The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm golden hue across the front yard of the house Darren had just purchased.
It wasn't a mansion. Not yet.
But it was theirs.
Construction workers moved around the property, leveling the front walkway, trimming hedges, and reinforcing the gate. Inside, painters worked in smooth strokes, giving the walls a fresh coat of life.
Aria ran through the half-empty house barefoot, her laughter echoing through the halls as she peeked out the back door toward the shimmering pool.
Darren stood on the porch with his mother, arms crossed as he quietly soaked in the moment.
"It's not perfect," she said softly, eyes shining, "but it's… peaceful."
"No one's shouting at us anymore. No more cold stares. No more cramped apartments," Darren murmured. "This is just the beginning."
As if on cue, the system interface lit up in his mind.
[System Update Detected.]
[New Feature Unlocked: Legacy Investment Panel]
Every personal upgrade or family-related expense now provides passive monthly income based on emotional and financial value returned.
[First Trigger: Family Home Investment Recognized]
[Monthly Passive Yield: £22,000]
Darren's brows lifted in surprise.
The system had just given him residual income — a slow drip of money from the things that mattered most.
He checked his bank balance again, now a compulsive ritual:
[Bank Balance: £4,380,000]
It was becoming surreal.
That night, they spent the first evening in the house with takeout boxes on the living room floor. No furniture yet, but none of them cared.
His mom leaned back against the wall, Aria curled beside her, fast asleep.
"You've changed everything, Darren," she whispered.
He stared at them for a long time, then finally replied, "Not enough. Not yet."
In his room later, Darren sat cross-legged in the quiet. He opened the system panel, searching for what lay ahead.
[Upcoming System Goals:]
Complete Phase 1: Stabilize family welfare ✅
Phase 2 Initiated: Establish external influence — network, power, and reputation.
[Mission Unlocked: Enter the Social Arena]
Form your first public business presence. Build status.
Reward Multiplier: 1000x potential.
*[Side Note:] System difficulty will gradually increase to match influence.
Darren took a slow breath.
The house was just the first foundation.
Now, it was time to rise beyond the shadows… and step into the world that once spat him and his family out.