Chapter 1: Rebirth & The System Awakens
Pain. That was the last thing Nathaniel "Nate" Carter remembered. The sharp sting of betrayal, the cold floor of a back alley, and the mocking laughter of the people who once called him family. His half-brother, his so-called "friends," and even the company he built from the ground up had discarded him like trash.
Then—darkness.
But instead of the void of death, Nate felt something strange—warmth, the soft embrace of a bed. His eyes fluttered open, and the sight before him made his heart race.
The ceiling fan. The familiar wooden desk. The old posters of luxury cars he once dreamed of owning.
"No way…" he muttered, sitting up abruptly. His hands ran over his body, feeling the smooth, youthful skin of his sixteen-year-old self.
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"I've… gone back in time?"
Memories flooded his mind. This was his old bedroom, back when he was still a high school student—before his stepmother framed him, before his father disowned him, before everything fell apart. The weight of the knowledge settled over him like an anchor, but this time, the despair didn't crush him. Instead, it ignited a fire inside.
A sharp chime echoed in his head.
[Ding! Cashback System Activated!]
Nate froze.
[Welcome, Host! The Cashback System rewards you for every financial transaction you make! The more you spend, the more you earn!]
His eyes widened. A system? Was this some kind of joke?
[Starting Bonus: $1,000 credited to Host’s account!]
A notification flashed before his eyes, and suddenly, he felt something buzzing in his pocket. Scrambling for his old flip phone, he checked his bank account.
Balance: $1,000
Nate sucked in a sharp breath. This wasn’t a dream. He was truly back in time, and he had an advantage he never had before.
A slow grin spread across his face. If he really was back in time, and he had a system that rewarded him for spending money…
This time, he wouldn’t just take revenge.
He would build an empire.
