Chapter 4: Pushing Derek Over the Edge

Derek noticed my silence and pressed again, “So, what do you think?”

He looked at me, hope and desperation warring in his eyes—like a stray dog waiting for scraps. I let the silence stretch, watching him fidget.

I sneered, “Honestly? You should go for it. You’re not exactly packing heat. If you want to win over the rich girl, your skills better be legendary.”

The words tasted sour, but I said them with a shrug. His face fell, caught off guard by the jab. For the first time, I didn’t care about sparing his pride. I was done being the nice guy.

“And hey,” I added, “why stop at ten? Get at least twenty beads. Go big or go home, right?”

He blinked, surprised. Before he could protest, I piled on the flattery. “With your looks and those beads, she’ll be eating out of your hand. Just remember your old buddy when you’re rich—let me crash at your mansion, ride in your new Lambo.”

He puffed out his chest. “We’ll see. Once I’m rolling in it, I’ll buy a Lamborghini and make you jealous.”

I high-fived him, sarcasm thick in my smile. He didn’t notice—he was already lost in his fantasy.

What Derek didn’t know: in my last life, that influencer’s so-called luxury was a scam. The mansion was a down payment, the car on loan, and the rich woman was working with realtors and lenders to bleed him dry. In the end, crushed by debt and abuse, the influencer jumped to his death.

I wanted to warn Derek, but I kept quiet. This time, I wanted to see how far fate would take him.