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90. Calculated Risk

last update Huling Na-update: 2025-04-11 21:26:20

{TW: Violence}

The fight began the moment I stepped into the room. Riley's shocked expression quickly turned into a snarl, but before I could get to him, the man in the suit stepped in, trying to block my path.

"Hey!" he yelled, throwing a wild punch that connected with the side of my face. The impact made me stumble, but I powered through, shoving him aside as hard as I could.

Riley had barely risen from his chair when I swung my fist. My punch landed cleanly on the side of his head, sending him sprawling out of the chair. The man may have been big, but he was old, and it was clear he hadn't kept up with his regimen. His face twisted in pain as he hit the floor.

The man in the suit gasped and screamed at me. "If you joke around about the law, do you expect me to do nothing?!"

"You fucker!" Riley growled, scrambling back to his feet.

I didn't give him the chance to recover and brought my foot down hard, aiming for him again. Riley dodged and, in one swift motion, grabbed the cha
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  • Rebirth: What’s Left Of Me   91. The Final Play

    The screen flickered as the livestream began, showing an empty bedroom. The room was all too familiar. It was my house. Confusion clouded my thoughts as I watched the chat flood with comments. "Why the hell is this on my feed?" "What's going on here?" "Clickbait much?" I couldn't help but wonder what kind of sick game this was. But then the door suddenly burst open. Riley McIntyre stormed in, his face twisted with fury. His arm wasn't in a cast, which caught me off guard, but his rage was unmistakable. *************** "Eva Spencer! I finally found—" Riley started, his voice cracking as he scanned the empty room. His frustration was palpable. "What the fuck? Where'd that bitch go? Again with the bull—" "I knew you'd come," came a calm, cold voice from the doorway. Damien stepped into view, his gaze sharp and unwavering as he locked eyes with Riley. *************** My mom gasped beside me. "What's he doing?" I quickly shushed her, not wanting to make a sound. My focus was comp

    Huling Na-update : 2025-04-12
  • Rebirth: What’s Left Of Me   92. Midterms

    The aftermath of everything was truly uneventful. The attorney general denied his involvement in everything the livestream had exposed, but he somehow managed to keep his position. All mentions of me being a suspect were overshadowed by Riley McIntyre's arrest and the scrutiny directed at the Attorney General's office. I was grounded, naturally. My mom was furious with me for not letting the whole McIntyre thing go and for continuing to dig into her past. Apparently, my obsession with fighting the McIntyre family made her think I wasn't putting enough focus on my schoolwork. So, no going out again until school started. Which, of course, sucked. Not just because I was stuck in the house, but because midterms were here. And I hadn't studied for a damn thing. Not a page. I hadn't had the time with everything that was going on, and frankly, I hadn't cared much. "This academy prides itself on excelling in all aspects of its curriculum!" the examiner announced as he passed out thick

    Huling Na-update : 2025-04-12
  • Rebirth: What’s Left Of Me   93. Cheater Allegations

    Three fucking days of silence! No test results, nothing from the Roth gang or the McIntyre family, no system missions—just the same monotonous grind of school. I hated to admit it, but I was bored. Really bored. My mind wandered endlessly, trying to imagine the possibilities for what could happen next. But no, nothing. No updates, no action, just me stuck in this mundane loop of school and home. And then the voice over the intercom broke through my thoughts. "Jack Spencer to the principal's office. Now, please." Maybe this was the system finally rewarding me. Maybe I had improved more than anyone else at this school—no unexcused absences, a few tardies, and some detentions. I grabbed my bag and walked out of class as quickly as I could, hoping this was some good news. The hallways felt unusually quiet as I made my way to the office, the echoes of my footsteps punctuating the tense silence. "Go right in," the receptionist said, barely sparing me a glance as she typed away at her

    Huling Na-update : 2025-04-13
  • Rebirth: What’s Left Of Me   94. Corporate Warfare

    Jared approached me with his usual smug grin, holding up a bag in one hand. "Hey Jack! Sorry I'm late, but I thought you'd want a snack." I eyed the bag warily before snatching it out of his hand, the smell of warm beef patty hitting my nose. "Oh, you bastard! How thoughtful!" I said, already taking a bite. The flaky crust and seasoned beef were a much-needed comfort after everything that had happened in the Deans office. "How's the investigation going?" Jared's expression shifted slightly. "Nothing's really changed. Riley is in prison, and that aunt of yours is laying low, but I was able to find out some things. Whatever scared act she's pulling is fake. She's an active participant." I paused mid-bite. "Elaborate." "She's running McIntyre Baked Goods, but her nickname in the streets is 'The Shapeshifter,'" Jared explained. "She plays the part of a scared, innocent little lamb to avoid trouble, but she's your uncle's largest supporter. She's been like that before you were born. Sh

    Huling Na-update : 2025-04-13
  • Rebirth: What’s Left Of Me   95. Breaking Bracelets

    Jason pulled open my car door, and I took a second to adjust my t-shirt, airing myself out from the lingering heat of adrenaline. He was already in mission mode—his usual smirk replaced by a focused, grim determination. According to Paul, some of Orla's men were holed up in a nearby brownstone apartment. Seven of them in one place. If we played this right, we could take them all down in one sweep. "No way they don't know I'm coming for them," I muttered as we approached the building. "And yet, they're still cozying up to Aunt Orla like nothing's wrong." Jason's lips twitched into the faintest smirk. "Guess we'll see just how brave they are." "It won't matter. Damien's going to get the credit for calling them in anyway." I sighed. Damien had been on clean-up duty for a while now. I just couldn't bring myself to involve him in this side of things. But in a way, it worked in his favor—his tip-offs had skyrocketed his father's reputation with the police force. The Chief of Police had

    Huling Na-update : 2025-04-14
  • Rebirth: What’s Left Of Me   96. Orla’s Husband

    {TW: Violence} "You shitheads!" Matthew roared, his voice raw with fury. "Today's your last day in this world! Thirty minutes?! I only need five to bash your fucking heads in!" He charged at me again, throwing a flurry of punches so fast they started to lose precision. His movements were messy, driven by panic and desperation, but the sheer force behind them made them dangerous. I ducked and dodged, his fists whistling past my head, occasionally countering with sharp, punishing blows. "Don't get too cocky," I warned just before I landed a devastating uppercut that sent Matthew crashing to the ground. I stepped closer, smirking down at the groaning man. "Hey, I thought you needed five minutes. It's barely been three!" I taunted. "What a disappointment." Matthew's face twisted in fury, his teeth gritted as he forced himself up. "What, you fucker?! Disappointment?!" His glare burned into me, pure venom. "You didn't even do shit! You cowardly asshole! You're dead!" I didn't even

    Huling Na-update : 2025-04-14
  • Rebirth: What’s Left Of Me   97. The Ramen Shop

    "What are you doing?!" Jason yelled. "Can't you see? We're running away, motherfucker!" I shot him a grin and flipped him off over my shoulder. We rounded the corner at full speed, the sound of sirens and shouting fading behind us. Just as we were about to take another turn, Honey emerged casually from the opposite side of the building. I skidded to a stop, nearly crashing into her. "I assume it's all there?" I asked, straightening up and catching my breath. "Yup," Honey replied, unbothered. We kept moving, walking briskly toward the car. "What's all up there?" Jared asked, glancing back at the building. "Remember those drugs that were just sitting around?" Honey smirked. "They've been offloaded into that lady's apartment. Stashed everywhere, too—closets, drawers, vents. There's no quick fix for her now." Jason's eyes widened in realization. "Ohhh, no wonder you only let me fight!" "Exactly," I nodded. "If Damien got caught on camera fighting, it'd look really bad as the chie

    Huling Na-update : 2025-04-15
  • Rebirth: What’s Left Of Me   98. Dock #6

    The dock was quiet, shrouded in a cold stillness that matched the steel-gray water stretching beneath the boats. Dock #6 was lined with vessels of all sizes, their moored hulls creaking faintly with the occasional ripple of the tide. I stood alone, my breath visible in the frigid air, waiting for Orla to emerge from her hiding spot. Around me, Damien, Honey, Jared, and Jason worked to ensure no one could approach the boats, sweeping the area to block off any possible escape route she might attempt. Finally, movement caught my eye. A figure hesitantly stepped out from one of the boats, glancing around nervously. There she is. "Hey! Took you long enough, Orla!" I called, my voice cutting through the silence, snapping her attention toward me. "Did you really think you could get away so easily?" "J-Jack?!" she stammered, her face a mix of shock and dread. "How did you—" "How?" I smirked. "You're easy to find because you're you. Thanks for not listening to your husband, by the way. I

    Huling Na-update : 2025-04-15

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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

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