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68. Arbitration
Huling Na-update:
2025-03-28 12:09:17
Kaugnay na kabanata
Rebirth: What’s Left Of Me 69. House of Cards
The room was thick with tension. The arbitrator cleared his throat and began, "If there's no objection and no more proof to be shown, we will take a short—" "No! I have more proof!" Debbie suddenly shrieked, her voice cutting through the air like a blade. She dug into her pocket and yanked out a ring, holding it high for everyone to see. "Jack's ring! I found it on the stairs, right at the spot where he pushed Dad down! How do you explain this?!" "Yes, that ring!" One of Debbie's witnesses, Wendy, rolled her eyes dramatically. "That was definitely the one he was wearing that day! It's that tacky one!" So she was the one who called my ring tacky in the hallway. I studied the ring in Debbie's hand, and at first glance, it did look like mine. But there were subtle differences, ones that made it obvious it was a fake. "I don't think that's my ring," I said plainly, raising my hand to reveal my actual ring, still in perfect condition. "I'd never lose Dad's class ring." "LIAR!!" Debb
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-29Rebirth: What’s Left Of Me 70. Dealing With It
Mom's scream tore through the morning silence, jolting the entire house awake. "CALL THE DOCTOR, QUICK!!" My mother's frantic voice rang out, raw with panic and hope. "HONEY!" "Ma'am, please calm down!" "He blinked just now!" "Mr. Spencer! Can you see me?!" the doctor's voice barked, sharp and urgent. I shot up from my bed and ran to the door, peeking inside with my heart hammering against my ribs. "This is a miracle! He's completely woken up from his coma!" Right on time. "He just moved his finger a bit!" Mom sobbed, her hands clutching his arm like she was afraid to let go. I exhaled, stepping away from the scene before anyone could notice me. Slipping back into my room, I collapsed onto my bed, staring at the ceiling. This was it. This was the moment of truth. Where did Dad's loyalty truly lie? Would he side with me? Or would he choose his beloved little girl? I didn't leave my room that entire day. Doctors rushed in and out of the house, their hushed voices carrying do
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-29Rebirth: What’s Left Of Me 71. Facing Debbie
"Name?" the receptionist asked, barely glancing up from his tablet. "Jack Spencer," I replied, trying to steady my nerves. "Name of the inmate you're visiting?" "Deborah Spencer." The receptionist's fingers danced over the screen, his expression indifferent. I tapped my foot impatiently, glancing around. The waiting area was cold and unwelcoming. The walls were a dull gray, and the fluorescent lights cast a harsh glare, emphasizing the grime and wear of the place. The air was thick with a sense of desperation and hopelessness, as if the building itself had absorbed the sorrow of its occupants. "Alright," the receptionist said finally, pointing towards a gate. "Through the gate, then left. You can go in." "Thanks," I muttered, nodding slightly as I walked past him. I entered the visiting room and took a seat, my eyes scanning the room. Most of the visitors were middle-aged men, probably fathers, brothers, or boyfriends. There were a few heavily tattooed women as well, sitting in
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-30Rebirth: What’s Left Of Me 72. Temporary Boss
I didn't understand it. I really didn't. Even after laying everything out for him—the truth about Debbie, the Roth gang, all the shit they'd pulled—Dad still refused to take action. "You stubborn bastard! I'm warning you! Don't be foolish and focus on your studies!" Dad barked, his voice laced with frustration. "What? Why?" I demanded. It made no sense. We had evidence. We had opportunity. We could take down at least some of them before they ever saw it coming. Why not take the chance? "You think I don't know what you're planning?" Dad scoffed, giving me a sharp glare. "I can already imagine you going around and starting all kinds of trouble. Just thinking about it is already raising my blood pressure!" "Then what about you?" I shot back. "Can you even work with your head banged up like that?" "That's none of your damn concern! I fell—" "You were pushed!" "But I wasn't shot in the head!" he snapped. "Mind your business and go to school, you brat!" I clenched my jaw. He was be
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-30Rebirth: What’s Left Of Me 73. The Reunion
"When you make your own money, you don't need permission to buy things," Mom said with a vindictive smile, her eyes gleaming as she stared down Sonny. "My son is very good at making money, so I won't tell him how to spend it." Sonny's face twitched. Her breaths came heavier, her jaw clenched so tight I thought her teeth might crack. Then, as if clinging to some last shred of power, Sonny straightened her back and forced a smirk. "The alumni reunion is this Saturday at the Johnson Hotel. Make sure to be there with your husband!" I almost laughed. So this was her plan? She wasn't just going to take the L—she wanted a rematch. She probably thought she could humiliate Mom at the reunion in front of their old classmates. Unfortunately for her, I don't think my mom is a weak person. "Don't worry, my mom will be there," I said, rolling my eyes. "Right, Mom?" "Yeah... right," she said, her tone more amused than anything. "I'll be there." Sonny grinned victoriously, like she'd just trap
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-31Rebirth: What’s Left Of Me 74. Bye Sonny
"SHUT UP!!! JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE PRETTY AND SKINNY DOESN'T MAKE YOU BETTER THAN ME!!! YOU'RE JUST THE CHILD OF A MISTRESS!!!!" Sonny screeched. Oh, fuck no. I grabbed Mom's wine glass and threw the wine straight into Sonny's face. She let out a primal wail, stumbling back as the expensive wine dripped down her face and onto her ridiculous dress. "Oh goodness, Jack," Mom chuckled, watching the scene unfold. "HONEY!!!!" Sonny shrieked, wiping furiously at her face. Mom remained calm, completely unfazed. "I don't mind you being jealous, Sonny. I'm used to it. But me and my son can't listen to you insulting our family anymore." "HONEY!!! LOOK WHAT HE DID TO ME!!!! THAT CRAZY BITCH HAD HER SON THROW WINE IN MY FACE!!!" Sonny ignored us completely and ran over to a well-dressed, arrogant-looking man. Oh shit. It was about to go down. I could already tell from his expensive suit and high-and-mighty expression that this guy was trouble. How do I de-escalate a situation? ...Actually,
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-31Rebirth: What’s Left Of Me 75. Legal War
Mom was so pleased with how the reunion turned out that she took things a step further—by the end of the night, she had already initiated a hostile takeover of Johnson Hotels nationwide. She wasn't about to let anyone steal her bragging rights. As for Andrew Sullivan? He was demoted from his position as a show of loyalty to Dad. Dad, of course, praised me for handling things so efficiently. But he still wasn't ready to show his face in public yet. He looked fine to me, but I had a feeling it had more to do with insecurity. Debbie's attack had rattled him more than he let on. That was his problem. Mine? Ayla Spears. She was responsible for introducing gang shit into my life indirectly, and I had to get her for it. Thankfully, the system agreed. [New Mission: Defend Empire Reward: Company-wide Acknowledgment Penalty: Investor Dropouts] Good shit. *** "HUG Group has hired some really good lawyers, just as expected," Henry, Dad's assistant, informed me. "They'll spare no
Huling Na-update : 2025-04-01Rebirth: What’s Left Of Me 76. Running Interference
"We'll be executing a search and seizure warrant on allegations of illegal trading. I inform you that you are entitled to an attorney," the man in front of me announced, flashing his badge a little too close to my face. I squinted at his ID, even though I already knew his name—Victor Nelson. This slimy bastard had a reputation. A corrupt prosecutor, frequently bought out by conglomerates to abuse his position of power. In my past life, he had completely wrecked my reputation in the business world. He'd pinned fabricated charges on a garbage disposal company I had a stake in, overstepping his authority in ways I hadn't even noticed until I lost everything. That one move made it almost impossible for me to move up and go legit like I wanted. And now, here he was again. In this life. Just as corrupt. Just as bought out. This time, clearly working with HUG. I exhaled through my nose, keeping my expression casual. "Right," I said, turning back to my phone, feigning disinterest.
Huling Na-update : 2025-04-01
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Rebirth: What’s Left Of Me 88. Grandma’s Wig
I laid there, handcuffed to the hospital bed, with two detectives watching over me as the nurse finished wrapping up my wrist. She was friendly, but I was too anxious to fully engage with her. Three hours had passed since I arrived at the hospital, and just sitting there idle wasn't helping. "If you try some shit like that again, I'll kill you, kid," the lead detective snarled, glaring at me. "Is that a threat? I could sue for that, pig," I shot back, my voice steady but dripping with disdain. "It's a relief there's a hospital nearby with a low amount of patients," he scowled, launching into a rant about how reckless the youth of today were. "Don't you have a life to think about? I swear, you rich kids are so damn selfish." I tuned him out momentarily, my thoughts racing. The most important thing right now was my family's safety. Riley McIntyre was definitely going to go after my dad or my mom first. But as expected, I'd already calculated that possibility. I made a big fuss to ge
Rebirth: What’s Left Of Me 87. No Good Options
{TW: Self-Harm} The knock at the door was heavy and deliberate, a sound that told me this wasn't just a neighbor stopping by. When I opened it, I found two uniformed officers and a plainclothes detective staring back at me. "Jack Spencer?" the detective asked, his voice sharp. "Yes." "We need you to come down to the station for questioning. It's about the murder of Declan McIntyre," he said, watching me carefully. Behind me, Erwin froze, his grip tightening around his robe. "What the hell's going on?" he asked, his voice shaking. I turned and looked at Erwin firmly. "Stay calm. Lock the doors. No one in or out until you hear from me. Call Damien, Jason, and Jared to help me out," I said firmly. Erwin's face twisted in protest, but I was already being slapped in cuffs and led out of the house. The detective gestured toward his car, and I followed without another word. The ride to the station felt longer than it should have. Sitting in the back seat of the squad car, my pulse dr
Rebirth: What’s Left Of Me 86. Aunt Orla
[New Mission: Get A McIntyre On Your Side. Reward: Good Karma Penalty: Arrest] There the system goes with its impossible tasks again! How the hell was I supposed to do that? At least, that was what I was thinking an hour ago when I first received the mission. But because I was impulsive—and possibly an idiot—I ended up taking a car out myself, heading straight for the only person I could think of who hadn't come at me personally yet. My aunt. Women were more sympathetic in these kinds of situations so I should contact her first, right? Somehow I doubt it. I arrived at her office in one piece, which was more than I could say for the car I drove. "A few bumps" wasn't enough to describe the damage I'd done. The side mirror was barely hanging on, and the back bumper... well, technically, it was still attached. Barely. "You! You can't park there!" A guy in uniform shouted at me as I stepped out. "Is my aunt here?" I asked, trying to sound authoritative. "What? Your aunt? Why w
Rebirth: What’s Left Of Me 85. Buried Legacy
"How could you not know your own mother's background? I know mine so well I could tell you everything from her childhood up until now," Damien scolded me, his tone laced with disbelief. "Did she really not tell you she was a McIntyre?" "No, I'm absolutely clueless here," I admitted, feeling a bit ashamed. I'd never had much interest in my mom's side of the family, and now, that ignorance had come back to bite me. Apparently, the family that had disowned her was the McIntyres. Which meant I had killed my cousin... who, to be fair, had killed me first. Still pretty fucked up now that I think about it. "I looked at some of it quickly, and I can tell you right away she's from an influential family. You know McIntyre Corporations? The conglomerate? I'm sure you have, they used to have a stake in HUG." "Seriously? My mom is from that family?" I gasped. McIntyre Corp was a step below the elite, but still a top-selling brand, on par with Empire in certain aspects. "Yeah, they founded
Rebirth: What’s Left Of Me 84. The Real Culprit
"Wait!" I ordered before the cops could drag Ayla out completely. She froze, her tear-streaked face turning toward me. I stepped closer, studying the raw desperation clinging to her features. She wasn't playing anymore. There was no more fake composure, no more arrogant smirks. Just a stupid girl who realized too late that she'd lost. "Who gave you the courage to do this, Ayla?" I asked, my tone calm, almost casual. "It can't be your dad, or Hilliard, or even Debbie. Was it Eli Roth?" The second his name left my mouth, her expression snapped from fear to anger. "He's the one who told me the truth about you," she spat. "You're just a leech—" I raised a hand slightly, cutting her off. "I have something to ask you about him." That flicker of defiance wavered, and she shivered. "I don't know much about him," she murmured, the tremor in her voice betraying how deeply Eli had gotten under her skin. I studied her carefully. Ayla was spoiled and stupid—just clever enough to be dangero
Rebirth: What’s Left Of Me 83. Ayla’s Loss
{TW: violence} The ripping sound of fabric filled the air as two brutes tore my hoodie straight down the middle. My muscles tensed, and before they could react, I exploded into motion. The guy who had torn my hoodie barely had time to register what was happening before my fist crashed into his face. His head snapped back violently, his body staggering from the sheer force. The moment his grip loosened, I twisted, grabbing the second thug's arm and using his own weight against him. With a sharp pivot, I flipped him over my shoulder. His back hit the ground hard, the breath knocked out of him with a wheezing gasp. I followed through, slamming my knee into his gut before rolling back onto my feet. My knuckles throbbed from the impact, but my adrenaline had me feeling completely in control. Just as I was about to make another move, the host at the entrance suddenly spoke, his tone mocking yet tense. "What, is there an issue?" The two thugs hesitated, clearly listening to orders th
Rebirth: What’s Left Of Me 82. Theatrics
I arrived at the Johnson Hotel in regular clothes—a hoodie and mismatched sweatpants. A strategic choice. If someone filmed tonight, I just wanted to look like a guy who wasn't into labels. It better be fucking worth it. These ugly-ass Crocs on my feet were pushing the limits of my patience. I'll be burning them right after this. The fifth floor was quieter than I expected. The restaurant looked only slightly busy, but something was off. I tried to walk idly past, but three different people made direct eye contact with me in a way that was too deliberate. This must be the place. "I believe there's a reservation under the name of Spears," I said casually. The host behind the podium looked like the type who never belonged in high-class places but somehow forced himself in. He had gold teeth that flashed when he smiled—too wide, too eager, too forced. "Good evening, Mr. Spencer." His voice had an edge to it. "She's waiting for you inside. Please, follow me." As we walked through
Rebirth: What’s Left Of Me 81. The Next Threat
I woke up on the couch, groggy and disoriented. It took forever to convince my mom and dad not to push me into a relationship after Damien had kissed me so passionately in front of them. Dad's justification? "If you're going to be gay, you should be gay with him." Mom, of course, had agreed wholeheartedly. Somehow, though, I managed to get them to promise to put off that conversation until graduation. [New Mission: Finish Off Your Rival Award: Secret Intel Penalty: Strength Depletion] Fuck my life. I couldn't afford to lose my strength right now, but I also couldn't just kill Ayla, right? ...Was that what the system was suggesting? Kill her? It's the easiest option. Or was it setting me up for failure again, just to scold me later? I should kill her. My phone rang loudly in my hand. "Hello?" I croaked. A sharp, demanding voice answered. "Make some time to talk to me tonight." I frowned, still groggy. "Who the fuck is this?" "You don't recognize my voice?" She sounded
Rebirth: What’s Left Of Me 80. New Years
Christmas went by quickly, and I used the opportunity to get some much-needed rest rather than hunting for presents. Still, Mom made me get up to take tacky Christmas photos in matching pajamas. And for once, I actually got presents that year. Not some random car part or whatever cheap junk my past parents picked up after blowing all the holiday money on drugs. It was a nice change. And zero mention of Debbie. Then came New Year's. For some reason, we had to go to Damien's house just because we were invited. My dad, of course, was very eager to go, even praising me for getting us all invited. When we arrived, we were greeted by the butler, who took all of our coats. "Hello, Leigh, Eva," Damien's dad greeted smoothly. "Thank you for inviting us," Mom said, her usual polite charm in full effect. "I had no choice at this point." Damien's dad chuckled, his voice smooth but amused. "My boy just likes yours so much, it would feel cruel to take a holiday without him." I went red. "
