I kept my voice steady, eyes cold on Nolan. "Fine. Be together."

Whether the game let you—that was different.

Almost no one knew the hidden rule.

The top spender had to keep recharging.

The second they stopped, the game would drag them back in.

Bianca put on that worried look. "Serena, don't blame Nolan. He was going to spend $100 million to boost your rank. But after I got trapped, I kept having nightmares. I got depressed. So he used that money to build me a private amusement park. Serena... he probably doesn't have a single dollar left for the game."

Nolan kissed her forehead. "It's fine. My call. Your happiness comes first."

He glanced at my wrist, saw the scar. A flicker of guilt. "Serena, I'm out of money. Company accounts, cards—twenty grand total. I can't save you. Bianca says she knows how to clear the level. Maybe it'll keep you alive a few more days."

I laughed under my breath.

Bianca's happiness over my life. An amusement park over my survival.

I clenched my fists and swallowed it.

Minimum recharge was ten grand. Give it two days—Nolan would get dragged back in.

Bianca leaned in, lowering her voice. "Today's level is the beam crossing. They say there are crocodiles, but it's fake. Just jump in and swim across. It's a courage test. We worked forever to find this."

I knew the real play.

There were real crocodiles. You tap the beam twice short, once long—then walk straight across.

She wanted me dead.

I looked at her, amused. "You make that up yourself?"

Her face froze, then she went all hurt. "How can you say that? I spent so long finding it!"

Nolan snapped. Pulling her close, he glared at me. "Bianca went out of her way for you. Don't appreciate it, fine—but don't accuse her."

I didn't react.

Nolan pulled up the recharge panel and picked my name.

Twenty thousand—done. The system kicked in, forcing my avatar toward the crocodile river.

His voice went cold. "Twenty grand buys control of a real player. If you won't move, I'll make you. I'll prove you wrong about Bianca."

My steps locked up as I moved forward.

I could break the control.

But that would expose me.

I glanced at the countdown overhead.

Nolan was broke. He'd just spent his last cash to buy himself two more days.

In the final minute, the system would force him to recharge again.

I fought for control. Just as I was about to step into the river—

The countdown hit zero.

The system's cold voice cut through:

"Funds have been reset. Yesterday's top spender, Nolan Cluny, must continue recharging. Failure to do so will result in forced entry into the game to await rescue. Insufficient balance detected. Activation in progress."

Nolan went pale.

A massive mechanical claw tore open the sky.

He stumbled back, panicking. "No! Don't take me! I'm not going back in!"

Terrified, he snapped at Bianca, "Bianca, transfer it. Recharge—now."

She flinched, stepped back, then hurried to send money.

"One hundred dollars received."

His face went red. He'd just sent her thirty grand that morning.

Then—

The notification came from my phone.

He stared at the nonstop deposit alerts lighting up my banking app. The color drained from his face.

"Why is the money going into your account?"