Chapter 2

"Useless! Can't even buy a damn bottle of wine!" Mother-in-law Martina jabbed her finger at my nose, cursing me out. "Forget it, just looking at his pathetic face pisses me off." Vivian impatiently rubbed her belly.

"Stop blocking the TV! Get lost!"

I silently went upstairs, packed my few pairs of shorts and personal documents, dragged my suitcase to the front door.

"Hold it! Where do you think you're going?" Martina's massive frame blocked the doorway.

"I found a night shift gig. Gonna make you more money." I forced a smile at my wife Vivian.

"That's more like it. But remember—every extra penny you make goes straight to us. Don't you dare spend it on yourself!" Martina watched my figure disappear into the distance, still suspicious.

"Mom! Forget that loser!" Vivian waved her hand. "The movie's starting!"

I walked into the bank and withdrew every cent of my life savings—my retirement fund, the money I'd been setting aside for my kid's college tuition...

"Everything?" The teller kept confirming, like she thought I was joking.

"Yes!" I nodded firmly.

"And I want to liquidate my house and car too!" As the teller counted up my total assets, I thought to myself, "The heatwave apocalypse is coming. Who gives a damn about any of this? Might as well cash it all out and go wild!"

"Your assets have been processed. Here's your card." The teller handed it to me respectfully.

I was shocked. Turns out without those two women bleeding me dry, I was actually loaded.

At the supermarket, the store manager trailed behind me.

"Five-gallon water jugs! A thousand of them!"

"One deluxe freezer, latest model, low-power ice maker."

"Canned goods, every flavor you've got, a thousand cans each." My hand kept moving, and everything I pointed at got loaded onto trucks immediately.

"Imported whiskey! And Cuban cigars!" I rubbed my hands together. These were things I'd never dared dream of before. Even if I'd bought them, my mother-in-law and wife would've devoured everything without leaving me a taste.

"I'll take all the ice cream and cold drinks on this aisle!" I swept my arm grandly.

Right as I was on my shopping spree, my wife Vivian called. "Where the hell are you? Get back here! We're starving to death!"

"I'm shopping, honey." I casually strolled through luxury boutiques I'd never dared enter before. "Need me to bring anything back?"

"That's more like it! Mom wants steak again! The most expensive kind! And fresh fruit! And I want a new massage chair!"

Vivian rattled on for five solid minutes. I jotted down her ridiculously long list, then turned and handed it to the store manager. "Everything she mentioned—I'll take it all!"

I kept walking, my eyes lighting up as the electronics and gaming sections beckoned. "High-end gaming PC, console, VR headset, and the latest game cartridges—pack it all up!"

I'd never let myself spend money before, but now I finally understood how amazing it felt to treat yourself.

"Now! I'm gonna rent myself a place and take a vacation!" I climbed into the luxury car the store manager arranged for me and headed to the villa district to look at properties.

I was their VIP diamond customer now. When I mentioned wanting to rent a villa, several real estate agents practically trampled each other trying to get to me.

The villas came in all shapes and sizes, each with unique features.

"I'll take this one." I looked at the house in front of me. The listing said it came with the most advanced smart home management system.

"Excellent choice!" The realtor handed me the keys. "We'll have everything moved in right away!"

I lay on the floor. The attic and my mother-in-law's place couldn't compare to this at all. Their old AC unit would never survive the coming heat. Just thinking about it made me grin.

Smart home system activated successfully. On the control panel, I could easily manage everything I needed.

Water supply—100 tons.

Power reserve—two years' worth.

Cooling at maximum—indoor temperature 64°F, outdoor temperature 122°F (WARNING: Continuing to rise!)

Food supply—enough for you personally for 3 years, customized meal plan created

Additional features—indoor pool, sauna, private kitchen, medical bay, and more. My head was spinning.

"Is there anything else I can do for you?" The realtor bowed slightly.

"Keep the change as your tip, and do me one more favor." I maxed out my last credit card, feeling incredibly free.

"I've got some business to take care of, so I'm not moving in just yet. By the end of today, upgrade the house's security system—reinforce all windows, doors, and walls, install heat-resistant materials, add defense modules to the smart home system, and equip it with the most advanced smart weapons."

"As you wish. I'll arrange it right away." He nodded and hurried off.

My wife called again. "It's getting dark! Where are you! You trying to starve us to death!"

"If only," I thought, but replied pleasantly, "Traffic's bad. I'll be right

back

!"