The Ultimate Billionaire Check-In System Vol.1

Chapter 1: The Heiress's Confession

Word of the spectacle ripped through Kingsley University like wildfire.

“Yo, did you hear? Some lunatic just rolled up to the central plaza with a Lambo worth five mil and nine-thousand-nine-hundred-ninety-nine roses. Full-on public confession!”

“Bro, we’re going. Now.”

Students poured out of lecture halls, dorms, and coffee shops, phones already out, rushing toward the open plaza in the heart of Manhattan’s elite campus.

When they got there, the scene wasn’t what anyone expected.

The one holding the massive bouquet of blood-red roses wasn’t some trust-fund prince. It was her —Isabella “Bella” Harrington, the ice-queen goddess of Kingsley University.

Bella stood there in a tailored cream coat that probably cost more than most students’ tuition, staring at the ridiculously handsome guy across from her like he was the only person on earth.

“Ethan,” she said softly, voice carrying across the suddenly silent plaza.

Ethan Caldwell raised an eyebrow, polite but confused. “What’s up, Bella?”

Her cheeks flushed—the first time anyone had ever seen the untouchable Bella Harrington blush. “I’ve told you a hundred times, don’t call me Bella like I’m some random senior. We’re both in the finance program. Just… Bella’s fine.”

The entire crowd lost their minds.

The campus’s coldest beauty, the one who had shot down every rich heir, every varsity captain, every influencer with a blue check, was standing there looking like a lovesick teenager.

Ethan sighed inwardly.

Here we go again.

Average grades. Average family. Zero connections. The only thing he had going for him was the face that made people stop mid-sentence. He was tired of it. When was someone going to fall for his personality instead of his jawline?

“I haven’t been honest with you, Ethan,” Bella continued, voice trembling but determined. “I make my own money. My parents handed me ten prime Manhattan high-rises to ‘practice’ with. I collect rent for a living.”

Dead silence.

Ten buildings . Not apartments. Buildings. In New York. Even the cheapest units in those zip codes went for stupid money. Ten of them? That was billionaire territory.

Bella stepped closer, eyes shining. “Be my boyfriend, Ethan. I’ll take care of everything.”

Half the guys in the crowd looked like they were about to cry. Twenty years of struggle erased in one sentence.  And it wasn’t coming from some influencer “auntie”—this was Bella Harrington, legs for days, face that launched a thousand campus crushes, and now apparently a walking real-estate empire.

“Say yes!”

“Say yes!”

“Say yes!”

The chant rolled like thunder.

Ethan’s stomach twisted. The doctor had warned him about stress, but living off a woman? Not his style. He was ambitious. He wanted to build something real.

Before he could answer, a crisp mechanical voice spoke directly inside his head.

DING!

[Option 1: Accept Isabella Harrington. Immediate reward: $10,000,000 in liquid assets.]

[Option 2: Reject Isabella Harrington. Activate the Ultimate Billionaire System. Infinite wealth unlocked.]

Ethan didn’t even hesitate.

He took a slow breath and looked her dead in the eye. “I’m sorry, Bella. I’m not looking to date right now.”

The plaza went graveyard quiet.

Then it exploded.

“Are you insane?!”

“He’s playing hard to get!”

“Bro, if you don’t want her, I’ll take her—goddess, pick me!”

Most of them were laughing at him. A broke college guy turning down literal generational wealth? Brain damage.

…

In a penthouse overlooking Central Park, an older man in a crisp black suit—Bella’s father’s head of security—watched the live feed on a massive monitor.

“The kid has some self-respect,” he muttered. “He knows he doesn’t belong in her world.”

Bella’s father, Victor Harrington, simply nodded, eyes cold. “Good. My daughter isn’t settling for a pretty face with nothing behind it. The Harrington name demands more.”

…

Back on campus, Bella’s hands shook, but her chin lifted. “I won’t give up, Ethan.”

The crowd lost it again. Simp comments flooded the air. Phones were recording everything.

Inside Ethan’s head, the voice returned:

[Mission complete. Ultimate Billionaire System activated.]

[Installation successful.]

[New day check-in available. Proceed?]

Ethan mentally tapped yes.

[Check-in successful. Congratulations—you are now the sole owner of Vanguard Dynamics, current valuation: $17.3 billion.]

Ethan blinked. One second he was a nobody. The next he was the controlling shareholder of one of the largest private tech-research empires in the country.

Holy shit.

He glanced at Bella, who still looked heartbroken, and decided the game was over.

“Since you laid your cards on the table,” he said calmly, “I’ll do the same. I’m actually the richest man in the city. I don’t have time to date.”

Laughter erupted.

“Richest man? Sure, buddy.”

“Biggest liar on campus.”

“Bro’s the richest in student loans .”

Then the sky answered for him.

A low thunderous whump-whump-whump  rolled across the plaza. Six sleek black Sikorsky S-76 helicopters appeared over the skyline, formation perfect, descending like something out of a billionaire action movie.

Students screamed. Phones shot upward. Social media detonated.

The choppers touched down in perfect sync on the open lawn. Doors slid open.

A stunning woman in a tailored black power suit stepped out first—long dark hair in a sleek bun, black-rimmed glasses, legs that could stop traffic. She looked like she’d been carved by a sculptor who specialized in “intimidatingly hot CEO.”

Behind her, two full lines of black-suited bodyguards poured out of the other helicopters, forming an aisle.

She walked straight to Ethan, heels clicking, and gave a small professional bow.

“Mr. Caldwell. I’m here to escort you, sir.”

Ethan nodded once. “Thanks, Natalie.”

He turned back to Bella. “I have to go. Reach out if you need anything.”

Then he climbed into the lead helicopter with the gorgeous secretary. The rotors spun up, and the six birds lifted off in perfect formation, disappearing toward the Manhattan skyline.

The plaza was silent except for the fading thunder of the engines.

President?

Ethan Caldwell?

That  Ethan Caldwell?

The same guy everyone had just roasted for “bragging” was the mysterious owner of six eight-figure helicopters and a seventeen-billion-dollar empire.

The richest man in New York… and he was twenty-two.

The turn of events was too dramatic.

…

In the Central Park penthouse, Victor Harrington’s whiskey glass froze halfway to his lips. The same man who had just dismissed Ethan as “unworthy” now stared at the screen with something close to awe.

The head of security swallowed hard. “Sir… it appears we may have misjudged the situation.”

Victor said nothing. For the first time in years, regret actually tasted bitter.

…

Inside the helicopter, Natalie Brooks was already briefing Ethan on Vanguard Dynamics’ latest quarter when he suddenly asked, “Sorry—what’s your name again?”

She blinked, stunned. “Natalie Brooks, sir. You personally recruited me three weeks ago to be your executive assistant.”

Ethan smiled. “Right. Long morning. Continue.”

He already understood how the system worked. Everything was arranged to look natural—previous “mysterious buyer,” sudden transfer of ownership, high-profile hires. It all checked out on paper. No one would ever suspect the truth.

Half an hour later the helicopters touched down on the rooftop helipad of the gleaming Vanguard Tower.

Ethan toured the building with Natalie, absorbing the fact that he now controlled a cutting-edge research empire worth more than most countries’ GDPs. He gave her one simple order:

“If I’m not here, you run point. Contact me only if it’s critical.”

She nodded like she’d been waiting her whole career for exactly that kind of trust.

DING!

[New task unlocked: Check-in at Harbor University.]

[Time limit: One hour.]

[Reward: Master-level driving proficiency.]

[Note: A true titan doesn’t need a chauffeur to drift a Ferrari one-handed.]

Ethan’s eyes lit up. He still couldn’t drive worth a damn. Helicopters every day would get old fast.

“Harbor University,” he said. “My god-sister Ava is studying there. Set it up.”

Five minutes later the lead helicopter was back in the air.

Ethan pulled out his phone and dialed.

…

At Harbor University, Ava Kensington hung up the call and couldn’t stop smiling.

Her best friend leaned in, grinning. “Was that the mystery guy you’ve been texting?”

Ava blushed. “Maybe.”

Just then, a matte-black LaFerrari pulled up beside them, engine purring like a caged predator…

Chapter 2: The Helicopter Pickup

It was a Porsche 911 Turbo S, sticker price around one-eighty grand — pocket change in the world of serious supercars.

Still, on a university campus, the sleek silver beast turned every head the second it rolled up.

“Ava, baby, you heading out?”

The driver’s door swung open and Mason Carter stepped out, flashing his signature cocky grin. Mason was Harbor University’s most infamous second-generation playboy — new girlfriend every week, family money older than half the buildings on campus.

“No thanks, Mason. My boyfriend’s picking me up any minute,” Ava Kensington replied coolly, using Ethan as a human shield.

She and Ethan had grown up as next-door neighbors; their fathers were close friends. There had even been talk of an arranged match when they were kids. Ava had turned it down back then because she was “too young.”

Biggest regret of her life.

Mason raised an eyebrow but didn’t push. He simply slid back into the Porsche, drove it twenty yards away, and parked with the window down, waiting like a predator.

He already knew Ava didn’t have a boyfriend. She was obviously lying. He wanted to see what kind of loser showed up so he could enjoy the show.

Chloe Bennett leaned in and whispered, “Ava, Mason doesn’t look like he’s giving up. Maybe text Ethan and tell him to wait outside the gates? You can meet him there.”

Ava nodded — good plan. She was about to pull out her phone when it rang.

“Ling— I mean, Ava, I’ll be there in two minutes. Stay right where you are.”

Ethan’s voice was calm and warm. Before she could warn him, he hung up.

Ava stomped her foot in frustration. Mason, watching from his Porsche, smirked. Everything was going exactly as he planned.

Then the sky answered.

A low, powerful thump-thump-thump  rolled across campus. Every student looked up at the same time.

A pristine white Sikorsky S-76 — one of Ethan’s private fleet — came in fast, flared dramatically, and settled onto the open grass right in front of Ava like it owned the university.

The side door slid open. Ethan Caldwell stepped out in a crisp black button-down, looking like he’d just walked off a GQ cover.

Both Ava and Chloe froze.

“Chloe… is that him ? Is that Ethan?” Chloe whispered, voice shaking.

Too handsome.

Ridiculously handsome.

And he just landed a helicopter  to pick up a girl.

If Mason’s Porsche was a 10, Ethan was a billion.

“Ethan?!” Ava’s eyes went wide. She had seen him three days ago. How had he changed this much?

“Little troublemaker, you don’t recognize your own god-brother anymore?” Ethan grinned and ruffled her hair exactly like he always had.

The familiar gesture snapped her out of it. Ava swatted his hand away, cheeks flaming.

“I’ve told you a million times — I’m not a little kid anymore! Stop treating me like one!”

Ethan folded his arms, pretending to be stern. “Grown up? Yeah, right. You still need a lesson.”

Chloe couldn’t help laughing. “See? Even your god-brother knows you’re still a baby.”

“Chloe, shut up!” Ava whined, embarrassed.

Ethan chuckled. “Enough messing around. I’m starving. Get on the helicopter — I’m taking you both to lunch.”

Ava and Chloe didn’t need to be told twice. They had never been inside a private helicopter in their lives.

Under Ethan’s guidance they climbed in. The rotors spun up, and the white bird lifted off smoothly, banking away over the Manhattan skyline.

The entire campus watched in stunned silence.

A goddess… and her god.

Mason Carter sat in his Porsche, mouth hanging open. He knew helicopters. That bird had to be worth at least fifteen, maybe twenty million.

He did the math.

All the liquid cash in his family’s trust might not even be enough to touch  something like that.

“I’m… just a small fry,” he muttered, thoroughly crushed.

…

Inside the helicopter, Ava was looking around like a kid in a candy store.

Chloe tried to play it cool, but her eyes kept drifting back to Ethan. She couldn’t stop staring.

Ethan noticed, of course.

Another one , he thought with a mental sigh. All they see is the face. When is someone going to care about what’s underneath?

He had almost forgotten that “underneath” now included a seventeen-billion-dollar tech empire.

“Ethan, this helicopter is insane! So luxurious!” Ava gushed.

Chloe nodded quickly. “It feels like a dream.”

Ethan shrugged. “It’s alright. This is the standard one — nothing special compared to the others in the fleet.”

Both girls blinked.

Others?

As in… plural?

Ethan kept talking casually. “Yeah, the black ones we use for business are way nicer. This white one is basically the economy model of the fleet.”

Ava and Chloe looked at each other, then back at him, hearts practically exploding with little red hearts.

Ava leaned forward. “Ethan… are you sure  you’re my god-brother?”

He sighed dramatically. “Since you’re forcing the issue… I’ll be honest with you.”

Both girls leaned in, barely breathing.

“I’m actually the richest man in the world.”

Silence.

Then Ava burst out laughing. “Sure, and I’m the Queen of England.”

Chloe rolled her eyes. “If you’re the richest guy on the planet, then I’m a secret Saudi princess.”

Ethan just smiled. He had told the truth. If they didn’t believe him, that was on them.

DING!

[Tianan — Harbor University check-in complete!]

[Congratulations! You have acquired Master-Level Driving Proficiency. One-handed Ferrari drifts are now child’s play.]

A sleek black driver’s license appeared in his jacket pocket — perfectly legitimate, perfectly timed.

Ethan grinned. “So, where do you two want to eat?”

Ava thought for a second. She still didn’t fully believe the “richest man” line — she figured he must have a friend who worked at a private airfield or something. No need to go crazy expensive.

“How about The Garden Bistro? It’s right in the food district, super tasty, and not over-the-top.”

“Perfect,” Ethan said.

The helicopter couldn’t land in the narrow food street, so they touched down a few blocks away in an open plaza. The three of them walked the rest of the way.

“Ten minutes on foot,” Ethan said. “Walk or…?”

“There are Citi Bikes right there,” Ava suggested. “Let’s ride!”

Ethan scanned the QR code and unlocked one. Chloe patted her pockets and winced. “Crap… I left my phone in the dorm.”

“No problem,” Ethan said. “You can ride with me.”

Chloe’s eyes lit up — until Ava immediately unlocked a second bike and shoved it toward her friend.

“Here, I got you one,” Ava said sweetly, then hopped straight onto the back of Ethan’s Citi Bike and wrapped her arms around his waist.

Chloe stared, betrayed. Plastic friendship!

Ava stuck her tongue out at her best friend as Ethan started pedaling. “Let’s go!”

Chloe groaned. “I hate you so much right now, Kensington.”

She pedaled hard, racing ahead to the restaurant while Ava hugged Ethan tighter, smiling like she had already won.

At The Garden Bistro, Ava hopped off. “You park the bike — we’ll grab a table!”

Ethan nodded and wheeled the Citi Bike to the rack. He had just locked it when a voice called out behind him.

“Ethan? Ethan Caldwell?”

He turned. A tall, slender guy in a designer hoodie was grinning at him.

“It’s really you! Connor Hayes — high-school, remember? We sat two rows apart in chem.”

Ethan remembered. Connor had been average, never went to college, and they’d been friendly but never close.

They shook hands.

“Riding a Citi Bike to lunch?” Connor asked, glancing at the shared bike and then at the cute bistro. “Man, I still envy you college guys. Me? I’m grinding every day. Finally opened my own little café — doing okay, maybe one-point-two million valuation if I’m lucky.”

He patted the hood of a modest Honda parked nearby. “Heard there’s a class reunion coming up. You gotta show, bro. Everyone wants to see the old heartthrob.”

Ethan smiled politely. “Yeah, I’ll be there.”

Connor’s grin turned sharp the second Ethan walked into the restaurant.

The moment the door closed, his expression twisted into pure contempt.

“Still riding shared bikes, huh? Mr. Most Handsome in high school… look at you now. Pathetic.”

Connor spat on the sidewalk, satisfied.

“Trash.”

Chapter 3: And the Livestream That Broke Lumina Live

Connor Hayes smirked as he snapped a quick photo of the Citi Bike Ethan had just parked. He fired it straight into their high-school WhatsApp group with the perfect troll caption.

“Just bumped into Ethan Caldwell from our class. Bro was rolling up on a Citi Bike like it’s 2012 😂 How humble can one guy be?”

The group exploded almost instantly.

“Damn, Ethan really went downhill…”

“Used to be the most handsome guy in our entire grade — now look at him.”

“Bro was top 1% looks in the whole school. Now he’s just… average.”

“Money really is everything. Being handsome means nothing without cash.”

Most of the savage replies came from the guys. Back in high school, Ethan had every pretty girl wrapped around his finger. The jealousy they felt back then was finally getting its payback.

Even some guys who couldn’t afford a decent bike themselves joined in the roasting.

A few girls sighed in the chat.

“Society is so realistic these days…”

“Without money, even the most handsome guy ends up like this.”

“Look at Connor though — average looking but now he’s a boss with his own café.”

“And our class beauty Sophia Laurent is killing it as a streamer now. She makes serious money.”

“Thank God Sophia never got together with Ethan back then. She would be regretting it so hard right now.”

Connor sent one last loaded message:

“Class reunion is in a few days… and Ethan said he’s coming 😉”

Everyone read between the lines. The group chat went nuclear.

…

In a luxurious high-rise apartment overlooking the Hudson, Sophia Laurent read the messages and shook her head, a strange mix of nostalgia and relief washing over her.

She used to have a huge crush on Ethan in high school. Even after graduation she hadn’t completely let go. But seeing the Citi Bike photo and the flood of mockery finally killed any lingering feelings.

“Good thing he never gave me a chance back then,” she muttered. “I would have been stuck with a loser.”

Sophia had blown up moderately on Lumina Live. She now had a solid $500k-a-year contract and was steadily climbing toward seven-figure influencer status. Her future looked limitless.

She turned on her ring light, adjusted her camera, and started her evening live stream.

…

Back at The Garden Bistro, after finishing lunch with Ava and Chloe, Ethan leaned back and casually opened Lumina Live on his phone while the girls chatted.

A massive platform-wide lottery event was running — send a $5 gift to enter for a chance at huge prizes, including Hyper Rockets worth five grand each.

“Just got the system… maybe my luck is finally turning?” Ethan thought with a smirk.

His account balance showed a little over $25. Enough for a few tries.

He randomly clicked into a live room and froze.

It was Sophia Laurent — his former classmate, now doing her usual cute streamer act.

“Whatever,” Ethan shrugged and sent a $5 gift to enter the lottery.

[Congratulations! User “IdleRich” has won a Hyper Rocket!]

A golden broadcast lit up the entire live stream room.

Ethan’s phone vibrated. He had actually won on the first try.

The chat went nuclear.

“Holy shit! One try and he pulls a $5,000 Hyper Rocket?!”

“This guy is a literal god of luck!”

“Bro spent five bucks and won five grand? That’s insane!”

Sophia, seeing the notification, immediately switched to full sweet mode.

“Wow~ Thank you so much IdleRich! Please send the Hyper Rocket to me, pretty please~ ❤️”

Ethan ignored her completely and did another draw.

[Congratulations! User “IdleRich” has won another Hyper Rocket!]

Then another.

And another.

He quickly recharged $1,000 and kept going.

The live room descended into pure chaos as broadcast after broadcast flooded the screen. Viewers poured in by the thousands.

10,000… 50,000… 120,000… 300,000 viewers.

Sophia’s stream, which usually hovered around 8,000–10,000 people, exploded into the hundreds of thousands. Lumina Live’s trending page went crazy.

“Eighty!”

“Ninety-four!”

“One hundred and seven!!!”

People were literally counting Ethan’s wins live. The whole platform was in an uproar.

After winning 107 Hyper Rockets (over $500,000 in value), Lumina Live suddenly announced they were temporarily suspending the event.

The chat exploded with celebration.

“Savior dude carried the whole platform!”

“We finally got one over on the greedy company!”

“IdleRich is a legend!”

Sophia kept trying to flirt and beg for the gifts, completely unaware that the man she was calling “Savior” and simping for was the same Ethan Caldwell she had just written off as a broke loser in the class group.

Ethan smiled coldly and kept going.

He moved to the other active lottery events. Within ten minutes he had cleaned out nearly every major prize pool on the entire platform.

When he finally stopped, his gift inventory was overflowing:

• 107 Hyper Rockets
• 379 Titan Rockets
• 126 Romance Voyages
• And many other high-value gifts

Total value: well over $1.2 million.

All from roughly $2,000 spent.

Pure profit.

Chloe, who had been peeking at his screen, suddenly gasped.

“Wait… Ethan, you just won a Romance Voyage? How much did you spend on that one?”

“Five bucks,” Ethan replied casually.

Chloe’s eyes nearly popped out. “You won a $2,500 gift with five dollars?! Your luck is actually broken!”

Ava looked over enviously. “Brother, you’re way too lucky.”

Chloe leaned in closer, eyes sparkling. “They say handsome guys are always lucky… I guess the old saying is true.”

Ava rolled her eyes hard. “Can you be any more obvious?”

After lunch, the three of them walked out together. Ava and Chloe both held onto one of Ethan’s arms, turning heads everywhere they went. Countless guys stared with pure envy and resentment.

After dropping the girls back at Harbor University, Ethan took a cab back to his modest rented apartment. Even though he now had billions, he hadn’t moved yet. He still needed to pack up his things — especially his old study materials and computer.

“No car is really inconvenient,” he muttered. “Now that I have god-tier driving skills, it’s time to get a proper ride.”

…

The next morning, Ethan woke up to the familiar sound.

DING!

[Daily check-in available. Would you like to check in?]

“Yes.”

[Check-in successful!]

[Congratulations! You have received a Koenigsegg CCX as your reward!]

Ethan’s eyes widened with excitement.

A Koenigsegg CCX — one of the rarest and most savage hypercars in the world. Sticker price around $2.5 million, and practically impossible to buy even if you had the money.

The car keys suddenly appeared in his pocket.

At the same time, loud gasps and excited shouts erupted from the street right outside his apartment building.

Ethan walked to the window with a faint smile.

Time to go see his new toy.

Chapter 4: $2.55 Billion Livestream Takeover

“Oh my God… what the hell is that ?”

“What a sick hypercar!”

“Is that a real Koenigsegg?!”

More and more people spilled out of the apartment building, phones up, crowding around the matte-black beast parked right out front.

“No way… this thing costs over two and a half million,” one guy muttered after checking online. “Probably closer to three with options.”

“How the hell does a car like this end up in our  neighborhood?”

“Owner’s gotta be worth billions.”

“Bet it’s some fat, middle-aged creep,” another guy sneered, pure envy dripping from every word.

A passing girl in yoga pants stopped dead, eyes wide. She quickly touched up her lipstick, glancing around hopefully for the owner.

Upstairs, Ethan Caldwell stood at the window, staring down at the Koenigsegg CCX with a grin he couldn’t wipe off his face.

Click.

His front door swung open without a knock.

In walked Mrs. Margaret Hargrove, his landlady, fifties, pearl necklace gleaming, designer handbag on her arm.

“Hey, Ethan,” she said, voice sugary. “Got next month’s rent scraped together yet?”

She had heard he was broke. Her eyes raked over him like he was merchandise.

“Ethan, honey… you remember what I suggested? Say yes and you can skip twenty years of struggling. A boy with your looks shouldn’t have to work at all.”

Ethan stepped back smoothly. “No thanks, Mrs. Hargrove. I’m not the type to live off anyone. I make my own money.”

He grabbed his already-packed duffel bag. “And I’m moving out today.”

He dodged her reaching hand and bolted for the stairs.

“Ungrateful little—” she hissed behind him. “You’ll regret this.”

Downstairs the crowd still blocked the sidewalk.

“Ethan!”

“Yo, Ethan!”

A couple of neighbors called out. The girl who had been fixing her makeup lit up when she saw him, then deliberately looked away.

Handsome is cute, but money is everything.

“Excuse me,” Ethan said calmly.

The girl spun on him, annoyed. “Who do you think you’re calling ‘excuse me’? This isn’t your spot.”

“You’re blocking my car.”

He pressed the key fob. The Koenigsegg’s signature scissor doors lifted with a soft hydraulic whoosh , headlights flaring to life.

The entire crowd froze.

Ethan gently moved the stunned girl aside, slid into the driver’s seat, and fired up the twin-turbo V8. The hypercar roared like a caged demon and shot down the street, leaving nothing but tire smoke and open mouths behind.

“Ethan—wait!”

“Ethan, bro!”

The same neighbors who had just been calling his name were now desperately waving. Too late.

The girl’s face went ghost white. That  was his  car?

Upstairs, Mrs. Margaret Hargrove watched the black streak disappear from her window, jaw hanging open.

…

Stopped at a red light, Ethan pulled out his phone.

#1 Lucky Tycoon on the Internet

The Man Who Broke Lumina Live

He was trending everywhere.

The clip of him single-handedly winning over a million dollars in gifts yesterday had gone nuclear. It was even beating out a certain A-list celebrity cheating scandal on X.

Every other related hashtag was sitting in the top twenty.

“Famous overnight,” Ethan chuckled. “Too easy. Being this handsome really is a curse.”

He opened Lumina Live. His inbox was flooded with friend requests—mostly from female streamers, even a couple of top-tier ones sending flirty messages and photos.

One stood out: Sophia Laurent, complete with carefully angled selfies.

Since they were high-school classmates, Ethan accepted.

He needed a new place fast. He booked the Presidential Suite at the Ritz-Carlton for the night.

A message popped up from Jake Rivera, the guy who ran the little parcel hub near his old building.

“Ethan, emergency favor — one last delivery at the shop. Can you swing by and drop it off? Won’t take long.”

Ethan owed Jake a few favors. “On my way.”

He picked up the small package and punched the address into the nav.

When he rolled up to the luxury high-rise, the security guard was glued to his phone. Ethan rolled down the window.

“Delivery. Open the gate.”

The guard turned, ready to bark at another courier, then saw the Koenigsegg.

His eyes nearly fell out of his head.

“Sir—yes, sir! Right away!”

The barrier shot up. As Ethan drove through, the guard muttered to himself, “Rich people are insane… delivering packages in a three-million-dollar hypercar. Unreal.”

…

Sophia Laurent had been glued to her phone since yesterday. Even during her live stream she kept refreshing, waiting.

Finally, BoredTycoon  accepted her friend request.

She was over the moon. Other streamers in the group were crying that he had ignored even the top girls, but he accepted her . Obviously her looks were on another level.

She fired off a dozen sweet, flirty messages. He only replied with “Oh.”

Still — she was ecstatic. She still had it.

A knock sounded at the door.

“Package for you.”

Hm?  Since when did delivery guys get past security?

Sophia opened the door and froze.

“Ethan Caldwell?”

He stood there holding her parcel, looking every bit as ridiculously handsome as he had in high school.

“It’s you,” he said, mildly surprised.

She recovered fast. A smug smile spread across her face as she took the box.

Back in high school Ethan had been cold and untouchable. Now here he was, reduced to a delivery boy while she was a verified internet celebrity pulling half a million a year.

How the mighty had fallen.

Holding the package like a trophy, she looked him up and down with open arrogance.

“Ethan, now that you know where I live, don’t get any ideas about harassing me. We’re not on the same level. It could never work between us.”

Ethan gave a small, helpless smile and shook his head.

Before he could say anything she kept going, voice dripping with fake pity.

“I can’t believe the hottest guy in school ended up doing something so… low-class. I’d skip the class reunion if I were you. Save yourself the embarrassment.”

Ethan didn’t bother replying. He turned and walked toward the elevator.

Downstairs he climbed back into the Koenigsegg and peeled out.

Up in her apartment, Sophia heard the roar and rushed to the window just in time to see the black hypercar disappear down the avenue.

She covered her mouth, eyes huge.

A Koenigsegg?!

That car cost tens of millions. The owner had to be worth billions.

Pure envy flooded her. If she could land a guy like that …

She shook the daydream off and went back to her phone, switching instantly to full simp mode.

“First things first — time to get those gifts from BoredTycoon…”

…

DING!

[System Task Issued]

[Spend $5,000,000 on Lumina Live within 24 hours.]

[Completion reward: 15% ownership stake in Lumina Live.]

Ethan’s eyes widened. Five million? That was a lot.

He quickly checked the company valuation.

Lumina Live was currently valued at $17 billion.

Fifteen percent was worth $2.55 billion .

Spend five mil, walk away with two-point-five billion .

Insane ROI.

He had already asked Natalie to wire him a hundred million from Vanguard Dynamics’ liquid reserves. Perfect timing.

He couldn’t drain the whole company — Vanguard Dynamics still needed cash flow — but five million was nothing.

Who to gift?

Chloe Bennett was streaming on Lumina Live. And after what happened earlier today with Sophia, he sure as hell wasn’t sending another cent her way.

Ethan opened Chloe’s room and started sending gifts without a word.

100 Titan Rockets.

200 Titan Rockets.

While normal whales sent one at a time, Ethan dropped them in stacks of hundreds.

In under three minutes he had burned through more than three million in gifts, plus the ones he had already won yesterday — total spend: five million exactly.

The entire Lumina Live platform lost its mind.

Gift notifications flooded every screen. Chloe’s tiny room exploded from a few thousand viewers to over five hundred thousand in seconds. The popularity counter smashed through ten million.

“BROREDTYCOON IS A GOD!”

“THIS IS WHAT A REAL TYCOON LOOKS LIKE!”

“Chloe, you just got adopted by the new king of Lumina!”

Chloe stared at her screen, completely stunned. She had seen Ethan’s username earlier and quickly private-messaged him.

“Brother Ethan… what is this?”

“Nothing special,” he typed back. “Your happiness matters. It’s just a little money.”

Chloe’s heart nearly exploded. She zeroed in on “your happiness matters” and completely ignored the “little money” part.

Did she actually mean that much to him?

Her face turned bright red as she floated into full fantasy mode.

DING!

[Task complete!]

[Congratulations! You now own 15% of Lumina Live.]

A digital stock-transfer contract appeared on the passenger seat beside him.

Ethan smiled.

Mr. Elias Kane, the founder and current controller of Lumina Live, only held 13.3%.

Ethan now owned more.

From this moment on, he wasn’t just a random rich guy on the platform.

He was the new majority stakeholder after Nexus Holdings.

The king of Lumina Live.

“This,” Ethan said, leaning back in the Koenigsegg’s leather seat as the city lights blurred past, “feels so  damn good.”

The system was absolutely broken.

Chapter 5: The Gold-Digger’s Instant Meltdown

The next morning Chloe Bennett called, voice bright and a little shy.

“Ethan, I want to treat you to lunch today. You know… to say thank you for last night. You really didn’t have to do all that.”

Ethan smiled. “Sure. I’ll pick you up at noon.”

He knew Ava would throw a fit if she found out he was going alone with Chloe, so he headed to Vanguard Tower first. The Koenigsegg was a strict two-seater, so he called Natalie.

“Prep me something from the garage. I’m heading to Harbor University.”

When he arrived, Chloe was already waiting outside the main gate. She had clearly put in effort — deep V-neck dress that hugged every curve, makeup flawless, hair cascading in soft waves. She looked like a full-blown influencer, and every guy walking past was staring.

Ethan’s eyebrows rose. He hadn’t noticed before just how stunning Chloe actually was.

He pulled the sleek black Bentley Mulsanne right up to her and rolled down the window, sliding his sunglasses down his nose with a smirk.

“Would this beautiful lady do me the honor?”

Chloe blinked, then her whole face lit up. “Ethan! Oh my God — what is  this car? It’s insane!”

A crowd was already forming. Phones came out instantly.

“A Bentley Mulsanne!” someone shouted. “That thing’s worth over five million dollars!”

The murmurs turned into full-blown chaos. Students and passersby pressed closer, filming.

“Bro, that’s not even his best car,” one guy muttered in awe.

Ethan shrugged as Chloe climbed in. “This is the worst one in the company garage.”

The entire crowd went dead silent for half a second, then erupted.

Worst car?!

A five-million-dollar Bentley is the worst?!

Chloe just laughed softly. After last night’s insane gifting spree she already knew Ethan operated on a completely different level. “Handsome and  filthy rich… must be tough, huh?”

“Where’s Ava?” Ethan asked, glancing around.

“She got pulled into some last-minute club thing. Teacher emergency. She told me to go ahead and enjoy lunch with you… but also said to watch out because I’m a ‘little temptress.’” Chloe rolled her eyes. “Plastic sisterhood at its finest.”

Ethan chuckled and pulled away under dozens of envious stares.

Lunch was at a quiet, upscale spot in Midtown — Wagyu beef, truffle risotto, seared scallops, the works. Ethan stuck to water since he was driving; Chloe had a couple glasses of wine and her cheeks turned a pretty pink.

Afterward they were supposed to go shopping, but Chloe’s agency suddenly texted her: urgent meeting. Probably because of the five-million-dollar gift storm last night — they wanted to push her hard.

“I’ll drop you,” Ethan said. “It’s on the way.”

As they left the restaurant they ran into Taylor Voss — another streamer from Chloe’s agency, pretty in that heavily filtered way, always chasing clout.

“Chloe! Babe, do you have a ride? The meeting’s in twenty and my Uber is stuck in traffic. Can your boyfriend take me?”

Chloe glanced at Ethan. He nodded. “Hop in.”

Taylor’s eyes landed on Ethan and widened for a split second — damn, he’s hot  — before she caught herself. Looks were cute, but money was everything. Chloe was still just a college girl; her boyfriend probably drove a Camry at best.

Then Ethan opened the Bentley’s door.

Taylor froze mid-step.

A Bentley Mulsanne. Five million dollars. On the nose.

Her entire attitude flipped like a switch. She flashed a dazzling smile and slid closer to Ethan. “Is this your  car?”

“Nah,” Ethan said casually, starting the engine. “It’s the company’s. I just borrowed it for the day.”

Taylor’s smile faltered. Company driver.  Her face turned cold in an instant. She slid into the back seat with Chloe and immediately started lecturing in a condescending tone.

“Qian— I mean, Chloe, sweetie, you’re still young. You only see the looks right now. But money is what matters. I heard some whale dropped millions on you last night. You need to lock that down. Don’t let him find out you have a boyfriend.”

Chloe’s face darkened. Ethan just shook his head, amused. Gold-digger gonna gold-dig.

The whole ride Taylor kept trying to fish for info about the mysterious “BoredTycoon,” but Chloe completely ignored her.

When they pulled up near the agency, Ethan parked.

A sharply dressed middle-aged man in a suit was already waiting on the curb.

“Mr. Caldwell, sir. I’ll take the Bentley back to the tower.”

Mr. Caldwell.

Taylor froze halfway out of the car.

Ethan handed over the keys like it was nothing. “Thanks.”

At that exact moment a flatbed tow truck rolled up carrying the matte-black Koenigsegg CCX.

Taylor’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. “Is that… a Koenigsegg ?!”

Ethan nodded. “Yeah. That one’s mine.”

He walked over, pressed the key fob, and the scissor doors lifted with a hydraulic sigh. Taylor sprinted after him, all arrogance gone.

“Little brother — wait! I’m so sorry about earlier. Can I please get your number? I didn’t mean—”

Ethan ignored her completely. He said a quick goodbye to Chloe, slid into the hypercar, and roared off.

Taylor stood there, face burning with regret, watching the Koenigsegg disappear into traffic.

“No… I can’t give up like this,” she muttered, then hurried after Chloe, desperate to beg for Ethan’s contact.

…

That evening Ethan parked the Koenigsegg in an underground garage and walked into a high-end mall to grab dinner.

“Ethan?”

He turned. A young couple was staring at him. The guy — Ryan Whitaker — broke into a grin.

“Long time no see, man!”

Ryan had been in Ethan’s high-school class. He introduced the girl on his arm with obvious pride. “This is my girlfriend, Mia Sinclair.”

Mia’s eyes lit up the second she saw Ethan, then she quickly masked it. God, he’s gorgeous.

“You still single?” Ryan asked, unable to hide the smug tone. Back in school Ethan had been untouchable. Now Ryan had family money from a property windfall and a solid girlfriend. Times had changed.

“Yeah, still single,” Ethan said easily.

Before Ryan could enjoy the moment, a stunning girl with perfect legs walked straight up.

“Hi… you’re really handsome. Can I add you on Instagram?”

Another long-legged beauty appeared. “Me too! Please?”

In under thirty seconds Ethan was surrounded by four or five gorgeous women, all asking for his contact. He gave it out with a helpless smile. “Can’t help it. Too handsome, I guess.”

Ryan’s face turned green.

Mia’s eyes sparkled with new interest. Handsome and clearly popular… maybe being broke isn’t so bad after all.

Ryan forced a laugh and reminded Ethan, “Don’t forget the class reunion tomorrow night at The Emerald Lounge. Seven o’clock sharp. Sophia and Connor will both be there.”

Ethan nodded. “I’ll be there.”

As Ethan walked away, Ryan’s fake smile dropped into a sneer.

“Just because you’re a little handsome you think you’re hot shit. Wait till tomorrow. No money, no respect. I’m about to flex on the whole class.”

Mia said nothing, but her mind was already spinning.

Ryan pulled her closer, already fantasizing about how he’d humiliate Ethan at the reunion.

The next morning, just as Ethan woke up, the familiar sound rang in his head.

DING!

Chapter 6: The Reunion That Backfired in Spectacular Fashion

DING!

[Task Released]

[Become an Uber Driver and Complete One Order Within 24 Hours]

[Task Reward: A Villa at The Sovereign Villas at Hudson Lake]

Ethan’s eyes lit up.

The Sovereign Villas at Hudson Lake?

That was the crown jewel of private estates in the entire tri-state area — only eighteen insane waterfront mansions, each originally listed at $120 million when they launched. Years later, the value had gone parabolic. You didn’t buy  one. You got invited.

Ethan had literally been wondering where to move next. This task was perfect timing.

He could knock out the Uber order on the way to the class reunion at The Emerald Lounge tonight.

…

Unfortunately, no decent Uber requests popped up all evening, so Ethan headed straight to the restaurant in the Koenigsegg.

The second the matte-black hypercar rolled up in front of The Emerald Lounge, the entire valet line and sidewalk crowd lost their minds.

“No way… is that a real Koenigsegg?!”

“So sick!”

“I just got pregnant.”

Sports cars were common in this part of Manhattan, but most were Ferraris or Lamborghinis in the two-to-three-million range. A Koenigsegg — an ultra-rare hypercar worth tens of millions — was basically mythical.

“Oh my God, he’s gorgeous…”

“I’m in love.”

“I already named our future kids.”

The screams from the girls outside were loud enough to turn heads inside the restaurant.

…

Inside Private Room 666 at The Emerald Lounge, Sophia Laurent and Connor Hayes were already holding court.

“Miss Laurent, you look even more stunning in person.”

“And now you’re a verified Lumina Live star with hundreds of thousands of followers. Iconic.”

A crowd of former classmates fawned over Sophia while Ryan Whitaker stood nearby in a sharp suit, swirling a glass of red wine like he owned the place.

Ryan had been average in high school. Now he was the golden boy of the reunion. His family’s property had been bought out in a massive development deal and he walked away with $20 million in cash. He dropped out of college, used connections to land a cushy real-estate management gig, and was now strutting around like a department head on the rise.

Even Connor looked at him with open envy and quietly gave up the seat next to Sophia.

“Ryan, man, you’re not just handsome — you’ve got a real future. Don’t forget the little people when you’re a billionaire,” Connor said.

Ryan waved it off modestly. “It’s nothing, really. Just good timing.”

He was one of the main organizers of the reunion and loving every second of the attention.

“By the way, where’s Ethan? Not here yet?” Connor asked, scanning the room.

“Maybe he’s doing so badly he didn’t dare show up,” someone muttered.

“I saw him the other day,” Sophia added with a smirk. “He was delivering packages.”

Delivering packages?

The former campus heartthrob, the guy every girl used to chase — now a delivery boy? The guys in the room burst out laughing.

The door clicked open.

Ethan walked in, calm as ever.

“Sorry I’m late. Something came up.”

Connor immediately jumped on it. “Late because you were delivering packages?”

Ethan shrugged. “Nah. I was driving for Uber.”

Uber?

The room went quiet for half a second, then the mocking started again.

Ryan stood up, clearly annoyed. “Ethan, come on. We’re all here to catch up and reminisce. There’s no need to flex with a fake lighter pretending it’s a Koenigsegg key.”

Sophia sneered right beside him. As if she’d fall for that.

The door clicked open again.

Tyler Brooks — one of the quieter guys from their class — burst in, practically vibrating with excitement.

“Did you guys see it?! Did you see it?!”

All eyes swung to him.

“When I pulled up, there was a Koenigsegg worth over twenty million parked right outside! A hypercar! Actual tens of millions!”

One second. Two seconds. Three…

The room stayed dead silent. Everyone’s eyes slowly drifted back to Ethan.

No way.

It couldn’t be.

Ethan had literally just said he was driving for Uber. There was no chance that Koenigsegg was his.

It had to be a coincidence.

A knock sounded on the door. Tyler opened it.

Four stunning women — each prettier than Sophia — walked straight in and zeroed in on Ethan like heat-seeking missiles.

“There you are! We’ve been looking everywhere!”

“Handsome, your Koenigsegg is insane. Can we get a ride?”

“Please? Just one spin?”

The entire private room went pin-drop silent.

Those girls had clearly gone room to room hunting for him. They weren’t plants.

The Koenigsegg… actually belonged to Ethan.

Ryan’s face turned pale. Sophia looked like she’d been slapped.

“The key… was real,” Ryan muttered, swallowing hard.

His $20 million from the property deal had made him feel like a king among his old classmates. Now Ethan rolled up in a car worth more than that and made him look like a nobody.

Connor’s face went white as he remembered all the savage posts he’d made in the group chat.

Sophia’s phone buzzed. She glanced down at an urgent message in the agency’s streamer group chat from her boss:

INTERNAL NEWS — Lumina Live just changed chairmen. The new majority stakeholder and chairman is Ethan Caldwell — the whale known as “BoredTycoon.”

Her boss was related to someone high up at Lumina. If he said it, it was fact.

The group exploded with questions.

“Who the hell is Ethan Caldwell?”

“Why haven’t we heard of him before?”

Sophia’s hand trembled as she stared at her phone.

She suddenly shot to her feet. “Ethan… are you BoredTycoon?”

Ethan shrugged. “Yeah. What about it?”

Sophia’s legs gave out. She collapsed back into her chair, face ghost white.

Regret hit her like a truck.

“I’m out,” Ethan said, already bored. He had a task to finish. The villa was the priority.

He shook off the swarm of girls outside and climbed back into the Koenigsegg.

Five minutes later a perfect Uber request popped up — pickup at The Harbor Grill, just a few blocks away.

…

A small group of young professionals walked out of The Harbor Grill. Two couples and one single girl.

The single girl was easily the most striking of the three — easily a 9.5/10, 5'9" with long wavy hair, legs for days, and a figure that belonged on a runway. Her name was Serena Blake.

“Fake friends,” Serena said, half-joking. “We were supposed to be having a girls-only dinner. Why did you two both bring your boyfriends?”

Lauren Hayes laughed. “Serena, with your looks, why don’t you  have a boyfriend yet?”

Kaylee Chen nodded. “Exactly.”

The three worked at the same company. They got along… but the rivalry was real. Especially when someone like Serena existed.

Lauren’s boyfriend was noticeably more handsome than Kaylee’s. Kaylee countered immediately: “My guy might not be the hottest, but his family owns a company. He just bought a Porsche — over a hundred and fifty grand.”

Lauren smirked. “Mine pursued me hard. I only said yes because he’s actually good-looking.”

Serena stood between them feeling awkward as hell.

“Serena, come with us,” Lauren offered. “My boyfriend can give you a ride.”

“Or mine,” Kaylee jumped in. “The Porsche is super comfortable.”

Serena knew exactly what this was — a flex. She smiled politely. “No need. Someone’s already picking me up.”

The two girls pretended not to hear and started pushing again when a deep, savage engine roar cut through the night.

A matte-black ghost of a car slid to a stop right in front of them.

“Koenigsegg?!”

“Oh my God!”

Serena’s eyes widened. She had never seen anything like it in real life.

The scissor doors lifted like dark wings. Ethan stepped out.

“So handsome…”

“His face is actually perfect.”

“Is he a prince?”

Lauren and Kaylee stared with literal heart eyes.

“Get in?” Ethan said simply, glancing at Serena and confirming the license plate on the app.

Serena hesitated for half a second, then slid into the passenger seat. The doors closed, the Koenigsegg roared, and it vanished down the avenue, leaving Lauren and Kaylee standing on the sidewalk stunned and bitter.

Did Serena have a secret boyfriend?

And he was that  rich and  that hot?

Their own boyfriends suddenly looked very small.

Inside the hypercar, Serena was still in a daze.

“You’re… really an Uber driver?”

“Yeah.”

“You own a Koenigsegg worth over twenty million and you’re still driving for Uber?”

Ethan shrugged. “Can’t help it. I’m broke.”

Serena rolled her eyes so hard it was almost audible. Rich people.

A few minutes later she stole another glance at his profile and felt her heart actually skip.

She had never had a boyfriend because her standards were sky-high.

Looking at Ethan now, she finally understood what “love at first sight” actually felt like.

“Can I add you on Instagram?” she asked, trying to sound casual.

“Hmm… sure,” Ethan replied. First passenger and all.

He dropped her off at her building. Serena was about to invite him up for “tea” when he cut her off.

“I’m heading out.”

The Koenigsegg roared away before she could say another word.

DING!

[Task completed!]

[Congratulations! You have received Villa No. 6 at The Sovereign Villas at Hudson Lake.]

Ethan grinned behind the wheel.

Time to go see what his new mansion looked like.

Chapter 7: The Hudson Lake Villa

Ethan Caldwell pulled the Koenigsegg up to the private gates of The Sovereign Villas at Hudson Lake.

The moment the property management confirmed he was the new owner of Villa No. 6, they rolled out the red carpet. A stunning woman in a tailored black suit — Elena Voss, one of their top concierges — was personally assigned to give him the tour.

“Villa No. 6 ranks in the top three for size in the entire community,” Elena said, flashing a bright, professional smile that was clearly dialed up for the new young billionaire standing in front of her. “It sits on roughly 1,500 square meters of prime lakeside land.”

She led him inside.

The moment the double doors opened, Ethan actually paused. The entry hall soared eight meters high, all glass and marble, making the space feel more like a modern cathedral than a house.

“Three full floors,” Elena continued smoothly. “Private infinity pool, climate-controlled wine cellar, fully equipped gym and spa, private KTV room — everything you’d expect from the absolute top tier.”

She guided him through the living room. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed a breathtaking, unobstructed view of Hudson Lake, sunlight pouring in from every angle.

“Both sofas are custom Fendi,” she said, running a hand along the buttery leather. “Most of the other furniture is Giorgetti — a 200-year-old Italian house famous for blending warm woods, brushed metal, natural stone, and supple leather. Timeless luxury.”

In the master bathroom she pointed out the showpiece: a sleek, muted-white freestanding bathtub. “All fixtures are Duravit — basically the Rolls-Royce of bathrooms. You won’t find anything more comfortable or exclusive.”

Ethan nodded, impressed. He’d heard the name Duravit before. Price tags on their pieces were legendary.

After the indoor tour, Elena took him out back. The first thing that hit him was the massive infinity pool that seemed to melt straight into Hudson Lake. The landscaping was pure art — a master-designed garden with a dramatic Taihu-style rockery, a century-old wisteria vine that had cost a fortune to transplant, and rare flowers blooming everywhere.

Elena finished the tour with obvious reluctance. “If you need anything at all, Mr. Caldwell — day or night — just call me directly.” She handed him her card, then left him alone in his new palace.

Ethan dropped onto the oversized Fendi sofa, staring out at the lake.

This,  he thought, is how the other half lives.

…

The next morning the weather was perfect. Ethan stepped outside and strolled down to the lakeside path.

A beautiful woman in high-end sportswear jogged toward him — early thirties, sharp features, easily a 9/10, radiating quiet confidence and success. She slowed when she saw him, clearly caught off guard by how good-looking he was.

“New neighbor?” she asked, stopping with a small smile. “I’m the owner of Villa No. 5. Welcome to the community.”

They exchanged a few polite words. She wasn’t some twenty-something who would melt on the spot, but even she couldn’t help stealing one last glance over her shoulder as she continued her run. Damn… he really is that handsome.

…

“I need new clothes,” Ethan muttered to himself later that morning. Season change meant his closet was suddenly lacking.

A few names flashed through his mind. Bella Harrington? No — too soon after rejecting her. Ava? She’d turn it into a three-hour date.

Natalie Brooks.

The image of his stunning executive assistant popped into his head instantly. Her taste was flawless and matched his aesthetic perfectly.

Ten minutes later Natalie arrived at the villa, slightly out of breath from rushing over after Ethan’s “urgent” call.

“Mr. Caldwell, what do you need?” she asked, all business.

“I hate shopping alone. Come with me.”

He opened the Koenigsegg’s scissor door for her. Natalie hesitated for half a second — equal parts flattered and exasperated by her ridiculously handsome, ridiculously rich, and slightly unpredictable boss — then slid inside.

They headed to The Shops at Hudson Yards, Manhattan’s premier luxury destination. Hermès, Louis Vuitton, and every other top-tier brand lined the glittering halls.

Inside the massive Louis Vuitton boutique, Natalie’s impeccable taste took over. She quickly curated several outfits that looked like they were made for Ethan. While he browsed, she took his black card to checkout.

“Hey… isn’t that Ethan Caldwell?”

A familiar, annoying voice cut through the store.

Ethan turned. Standing there with a smug little smirk was Brooke Delaney — the nightmare blind date his Aunt Linda from back home in New Jersey had set him up with months ago.

The setup had been a disaster from minute one. Brooke showed up an hour late, acted like it was normal, then spent the entire “date” lecturing and belittling him. Ethan had excused himself to the bathroom, ordered every most expensive dish on the menu, paid, and ghosted.

Brooke looked him up and down with open disdain. “Still window-shopping, I see. You can look, but you definitely can’t buy. Some things never change.”

She flipped her hair. “Thank God I dodged that bullet. My boyfriend may be older, but at least he can actually afford to spoil me with real LV pieces. Unlike some people.”

Just then Natalie walked back carrying seven or eight massive LV shopping bags.

Brooke’s eyes widened with pure envy. That haul had to be worth three or four hundred thousand dollars easy.

Then Natalie handed the black card back to Ethan and said casually, “Mr. Caldwell, that came to $730,000.”

Ethan shrugged. “No big deal. Let’s hit a couple more stores.”

They walked out, leaving Brooke standing frozen in the middle of the store, mouth hanging open.

Seven hundred and thirty thousand?!

She quickly convinced herself: He must be a kept man. That money was obviously hers. Yeah. That’s it.

…

A little while later, after clearing out half the luxury wing, Ethan spotted the glowing Patek Philippe logo.

Rich people play with watches,  he thought. Time to get one.

Inside the boutique a coquettish voice was already working overtime.

“This one is so beautiful, darling~”

Brooke was clinging to the arm of a fifty-year-old man — Victor Lang, CFO of Apex Financial Group — batting her lashes at a sleek women’s watch.

Victor glanced at the tag. $130,000. He almost choked.

Before he could answer, Ethan and Natalie walked in.

Victor’s eyes locked onto Natalie like a heat-seeking missile. Holy hell… she’s perfect.

Brooke followed his gaze and her face instantly soured. “Ethan? Again?”

“You know him?” Victor asked, surprised.

“Some broke college kid from back home,” she sneered.

Ethan ignored them completely and browsed with Natalie. He stopped in front of an exquisite black women’s watch.

The saleswoman lit up. “Sir, this is our classic 4895R-001 — sapphire crystal, 18k rose gold, 164 diamonds. Every woman’s dream piece.”

Natalie’s eyes sparkled for a split second. The watch looked incredible on her wrist when the saleswoman offered to let her try it on.

Ethan nodded. “It suits you perfectly. We’ll take it.”

Victor saw his chance. He stepped forward with a smug smile. “This watch really does suit the beautiful lady. Allow me to introduce myself — Victor Lang, CFO of Apex Financial Group.”

He turned to the saleswoman. “Wrap it up. I’ll buy it for her.”

Brooke shot Ethan a triumphant look. See? This is what a real man with money looks like.

The saleswoman smiled brightly. “Certainly, sir. That will be $1,579,900. Card or transfer?”

Victor froze.

One point five million?!  He had assumed it was maybe a hundred grand at most. There was no way he could casually drop that kind of cash — not even close.

An awkward silence stretched.

Finally Victor muttered, red-faced, “I… don’t have the money right now.”

Brooke’s face went slack. The saleswoman’s polite smile vanished.