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28. So, I Didn’t Die?
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-03-08 18:15:42
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Rebirth: What’s Left Of Me 29. Competition
Jared spent the moments I was conscious trying to soothe me through the pain with small kisses and gentle touches, holding me like a child. It was surprisingly comforting, like being wrapped in warmth despite the cold, damp cave. By morning, we were found. "Hey! The missing students are in here!" a guy called out, waking both Jared and me from our sleep. Relief should've been the first thing I felt, but instead, the pain hit me like a truck. Every nerve in my body screamed, reminding me just how much I'd been through. It hurt like holy hell. Jared cried at the sight of the rescuers, his grip tightening around me before he was forced to move. I barely had the energy to process everything as they carefully loaded me onto a rescue stretcher. Jared, however, was talking—no, pleading—on my behalf, making sure they knew exactly what had happened. "He saved my life," he told them. "Jack saved me." It was nice, I guess, being acknowledged. Jared made sure they all knew I was the reaso
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-09Rebirth: What’s Left Of Me 30. No Rest For The Wicked
To my surprise, my mom and dad were incredibly worried about me. In my past life, my parents wouldn't have even shown up for me—they'd be too busy getting high or, at best, visiting while I was passed out to raid my pockets. Yet here were two strangers crying over me, worried if I was alright. It was a little uncomfortable. "Honey, I don't know where I can hug you," Mom sobbed, her eyes red-rimmed and desperate. "Are you okay?" "I'm just fine," I said quickly, not wanting to deal with any dramatics. "No, you're not," she cried harder. Dad stood there, silent, his eyes scanning me like he was trying to piece something together. "Sweetie, he says he's fine," Dad sighed, as if that was the end of it. Cormac cleared his throat. "Thanks for saving my son." "Fuck off," I scoffed without hesitation. "Jack!" Dad snapped at me. "It's the medicine. It's no issue," I said, dismissing it before he could get too mad. Cormac just smirked, completely unfazed. "It's good that you're alrig
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-09Rebirth: What’s Left Of Me 31. Unwanted Attention
To no one's shock, Damien was in front of my house bright and early, ready to pick me up for school. Since my injuries had healed enough for me to go back, I had no real excuse to stay home any longer. Luckily, the system hadn't popped up again since my hospital stay, so it had been a relatively peaceful recovery. Getting around on crutches was a pain in the ass, and I was still adjusting to it. My mom and Erwin hovered over me the entire time I made my way to Damien's car, as if I'd collapse any second. "You look like you have polio," Damien joked as soon as I stepped outside. "Hahaha, very funny," I muttered, trying to get around him. But, of course, I slipped. Damien caught me with ease, and my mom let out an exasperated sigh. "He won't let anyone help him," she complained. "I can fix that," Damien said. Then, before I could react, he grabbed one of my crutches and snapped it in half against the porch railing. "What the fuck, man?!" I snapped. "There. Now you have no choice
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-10Rebirth: What’s Left Of Me 32. Against All Odds
"We should arrive in twenty minutes if there's no traffic, young master," Erwin said, smoothly pulling the car out of the driveway."Okay, I'm just going to relax a bit," I sighed, leaning back in my seat.A whole week had gone by—shockingly peaceful. Too peaceful. The system hadn't bothered me once, and that alone made me uneasy. It was like the calm before the storm, the kind that made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.Meanwhile, school had been nothing short of chaotic. Jared had taken it upon himself to bring me food every day, practically overfeeding me, while Jason and Damien had turned arguing into their full-time job. Every day, the same debate: was Damien smothering me, or was he just being helpful?Neither of them seemed to get that my pride was barely holding together right now. My body was broken, and so was my ego.And at home? No better.My dad was over the moon about my recent improvements and had decided to start training me as his heir. Great news for him.
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-10Rebirth: What’s Left Of Me 33. Last Lifeline
The wind slammed into me from all sides, making every movement harder than it already was. The higher I climbed, the worse it got, the cold seeping into my clothes, into my bones. My grip tightened on the cold steel rungs, knuckles white against the metal. My calf burned, my arms ached, and my lungs felt tight from exertion, but I couldn't stop. The ground was a dizzying blur below, a mess of people, construction equipment, and media trucks that had started gathering. I blocked it all out. Focus. Just climb. The crane groaned in protest as if warning me to turn back. My hands were growing numb, but I forced them to keep moving, gripping tighter, step after step. I pressed my forehead against the steel for just a second, gathering my strength. The operator was somewhere above, trapped and probably terrified. No turning back now. No matter how little I cared about this guy personally, if he died, so did my future. It was too late to regret not sending Erwin instead. I kept going, pu
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-11Rebirth: What’s Left Of Me 34. Grounded, but Victorious
The ride in the ambulance was filled with Erwin's relentless concern. "Sir, how are you feeling?" Erwin asked for what had to be the millionth time. I sighed. "I already said I'm fine, Erwin. Nothing happened to me, so don't look so concerned at a time like this. Just congratulate me." Erwin frowned, his worry evident. "If something like this happened again, you'd probably jump right in like you did tonight, wouldn't you?" "I'm not sure I can do something like this a second time," I joked. "I'll sleep on it." Erwin exhaled sharply. "Let me offer you some advice, sir. Not as a subordinate, but as someone who's lived longer than you. You shouldn't die young—at least not before me." I laughed, shaking my head. "Ha! That's a joke, right? I'm tough as rocks, Erwin. I'll never die." "That's good," he said, but his eyes told me he wasn't convinced. "Your mother and father will meet us at the hospital." I groaned. "Your job is still safe, Erwin. Even if they fire you, I can hire you
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-11Rebirth: What’s Left Of Me 35. Breakneck Speed
I woke up the next day to see Jason sitting next to my bed. "Jason, why are you here?" I asked groggily. "I won rock-paper-scissors to see the crane hero first today," Jason grinned. "Those two assholes have to wait outside so we don't overwhelm you. The creep Damien was pissed. Wait! Don't move yet, I'll go call the doctor." "Where are my parents?" I asked, ignoring his offer. "They had some stuff to take care of in the next town over and told me to stay until you woke up," Jason smiled. "Anything you want to say?" I hesitated, but this was as good a chance as any to get something off my chest. "Have you ever been chased before? Like really chased? The kind where you know someone wants to hurt you, and the closer they get, the more you can feel it?" I asked. "That's what's happening right now. I have that feeling—on steroids." Jason's face scrunched up. "Oh? Is someone chasing you?" "The Roth gang," I muttered. "And since they can't get to me, they'll go after the people arou
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-12Rebirth: What’s Left Of Me 36. Blood On The Porch
{TW: violence} The dining room was warm and cozy, filled with the rich aroma of my mom's cooking. The kind of atmosphere that usually made me relax. But Dad had other plans—specifically, finding a way to get me to leave. "Is it really okay for you to be out here with us?" he asked, his tone more pointed than casual. I leaned back in my chair, rolling my eyes. "Do you know how many times you've already asked me that?" I shot back. "I'm not going anywhere, no matter how subtle—or not so subtle—you are. What's the worry?" "Age only brings more worries, don't you know that by now?" Dad huffed, crossing his arms. "And knowing how busy you always are, how can I not?" "Oh, I'm so glad you're happy to see me too, Dad," I said, irritation clear in my voice. "You're lucky you've become my heir. Otherwise, I'd take your car away for this attitude." "I can't fucking drive anyway," I retorted. "You—" "Leigh! Stop it! Jack, stop being rude to your father!" Mom snapped, her voice cu
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-12
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Rebirth: What’s Left Of Me 119. 1 Year Later
Dating Damien hadn't exactly been easy. At first, Jared went full petty sabotage mode—planting fake pictures in my bag, giving Damien's number out to random strangers, doing anything he could to wedge something between us. But after about two weeks, he got bored, or maybe just tired of seeing it wasn't working, and backed off. Now he was too busy working with his mom at HUG and trying to keep Cormac from laundering too much money through McIntyre. Thankfully, we'd reached a point where we could all hang out again without drama... well, except for Jared and Damien's usual bitch-fest back and forth. Meanwhile, Jason had flown back to Italy with his dad after a tearful goodbye with my mom. He was finally starting the whole "heir to Ferrari" thing now that his dad had apparently given up on chasing women. After he left, I made a quiet visit to his mother's memorial. I apologized to her for everything and promised I'd never let Jason get hurt again. It was all I could offer. On the bus
Rebirth: What’s Left Of Me 118. The Love Interest
I looked around the bright space, blinking through the haze of gold and white. The floor didn't feel real beneath my feet—it was too soft, too quiet. The kind of silence that wraps around you like cotton, comforting and terrifying all at once. "What the hell is this?" I muttered, spinning as the door behind me clicked shut. "So you're back," a woman's voice echoed across the space. I turned, and there she stood—a figure that looked more divine than human. Her presence glowed with a radiant gold that shimmered like sunlight caught in glass. Her hair flowed like liquid fire, and her eyes were endless, filled with stars. No wings, no halo—yet she was the most godlike thing I had ever seen. "Looks like you've accomplished your goal of getting revenge on Elijah Roth," she said, her voice calm and echoing like it came from inside my own head. "How was it? Are you satisfied?" I exhaled slowly. "Yeah... thanks to you, System." But even as I said it, the words felt hollow. Like I'd said t
Rebirth: What’s Left Of Me 117. The Illusion
The fire started spreading faster than I expected. The gasoline-soaked couch lit up with a fury, the flames crackling and leaping like they'd been starved too long and finally given their feast. Eli's face twisted when he realized what I'd done—pure disbelief smeared with rage. "Until the end..." he muttered, eyes flaring. "Fuck, alright. Let's end this fucked-up relationship. You prepared so much, I'm fucking cornered." "Shut the fuck up," I said, raising my fists again. The room was already growing hot, but we ignored the fire swallowing everything around us. We clashed like animals, swinging, grappling, gasping—two beasts caged in a burning tomb. His body slammed into mine and we hit the ground hard. Eli climbed on top, hands around my neck, squeezing with everything he had. I choked, vision dimming at the edges—but my hand found the broomstick nearby. I grabbed it and broke it clean across his head. Before he could reel back, I jabbed a jagged end right into his open eye. "Fu
Rebirth: What’s Left Of Me 116. Ashes To Ashes
{TW: violence} Eli jumped to his feet, his face twisted with desperation and rage as he lunged forward again. "FUCK!!! YOU'RE DOING ALL THIS BECAUSE OF ONE LITTLE BOUNTY ON YOUR HEAD?! JUST BECAUSE I CALLED YOU A FAG?!!!" He swung wildly, fists flying in every direction. He was panicking. Even still, one of his punches landed hard on my cheek. "FINE THEN!!! I APOLOGIZE!!! JUST LET THIS SHIT GO NOW!" Eli snapped. I kicked his knee, making him stumble. "I'M BEING FUCKING SINCERE!!!" he yelled, breathless, spit flying from his mouth as the fight devolved into something brutal and ugly. Then, with a sharp upper swing, I felt something slice from my cheek to my forehead—blood immediately clouded one of my eyes. I staggered back, vision blurry. Another blow slammed into my face. Then another. My ribs caught a few good hits before I dropped to a knee, trying to gather myself, focus. "What's wrong, Jack?" Eli sneered, looming over me. "After all that effort you put into living like a
Rebirth: What’s Left Of Me 115. Full Circle
{TW: Violence} The entire passenger side of the car was crushed, and all the airbags on my side had deployed. It felt like I had been tossed violently against something soft yet hard at the same time. I let out the breath I'd been holding and kicked my door open, staggering out of the wreckage. A few gags followed, but fortunately, I hadn't eaten anything all day, so nothing came up. Holy shit, I almost killed myself! I made a mental note—never again. I wasn't cut out for driving in situations like this. I glanced into the backseat. Eli was knocked out cold, blood dripping from his forehead where he'd slammed into the window. Too bad for him, he was still breathing. I wasn't done with him yet. I pried open the passenger door and dragged him out by the back of his shirt, pulling him into the forest. The eerie darkness around me gave me the jitters, but I ignored it. I had bigger things to focus on right now. "Stupid asshole," I muttered, dragging him further. "I fucking got you. F
Rebirth: What’s Left Of Me 114. The Hunt Begins
A week had passed, and no one had found Declan's body. Things were moving fast, and without speaking to my dad first, I took the initiative and bought everything related to McIntyre Corporations. It was a massive undertaking. We had to fire the entire board and replace them with our own people. The financial webs were deep, tracing money from offshore accounts, and the intel I'd gathered? It was a goldmine of blackmail material, exposing nearly every business owner, politician, and high-ranking official in the city. My dad didn't hesitate for a second. He immediately used this treasure trove to his advantage. He worked quickly, killing the news of Declan Sr.'s disappearance so that no one outside our circle would know what happened. My mom, of course, was confused. The official story was that Declan had fled to avoid the scandal, but I later realized something: My dad hadn't lied to her—he just didn't want to ruin her newfound peace. She had taken a liking to Jason, and Dad didn't wa
Rebirth: What’s Left Of Me 113. Caught
I couldn't get the system's words out of my head. "You'll soon be too preoccupied to think about it." What the hell did that mean? What could possibly take my mind off the weight of what I'd done in my past life—of Gianna, of Jason, of everything unraveling? [Mission Accomplished! You will receive secret intel!] I froze. That... that would do it. What the actual fuck was going on? I hadn't even made a move toward atonement yet, and the mission was already marked as complete? How? Why? My phone buzzed, Jason's name lighting up the screen. It was nearly 2 a.m. A part of me didn't want to answer—I was exhausted from the party and from... well, everything. But I picked up. "Hello—" "Jack?" Jason's voice was breathless, panicked, and definitely crying. "I—I need you... to come over! I need you to come over now!" He was gasping like he couldn't breathe. "What's up? Is it your dad?" "No! No! No, no—" "Tell me what happened!" I snapped, heart racing. "No! I—I can't actually say—"
Rebirth: What’s Left Of Me 112. Guilty Conscience
{TW: Suicide attempt} The memory came back like a bullet to the skull—sudden, searing, and impossible to ignore. I was seventeen. A parking garage bathed in that awful yellow-white light, nearly abandoned except for the low hum of flickering fluorescent tubes above me. The scent of oil and cold concrete filled the air. My footsteps were quiet, deliberate, echoing through the still space as I closed in on her. Gianna Lionetti. A cloth gripped tightly in my hand, soaked in chloroform. She didn't even have time to scream. I grabbed her from behind, pressing the cloth to her mouth and nose with a vice grip. She fought hard. Nails like razors dug into my wrist, her limbs thrashing with the kind of panic only people on the edge of death can summon. It took a full minute and a half—ninety long seconds of struggle—before her body finally sagged, unconscious in my arms. I eased her down like a sleepwalker, like she was fragile glass. Then, almost robotically, I opened the passenger door,
Rebirth: What’s Left Of Me 111. Surprise Party
I sat stiffly on the edge of the velvet couch, hands clenched loosely in my lap as camera flashes exploded from every angle. The drawing room was filled to the brim with reporters—some with cameras, some already holding up mics with eager hands, all of them watching me like a hawk about to strike. This was actually kind of terrifying. The last time I'd been in front of this many cameras was... well, it wasn't exactly a shining moment. I was being perp-walked in my last life, paraded in handcuffs while people shouted for my head. The bright lights, the judgmental stares—it all felt a little too familiar. A woman in the front row leaned forward, mic close. "How did you manage to get such incredible scores?" I blinked at her. "Studying like a normal person. It's not like there was much else to do besides that and work." Click. Click. Flash. "Your first appearance on TV left people with a bad impression of you. What do you think about that?" another reporter asked. I rolled my eyes
