He paused, then offered, "But if you beg me, I could give you five million. After all, you've been with me for so many years."

Yeah… I had been with him all those years. I stuck by him when he had nothing.

Back then, Charles was just a broke student whom everyone constantly looked down on, and he sometimes couldn't even afford a full meal.

I stayed by his side, turning system points into financial support so he could keep going to classes.

After graduation, he had no 'main character' perks, and misfortune seemed to follow him everywhere. Every so-called "chosen one" walked all over him.

It was me, time and again, who had used all the system points I had accumulated to clear the way for him. I pulled him from the mud and eventually helped him rise to become Broxia's richest man.

I let out a bitter laugh, staring at the man I had poured everything into helping. Now, he was like a complete stranger.

Rain blurred my vision as I looked at Charles. My words were sharp and clear as I said, "Let's break up."

Charles frowned, like he didn't quite hear me. "What did you just say? You want to break up just because I told you not to target Natalia?"

"Yeah," I said curtly.

In the next second, Charles' voice shot up, like I had struck a nerve.

"Melissa! Don't forget that when we started this company, we signed a wager agreement in black and white. It says whoever quits halfway owes the other 100 million!"

He smiled cruelly. "Over these years, I've been the one in control of the company's finances. You bust your ass, but you're only making seven grand a month. You don't have the money to pay me. How could you even resign? I'm telling you, you can still give in. It's not too late yet. Otherwise, you'll regret it!"

Hearing his threats, I slowly smiled.

Regret? I never regretted anything in my life.

Natalia immediately put on a concerned look. "Yeah, Melissa, just apologize to Mr. Sawyer, okay? It's raining so hard. Where else could you go?"

I ignored the two of them.

In the next second, I pulled out my phone and dialed a number. "Come pick me up."

Charles laughed as if I had just told the world's dumbest joke. "Melissa, just to spite me, you even hired someone to play along? Apart from me, who would dare come get you in all of Broxia?"

For seven years, I cut off all social connections to support him. I had no friends and no life of my own.

Now that he was the richest in Broxia, who in their right mind would risk pissing off Charles just to pick me up?

Natalia feigned concern. "Charles, don't tell the truth like that. It'll hurt her pride."

They were both convinced that no one would actually come.

Then, the roar of an engine approached from a distance.

Soon, a sleek silver sports car pulled up steadily at the lobby entrance. A man in a perfectly tailored suit stepped out. Each footstep of his made Charles' expression darker.

His face was a nightmare Charles could never escape.

Shock flashed across Charles' expression, but he quickly masked it.

He turned to me and sneered, "Melissa, what's the point of hooking up with him? Times have changed. I already defeated Peter Greene. If I just say the word, you won't be able to survive in Broxia! Besides, if I don't agree, your mission will never be completed!"

I stared at his ridiculously arrogant face and slowly smiled.

"Really?"

Yes. Just like Charles said, I had almost completely crushed Peter over the years with my system powers. Peter had long since fallen from grace. He had gone from being the golden boy to being utterly defeated by Charles.

However, what Charles would never know was that from the very beginning, he wasn't even my target.

It was Peter all along.

Back when I first entered this world, the first person I ran into was Charles. I couldn't bear to watch him be abused and bullied, so I saved him.

Later, when I saw him haunted by nightmares every night. He looked so vulnerable and insecure that I softened. I used my points to switch the mission target.

That was how I was able to use my points to unlock his "powers" and help him rise.

However, now, the system was telling me that even without spending extra points, I could continue my original mission with Peter.

All these years, Charles had refused to advance our relationship, which left my energy stagnant. No matter what I did, everything went wrong. It was like some invisible hand was choking me.

Yet today, I only had to hold Peter's hand, and the relentless downpour that always seemed to target me miraculously stopped.

Energy surged back into me, full and alive. I felt reborn.

Charles' gaze burned into my hand that was entwined with Peter's. Fury was visible in his eyes.

I just snorted coldly and turned to leave.

…

Once I was seated in Peter's car, I let go of his hand. Guilt crept into my voice. "Sorry for using you just now to get back at Charles."

Peter shook his head. His eyes were deep and unreadable. "If it's for you, I'm happy to be of service."

A lump rose in my throat as memories from three years ago flooded back.

When Charles became Broxia's richest man, the first thing he did after rising to the top was make Peter's life hell.

He bribed a famous actress, who deliberately approached Peter at a party, then later cried in front of the media, claiming Peter had assaulted her.

Overnight, the golden boy fell from grace and was shunned by everyone.

When I learned what Charles had done, I was consumed with guilt.

I spent my last points to acquire key evidence and rescued Peter from Charles' trap.

However, because of that, Charles, who had destroyed all evidence, noticed something was off.

Under his relentless questioning, I finally admitted the truth. I was a system user who received missions.

Before sending Peter abroad, he looked at me with red eyes. "Can't I stay? I'm worried Charles will hurt you."

However, by then, Charles had become too unpredictable, and even I couldn't control him. So I forced myself to send Peter away.

Three years later, Peter returned.

When he heard I had quit, he called immediately and came to pick me up himself. He even prepared a guest room just for me, with every detail perfectly in place.

My heart was a mess of emotions, but I forced myself to rest. Tomorrow, something even more important awaited.

The next day, at the auction, my makeup was flawless as I faced the valuables before me with complete indifference.

That continued until the final item appeared.

It was a sapphire necklace with carefully cut gems. It sparkled mesmerizingly under the lights. I raised my paddle again and again. I had to have it.

Just as everyone thought I was about to win, a voice rang out from behind. "I'm calling for an Absolute Auction."

Natalia was nestled in Charles' arms. Her voice was soft as she cooed, "Charles, you're so good to me! I just said I liked it, and now you're willing to spend any amount of money on it for me!"

Charles toyed with the necklace. His tone was dripping with disdain. "It's nothing. Don't worry about it. If you ever get tired of it, just throw it away."

Then, he shot me a provocative glance.

I trembled with rage.

He knew exactly what that necklace meant to me!

It was my mother's last creation and the only thing she left behind in this world.

Now I couldn't even raise my bid as the 20 million I had just tried to offer came from Peter.

Charles, with his "powers", was worth billions. Peter and I didn't stand a chance.

My eyes burned red, and my chest felt heavy with helplessness.

Then, something happened that shocked everyone even more.

Charles suddenly dropped to one knee. In full view of the entire crowd, he placed the necklace around Natalia's neck.

"Natalia, will you marry me?"

The hall erupted in gasps.

Natalia's hands flew to her mouth in surprise as tears sparkled in her eyes.

"Yes! I will!"

At that moment, a cold, mechanical voice rang in my head. "Host, your mission has failed."

"Melissa, since you refuse to see reason, your mission will never be completed."

I stood rooted to the spot. As I watched the scene unfold before me, a bitter smile tugged at my lips.

Charles strode over and loomed over me. His voice dropped low, and he spoke in my ear. "You forced me to do this. From now on, you're trapped in this world forever. There's no leaving."

His words dripped with triumph, and his eyes burned with an obsessive light.

"Melissa, you're too unruly. Weren't you always saying you wanted independence and to leave me?"

His lips curved into a cruel smile.

"Fine. I'll make sure no company in the city dares to hire you. Not for work and not for rent. You won't even get to shop or move around. You'll be blocked at every turn."

Then, his tone became even colder. "After this, you'll watch me get engaged, married, and start a family with Natalia. When you're completely cornered, you'll crawl to me, begging to become my mistress."

Charles' face screamed overconfidence, as if he could already see me groveling at his feet.

I almost laughed out loud.

Just moments ago, the system had chimed repeatedly in my head.

"Commercial Insight ability restored."

"Investment Foresight ability restored."

"Fortune Enhancement ability restored."

All the abilities I had spent points on were returned in full and were now boosted inside me.

I was now the true child of fortune and the future richest person in Broxia.

Yet Charles had no idea. He was still trying to bully me with such a clumsy stunt. How laughable.

If he walked out of this auction unscathed, I'd have to admit he had some skill.

I studied him deliberately. A sly smile was playing on my lips. "Oh? Is that so? Then, I'll just have to wait and see."

I naturally looped my arm through Peter's, ready to leave.

"Stop!" Charles roared furiously, trying to chase after us.

However, at that moment, the auction manager approached with a professional smile. "Mr. Sawyer, congratulations! You've won the Tears of Galaxy necklace at a record-breaking price of 100 million. Please proceed with payment."

Charles waved impatiently, then signed the confirmation and immediately called his secretary. "Transfer 100 million from the company account to the auction house now!"

In the next moment, the secretary's panicked voice rang through the speaker across the hall. "Sir! Something bad has happened! Our financial investment has just collapsed. All company accounts are frozen!"

The words hit like a thunderclap. Silence fell over the entire hall.

Then, a flood of phone calls began, ringing like funeral bells.

"Mr. Wright, Sawyer Group just crashed! The stock price is down 50%! Return to the office immediately!"

"Jack, pull your money out of Charles' project! His company's a shell!"

"Leslie, sell all Sawyer Group shares right now!"