he finally took his first step, it wasn’t extravagant.
He purchased minor shares in the struggling food distributor, the one with poor margins but dedicated customers.
Two days later, an influencer shared a viral video lauding the company’s eco-friendly packaging.
The stock tripled overnight.
Rafe gazed at the graph, his mouth agape. "No way..."
[Profit Earned: £28,400.]
[Next Step: Reinvest or Withdraw?]
He paused for a moment.
Then he typed: Reinvest.
The System took a moment before replying.
[Decision recorded.]
As days went by, the apartment felt a bit less barren.
A pre-owned couch.
A shelf filled with finance books and inexpensive novels.
An old coffee maker buzzing like a faithful friend.
Rafe’s life was quietly reconstructing itself — not by chance, but through discipline.
Occasionally, he would wake in the night, haunted by the echo of Clara’s laughter. She used to claim he wasn’t “made for the real world.” That he lacked ambition.
Now he studied until dawn, the light from the System guiding him like a quiet mentor.
But he hadn’t forgotten the warning from the rooftop:
"Don’t let the System make all your decisions."
So he began to make small human choices again.
He assisted a neighbor with groceries. He visited the same café he saved, leaving a tip that was double the cost of his meal.
It wasn’t about kindness; it was about grounding himself.
He was constructing something, a man who couldn’t be dismissed as a punchline at dinner gatherings.
One Friday afternoon, he wandered aimlessly down Oxford Street, passing high-end brands and glass displays that reflected a man he hardly recognized, composed, strategic, quietly vibrant.
Inside one of those windows, a mannequin displayed a navy three-piece suit. The type his father-in-law used to wear for board meetings.
Rafe paused.
The store name illuminated above the glass: “Hartmann & Sons.”
Without a second thought, he stepped inside.
Once inside, the aroma of leather and cologne enveloped him.
The floor gleamed with polished marble, the atmosphere thick with affluence.
A salesman approached, his gaze scanning Rafe’s humble coat.
“Good evening, sir. Are you in search of something particular?”
Rafe surveyed the suits around him. “Yeah. Something that doesn’t make me appear as if I’m begging for validation.”
The salesman blinked, uncertain if it was a jest. Rafe offered a faint smile, his fingers brushing against the fabric of a grey jacket.
It wasn’t merely about the attire. It was about entering spaces that once mocked him, and no longer feeling insignificant.
Then, a recognizable voice pierced through the soft jazz music.
“Well, well. If it isn’t the famous charity case.”
Rafe froze.
He turned slowly, and there he stood.
Jacob Levi.
Clara’s ex-husband.
Previous Chapter
Latest Chapter
Goodbye, Rafe Miller
Rafe finally stood up and dragged himself toward the sink and splashed cold water on his face, watching the pink-tinted drops fall into the basin. His reflection stared back, hollow eyes, bruised lip, jaw tight with exhaustion.He had almost died a few minutes ago.He pushed away from the mirror, pacing.It wasn’t just humiliation anymore. They actually wanted him gone.Then, a faint chime.The air in the room seemed to hum. Rafe froze. The reflection in the window flickered, then the System appeared again, lettering glowing faint blue across the glass.[SYSTEM ALERT: USER EXPOSED TOO EARLY] Threat Level: Critical. Observation Detected – Multiple Entities.Recommendation: Relocation Required.Rafe blinked hard, his breath catching. “What do you mean exposed?” he muttered. “You’re saying people know… about you?”The text pulsed.System: “Attention has been drawn to your sudden rise, Rafe Miller. Visibility threatens continuity.”Rafe rubbed his temples, forcing himself to think. His
Run Or Die
London had a strange way of going quiet after midnight.The rain had stopped hours ago, but the streets still glistened under the orange lamplight, slick and reflective like sheets of glass.Rafe crossed the bridge toward South Bank, the faint hum of the Thames beneath him.His new suit hung perfectly, the expensive fabric hugging his shoulders, a small, quiet reminder that the man walking home tonight was not the same one who once bowed to the Li family’s insults.He felt lighter somehow.Not happy, just… focused.Every step brought him closer to something he couldn’t yet name.His phone buzzed in his pocket.[Sub-Alert: Unusual Movement Detected.]Rafe frowned. “Unusual movement?” he murmured.He stopped at the end of the bridge and glanced behind him. The street was mostly empty, a delivery van passing in the distance, a couple huddled under an umbrella, a lone cyclist gliding past.Everything looked normal.He shrugged it off and kept walking.By the time he reached the narrow str
The First Real Trail
The bell above the door chimed softly as Rafe turned toward the voice.Jacob Levi stood near the entrance of the luxury store, grinning like he owned the place. His navy suit was crisp, his tie knotted perfectly, and his eyes carried that same glint of entitlement Rafe remembered too well.“Rafe Miller,” Jacob drawled, walking closer with that slow, confident stride of someone who never once doubted the ground beneath him. “Didn’t expect to see you here. Lost, are we?”Rafe didn’t respond. He simply adjusted the jacket he was holding, his fingers brushing the fine wool fabric.Jacob laughed, shaking his head. “You always were full of surprises. From begging your wife for lunch money to browsing Hartmann suits? What’s next, a yacht?”Rafe exhaled through his nose, calm. The insults didn’t sting anymore. They just sounded small.“I heard about you,” Jacob continued, stepping closer until their reflections shared the same mirror. “The disgrace of the Li family. Raising a small dying cafe
Risk: Accepted
Rain returned the following morning.It always did in London, falling in slow, apologetic sheets that blurred everything into grey.Rafe sat by the window of his modest South Bank flat, the glow of his laptop screen reflecting off the mug of black coffee beside him. The city outside hummed faintly, buses growling, footsteps splashing through puddles, a siren in the distance.On his screen, a spreadsheet blinked back at him.Company names. Stock prices. Notes scribbled like scattered thoughts.Finance for beginners, the title of the tab read.He leaned back and rubbed his eyes. Two weeks ago, he wouldn’t have cared about the importance of a portfolio. Now, he was consuming everything he could, equity, valuation, market trends, leverage ratios.Not because he suddenly adored numbers.But because numbers were the language of those who had ridiculed him. Those he wanted to crush.Clara’s father had once scoffed across their dinner table, his voice dripping with disdain.“You wouldn’t last
The Loading Screen
Rafe cursed under his breath, “Who the hell are you?” and chased after him.The rain hit the pavement in silver sheets as he burst through the cafe door.“Rafe? Where are you going?!”He ignored Amara’s calls, his attention drilled to one person. The system user.“Hey!” Rafe called out. The man didn’t stop.He moved fast, dancing through the crowd like smoke, slipping between pedestrians and puddles with so much precision.Rafe followed, shoving past people, ignoring their protests. His shoes splashed through puddles, breath clouding in the cold air.The man turned down a narrow side street, glancing back once, his eyes glowing faintly blue.Rafe’s pulse spiked. He really is a System user too.“Stop!” Rafe shouted. “You— you know about it, don’t you?”The man didn’t respond. Instead, he darted across the street as a car honked, brakes screeching inches away.Rafe barely cleared the next lane, his jacket sleeve brushing against a side mirror. His lungs burned, but adrenaline drowned mo
Signature: USER-02
The rain had stopped by morning, leaving London wrapped in a grey haze.The streets glistened, buses hissed through puddles, and Rafe moved quietly among the crowd, just another face in the city that had already forgotten him.He stopped by a lamppost to check his phone.A faint blue flicker appeared in his vision.[SYSTEM MISSION #2: PROVE YOUR WORTH]Objective: Earn £10,000 profit in 48 hours without using System money.Reward: unknown.Penalty: Balance deduction – £1,000,000.He exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. “No pressure, huh?”Two days. No System funds.Just him, and his brain.And honestly comparing it to what he faced in the Li’s house, it was nothing.By afternoon, he wandered through South Bank’s quieter streets, the ones where old shops clung to life between shiny glass towers. Thaat’s when he saw it: “CLOSING DOWN SALE – 3 DAYS LEFT”, printed across the dusty window of a small café.He paused. The place looked dead — lights dimmed, furniture stacked near t
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