Chapter 5: A New Beginning

Levi stripped off his sweat-soaked clothes and stepped into the small cabin shower. The hot water hit his skin, a welcome relief after the long day. He let it run over his shoulders and down his back, washing away not just the dirt and exhaustion but the remnants of an old life—a past that no longer defined him. The steam rose around him, curling like ghosts of memories, but he pushed them aside. He had no time for the past. Only the future mattered now.

As the heat soothed his muscles, his gaze drifted toward the fogged-up mirror just outside the shower. He reached out, wiping a streak through the condensation, and caught sight of his reflection. It startled him at first. He looked different—not just because of the way the dim light softened his features, but because he truly saw himself for the first time in years. He wasn't the tired, worn-out man he had once been. No, the person staring back at him was younger, sharper, more alive. Handsome, even. His jawline was strong, his eyes filled with something that had been missing for a long time—purpose.

Levi ran a hand through his damp hair, noticing how it curled slightly at the ends. He had always been too preoccupied to care about his appearance before, but now he had the chance to reinvent himself. He wasn't just inheriting wealth—he was inheriting a new version of himself, one with limitless potential. A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

"Not bad," he murmured to himself, the sound of his own voice grounding him in the moment.

With a sense of renewed determination, he turned off the water and stepped out, grabbing a towel. The rough fabric brushed against his skin as he dried off, but he barely noticed. His mind was already elsewhere, mapping out the steps ahead. The plan was forming, solidifying with every passing second. First, secure the loan. That was crucial. Second, handle the inheritance, make sure every legal loophole was accounted for. Third…

He grinned, running the towel over his face before tossing it aside.

Opportunities were everywhere, waiting to be seized. The world of 2004 was different, filled with untapped potential. He had an advantage no one else did—knowledge of what was coming. Tech booms, stock market crashes, cryptocurrency, real estate bubbles—he could see the timeline laid out before him like a well-worn map. He knew when to invest, when to pull back, when to take risks and when to play it safe. Most people spent their whole lives trying to predict the future. Levi didn't have to. He had already lived it.

That knowledge alone made him dangerous.

He pulled on a clean shirt, the fabric clinging to his still-damp skin. His fingers paused at the buttons as he exhaled slowly.

Tomorrow, everything would begin.

No more waiting, no more hesitation. He wasn't just going to inherit wealth—he was going to build an empire.

Levi stepped away from the mirror and out into the main room of the cabin, his mind racing with possibilities. The rustic space around him suddenly felt too small, too temporary. This place had been a refuge, a stepping stone, but it wasn't his final destination. He needed more—more space, more resources, more power. He imagined skyscrapers with his name etched in glass, corporations answering to him, fortunes shifting at the tip of his fingers.

But first, he had to play his cards right.

He moved to the small wooden desk in the corner, flipping open his notebook. The pages were filled with scribbled notes, stock market trends, technological advancements, and business strategies. He had spent weeks preparing, gathering every bit of information he needed to ensure his next steps were executed perfectly. There was no room for error.

His eyes landed on a specific date circled in red.

Tomorrow. The first real move.

He leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers against the armrest. Confidence surged through him. He had waited long enough. Now, it was time to act.

Tomorrow, he would step into the world not just as an heir to wealth, but as a man who knew exactly how to turn that inheritance into something far greater. He would play the long game, making moves others wouldn't even see coming until it was too late.

This wasn't just about money. It was about power. Influence. Legacy.

Levi smirked to himself, closing the notebook and setting it aside. The world had no idea what was coming.

But they would soon enough.