Chapter 1 Kicked Out 1/10 " Rick's coming over tonight . He won't be happy to see you here . " Alistair Harlow had spent the entire afternoon slaving away in the kitchen . Just as he walked out with the last dish in hand , his wife , Rebecca Whitfield , dropped that cold sentence on him like a lead weight . The man she mentioned , was Richard Morgan , the one she'd always loved . Alistair froze for a moment , then untied his apron with a quiet nod . " Alright , I'll head out . I'll wait for your call to come back . " Rebecca's gaze hardened . " Don't bother coming back . " Before he could process her words , she flung a piece of paper at him . " We're getting divorced tomorrow . " Alistair bent down , picking up the note . His eyes scanned it quickly , confirming its contents , and a tremor ran through him . He clutched the paper tightly as if it weren't just a scrap of stationery but something more vital than life itself . He forced down the storm inside him and turned to leave . But just as he reached the door , a thought struck him . " Danny … " " Alistair ! " Rebecca's voice was sharp , her face darkening . " Don't you dare act like you're anything to him ! Just because Danny's J Chapter 1 Kicked Out 2/10 called you ' Dad ' for five years doesn't make you his father . I'm warning you , don't bring him up . Get out ! " In fact , all Alistair had wanted was to remind her that her son , Daniel Whitfield , seemed to be coming down with something , and she should keep an eye on it . He and Rebecca had married because of her pregnancy . After the wedding , he'd moved into her family's home . They had a five - year - old son . To the outside world , they were the picture of a happy family . But behind closed doors , there was a truth that almost no one knew . Not even Rebecca's parents . Their marriage had been nothing more than a childish act of defiance , a petty rebellion Rebecca staged against Richard . Alistair and Rebecca had known each other since high school . She was the school's golden girl . She'd been beautiful , wealthy , the center of attention wherever she went . Alistair , on the other hand , was a nobody , a studious kid from a struggling family , pouring every ounce of his energy into his studies , hoping a top college would be his ticket to a better life . She was the dazzling heiress , and he was the quiet nerd in the corner . Their paths should never have crossed . But one day , Rebecca , disheveled and desperate , sought him out . She tossed a bank card at him and made a blunt offer . She ejes amp jou Chapter 1 Kick Our hom to be the father to the child the carrying Her condition was regla . He had to give up his SATs and other inmately Alerair barely bentated before agreeing , In fact , had no shortage of admeer , but Alastair wamtensi Hedyforce reason - bearded the money Life can be merciless sometimes . Raskity always forces people into choices they never imagined they'd lure to make , At the time , Alistairs family was dreing in critin . His father ħad caused a car accident , injuring someone badly , and the victims family demanded a hefty settlement , Michout the money , hinterlaced a decade in prison . Rebecca brought Abstand and to her parents that he was the father ofher inborn child . Her parents were hand . Her father , Batamel Whitfield , nearly lost his mind . Heunleashed his firy , shopping Alistairs back until it was mother , Cordelia " Thatfield , wept in beartbreak and rage . But Rebecca cefnd nominate the prequancy , being her parents no choice but to grudgingly accept Albrain . Nuh the millendollars Rebecca gave him , Alistar saved his father from Chapter 1 Kicked Out 4/10 He'd always known the child's real father was Richard , the man Rebecca loved . Alistair knew he was just a pawn in her game of revenge , but it didn't bother him . Their marriage was never about love . It was a transaction , cold and calculated from the start . For years , Alistair lived cut off from the world . His life revolved entirely around Rebecca and Daniel . He played the role of dutiful househusband , cooking , cleaning , and keeping things running smoothly . He went out of his way to win over Rebecca's parents , caring for them on her behalf . It wasn't the life he'd dreamed of , but he had no other options . Rebecca held his IOU , a chain that kept him tethered . Without her consent , he couldn't walk away . He'd waited years for this moment . Finally , after an exhausting afternoon in the kitchen , without so much as a sip of water , Alistair was thrown out . Rebecca didn't even give him time to pack . Dressed in worn house clothes , a pair of slippers on his feet , and an old flip phone in his pocket that could barely do more than I do to power Chapter 1 Kicked Out make calls , he left the house . The first thing he did was tear up the IOU . 5/10 In that instant , he felt the weight of a mountain that had crushed him for six long years finally lift . Alistair felt lighter , freer as if he'd been given a second chance at life . " Penniless and adrift , the world stretched out endlessly before . you , yet it felt like there was no place for you in it . Two paths lay before you . " Option one : You could crawl back to Rebecca , plead for mercy , and hope she'd take pity on you for the six years you'd toiled as her dutiful househusband . If she's feeling particularly generous , maybe she'll toss you a loan or a menial job to scrape by . " Option two : You could cut ties with Rebecca and everyone connected to her for good . No more living without dignity , no more being at the mercy of others . The struggles you face now are temporary , and you could rise from the ashes and start anew . " A voice echoed in his mind , clear and commanding , startling him . Without a moment's hesitation , he chose the second path . After all the pain it took to escape that pit , he'd be a fool to dive back in . Rebecca's temper had kept him on edge every day , always Chapter 1 Kicked Out watching her mood , tiptoeing around her outbursts . 6/10 Daniel , her spoiled son , was a whirlwind of mischief , and as his nominal father , Alistair had no authority to discipline him . Every whim Daniel had , Alistair was expected to fulfill without question . Years of that oppressive , suffocating life had hollowed him out . He'd always been a quiet man , but lately , it felt like he was forgetting how to speak altogether . " Congratulations . You've made the right choice . Life Choice System successfully bound . " Alistair blinked , caught off guard . Even after six years detached from the world , he knew what a " system " was . " Host has made a correct life choice . Rewarded with 100 system credits . " System Store unlocked . The host may use system credits to purchase desired items . " At some point , it started to rain . Alistair , dressed in thin clothes and worn slippers , trudged through the downpour . Cold water seeped in and crept up his legs , but he barely noticed . He just kept moving . " Look , Mommy , that man's so weird . He's like a stray puppy Chapter 1 Kicked Out nobody wants … " " Hush , don't say things like that . Let's go . " 7/10 A mother and child hurried past , their voices fading into the rain . Alistair hesitated , then reached into his pocket . Slowly , he pulled out his hand , and under the glow of a streetlamp , he froze . His fingers held a stack of cash . He'd been penniless , but somehow , there it was . A thick stack of bills . It looked like it was a thousand dollars . He'd spent one system credit in the System Store … and it had actually given him a thousand dollars in real , spendable cash . The system was real . Alistair spent just over three hundred dollars on a new outfit , two hundred on a discounted pair of sneakers , and fifteen on a fast - food meal . With the rest , he planned to find a cheap motel to crash in . If he converted all his system credits to cash , he'd have 100 thousand dollars . For someone with no material desires , that could last a long time . I do to Chapter 1 Kicked Out But he held back . 8/10 He'd noticed that the real - world money was the cheapest thing in the System Store . That meant the other items , things he couldn't buy with cash , were likely far more valuable . The store offered things like a Body Fortification Pill for thirty credits , a Rejuvenating Glow Pill for forty , and an Opportunity Card for fifty . The Opportunity Card intrigued him the most . A hundred thousand dollars would eventually run dry , but for someone like him , who had no degree and no work experience , an opportunity was priceless . If he could just grab hold of the right chance , he'd never go back . to that miserable life . No more endless housework . No more cold glares from Rebecca . No more bending over backward for a spoiled , impossible child . After a long , hot shower in a motel room , Alistair sprawled on the bed and , without hesitation , bought an Opportunity Card . " Opportunity Card purchased successfully . It will take effect within forty - eight hours . " ***** The next morning , Alistair jolted awake at six , heart racing . He glanced at the clock , his mind buzzing with panic . edwes Chapter 1 Kicked Out Why didn't the alarm go off ? He leaped out of bed , scrambling to throw on clothes . 9/10 For years , he'd risen at four - thirty every morning , no exceptions , not even on holidays . Rebecca had strict demands for breakfast , and Daniel was a picky eater . To prepare a nutritious yet tasty meal , Alistair would slip out of bed while the world still slept , quietly tying on his apron and getting to work in the kitchen . But no matter how carefully he tried , he could never fully please them . Rebecca and Daniel always found something to nitpick . Every complaint was met with a bowed head and a soft apology from Alistair , who would then quietly fix everything without a word of protest . He never forgot his place . He was the debtor , and Rebecca was the creditor . He knew his job was to repay her with perfect service , day in and day out . Halfway through pulling on his clothes , Alistair stopped . As full wakefulness settled in , he suddenly remembered he was a free man now . From today on , he could hold his head high . ***** By nine that morning , he stood at the courthouse . Chapter 1 Kicked Out ojes joj jou pjdweg 10/10 The divorce proceedings went smoothly . When the clerk confirmed the divorce had been finished , a wave of relief washed over him . It was done . Rebecca was no longer a part of his life . Now , it was time to chase the opportunity waiting for him .