The hospital room was quiet.
The soft beeping of machines echoed faintly in the air.
Ethan Cole stood by the bed.
His mother's face was still pale—but her breathing was steady now.
That feeling of almost losing her—
Was gone.
He slowly sat down.
Looking at that familiar face.
For a moment, everything felt like a dream.
Just one hour ago—
He was drowning in despair in the corridor.
Now—
He had pulled a life back from death itself.
Ethan spoke softly,
"Mom… it's okay now."
His voice was light.
But firm.
Ten minutes later.
Ethan walked out of the room.
The moment the door closed—
His eyes completely changed.
If before, he was just "forced to survive"—
Now—
He wanted control.
Over everything.
He lowered his head and looked at his phone.
Balance:
$1,080,037.62
One million.
This wasn't the end.
Just the beginning.
At the end of the corridor—
Chloe Carter was still there.
She hadn't left.
The moment she saw him, she stood up.
"How is your mom?"
Ethan glanced at her.
"She's fine."
His tone was calm.
No extra emotion.
That made Chloe uncomfortable.
She bit her lip.
"About earlier… I'm sorry."
"I didn't know you really could…"
She stopped halfway.
Because even she didn't know how to finish that sentence.
Ethan looked at her.
And suddenly, she felt unfamiliar.
Five years—
Could be this light.
"Are you done?"
He asked.
Chloe froze.
"Ethan, I just—"
"If you're done, go back."
Ethan cut her off.
His tone wasn't harsh.
But left no room.
"Standing here doesn't suit you anymore."
That sentence—
Was harsher than any insult.
Chloe's face turned pale instantly.
She opened her mouth, but no words came out.
At that moment—
A voice came from the side.
"Let's go."
The man.
Her current boyfriend.
Stood beside her.
His tone calm.
But with a hint of displeasure.
Chloe looked at him—
Then back at Ethan.
Her eyes complicated.
In the end, she lowered her head.
And followed the man away.
At the corner—
She couldn't help but look back.
Ethan had already turned away.
He didn't look at her again.
At that moment—
Something inside her felt… empty.
The corridor fell silent again.
Ethan stood still.
Without any emotion.
He simply lowered his head.
Opened his phone.
Tapped into a page.
—Real estate listings.
The rented room—
He would never go back.
That kind of place—
No longer belonged to him.
He scrolled.
His eyes stopped at one listing.
Yun City · Skyview Residence.
Fully furnished apartment.
Monthly rent: $8,000.
The photos looked clean.
Floor-to-ceiling windows.
A beautiful night view.
Ethan didn't hesitate.
He dialed.
"Can I view it now?"
The agent paused.
"Of course… you're coming now?"
"Thirty minutes."
"Yes, yes! I'll arrange it immediately!"
The tone instantly turned enthusiastic.
Ethan hung up.
Turned and left the hospital.
The rain had almost stopped.
City lights began to glow.
Thirty minutes later.
Skyview Residence.
The agent was already waiting at the entrance.
When she saw Ethan—
She instinctively sized him up.
Ordinary clothes.
Still slightly wet.
But she still smiled professionally.
"This way, sir."
The elevator rose.
The door opened.
Lights turned on.
Outside the floor-to-ceiling window—
The entire city's night view.
Beautiful.
Silent.
Ethan walked in.
Looked around.
Said nothing.
The agent felt a bit nervous.
"This unit is very popular among clients…"
Before she could finish—
Ethan spoke.
"I'll take it."
"…What?"
She froze.
"I said, I'll take it."
Ethan's tone was calm.
"Six months."
The agent snapped out of it instantly.
Excitement filled her face.
"Yes! I'll prepare the contract right away!"
Ten minutes later.
The contract was signed.
Ethan transferred the payment directly.
$48,000.
Payment successful.
At that moment—
The system activated.
[Ding!]
[Consumption detected: $48,000]
The next second—
[Cashback triggered: 10x]
[Reward: $480,000]
His phone vibrated.
The balance surged again.
$1,560,037.62
Ethan stood before the window.
Looking at the entire city.
For the first time—
He felt something.
The city was no longer pressing down on him.
Instead—
It was beneath his feet.
He exhaled softly.
"So…"
"This is what it feels like to be rich."
Meanwhile—
On the other side of the city.
That same alley.
The loan shark had gathered more information.
"Ethan Cole."
"Delivery driver."
"Monthly income—just a few thousand."
He frowned.
"A man like this… makes a million in an hour?"
He looked up.
His gaze turned cold.
"Keep an eye on him."
"There's something about him."
At the same time—
In the hospital corridor.
The man—his boss—stood by the window.
His phone had just received a reply.
Only one sentence.
"No trace of the money's source."
He narrowed his eyes.
Then slowly smiled.
"Now that… is interesting."