Liam stood in front of the mirror, fixing the last button on his old-money outfit. The fabric felt smooth against his skin, perfectly ironed, giving him a polished and refined look. He ran a hand through his ssy yet stylish dark brown hair, making sure everything was in place.
Tonight was important.
He stepped back, admiring his reflection for a mont before grabbing his phone and walking towards the door.
As soon as he stepped outside, his blue eyes instinctively flicked toward Lana’s house.
His jaw tightened.
If it weren’t for Lana’s mother, he would have handled things much more smoothly earlier. That woman was a damn nace.
He exhaled sharply, shaking his head.
It seed her father had been dragged back inside.
Typical.
For a brief mont, Liam considered reporting that crazy woman to the authorities.
Pointing a gun at him?
That was an offense worthy of an arrest.
But then again...
She was Lana’s mother.
And he wasn’t the type to get in the middle of family affairs unless it was absolutely necessary.
So, he would let it slide.
For now.
But if she ever tried pulling that stunt again, he would happily beat the shit out of her, gender be damned.
Taking one last glance at Lana’s house, Liam shook his head and made his way to the curb.
A yellow cab was parked a few ters away.
Liam approached and slid into the backseat, shutting the door behind him.
The driver, a middle-aged man with graying hair and tired eyes, looked at him through the rearview mirror.
"Where to?"
Liam leaned back against the seat.
"The Reece Mansion."
The driver’s hands froze on the steering wheel.
His eyes flicked to Liam in the mirror again, this ti with a look of sheer disbelief.
"...You sure?"
Liam nodded.
The driver stayed silent for a second.
Was this kid ssing around?
The Reece Mansion?
That was one of the wealthiest families in the entire city.
Only VIPs, business tycoons, and billionaires had any business going there.
But this young man—despite his nice outfit—still didn’t give off that kind of vibe.
He looked polished, sure.
But not like soone who belonged to that world.
The driver wanted to ask if he was lost.
But in the end, he just shrugged and started the car.
His job wasn’t to question.
It was to drive.
—---
After a twenty-minute ride, the cab slowed to a stop in front of a massive, iron-wrought gate.
Liam stepped out of the car and stared at the architectural masterpiece before him.
The Reece Mansion.
It was breathtaking.
The sheer size of it, the glistening white walls, the grand windows that stretched multiple stories high.
The perfectly trimd hedges, the polished marble driveway, the luxury cars lined up neatly near the entrance.
This place scread power and wealth.
How does one person even live in a place like this?
Liam exhaled, taking in the scene.
It was mind-blowing.
His fingers clenched slightly.
This is the level he needed to reach.
This is the kind of wealth he wanted.
A place where people wouldn’t just look at him and assu he didn’t belong.
As he stood there, admiring the mansion, he suddenly noticed movent from the corner of his eye.
One of the guards was approaching.
Liam turned his head just as the man stopped in front of him, arms crossed.
His expression was neutral but firm.
"What are you doing here?"
Liam t his gaze, unfazed.
"I’m here to see Ella."
For a mont, the guard just stared at him.
Then, slowly, he turned to the other guards.
The mont their eyes t, sothing unspoken passed between them.
And then—
They burst into laughter.
Liam’s eyebrow twitched.
What was so funny?
The guards clutched their stomachs, laughing like he had just cracked the joke of the century.
"You?" One of them wiped a tear from his eye.
"You’re looking for Miss Reece?" Another chuckled.
"Bro, are you lost?"
Liam clenched his jaw.
His fingers twitched slightly, but he forced himself to stay calm.
These guys were seriously underestimating him.
They were looking at him like he was so random bum off the street.
And he hated it.
Internally, he scread.
He needed to get fucking rich.
Even the damn security guards were acting like he wasn’t worth their ti.
But on the outside, he remained cool.
No anger showed on his face.
Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.
"Ella told to co here," he said calmly, opening his contacts and showing them her number.
They didn’t even glance at it.
One of the guards crossed his arms, his smile fading.
His tone turned cold.
"Hey. Bounce off."
The ssage was clear.
Liam wasn’t getting in.
Liam didn’t bother arguing.
There was no point.
The guards had already made up their minds.
They didn’t care who he was, and right now, he didn’t have the power to force his way through.
Not yet.
So instead of wasting ti, he simply turned around and walked back toward the taxi.
Luckily, the sa yellow cab was still parked nearby.
The driver, who had been watching everything unfold from his seat, raised a brow as Liam approached.
He probably expected this exact outco.
Liam slid back into the car and shut the door behind him.
"Where to now?" the driver asked.
Liam leaned back against the seat, expression unreadable.
"Take to the nearest casino."
The driver blinked.
"...A casino?"
Liam nodded.
The man said nothing at first, just started the car and pulled away from the mansion’s gate.
But as they drove, he kept glancing at Liam through the rearview mirror.
There was sothing thoughtful in his gaze, like he was debating whether or not to say sothing.
A few minutes passed in silence.
Then finally, the driver cleared his throat.
"Mind if I ask you sothing?"
Liam, who had been staring out the window, turned his head slightly.
"Go ahead."
The man adjusted his grip on the wheel.
"Let’s just say... Ella Reece really did invite you over."
Liam raised a brow.
"Yeah?"
The driver continued.
"Then don’t you think she would’ve told her guards beforehand?"
Liam didn’t answer imdiately.
He tapped his fingers against his leg, considering the words.
The old man had a point.
If Ella had really seen him as an important guest, she would’ve inford the guards.
There wouldn’t have been any disrespect or laughter.
Instead, he would’ve been let in without a second thought.
The fact that she hadn’t...
It ant sothing.
Liam’s fingers clenched slightly.
"You’re right," he muttered.
The driver chuckled.
"Of course I am. I’ve been driving people to rich folks’ houses for decades."
Liam glanced at him.
"Then let guess. You think she’s trying to help with sothing, right?"
The driver nodded knowingly.
"That’s exactly what I think."
Liam sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"...Yeah. She said she has an opportunity for ."
The driver humd.
"An opportunity, huh?"
A pause.
Then he let out a short, dry laugh.
"Well, it’s good you didn’t et her."
Liam frowned.
"What do you an?"
The man took a turn before answering.
"It’s the ga of the rich, kid."
Liam remained silent, listening.
The driver continued.
"They help you when you’re nothing. They build you up, mold you into sothing great. But it all cos at a cost."
Liam’s brows furrowed slightly.
The old man’s voice lowered.
"They never do anything for free."
Liam turned his gaze back to the window, watching the city lights blur past.
The words hung in the air.
Was he wrong to trust Ella?
Was he wrong to think this "opportunity" was sothing that wouldn’t co with strings attached?
Because deep down, he already knew the answer.
If he got rich through Ella, he would always be under her.
He would always have to listen to her, respect her, answer to her.
She would never see him as an equal.
And she sure as hell wouldn’t see him as soone superior.
Liam exhaled slowly.
The driver spoke again, his voice gruff but honest.
"It’s better you build yourself up from nothing, kid. That way, no one can control you."
Liam nodded slightly.
The old man had probably seen more of the world than he had.
And right now, Liam was just a bum in comparison.
But not for long.
—---
A few minutes later, the taxi ca to a stop.
Bright neon lights flashed outside, reflecting against the windows.
They had arrived.
Liam pulled out his phone and checked his account balance.
The mont he saw the number, he sighed internally.
"I have a little over fifty bucks left."
The old man chuckled.
"That’s enough."
Liam raised a brow.
The driver grinned.
"If you use it well."
Liam snorted but said nothing.
He opened the door and stepped out, his gaze lifting toward the building.
The casino’s entrance was filled with people in expensive suits and cocktail dresses, laughter and music spilling out from inside.
This place was a playground for the rich and desperate.
And tonight—
He had an advantage over everyone there.
The system.
He was about to see just how far it would take him.
As he stepped forward, he suddenly heard the old man’s voice behind him.
"Go get ’em, tiger."
Liam turned slightly, just in ti to see the cab drive off into the night.
A small smirk tugged at his lips.
This was his chance.
And he wasn’t going to waste it.
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