Rock Bottom

The stench of cheap beer and regret filled Ethan Cole's tiny, run-down apartment. He sat on a creaking wooden chair, staring at the stack of unpaid bills on his wobbly table. The single lightbulb flickered above, casting long, eerie shadows across the peeling walls. His bank account had barely a hundred bucks left, rent was overdue, and his mother's hospital bills were piling up like a death sentence.

New York City—the land of dreams. But for Ethan, it had become a nightmare.

He leaned back, rubbing his face with both hands. His reflection in the cracked mirror by the door stared back at him—messy black hair, sharp jawline, tired green eyes filled with disappointment. At 6'1", with a lean, athletic build, he looked like a man who should have the world at his feet. Instead, he was losing everything.

He checked his phone, hoping for some good news. Instead, he got the final punch to his gut.

"Your employment at Henderson's Warehouse has been terminated. Final paycheck will be mailed. Good luck."

Ethan stared at the message. His fingers tightened around his phone until his knuckles turned white.

Fired. Just like that.

No warning, no explanation.

A bitter chuckle escaped his lips. What the hell was he supposed to do now?

As if life hadn't kicked him hard enough, another message popped up. This time, from Samantha.

Samantha: Ethan, we need to talk. Can you meet me at the Blue Rose Café?

His gut twisted. This wasn't good.

Samantha had been distant lately. The late replies. The excuses. The sudden change in how she dressed—classier, flashier. Ethan had wanted to believe it was nothing, that she was just going through something.

But deep down, he knew.

And then, as if fate wanted to rip the bandage off quickly, another message came.

This one was from his best friend, Mike.

Mike: Bro, I don't know how to say this, but… I saw Samantha last night. With some guy. Holding hands.

Ethan's breathing slowed.

Ethan: Where?

Mike: The Lexington Hotel. They walked in together. It looked serious, man.

His fingers went numb.

He sat there, staring at the message, feeling his world collapse.

Samantha was cheating on him.

The Blue Rose Café – The Breakup

The café was packed with couples enjoying their warm drinks and soft jazz music. But for Ethan, this place felt like a graveyard.

His heartbeat thundered in his ears as he stepped inside.

There she was.

Samantha sat at their usual table, her fingers lightly tapping against her coffee cup. She looked beautiful as always—wavy chestnut hair, piercing blue eyes, dressed in an expensive beige coat she hadn't been able to afford a few months ago.

Now, Ethan knew why.

She had someone else. Someone who could afford to spoil her.

He walked over and sat across from her. "I got your message," he said, voice calm but sharp. "So talk."

She took a deep breath, as if preparing for something unpleasant. "Ethan…" she started, her voice soft. "I think… we should break up."

He stared at her, expression unreadable.

"Just like that?" he asked, his tone eerily steady.

Her fingers tightened around her cup. "Ethan, I care about you. I really do. But we're not going anywhere. You're struggling. I'm struggling. And… I need more stability in my life."

His jaw clenched. "Stability?"

She swallowed hard. "I mean… someone who can take care of me."

A bitter laugh escaped him. "You mean someone with money."

She hesitated, then nodded.

Ethan leaned forward, his eyes locked onto hers. "How long?"

Her lips parted. "What?"

"How long have you been seeing him?"

Samantha flinched. She looked away, guilt flashing across her face.

"…A couple of months," she admitted.

Months.

So while he was busting his ass working overtime, trying to find a way to make things better, she was with someone else.

Ethan chuckled, shaking his head. "And you didn't even have the decency to break up with me first."

Tears welled up in her eyes. "I didn't mean for it to happen like this, Ethan. I swear, I didn't plan it."

"Didn't plan it?" His voice was cold now. "You lied to my face. You told me you loved me. And the whole time, you were sleeping with another guy?"

She looked away, ashamed. But not enough to take back what she did.

"I just… I need a future, Ethan," she whispered.

He stared at her for a long moment, then exhaled. "I hope he's everything you want."

She reached for his hand, but he pulled away.

For the first time since he walked in, Samantha looked truly hurt. But he didn't care anymore.

Ethan stood up. "Goodbye, Samantha."

And then, he walked out, leaving her behind.

The System Awakens

The cold New York air hit him like a slap.

His chest ached, but he refused to break down. Not here. Not now.

He was done being at the bottom.

As he walked down the street, his phone vibrated again.

At first, he thought it was another cruel message. But when he checked, it was something else entirely.

[Ding!]

A futuristic, glowing screen appeared before his eyes.

Congratulations, Ethan Cole. You have been chosen by the Wealth Domination System.

Do you accept?

Ethan blinked. His exhaustion must have been making him hallucinate.

But the words didn't disappear. The screen hovered in midair, defying logic.

His pulse quickened. He wasn't some idiot who believed in fantasies. But after today? After losing everything?

What did he have to lose?

He pressed [YES].

The screen flashed.

[Welcome to the Wealth Domination System.

First Quest Assigned:

"Make $10,000 within 48 hours."

Reward: System Upgrade + Exclusive Business Insight]

Ethan's breath caught in his throat.

$10,000? In 48 hours?

It was impossible. Insane.

But then—something changed. His mind felt… sharper. His exhaustion vanished. Ideas flooded his brain.

He knew exactly how to make the money.

And for the first time in his life, he wasn't afraid.

This was the beginning of his rise.