Chapter 2

Five years ago, Cole’s company was just a team of five people, including me, operating out of a cramped rented apartment.

He had told me we were going to change the world.

But I had told him I was getting married, and Vivian needed me.

Cole had tried to convince me. "Leo, think about it. Opportunities like this only come once in a lifetime."

I had replied without hesitation, "A marriage also only comes once."

He had been silent for a long time before replying, "Alright. But I will always keep a spot open for you. Come back whenever you're ready."

Later, his company, Apex Tech, became a global tech giant. And I became the pathetic back profile scrubbing a toilet on a slide screen.

After a moment of hesitation, I dialed his number.

It rang only once before it was picked up.

"Hello?" Cole's voice came through, sounding slightly tired but alert.

"Cole, it’s me. Leo."

The other end went dead silent. A few seconds later, Cole’s voice exploded with disbelief and excitement. "Leo?! Is that really you?"

"Yeah, it’s me."

"Man! You finally woke up!"

Cole's voice sounded like fireworks.

"The shares I promised you back then? I’ve kept them untouched. Where are you? Tomorrow—no, right now, I'll send a car to fetch you. We're actually stuck on a major security protocol loop right now, and your brain is exactly what we need..."

He talked incredibly fast, his familiar passion warming my cold heart. My eyes grew misty.

"Cole, I can't come over just yet," I interrupted him, my voice a bit raspy.

"Why?" Cole’s excitement died down, replaced by confusion.

"I need to handle some personal stuff first. But you can send me the files of that security loop. I'll take a look."

"Awesome!" Cole didn't ask further. "Leo, with you on this, we're already halfway to solving it!"

Minutes later, the data was transferred to my laptop.

The dense code, the complex architecture... it was so familiar, like riding a bike.

For the next three days, life went on as usual.

I took Lily to preschool, did the groceries, cooked, and cleaned.

Vivian still left early and came home late, completely absorbed in her work.

We barely spoke. The atmosphere in the house was colder than living with a stranger.

But during the late nights when Lily was asleep, and in the brief pockets of time between chores, my brain was running at maximum speed.

On the third night, I sent a security patch and a detailed analysis report to Cole.

A few minutes later, Cole called back, his voice cracking with pure excitement.

"Holy shit, Leo! You're a freaking god! Not only did you patch the leak, but you optimized the entire defense logic! My senior devs are literally staring at your code right now like it’s a miracle!"

Listening to his praise, I managed a small smile. But my heart was surprisingly calm. It felt like I had just done something as natural as breathing.

"Send me your bank account details. I'll wire your payment."

I hesitated for a second, then agreed. I needed the money now. Not to prove anything, but to buy back my own life.

Soon, my phone buzzed with a bank notification: $5,000,000 had been deposited.

I gasped. I called Cole back. "Cole, this is too much. It was just a patch."

"Too much?" Cole yelled through the phone. "Leo, do you know how many millions we would lose a day if our competitors exploited that bug? It's easily double this amount. I actually feel like five million is insulting your genius. Just take it, or I'll be pissed!"

After hanging up, I stared at the long string of zeros. For the first time, I realized how ridiculous my five years of "sacrifice" had been.

Vivian had worked her ass off for five years to reach a million-dollar salary.

And I had made three times her annual income in just three days, in the middle of doing chores and raising our kid.

With the money, I started to change.

First, I went to a high-end boutique and got myself a few tailored suits.

I joined a premium gym, hired a personal trainer, and started working out again.

I also bought a luxury watch—a brand only true connoisseurs would recognize.

When I stood in the living room looking completely transformed, Vivian was visibly stunned.

She looked me up and down, her eyes lingering on my watch for a second before she let out a mocking laugh.

"Leo, since when did you care about brand names? Wearing a fake watch out? Aren't you afraid of getting laughed at? What, having a midlife crisis and trying to feel important?"

Her words were like cold needles, but they couldn't pierce the emotional armor I had built over the last few days.

However, the real blow came without warning.

A few days later, I was playing with Lily at the community playground until a bit late.

As we walked back, I saw a black Mercedes-Maybach parked near our building.

Vivian got out of the passenger seat. From the driver's seat came a wealthy-looking, middle-aged man.

The man naturally reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind Vivian’s ear.

Then, they shared a brief, intimate hug. It was a gesture too practiced to be their first time.

The man drove off. Vivian turned around with a lingering smile on her face, which instantly froze when she saw me standing in the shadows.

A flash of panic crossed her face, but she quickly masked it with her usual defensive attitude.

"My company is bidding for a massive contract worth over a hundred million dollars," she said defensively. "That was Robert, the head of the procurement committee. In business, sometimes you have to play the game."

I didn't say a word. I just watched the tail lights of the Maybach disappear.

At that moment, the very last spark of hesitation in my heart died.

If that's how it is, Vivian, let me show you what you've actually thrown away and trampled on.

The "depreciating asset" who only knew how to clean toilets in your eyes is about to become the mountain you will never be able to climb.