That night, as he stepped out through the back door of Bellmare, the cold air struck his face with a force he hadn't expected. The noise of the restaurant faded behind him, replaced by the distant murmur of the city and the constant traffic filtering through the streets.
Liam stood for a few seconds under the yellow glow of the exterior light. He let out a slow sigh. The alley smelled of damp asphalt, a heavy scent blending into the night.
He pulled his phone from his pocket and checked the time: 10:27 p.m. The screen illuminated his face, but his mind was elsewhere. He didn't know what to do. He had lost his job—the same job that helped cover the expenses of his twin sister, Emily.
Emily had always been awful to him, especially during high school, along with her group of friends. The reason was simple: she was popular, a cheerleader, one of the prettiest girls at school, and the girlfriend of Jack—the alpha guy, captain of the basketball team, and rich. Liam, on the other hand, had always lived in her shadow.
However, when Emily won a cheerleading scholarship that covered fifty percent of her college tuition to study Law, it was a huge achievement. Even so, the remaining expenses were still a heavy burden on their mother, Samantha—a nurse and single mother who had raised them both since they were babies. Rent, food, water, electricity, and now Emily's college, plus the extra money she needed… everything fell on her shoulders.
That was why, in front of both of them, Liam had said he would work to help Emily. He hadn't earned any scholarships, had nothing securing his future, while she did. Emily had a real chance.
That day, Emily hugged him. Liam couldn't remember the last time that had happened. After all, she had always ignored him—both in high school and at the apartment. That was why he now felt like he was failing them: Emily and his mother.
He put the phone back into his pocket. He would have to find a new job.
He hadn't even taken a step when, to his astonishment, a strange screen appeared before his eyes. It was bluish and displayed a written message. His first reaction was to look around, thinking it might be a reflection from a light or some kind of prank. He saw nothing. He was completely alone in the back alley of Bellmare.
He focused his gaze back on the screen. The message seemed to follow him, floating in front of him.
[Login System Activated]
Each day, the bearer will receive one login to obtain major financial rewards or material goods.
On the last day of each week, the bearer will receive an enhanced login, with tiers divided by color:
White: Tier 1 (Basic, Daily)
Green: Tier 2
Blue: Tier 3
Purple: Tier 4
Gold: Tier 5
Additionally, missions will be randomly assigned based on the bearer's situation or desires. The rewards for these missions will be logins of different colors.
Liam swallowed hard. As he read the message, he couldn't help but think he was either going crazy… or that this was some kind of blessing beyond explanation.
At the bottom of the screen, two options appeared clearly:
[Accept the system and receive the first login rewards]
[Reject the system — you will forget this ever happened]
He had nothing to lose. Why not accept it?
The choice was automatic. The accept option selected itself, and the screen vanished. A second later, another appeared in front of him.
[Login Successful]
Rewards obtained:
$150,000
Penthouse at The Luma Residences
The screen faded away.
At that very moment, his phone vibrated. Liam pulled it out with trembling hands and read the bank notification:
Transfer successful: $150,000 USD
His breathing quickened. Then he felt something else in his other pocket. He reached in and pulled out a rolled bundle of papers. Deeds. As he looked through them, his eyes widened.
A penthouse.
The Luma Residences.
In his name.
Liam couldn't help but smile. Excitement surged through his body like an electric shock.
He moved quickly, leaving the alley and stepping onto the main street. He walked fast, weaving past people until he reached a nearby bus stop. He didn't have to wait long before the bus arrived. After boarding, he paid the fare with the little money he still had and sat by the window, watching the city pass by as he headed home.
He got off at his usual stop and walked briskly toward his building. It was an old apartment complex located in Boyle Heights, an area of Los Angeles known for its cultural diversity, with a strong presence of Latino, Chinese, and other communities.
The entrance was empty. Without wasting time, he headed for the stairs—the elevator had been broken for weeks. He climbed to the third floor and, upon arriving, took out his keys and opened the door.
Inside, he saw his mother sitting on the old couch. She was wearing her sleepwear and looked as she always did after a long day. Her light brown hair fell loosely over her shoulders, and her blue eyes showed dark circles marked by exhaustion. Even so, her slim, athletic figure reflected years of hard work at the hospital. The television was on, broadcasting the evening news.
"Hi, Mom," Liam greeted, closing the door carefully.
"Son?" Samantha looked at him with mild surprise. "You're home early today."
"Yes, Mom. I got off early today," Liam replied calmly.
Inside, however, his thoughts were racing. It wasn't time to say anything yet. Tomorrow morning, as soon as his mother left for work, he would go see that penthouse with his own eyes.
Thinking about it, he looked at Samantha again and added:
"I'm going to bed, Mom. I'm tired."
"Alright, honey. I understand," she replied with a faint smile, barely taking her eyes off the TV.
Liam headed quickly to his room. It was small and simple: a single bed, a nightstand, a desk with an old lamp, and a closet holding the few clothes he owned. He closed the door gently, sat on the bed, and took out his phone.
On the screen, he saw a missed call from Mr. Henderson. It was probably to inform him about the payment for the few days he had worked before being fired because of that woman. But he no longer cared. Without a second thought, he went to his contacts and blocked the number of that miserable old bastard.
Then, pulling the property documents from his pocket, he opened his web browser and started searching for information. It didn't take long.
The Luma Residences.
Located at 900 W 1st Street, Downtown Los Angeles, CA 90015, between the Financial District and the South Park neighborhood.
Images appeared one after another on the screen. The building was massive, modern, and luxurious. According to the articles, wealthy individuals lived there—actors and rising figures in entertainment and business.
With his heart pounding, he checked the documents again. His eyes stopped on a figure that took his breath away.
Penthouse value: $10,000,000.
"Damn…" he muttered, unable to help himself.
It was an absurdly expensive property.
He set the papers aside and lay back on the bed, taking deep breaths to calm himself. His mind was a chaotic mix of excitement, but one thing was certain: tomorrow, he would go see that property.
He closed his eyes, trying to sleep, as an involuntary smile formed on his face.