2024-11-29 13:27:24The morning sun bled through the dusty curtains of the cramped living room of the Lawson family as Jeremy slumped on the faded couch, fingers idly scrolling through his phone. The notifications from unpaid bills were popping up like relentless reminders of his failures. Jeremy felt at 24 to be a shadow of a shadow. His brother Alan was the family pride, a corporate lawyer who had a clear, well-trodden route up the career ladder. Little sister Mia was a golden child-a university scholarship pupil, bound for great things. And Jeremy? He was the invisible middle child who nobody seemed to notice. No degree. No regular job. No prospects. No anything.
The row started at breakfast, the same way they always did. "You need to get your life together, Jeremy," his father barked, slamming his coffee mug on the table. "Alan is buying a house. Mia's on a full scholarship. What have you done?" Jeremy said nothing. His stomach twisted into knots. His mother's eyes flickered with pity but offered no defense. Later that day, after another rejection email for a job he didn't want, Jeremy wandered aimlessly through town. The bustling streets seemed filled with people who had somewhere to be-people who mattered. Passing a café, he overheard snippets of a conversation between two young men sitting by the window. "Crypto's where it's at, man," one said, tapping on his laptop. "I just made three grand in a week." Jeremy paused. He had no idea what "crypto" was, but the mention of money sparked something in him. He leaned against the wall, pretending to scroll through his phone while eavesdropping. “It’s all about timing,” the second man said. “Buy low, sell high. You’ve gotta ride the waves.” That night, the curiosity gnawed at Jeremy. After hours of research-much of which went above his head-he downloaded an online trading app. He had $200 saved for buying a gift for Mia's birthday. Instead, he transferred it to his online trading account. "Let's see if this works," he muttered, buying a small amount of Bitcoin. Days passed. Jeremy obsessively checked the app, watching as his $200 turned into $220, then $250. It wasn't much, but it was more than he'd ever made in a week. For the first time in years, Jeremy felt a flicker of hope. --- The Lawson family’s dining table was rarely a place of celebration. Dinner that evening was no exception. As Alan bragged about his latest promotion and Mia shared stories about her upcoming internship, Jeremy stayed silent, chewing on his mashed potatoes. “Jeremy,” Alan said suddenly, “Dad tells me you’re still unemployed.” Jeremy’s jaw clenched. “I’m working on something.” “Oh, yeah? What, exactly?” The table fell silent. All eyes were on Jeremy, and he felt like a bug under a microscope. "Trading," he finally said. Alan snorted. "Trading? Like stocks? Do you even know what you're doing?" "It's crypto," Jeremy returned, his voice firm. "And yeah, I do." His father shook his head. "Gambling, more like it. You can't build a future on nonsense like that." Jeremy didn't argue. He didn't need their approval. --- In a month, Jeremy's $200 had turned into $1,500. Emboldened, he started binge-watching tutorials, joined online forums, and studied the market trends late into the night. One day, he came across a private trading group on a messaging app run by a guy with the alias Maverick. "Join if you want to learn how the big players trade," the group description read. Jeremy hesitated. The membership f*e was $500—a third of his account. But the testimonials in the chat were glowing. "Life's about risks," Jeremy whispered, transferring the f*e. Maverick's lessons were unlike anything Jeremy had seen. Charts, algorithms, strategies-it was overwhelming yet exhilarating. Maverick's cryptic messages were laced with confidence, pushing Jeremy to think bigger, take bolder steps. "Fortune favors the brave," Maverick wrote one night. Jeremy took this to heart. He started making riskier trades, leveraging his gains. Some paid off, and his account swelled. But then came his first major lost. It was 3 a.m. when Jeremy stared at his screen, heart pounding. He had placed a high-stakes trade on a volatile cryptocurrency called Etherium Gold. The price had plummeted within minutes, wiping out half his account. "No, no, no," he muttered, refreshing the app in vain. The loss gut-punched him. For the first time, he felt a doubt in his head-a doubt over whether he really was cut out for it. "Everyone loses at first," Maverick messaged in response to Jeremy's panicked plea for advice. "The question is: will you quit or learn?" Jeremy closed the app. He wasn't ready to quit. Weeks turned into months. Jeremy's resolve evolved into an obsession, shunning distractions, his family's digs, and each free buck into trading. And slowly but surely, it started to grow once more. One evening, he was sitting in his room all alone when he heard his father at the door. "May we speak?" The man hesitated but nodded yes. Your mother's worried about you," his father began. "We all are. You barely come out of your room. You don't talk to us. Whatever you're doing. I just don't want to see you get hurt." Jeremy met his father's gaze, for the first time not judgment staring back. "I'm not wasting my time," Jeremy said. "I know what I'm doing." His father simply sighed but said nothing. The year had closed with his account over $50,000. He moved out of his parents' house and into a small apartment in town. For the first time, he really felt like he was in control of his life. But success brought its own set of problems: Rumors of his new wealth filtered through to his family and friends. Alan, who had been so dismissive, was now ringing him for advice on investments. Mia, the golden child, even called for advice. Jeremy didn't mind helping them, but he couldn't shake the feeling that their interest was more about his money than him. One night, reveling in his latest win, Jeremy received a message from Maverick. "Careful who you trust," it said. Jeremy frowned, but before he could reply, another message arrived. "Big opportunities coming. Stay sharp." Little did Jeremy know, his life was about to take a dramatic turn. The opportunities Maverick had hinted at would propel him to unimaginable heights but also test his resilience in ways he could not imagine. And as he closed his laptop that night, Jeremy had no idea one of the people closest to him had already begun plotting his downfall.
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BILLIONAIRE MINOR Chapter 2: The Turning Point
Jeremy's phone was going off-the buzzing sounded like the continuous wail of an alarm in a burning building. Barely 6 am, and his trading alerts were acting like a five-alarm fire. He rubbed his eyes and snatched the phone; his heart skipped a beat when he read the notification:"BREAKING: Etherium Gold spikes 230% overnight."Jeremy sat bolt upright, his fingers scrambling to open up his trading app. Surging like fireworks, the charts were. His modest investment in Etherium Gold-what he had called his redemption play after the first big loss-had tripled in value in one night."$150,000," he whispered out loud, staring at the account balance in disbelief.For a moment, Jeremy sat immobile. Then he let out a whoop, jumping out of bed and pacing his small apartment. This wasn't just any win; this was life-changing.Then the doubt seeped in. As the euphoria started to fade, it seemed almost too good to be true. Jeremy pulled up the news and
BILLIONAIRE MINOR Chapter 3: The Meeting in the Dark
The mountain road was unbearably dark, and the weak beams of his car headlights slicing through the mist were about all that lit it. Jeremy's knuckles went white as his grip on the steering wheel tightened; his mind churning over questions. Who exactly was Maverick? Why did he have to meet him in this godforsaken place? And who sent that ominous text urging him to turn back?The cabin materialized out of nowhere, nestled into the side of the hill like some forgotten relic. Its wood surface was weathered, the windows black as coal. Jeremy pulled in, turned off his car, and sat there, the weight of the mountain's eerie silence bearing down on him. He glanced at his phone-no signal."Here goes nothing," he muttered, stepping out.The creak of the porch beneath his weight made him wince. Before he could knock, the door swung open."Come in, Lawson.Jeremy froze. Maverick stood in the doorway-or at least, someone he assumed to be Maverick. The
BILLIONAIRE MINOR Chapter 4: Shadows Strike Back
Jeremy's heart was racing as he stared at the ominous note in his hands. A message was clear: Victor Kane was making his next move. But how? And when?Paranoia weighed in. Every shadow on the street seemed to hide a threat, every glance of a stranger a warning. He jammed the note into his pocket, locked his apartment door twice, and sat at his desk.His immediate reaction was to call Maverick. If anyone could make any sense of this, it would be him. But when he opened the secure chat, a new message from Maverick was already waiting:"Victor has friends in dangerous places. Stay vigilant, but don't let him see your fear."Not exactly comforting.---The following day, Jeremy plunged into his work in an attempt to drown the looming threat. Trading had always been his escape-a world where numbers made sense and risks could be calculated. But even here, Victor's presence lingered.His phone buzzed with an alert: some promisi
BILLIONAIRE MINOR Chapter 5: Caught in the Crossfire
Jeremy sat on the edge of his couch, the phone pressed tightly against his ear. His apartment was still in a shambles from the burglary, but that hardly impinged on him now. The detective's voice managed to cut through the spiraling nature of his thoughts."Are you there, Mr. Lawson?" asked the Detective with unyielding tone.Jeremy swallowed hard. "Yeah. I'm here. What's this about?There was a short silence until Carter replied, "We have reason to believe you've been involved in some of the same fraudulent activities as Victor Kane. This is a courtesy call before we escalate matters. We'd prefer you come in voluntarily to answer a few questions."Jeremy's heart started to beat faster. This wasn't just Victor playing games; this was the law."Fraud?" Jeremy asked, shaking. "I've done nothing illegal.“Then you’ll have no problem coming in,” Carter replied. “Tomorrow, 10 a.m., downtown precinct. Don’t make me come find you.”
BILLIONAIRE MINOR Chapter 6: Lines in the Sand
Jeremy stood in his ransacked apartment, staring at the threatening word smeared across his walls: "ENOUGH." The image of the shattered photo frame at his feet felt like a direct blow to his heart. Victor Kane wasn't just targeting him anymore; he was reaching for the people Jeremy cared about.Clenching his fists, Jeremy turned to Elise, who had rushed over after his frantic call."This isn't intimidation anymore," Jeremy whispered, his voice low and angry. "He's making it personal."Elise knelt beside the broken frame, staring at the shards of glass. "Victor wants you to feel alone. It's classic psychological warfare.""Well, it's working," Jeremy grumbled.Elise straightened and nailed him with an icy stare. "Then let's remind him that fear works both ways."---The next morning, Jeremy met Maverick in that dingy café that had gradually become their unofficial headquarters. Maverick slid a memory stick across the tabl
BILLIONAIRE MINOR Chapter 7: Shattered Trust
The air in Jeremy's penthouse apartment was colder than it should have been; even the soft hum of the city outside did little to break the silence. He stared, mesmerized, at the trading terminal in front of him, his once-glistening fortune hanging on the verge of collapse. The screen flickered as a picture of his disastrous trades materialized on it-a testament to each red number a wound to his pride.He leaned back in his chair, staring at the glass walls that overlooked the glittering skyline. For a brief moment, it almost felt like the city was mocking him. He'd worked so hard, pushed past every obstacle, but here he was again-on the edge of losing everything."Damn it, how did I let this happen?" he muttered, rubbing his temples.A mean, flashing message from the brokerage firm seemed to bring it all into focus as such: Margin Call-Immediate Action Required. He had thought this day would never arrive, considering all his hard struggle, the sacrifices,
BILLIONAIRE MINOR Chapter 8: A Dangerous Alliance
Neon lights of the city flickered like fireflies against the velvet night, casting strange shadows in alleys. Jeremy stood at the edge of the street, feeling the cool breeze cut through his jacket as he watched Clara disappear into the distance. He should have said more to her, done something to convince her that he was still the person she believed in. But his mind was consumed with one thought.Victor Kane.The man who had ruthlessly destroyed everything Jeremy built. A mentor, a teacher-until he unleashed an appetizer of his ambitions: all out of character for his proclaimed mentorship. It hadn't been simply that Victor bested Jeremy at his very own trading world; more than this, Victor broke pieces of Jeremy's life out completely.Jeremy's fists clenched, and the anger rose once more. But this time, he wasn't going to let it consume him. He had learned one thing over the past year: revenge required so much more than rage. It required strategy. Patience
BILLIONAIRE MINOR Chapter 9: Into the Abyss
The men burst into the room like a storm, their heavy boots pounding against the cracked floor as they fanned out, weapons drawn. Jeremy's heart pounded in his chest, but his mind was focused. He had no time to second-guess himself. He grabbed Maya by the wrist and yanked her behind a pillar just as one of the men glanced over, his eyes narrowing as he took in the empty space.Move," Jeremy whispered fiercely, tugging Maya toward the back of the room. The heavy file tucked under his jacket felt like a weight he could ill afford to lose. They needed to get out-fast.The men were methodical in their search, methodically moving from one corner of the room to the next. As they neared the back, Jeremy's mind raced for an escape route. There was no window. No doors except the one they'd come through. He had no weapon. The only option left was to run.The lead man suddenly barked out an order. "Split up. Search every inch. He's here.Jeremy froze. He? Th
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Chapter 62: The Awakening
A deep, resonating hum filled the chamber. It started as a low vibration, barely noticeable beneath their feet, but within seconds, it grew into a deafening pulse. The massive structure at the center of the room flickered with light, its veins of energy glowing brighter, more intense.Jeremy barely had time to register what was happening before the machine let out a piercing whine, like metal twisting against metal.Luca’s smirk widened as he took a step forward, his soldiers fanning out behind him, weapons raised. “You have no idea what you’ve stumbled into, do you?” he mused, his voice almost mocking. “This machine… It’s not just a weapon. It’s the future.”Jeremy’s pulse hammered. His gun was still trained on Luca, but he could feel the shifting air around them, the way the energy from the machine crackled like static electricity. This wasn’t just some relic hidden beneath the ruins. It was alive.Maya took a slow step back, her eyes locked ont
Chapter 61: Beneath the Ruins
The collapse was instantaneous. One moment, Jeremy was standing firm, his heart pounding with adrenaline, and the next, he was free-falling into darkness. Rocks tumbled beside him, dust choked his lungs, and the sound of splitting stone echoed all around.Then—impact.Jeremy hit the ground hard, the air knocked from his chest. Pain shot through his ribs, but he forced himself to roll onto his side, coughing violently as the dust swirled around him. His fingers scraped against cold stone, trembling as he pushed himself up onto his elbows."Maya," he gasped, his voice hoarse.Silence.The dust was too thick, turning everything into a dense, suffocating haze. His heart hammered in his chest. Where was she? She had been right next to him before the tunnel collapsed—before the ground split open beneath them.A groan echoed from somewhere nearby. Jeremy’s head snapped toward the sound, his breath catching. "Maya?"A cough, the
Chapter 60: The Light in the Darkness
The light exploded in a blinding flash, overwhelming Jeremy’s senses. For a split second, the world around him seemed to freeze, everything washed in white as if time itself had come to a standstill. The intense glow swallowed them whole, consuming everything—every sound, every movement, every breath.And then, just as quickly, the light was gone.Jeremy blinked rapidly, disoriented, his vision blurry as he tried to adjust to the sudden shift. The hum of the machine, once deafening, was now silent. The screeching metal, the heavy steps—it was as if the world had shifted entirely.He could barely see. The dust, the smoke—everything was still too thick, but the oppressive feeling of the mechanical beast was gone.“Maya?” Jeremy breathed, his voice shaky with fear. His heart raced in his chest, as if it were trying to break free. His gaze frantically searched the room. Was it dead? Had it been destroyed?“Maya!” he repeated, his voice rising
Chapter 59: Fractured Fate
The darkness swallowed them whole.Jeremy couldn’t tell if it was the ceiling collapsing or his mind spinning, but everything went black in an instant. The air was thick with dust, the taste of rust and soot bitter on his tongue. He felt his body slam into the ground, his head hitting something hard, and then the sensation of nothingness took over—deafening silence and stillness.His pulse drummed in his ears.For a moment, Jeremy wasn’t sure if he was alive or dead. His body ached as if it had been crushed, and the air in his lungs was thick, making it harder to breathe. He tried to move, but everything felt heavy—his limbs, his mind, his thoughts.“Maya…” he croaked, his voice barely a whisper, but no sound came from his lips. His eyes were still closed, and the weight of the world pressed against him. His breath came in shallow gasps as he tried to lift himself, but the weight of the debris around him seemed to have pinned him in place.
Chapter 58: Fractures
The deafening roar of the collapsing ceiling echoed in their ears, the ground shaking violently beneath their feet. Chunks of concrete and debris rained down, and the air was thick with dust and the stench of burning metal. Maya stumbled, her legs weak, as she tried to keep her balance under the onslaught. Jeremy grabbed her arm, pulling her away from the falling rubble, but the tunnel ahead had turned into a war zone.The door they’d been heading toward was now blocked by a pile of twisted metal and rock, leaving only the collapsing hallway behind them as an option. Jeremy’s heart pounded, the oppressive weight of their situation pressing down on him.“This way!” Maya shouted, her voice urgent but steady. She had already turned, heading down a narrow passageway on the side, one that had been obscured by rubble until the explosion.Jeremy hesitated for a fraction of a second, glancing back at the door, now completely obscured. But there was no time. He fol
Chapter 57: The Final Hour
The mechanical beast before them was more than just a machine—it was a force of destruction. Its glowing red eyes locked onto Jeremy and Maya, an unblinking, soulless stare that promised death. The creature's hulking frame loomed, shifting with the hiss of servos and hydraulic pistons, and its weapons glinted ominously in the dim light of the collapsing tunnel.Maya’s hand tightened around her gun, but the weapon seemed insignificant against the massive machine. There was no way to fight it, not without a plan, not without an advantage. And right now, all they had was each other—and the uncertain hope that they could somehow survive long enough to escape.“Luca, you’ve really lost it,” Jeremy spat, stepping in front of Maya, trying to keep her behind him. His heart hammered in his chest as he searched for some sort of advantage, some way to survive. “You think this thing will stop us?”Luca’s smirk widened, watching them with detached amusement. “You’re al
Chapter 56: Fractured Reality
Darkness.The cold, impenetrable kind that suffocated everything. It surrounded Jeremy, clouding his thoughts, and leaving him disoriented, lost. The taste of dirt was thick in his mouth, and his chest ached with every shallow breath. He couldn’t tell if he was still alive, or if his body was simply a casualty of the destruction. His mind screamed for clarity, but the world around him refused to give him any answers.Then, a voice pierced the silence.“Jeremy… Jeremy, can you hear me?”It was faint, barely audible, but it was enough. His head spun as he tried to focus, his body instinctively reacting to the sound. He wanted to respond, but his throat was dry, and his lips felt numb.“Maya?” His voice cracked as he managed to rasp out her name, the word barely a whisper against the void.“I’m here,” she replied, the relief in her voice undeniable. “Are you okay?”Jeremy took a deep, shaky breath, trying to gathe
Chapter 55: The Last Stand
Everything was silent.The world had collapsed into a crushing stillness, broken only by the distant sound of rushing wind and the low hum of the chamber’s core. Jeremy’s breath was caught in his chest, his limbs frozen in place as he felt the weight of something cold and hard press against his throat. The figure’s weapon had stopped inches from him, its jagged edge just barely grazing his skin, but the force of its presence felt like it had shattered everything around him.He tried to move, tried to breathe, but it was as though his body was no longer his own. Every nerve screamed in protest, yet his mind refused to give in. He could feel Maya's presence beside him, her urgency palpable, but she, too, was immobilized. There was no escape from the nightmare that surrounded them.For a moment, Jeremy wondered if this was it. If they had finally been defeated.The figure’s glowing eyes bored into him with terrifying precision, like a predator prepar
Chapter 54: The Unseen Enemy
Jeremy’s heart raced as the new figure emerged from the shadows, its presence suffocating. This one was even more menacing than the last—its body encased in darker, more intricate armor, its glowing eyes piercing through the darkness like twin beams of death. It moved slowly, deliberately, and the very air seemed to bend under its weight.Maya, still on the ground from when they’d been thrown into chaos, scrambled to her feet. Her gun was trained on the figure, but her hands trembled as she fought to steady herself.“What the hell is that?” she breathed, her voice hoarse, filled with disbelief.Jeremy didn’t answer immediately. He couldn’t. The figure’s presence was too overwhelming, and his mind raced to process everything that had just happened. He had destroyed the core—he was sure of it. But this... this was something else entirely. This wasn’t just another soldier. This was a command unit, one designed to lead the other machines. A machine that could
