Los Angeles.
"She'll be happy with my gift." Steve, a 27-year-old young man, smiled happily while staring at the red velvet box he was holding. Today is the fourth anniversary of his relationship with his girlfriend, Emmy.
The diamond sparkles in the sunlight, making Steve can't stop imagining his girlfriend's happy expression when she receives it.
After walking to the Felix entertainment building for a few minutes, he approached the receptionist and mentioned Emmy's name.
"Right now, Ms. Emmy is busy. If you want to deliver the food, you can leave it with me," the pretty woman said ignorantly when she saw Steve wearing a waiter's uniform.
"I don't want to deliver food, but I have something to give her. It's very important, and I need to see her. Just for a minute." Steve was a little urgent.
"You're so stubborn! Besides, Miss Emmy wouldn't want to meet a poor man like you! Hurry up and go! Do you think I'm stupid?! I know you're Miss Emmy's fan who's trying to sneak in! I'm sick of seeing you!"
Steve sighed disappointedly, then went to the car park to call Emmy. He tapped nervously on the receiver.
'Sorry, the number you've dialled can't answer the call. Try again in a few moments.'
Steve grunted rudely as he stared disappointedly at his phone screen. In the past few weeks, Emmy never picked up his calls.
Steve knew he would be disappointed if he came, but the man had no choice. He couldn't resist the longing that almost killed him since he hadn't seen Emmy for nearly three months due to her busy work schedule.
Sometimes, Steve regretted his decision to pay for all of Emmy's courses to become a famous artist. Because of that, they lost many moments together.
Steve looked back at the red velvet box. Reluctantly, he left the place to return to his apartment, but his steps stopped when he heard someone's voice.
"I love you, My Honey."
Steve stiffened at the sound of that familiar voice.
"Isn't that Emmy's voice?" He looked around him for the source of the voice. It turned out to be coming from a car parked near him.
Steve approached the car and vaguely saw the shadow of a woman as if she was clinging to a man's arm. Even though he only saw a shadow, he knew the woman was Emmy.
The young man was in shock. His chest was burning. "What is she doing with that man? Is she cheating on me?"
Steve shook his head quickly. "That's not possible. Emmy loves me very much. She must be acting with her partner for her latest movie."
Steve moved closer to the car to get a better look at them. Unfortunately, the glass of the luxury car was dark, so Steve could barely see anything but shadows.
"You are so handsome, darling. I'm so grateful to have a boyfriend like you." Emmy's voice was seductive.
Steve tried to think positively but always failed. His heart hurt whenever he heard the 22-year-old woman's advances or compliments.
"Is she cheating on me?" His chest tightened like someone was strangling him every time he imagined that something terrible might happen.
With quick movements, Steve opened the car door. He was wide-eyed, making the velvet box fall from his hands. His heart seemed to stop beating, "Emmy...!"
Steve's jaw hardened, and his hands clenched into tight fists.
"St-steve!" Emmy was shocked. The girl spontaneously exited Jacob's lap and hurriedly smoothed her slightly revealing red dress. "S-since when have you been here!?"
Emmy hurriedly exited the car and closed the door, trying to hide Jacob.
"Who is he?! What are you doing with him, huh?!" Steve's anger exploded.
"I'm his boyfriend!" Jacob exclaimed loudly. He wrapped his arms around Emmy's waist and pulled her close, looking at Steve haughty. "No reason to hide our relationship from you anymore. Now, you know about it, so you don't meet her again because you'll only ruin her career."
"You...!" Steve clenched his fists tightly, raising them to punch the annoying face.
"Stop it! You can't be mean to him!"
"Why are you defending that asshole?!" Steve's chest was torn to shreds.
"Because he's my lover now!" Emmy said firmly.
Steve froze, incredulous. "You lie to me!"
"No! That's true! I love him!"
"Have you forgotten that your success results from my hard work? But why would you betray me?"
"I've been using you and never loved you. Besides, who would want to date a poor, useless man like you!"
Steve didn't expect those words to come from the woman he loved more than him because she was his only reason for living. Emmy was all he had in the world, as Steve had no parents or siblings. Since childhood, he lived in a rundown orphanage and lived in poverty.
"Life has to be realistic, Steve. You were too stupid to believe in my fake love. With Jacob, my future is secured." Emmy added while she hugged Jacob's arm.
Jacob grinned with satisfaction. "You chose the right decision, sweetheart." He kissed Emmy on the lips in front of Steve.
"FUCK!" Steve reflexively punched Jacob, sending him flying into the car.
Emmy shoved Steve, then slapped his face. "How dare you hurt my boyfriend! Get out of here, or I'll call the police!"
"I'm your boyfriend, not him!" Steve yelled angrily. The frustration that he was about to lose Emmy gripped him.
Jacob chuckled sarcastically as he wiped the blood from the corner of his lips. "I'm the one who made her famous, not you. I can't imagine how Emmy's life and career would be ruined by dating a trashy guy like you. Do you want the whole of Los Angeles to know that Emmy has an ugly, poor lover like you?"
"Fuck you! "Steve went to punch Jacob, but Emmy pushed him.
"Stop it! Jacob is true! You're poor and useless! I'm nothing without him! Therefore, I want us to end our relationship! Get out of here! I never want to see you again!"
Steve froze like a bolt of lightning. "Don't talk nonsense!"
"I'm serious! I want you to get out of my life forever!"
"NO! I won't go without you!" Steve insisted.
"Are you deaf?! Get out of here, or I'll have my guards throw you out!" Jacob was exasperated.
"Whatever you say! But I'm not leaving without Emmy!"
"Tsk! You're so annoying!" Jacob immediately called his head guard, and several burly, fierce-looking men arrived. They immediately beat Steve to death, then dumped him near the trash can.
'They're such assholes!'
After they left, Steve got up and hobbled through the rain, leaving him soaking wet.
Steve walked along the road feeling empty, not knowing where else to go after this, as if he had lost his motivation. Along the way, he just contemplated his life of constant misery.
"I swear I'll get my revenge!"
[Congratulations! You got the Instant Wealth System]
[First Mission: Kiss an Actress]
[Reward: Mystery]
"What is this?"
"What is this?" Steve touched the screen, but his hand went through. His focus shifted when a car's headlights shone on him, blinding Steve's vision. A car sped towards him unnoticed, causing him to pull over to the sidewalk hurriedly. Unfortunately, his leg injury slowed him down. BRUG! Steve's body was thrown and dragged several meters before lying covered in blood. Blood flowed from his nose, mouth, and head, turning the rain-filled ditch blood red. His entire body hurt, but strangely, he seemed to enjoy it. He even had a smile on his lips. 'It turns out death is much better.' He looked vaguely at someone approaching him. "Are you okay?" The sound of rain drowned out the person's voice and form. *** Steve slowly sank into unconsciousness without being able to answer. The young man slowly opened his eyes and found himself lying in a room. Surprisingly, he was not in a hospital room but a super luxurious one dominated by white and gold paint and furniture. "Where am I?"
Two days later. In the afternoon."Let's eat. After that, you have to take your medicine." Sarah put a tray of fish and vegetable soup on Steven's lap."Thanks." Steve ate his food. It had been two days since he had been lying on the bed due to difficulty walking, making him a little bored.However, his boredom was instantly relieved when he saw Sarah.Steve glanced at the pink-haired woman who was busy reading a file. "Why don't you tell your assistant to buy me some food? So, you don't have to leave your work.""I didn't want people to know I was hiding a man.""Why?""I'm an actress. I don't want fake news to appear about me and you."Steve was wide-eyed. 'Artist? What a strange coincidence.'"Why are you so surprised?""I-I just didn't expect to meet an artist in person." Steve was nervous."Really? You don't recognize me?" Sarah was a little offended."O-of course I recognize you!" Steve was lying. "But you seem to look different than on TV.""You're lying!""No!""Now, tell me t
After ensuring Sarah slept soundly on the couch, Steve climbed down the bed and crawled over to her at night. Coincidentally, Sarah was very drunk at the time.He stares at the bandage on Sarah's forehead and the bruise on her smooth cheek.'That old man is such an asshole! When I recover, I'll beat him into a coma!'Steve pushed the hair away from Sarah's face, then looked at her sexy lips that were so tempting. His heart was racing faster than a race car.For the first time in his life, he was kissing a woman. He never even did it with Emmy because she kept rejecting him.'I hope she doesn't wake up.'Steve held his breath, then brought his face closer while closing his eyes.Cup!He slowly opened his eyes timidly and found Sarah still asleep.'I managed to kiss her!' He smiled happily.However, Sarah suddenly squirmed uncomfortably as she had just received Steve's kiss. He immediately backed away and rushed back to the bed before she could beat him up."Did you just kiss me?"'Shit
The next day. "How do you know my phone number? Who gave it to you?" Sarah protested. Sarah and Steve were in a lonely, mossy little alley. "Anyway, why did you ask me to meet you in this disgusting place? Do you want to hurt me?! I offered you money yesterday!" "I don't want that." Steve's voice was cold and serious. "So?" Sarah looked at him suspiciously. "I want to ask you to work together." "You can't be crazy! Can you afford to pay me?!" "Keep your voice down. Do you want someone to catch us and then spread a hoax?" Steve warned while observing the surroundings warily. He had deliberately chosen that place to protect Sarah. "I don't have time to deal with you." Sarah's voice softened, though it remained firm. "Tell me quickly what you want from me?" she demanded. "I want you to marry me." PLAK! "Ouch!" Steve rubbed his sore cheek. "Why did you slap me?" He gave Sarah an exasperated look. "Are you out of your mind?! There's no way I'm marrying you because I already ha
Sarah cried when she heard the sad news from the hospital."How is your mom?" Violetta, Sarah's manager, sat beside her."She's back coma because I couldn't find the right donor for my mom.""Did you ask about it to your fiancé? Didn't he promise to find one for you?""Jacob doesn't care about my family at all. He just wants my fame.""He's such an asshole! Why would you get engaged to him?""I had no other choice. Jacob, the one who gave me the job and the money.""But you're a famous actress, and you don't need him anymore because many other agencies are clamouring to hire you.""I know that. But Jacob was the only one who was willing to lend me a large sum of money for my mother's hospitalization. Moreover, he's very creditable to me for giving me a chance as an artist so that I can support my family.""He's just using you. He deliberately ensnared you in feelings of indebtedness so that you would submit to him. The reason he dares to give you money in the beginning is that he know
The next day, in Jacob's office."I didn't expect you to betray me, Sarah." Jacob acted sad."How is that different from you? Didn't you also have an affair with that newcomer?" Sarah quipped.Jacob chuckled a little. "Are you jealous?""I don't have time to do anything stupid!" Sarah wore a disgusted expression."You don't worry, Honey. My relationship with Emmy is just a formality. We do it for profit. I only love you." Jacob explained without being asked."Bullshit." Sarah chuckled sarcastically. "Forget it. I didn't come here to discuss your romance. I want to cancel our agreement. From now on, we have no relationship: coworkers or fiancées.""Did a man give you millions of dollars so you could threaten me?""It's none of your business."Jacob's face instantly turned grim. "Don't mess with me. Have you forgotten who I am?""You're just the man asshole."Jacob laughed at Sarah's curse. "I know you are a stupid woman. So, I suggest you apologize, and I will give you another chance b
"Why can't I tell my future wife and other people I have money?" Steve stared irritably at the transparent screen in front of him.[Mission Updated: Keep Your Wealth a Secret from those closest to you and recognize you][Reward: Your intelligence will increase]"I don't need intelligence; I want to honour! I'm sick of being humiliated!"[Warning! If you violate, then you will lose your achievement]"Tsk!" Steve had no choice but to obey the system. He quickly changed his expensive tuxedo into a regular shirt, then left in a taxi and left his sports car gathering dust in the garage."Can't you go faster?""If you want to go fast, use your own car!" the taxi driver snapped. They were stuck in traffic.'I wouldn't use your shitty taxi if I wasn't pressed for time either, damn it!'The young man tried to hold back because he was pressed for time. He didn't want to be told to get off for arguing.He repeatedly looked at his watch nervously. 'Jennifer and Sarah must be waiting for me.'Afte
The atmosphere at dinner could have been more harmonious after Steve's appearance. They were silent while eating the dishes that had been served.Steve just found out that Emmy and Sarah are cousins. Even more surprising is that Jacob is Sarah's ex-fiancé, whom Robert mentioned.How could he not know?Ting!Sarah checked her phone and received a message.[No wonder you're willing to marry him because you owe him a favor, just like me. I didn't think you were just a cheap woman and accepted all the men who did you favors]Sarah immediately looked at Jacob sarcastically, but the man grinned contentedly.After finishing dinner, it was time for the gift-giving session."Please accept my and Emmy's gift, Mrs. Jennifer." Jacob handed over a branded paper bag. Meanwhile, Uncle Sam's family gave them a box of jewelry."Thank you very much." Jennifer smiled widely as she accepted the gift."I'm sorry, Mommy. I couldn't give you anything because I left for Los Angeles immediately after hearing