Ethan stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the collar of the new suit he'd bought with his recent earnings. The $12,000 he'd made from the NovaTech stock was just the beginning, but it had already changed everything. For the first time in years, he felt like he was in control of his life.
The Infinite System had given him a second chance, and he wasn't going to waste it.
But today wasn't just about moving forward. Today was about settling the score.
He picked up his phone and opened the messaging app, scrolling through his old conversations with Clara. The last message she'd sent him still stung:
"I'm sorry, Ethan, but this just isn't working. I need someone who's going somewhere in life."
Ethan's jaw tightened as he read the words. Well, he was going somewhere now. And he wanted Clara to see it.
The Café Encounter
The café where Clara worked part-time was a trendy spot downtown, frequented by young professionals and students. Ethan walked in, his new suit turning heads as he made his way to the counter. Clara was there, taking an order from a customer, but her eyes widened when she saw him.
"Ethan?" she said, her voice tinged with disbelief. "What are you doing here?"
He gave her a casual smile, the kind of smile that said he didn't care anymore. "Just thought I'd drop by. You know, see how you're doing."
Clara glanced at his suit, her eyes narrowing. "What's with the suit? Did you get a job or something?"
"Something like that," Ethan replied, his tone light. "Actually, I'm here to celebrate. Made a little investment the other day, and it paid off big time."
Clara's lips pressed into a thin line. "Good for you," she said, though her tone suggested she didn't believe him.
Ethan leaned casually against the counter, his confidence radiating. "Yeah, it's amazing what you can achieve when you're not weighed down by people who don't believe in you."
Clara's cheeks flushed, but before she could respond, another voice cut in.
"Ethan? Is that you?"
He turned to see Daniel, Clara's new boyfriend, walking toward him with a smirk on his face. Daniel was impeccably dressed, as always, and carried himself with the arrogance of someone who'd never had to struggle a day in his life.
"Daniel," Ethan said, nodding in acknowledgment. "Fancy seeing you here."
Daniel's smirk widened. "I could say the same to you. What brings you to this part of town? Slumming it?"
Ethan chuckled, unfazed. "Just here to grab a coffee. But since you're here, I've got a question for you. How's that startup of yours doing? Heard NovaTech's stock just went through the roof."
Daniel's smirk faltered. "What do you know about NovaTech?"
Ethan shrugged. "Not much. Just that their stock tripled overnight. I made a little investment myself. Turned $2,000 into $12,000 in a few hours. Not bad, right?"
Daniel's expression darkened, and Clara stared at Ethan, her mouth hanging open.
"You're lying," Daniel said, though there was a hint of uncertainty in his voice.
Ethan pulled out his phone and opened his brokerage app, showing them the transaction history. Daniel's eyes widened as he saw the numbers, and Clara's face turned pale.
"Guess I got lucky," Ethan said, slipping his phone back into his pocket. "But hey, luck favors the bold, right?"
Daniel's jaw tightened, and he shot Clara a glare before storming out of the café. Clara hesitated for a moment, then turned to Ethan.
"I didn't know you were into stocks," she said, her voice soft.
Ethan gave her a wry smile. "There's a lot you don't know about me, Clara. But that's your loss."
With that, he turned and walked out of the café, leaving Clara standing there, stunned.
The Aftermath
As Ethan stepped out into the sunlight, a wave of satisfaction washed over him. He'd humiliated Daniel and made Clara regret her decision—at least a little. But this was just the beginning. The Infinite System had given him the tools to rise above his old life, and he was going to use them to their fullest.
[Host, you have achieved a significant milestone.]
the AI's voice said in his mind.
[Revenge Arc Initiated: First Act of Retribution Complete. Rewards: $5,000 bonus funds, +1 Strength point.]
Ethan smiled as he felt the system's energy course through him. He'd just taken the first step toward building an empire, and nothing was going to stop him.