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SYSTEM ; Rise of the Pauper heir Chapter one
I never thought betrayal had a sound—until I heard her laugh. My heart beat fast, hoping I heard wrong. You know that kind of laugh you hear that made your heart skip for joy knowing fully well she was yours. Yes, exactly that kind of laughter but it wasn't it for me. It wasn’t just a giggle. It was a full-blown, head-thrown-back, soul-cutting laugh. The kind of laugh that used to be mine. The kind she used to give me when I said something stupid, or when we’d lie under the stars and talk about our future. Now she was laughing like that in someone else’s arms. In his arms. I stood there, frozen in the corridor outside the music room, the door slightly ajar. I hadn’t meant to snoop. I came with roses. Stupid, right? She liked lilies, but I couldn’t afford them, so I settled for cheap roses from the street vendor. I just wanted to surprise her. All my life, I had always prioritise just one person. She ment the world to me and I would even go to the end of the earth to get her
SYSTEM ; Rise of the Pauper heir Chapter two
It all felt like a dream. A dream I was yet to wake up from. I didn’t sleep that night. My gaze was fixed on the miraculous phone I found inside my pocket. The night seems to draw endlessly with my heart beating steadily. How could I? Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her. Her laugh, the smug look on his face, and the sound of my name being dragged through the mud. Pointus Gray—the joke. The fool. The poor loser. But now I had a million dollars. And seventy-two hours to spend it. Or lose it all. I sat in the corner of my dorm room, staring at the glowing countdown on the phone screen. 59:23:10 Every second ticked louder than my thoughts. It didn’t help that the rules were crystal clear. I wonder who made the system and the rules but what was more important was how I was going to spend a million dollars within the specific time given. Don’t reveal the source. If I did, the system might vanish—or worse, punish me. And I wasn’t ready to lose this chance. Th
SYSTEM ; Rise of the Pauper heir chapter three
They say time heals everything. At least that was what I thought. That I would be able to forget everything. That the money I got from the system was enough to make me forget what she did to me. But they never tell you how many times the wound reopens before it scars. Ever since that video went viral, I’d been on autopilot—spending the money, watching people squirm, keeping my mouth shut. The system wanted secrecy. Fine. I could play the game. I felt like telling the world how much I was having in my account and how far I was wiling to go but to I can't. The system has sworn me to secrecy and I have no option than to keep my mouth shut. I can I l spend the money. Show the people I was no longer the weakling or the poor church rat Layla thought I was. I want to be more and also, I want to show Layla what she was missing. But the deeper I sank into my new reality, the more the past clawed at me. I couldn’t forget her. No matter how hard I tried. It wasn’t just the be
SYSTEM ; Rise of the Pauper heir Chapter four
My head shook as I looked as I looked at the message on my phone. Not because I was scared but because I had underestimated my opponent. Underestimated, Jeremiah, Layla. To think that they would go that far was something I hadn't anticipated. ." Is that really true?" " Pontius would be rusticated." " I can't believe we are finally going to rid ourselves of that low life." " Well, it's a byebye to go riddance. To garbage." My hand shook slightly as I tried to grip onto my new phone. " You need to put that down and heal up." My mother's voice said gently. Her eyes darted towards me and I quickly hid my phone. Martha was a soft woman and she could turn a blind eye to most of the things I do. She was not a bad mother but she always gave me time to prepare my mind. I was going to tell her the source of the money but I need to prepare my mind, myself. No one would believe a gaming app that gave me that much money. Not even the most sane person. So, I had to find a way
SYSTEM ; Rise of the Pauper heir Chapter five
The room went dead silent. My voice lingered in the air like smoke after a gunshot."How much?" I said with my eye locked on everyone in the seat. They all looked at me and wondered how a boy of my age could say that with boldness. Some of them actually think I was bluffing. They knew my mother worked a double shift and could not pay a cent. I had gotten in on scholarship so how could I have said that without attaching much to it. Mr. Hudson blinked slowly, like he wasn’t sure he’d heard me right.“Excuse me?” he said adjusting his big round glasses.“I said, how much?” I leaned forward, ignoring the way my bruised ribs protested. “You want money? Fine. Name your price.”The woman with the pointy nose shifted in her seat. The others exchanged glances. That wasn’t the reaction they expected. I wasn’t supposed to speak like this. I wasn’t supposed to sit upright in my broken state, or sound like I could afford anything more than pity.“I-I believe you should take time to think clearly
SYSTEM ; Rise of the Pauper heir Chapter six
I didn’t even flinch when the door swung open with a sharp creak. Layla stood there, a venomous smile on her face, and I could see it in her eyes—the same smug, superior look that had followed me my entire life. But this time, I wasn’t going to shrink back. She leaned against the doorframe, crossing her arms over her chest, clearly savoring the moment. Her voice dripped with that same condescension. “Well, well, Pontius. I must say, I’m impressed. You actually managed to scrape together some cash. But tell me, how long do you think this façade will last? How long before you go back to being the pathetic little charity case you’ve always been?” I didn’t blink. I didn’t even bother with a smile. I simply tilted my head slightly, letting the silence stretch out between us. Her eyes flicked down to the designer jacket I’d just picked up this morning, and I could see the gears turning behind that perfect mask of hers. It was a mix of confusion and jealousy, and I wanted to drag it out f
SYSTEM ; Rise of the Pauper heir Chapter seven
My mind thud heavily with only one thing. I needed to find Cassie Kline before any word of me taking her to the prom gets to her.I clinched to the book in my hands, my eyes scanning the school garden, parking lots and even the girls gym just to find her. " Have you seen Cassie?" " Do you know where Cassie is?" " Please are you friends with Cassie?" I let rumbling like an idiot as I bumped into students. One after the other, they all claimed the didn't know her. It was like Cassie never exist in the school. I was about losing hope when I bumped into a girl coming from the cafe. The hot chocolate fell all over me and I yelled in pain. " I am sorry,I didn't see you there." I said immediately trying to help get the cup from the floor. I got up without looking and tried to dust my jackets. " That won't come off easily you know." She said finding my behaviour amusing. " I will probably go and wash it in the male's toilet. Can I get you another one?" I finally said lifting my g
SYSTEM ; Rise of the Pauper heir Chapter eight
" Yes. I would like you to officially be my prom date and also can you.." I saw her walking closer to me and before I could say another word, her lips brushed against mine slowly. At that moment, the world titled around it axis. I felt like I was on cloud nine. The students all began to murmur and the whispering got so loud that I couldn't concentrate anymore. The sound of camera shutters from different phone filled the air and i smile as she grabbed my hands. " You just got yourself a deal, Pointus. But first you need to be on the same level with me." Cassie said looking at my face. " Not exactly my level but the schools level." She added. " Here is my card. Call me when you want us to talk more about what I can do for you." Cassie said and walked away while some of her friends were had been staring at us wondering what as going on followed right behind her. Finally! I stood still and I coud see the anger on his face. Jeremiah looked at Cassie as she walked out and his g
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Chapter sixteen
The hallway felt like a graveyard. A student asking his educators and deans to bow before him. It was the end of the world, or should I say the end of Jeremiah's reign? Even Jeremiah had never asked Mr Frank to bow before him. Should I say he lacks the courage, or does he lack wealth?Well, I was having the money, but the power? No! I wonder why Mr Frank would walk into the cafeteria and now at my feet. I was actually calculating and wondering what I was going to tell Layla about my wealth, but then Mr Frank made it easy. Thomas was still in shock when the door opened and things got a bit interesting. Felicia Hudson. She was the daughter of Mr Frank; she was beautiful, and many of the guys avoided her because of her cold and icy attitude. She was more like Cassie Kline. I would have loved to date her and make Layla jealous, but then her father was an errands dog for Jeremiah and his father. There was no way it would work. Her scent and cologne filled the room. Her face flared
Chapter fifteen
"Tell us, Pontius, why don't you tell everyone here how you got your money?" Layla said it again, and I felt a cold shiver run down my spine. I looked at all their faces, and I could see they were all eager to hear what I had to say. But what do I have to say? The moment I tried to open my mouth, I knew I was going to lose the backing of the system and go back to being a nobody, and not only that, Jeremiah was going to win again. My heart thudded; I looked at Cassie and shrugged. Probably asking me to tell them what I told her. But I didn't tell her anything. She assumed that I was the son of a wealthy man. A man I knew nothing about. I had always been looked after by my mother, who told me nothing about my father. Do I claim a lineage of a man I know nothing about? "What happened? Too scared to talk?" Jeremiah chimed in. "Are you going to say something and rid yourself of these rubbish kings you proclaimed yourself to be? I know you will never amount to what I am. You are wa
Chapter fourteen
My phone rang, and I saw it was my mum. I knew what she was going to say. I had bought the house back, and I knew she was going to ask how I got the money. My face changed all of a sudden when I saw her call. I knew I had to tell her how I got the money, contrary to what the system told me."What is it?" Cassie said slowly, looking at my face. "My mum, she..." I took a pause when I noticed the poker face Cassie had on. "What is that?" I asked, staring at her face. "I can't believe you are scared of your mum." Cassie looked at me, her face showing she was about to smile again. "Because she is my mother." I said, throwing my hands in the air. But then it occurred that Cassie was rich. My mother would believe she paid for the house if I told her she was my girlfriend. "Don't look at me like that. You always have terrible ideas when you do." Cassie said, looking at me, and I burst into another round of laughter. "What is it?" Cassie asked. "Can you do it?" I looked at her face.
Chapter thirteen
For a brief moment, I was able to know the value of money and how powerful one can be with it. The students all wanted to be my friends, and of course, I was having female suitors too. Mind-blowing, right? Most of them wanted me to be their boyfriend, but I had eyes on just one person. She was the only one who didn't care about my money. Not like she didn't care, but she was reserved and calm. Cassie Kline. "Why don't you date me, Pointus? We can just see how far we go from there." Fiona Allison said, looking at me. Fiona's father was a very prominent man in the city, but then she was not who I really wanted. "We both know you are not my type." I said confidently with a smile on my face. "Do you think because you have some Trump change now, that makes you better than any other guy on the campus?" Fiona said with venom in her voice. She pushed her cascading hair falling from her shoulder back to a side on her shoulder and looked at me. "Don't you think Cassie cares ab
Chapter twelve
There was a ripple of murmurs as many of them looked at me and wondered what I was doing. I could see Jeremiah's confidence faltering a bit. "That should be around seven million dollars, Mr Pontius." The voice said through the speaker, and the crowd gasped again. I could see the educators whispering, the workers talking, and even the deans were not left behind. But it was a free world. All of them were entitled to their own opinions about it. "Is that the final price?" I asked again, trying to be sure I heard correctly. "Do you think he can pay that amount of money?" "Don't make me laugh. Even the mighty Jeremiah Johnson cannot pay that. I know his father is rich, but he is nothing without him." Another said Jeremiah looked back, glancing toward the crowd almost like he could hear what was said about him. "Yes, Mr Pontius. The house was bought by Clark Johnson, and it is on the auction list. I think that is the asking price for it." The voice replied back. "Fine. I will be sen
Chapter eleven
I watched as colour slowly drained from Layla's face. I walked towards the podium and collected the mic right from her hands. The whole class was silent. Anticipating.Watching and eager to hear what I had to say. I looked around trying to gain their attention. Trying to let them know I had risen once more, and this time, I was not staying down. I could see the look on Cassie Kline. She was beginning to show interest in me. The same girl that has been icy and didn't care when I hit rock bottom was stylishly winking at me. But who cares? I was going to use her to make Layla's life a living hell. "This afternoon, free lunch on me!" I shouted into the mic, and the whole student body went into an uproar. "This is just mad!" "Did Pointus just say free lunch?" "I can't believe a student who we believe is not of worth?" "Do you think he is lying to us about who he really was?" "Who cares? Free food, free booze. Don't tell me you don't want it?" Another student said with joy. The
Chapter ten
I could barely believe what I was seeing. The system was giving me another chance. After weeks of waiting. Days of crying and agony. My mother could barely keep us alive from the change she made from the pharmacy shop. I could hear her groans from sleepless night but now that the system is back, I know I had to let her know. But then I needed to see what my first mission was going to be. [ SYSTEM INITIALISATION COMPLETE ] [ SYSTEM REWARD FOR REBOOTING; $20,000,000 ] [ SYSTEM TASK : RECLAIM YOUR HOUSE ] I looked at the holographic message and suddenly dropped the mop I was holding. " No way! This can't be real." I shouted with joy. Fucking twenty million dollars! Who the hell gives twenty million dollars for just some weird task? [ SYSTEM VOICE; I DO ] [ SYSTEM RULES; COMING RIGHT UP ] My face went pale as I kept my eyes fixed on the screen before me. For a few seconds, I forget where I was standing. I was supposed to be mopping the floor. But I was fixed to a sp
Chapter nine
Beep... Beep...The sound of the monitor echoed softly in the sterile white room. My eyelids fluttered open, squinting against the harsh fluorescent light. My head throbbed. I could taste dried blood in my mouth. Slowly, my vision adjusted—and that was when I saw her."Mom?" I rasped.Eva stood by the window, arms crossed over her chest, her nurse uniform as crisp as ever. Her face was unreadable, and something about the way she looked at me made the room grow colder.For a split second, I thought she was just worried about her only son. But then she turned to me fully, eyes sharp, voice clipped."Pontius... what have you gotten yourself into?"I tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through my ribs. "Jeremiah... He—""I know," she interrupted. "And that's not the worst of it."I blinked. "What do you mean?"She moved closer, her shoes clicking softly against the tiled floor. "This hospital... it's owned by Jeremiah's father. He found out what happened. And guess what? You're not the
Chapter eight
" Yes. I would like you to officially be my prom date and also can you.." I saw her walking closer to me and before I could say another word, her lips brushed against mine slowly. At that moment, the world titled around it axis. I felt like I was on cloud nine. The students all began to murmur and the whispering got so loud that I couldn't concentrate anymore. The sound of camera shutters from different phone filled the air and i smile as she grabbed my hands. " You just got yourself a deal, Pointus. But first you need to be on the same level with me." Cassie said looking at my face. " Not exactly my level but the schools level." She added. " Here is my card. Call me when you want us to talk more about what I can do for you." Cassie said and walked away while some of her friends were had been staring at us wondering what as going on followed right behind her. Finally! I stood still and I coud see the anger on his face. Jeremiah looked at Cassie as she walked out and his g
