Free Web NovelChapter 29: Every Enemy Has a Weakness
Victoria Hayes had long, elegant fingers that looked like they belonged on a masterpiece.
Her skin was pale and flawless, glowing softly under the moonlight like polished marble.
She carefully trimmed the nail on her right middle finger and nodded in satisfaction. For now, that was enough.
The next day brought a rare moment of peace. Liam Sterling decided to enjoy himself. He spent the afternoon at Rage Quit Cafe, kicking back with his best friend Ethan Brooks as they grinded through matches in Dungeon Fighter.
This was the life.
He was truly starting to love this second summer the intoxicating mix of mature, beautiful women and the vibrant energy of youth.
Having the Ultimate Rebate System was a godsend. It let him live the relaxed, carefree lifestyle he had always wanted without burning himself out chasing every opportunity.
Other reborn protagonists always seemed stressed, scrambling to seize every business deal. Not him. Liam preferred the smarter, smoother path.
The best kind of life was one where he could enjoy the moment.
At noon, Ethan came back from the food stall across the street carrying two boxes of fried rice. His wallet was basically empty.
He grabbed a Coke and a bottle of water, then slid the chilled Coke toward Liam.
"You’re not drinking Coke today?" Liam asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I’m kind of tired of it," Ethan replied with a shrug.
Liam saw through the lie instantly but didn’t expose him. Instead, he reached into his pocket, pulled out five hundred dollars, and placed the cash right in front of his friend.
"Bro, you didn’t steal that from your mom, right?!" Ethan exclaimed. "Don’t scare me, man. I don’t want to see you getting your ass beat with a belt."
Liam laughed. "Relax. My mom didn’t give me this. I earned it recently doing translation work. Made over ten thousand dollars."
Ethan’s jaw dropped. "Dude... you’re a legend!"
To prove his point, Liam casually demonstrated his fluent French on the spot. Ethan’s eyes nearly popped out of his head.
"So you were the real hidden genius in our class this whole time!" Ethan said, laughing. "Damien? That guy’s nothing. If you use this skill to chase Olivia, she’s done for."
Ethan leaned back in his chair, slowly turning Liam’s words over in his mind. A crooked grin spread across his face before he let out a quiet laugh.
"That’s ruthless," he admitted, shaking his head. "But I kind of respect it. That’s some next-level payback."
He paused for a moment, then another thought crossed his mind
"But what about Damien?" Ethan asked. "That guy’s had it out for you since freshman year. He’s always acted like he’s better than everyone else. You’re not just going to let that slide, are you?"
Liam rested one arm on the desk, his expression as calm as ever.
"If the opportunity presents itself," he replied with an indifferent shrug, "I’ll deal with him too."
There wasn’t the slightest hint of anger in his voice.
If anything, Liam sounded almost detached.
After living two lives, petty grudges like that no longer controlled his emotions.
Revenge wasn’t something to rush. It was always more satisfying when the timing was right. Ethan stared at him for a second before breaking into a wide grin.
"Bro..." He raised a thumbs-up. "You’re operating on a completely different level."
Liam only smiled.
The conversation came to an end as another Dungeon Fighter match loaded. The two friends immediately fell back into
their usual rhythm, arguing over missed combos, laughing whenever one of them made a stupid mistake, and celebrating every hard-fought victory.
The familiar atmosphere of Rage Quit Café settled around them.
Mechanical keyboards clicked nonstop.
Players shouted across the room after winning close matches.
Real friends were incredibly rare.
In his previous life, he had spent years surrounded by people who only approached him when they needed something. Genuine loyalty had become a luxury.
Ethan was different.Whether Liam was broke or successful, Ethan had never changed.
That kind of friendship was worth far more than money.
At that moment, the cafe door opened again. Maya stepped inside wearing a loose white T-shirt that still managed to highlight her graceful curves, paired with a sleek black pencil skirt.
Maya, back at the cafe again?" Ethan greeted her.
Maya’s eyes landed on the hundred-dollar bill sitting on the table. "Ethan, did you win the lottery? That’s a lot of money for a student."
"It’s not mine," Ethan said honestly. "Liam lent it to me."
Maya turned her gaze to Liam, clearly curious. She knew how tough things had been for his single-parent family. Her husband, homeroom teacher Ben, had been especially hard on Liam simply because they couldn’t afford expensive gifts.
"Liam, did you get a part-time job?" she asked.
Before Liam could respond, Ethan jumped in excitedly. "Maya, you won’t believe this! Liam taught himself French and worked as a translator. He made over ten thousand dollars!"
Maya looked at Liam with fresh interest. "French? You really know French?"
"Yes, ma’am," Liam replied smoothly. "I’m self-taught. I did some translation gigs recently."
"You’re really something else," Maya said, her tone noticeably warmer. At only eighteen, earning that kind of money showed real talent and potential. She found herself wanting to talk to him more in the future.
After Maya left the cafe, Ethan leaned in with a serious expression. "I think your homeroom teacher is one of your enemies too. Why don’t you go after his wife? That would be perfect revenge."
Liam patted his friend on the head with a smirk. Ever since the night he knew about victoria, Ethan’s ideas had only gotten wilder.
"So the best revenge is always going after their mother or wife?" Liam asked.
Ethan nodded firmly. "One hundred percent. It hits them where it hurts most. Plus, I genuinely think Maya is stunning. It would be a crime if you didn’t make a move. Go for it, bro. Claim the teacher’s wife!"
