Michael and Jessica.
His best friend and his wife. Adrian stood in the doorway, shocked, as groceries fell to the floor. The wine bottle broke, sending red liquid across the marble like blood. Jessica screamed first and held the sheets to her chest. Michael just sat up slowly, running a hand through his tousled hair, not a trace of shame in his eyes. "Bro." "Almost amused," Michael said. "I never imagined you would return so quickly." Despite his clenched fists, Adrian remained motionless. His vision became tunnel-like and his heart pounded. Something stopped him from hitting him, even though he really wanted to. Leaping from her bed, Jessica snatched her robe. "Adrian, hold on, this isn't what it looks like-" With a voice like broken glass, he said softly, "Don't insult me."
"Let me explain," she pleaded. "I-I was going to tell you. It's not like we were even happy anymore!"
Adrian looked at her. This was the woman he had loved, defended, sacrificed for. The woman who used to fall asleep curled into his chest.
Michael stood up slowly, smug. "Look, man. It's better this way. You've been holding her back. You're broke, washed up-"
Before the words were fully out, Adrian stepped forward-and stopped.
A whisper echoed in his mind.
"Welcome, Host. First mission: Do not retaliate."
He blinked. What?
Michael tilted his head. "You good, man?"
Jessica folded her arms, the fear already draining from her face. "You don't have anything left, Adrian. No job, no inheritance, no influence. You can't even afford this penthouse. My father owns it."
Adrian stared at her, silence thick between them.
Jessica walked to the door and opened it. "You need to leave."
He almost laughed. "You're kicking me out?"
"You were a charity case to begin with," she snapped. "I married you to please my dad, and now even he's sick of you."
Adrian's jaw tightened. Then, without another word, he stepped outside. The door slammed behind him.
He stood in the hallway, staring at nothing.
Ten minutes later, building security came up. He didn't fight when they took his keycard, didn't resist when they escorted him to the ground floor like he was a trespasser in his own life.
The sky outside had opened up. Rain lashed against his face as he stepped into the street, soaked within seconds. People passed by without looking twice.
His phone buzzed.
[Account access denied.]
[Credit card declined.]
Every account, every line of credit-frozen. Jessica must've acted fast. Or maybe she'd planned this for weeks.
Adrian staggered to a bench and sat down, rain pooling around his feet. He laughed bitterly to himself, the sound swallowed by thunder.
And then it came again.
"Congratulations, Host. You resisted the urge to retaliate. Reward: $10,000 transferred to emergency account."
Adrian shot up, looking around. No one. Just rain, traffic, and the distant sound of city life.
"Who said that?" he whispered.
"Your system. Created by Dr. Eleanor Cole. Activating recovery protocols."
His mother's name slammed into him like a freight train.
She'd been gone for years. Brilliant. Mysterious. The woman who locked herself in labs and told him one day he'd understand. Could this be one of her projects?
His phone vibrated again-this time not with a rejection.
[New Account Created: Balance $10,000]
[Location: Emergency Vault - Host access only]
His hands trembled.
The rain eased into a drizzle as he stood up, the city lights blurring in his vision. He ducked into a 24-hour diner nearby, his soaked suit drawing a few stares.
He sat in a corner booth and ordered a coffee. No food. Not yet. He needed to think.
Who created this? Was he hallucinating? Some post-trauma breakdown?
But the money was real. He transferred some to his backup card-it worked.
"Dr. Eleanor Cole," he whispered. "Mom... what did you leave me?"
The voice returned, calm and mechanical, yet oddly soothing.
"You are not broken. You were betrayed. But revenge will destroy you. Rise in silence. Each time you resist, you'll gain more than you lost."
Adrian stared out the rain-specked window, coffee steaming in front of him.
No one had his back.
No friends. No family.
Just a voice in his head.
A system built by a dead mother.
And a single mission: Don't fall apart. Rise. Quietly. Ruthlessly.
Outside, the neon sign flickered.
Inside, Adrian smiled faintly for the first time.
Let them think he was nothing. Let them laugh.
They hadn't seen silence weaponized before.
New Mission: Do not answer Jessica's call. Reward: Access to private inheritance network.
Status: Incoming call – Jessica Benson.
His phone lit up.
He stared at it.
Let it ring.....Let her wonder....Let the game begin.:
He checks the new inheritance vault.
Balance: $250,000.
Owner: Dr. Eleanor Cole.
Access: Now unlocked.
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