Angela opened the door.
Gab froze. It was her. Alive.
He rushed forward and wrapped her tightly in his arms.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry, Angela… I couldn't protect you." His voice cracked, tears running down his face.
Angela blinked in confusion. "What? What are you talking about?"
It was the first time she had ever seen her husband cry like this. She gently stroked his hair, her heart aching.
Gab pulled back slightly, still holding her shoulders. "I'm sorry for not treating you right before. From now on… I swear, I'll love you more."
He hugged her again, squeezing as if afraid she might vanish.
Angela, still confused, simply hugged him back.
"Ohh, release me now I need to cook."
Gab laughed weakly. "Okay… hahahaha. Sorry." He let go, watching as she went to the kitchen.
Left alone, his expression hardened. He pulled out his phone and checked his bank account.
Balance: $13,000.
"Not enough…" he muttered. "I need to survive for ten months. I need supplies."
He immediately ordered online:
10 lbs of protein powder – $135
Creatine – $20
Amino acids – $15
Gym membership (2 months) – $120
Remaining balance: $11,710.
But Gab's mind was already racing further ahead.
Next month… Bitcoin will pump three times. This is the chance. After the creator reveals his identity, the price will skyrocket.
He remembered clearly:
Current Bitcoin: $62,000
One month later: $176,000
Past peak: $120,000 in October 2025.
He clenched his fists. If I can buy now… I'll have millions before the apocalypse.
But with only $11,710 left, he couldn't even afford one Bitcoin.
He kissed Angela on the cheek, forcing a smile. "I'll be back."
Then he rushed to the bank.
He mortgaged his newly bought house worth $380,000 and his Audi, pushing for every cent. The bank approved a loan of $420,000.
Still, it wasn't enough.
I need more… much more.
He linked his debit card to Binance and bought 6 Bitcoin straight away. His account balance dropped to $59,111.
Not satisfied, he downloaded online lending apps. One by one, he maxed out their credit. Two-year payment plans, insane interest but it didn't matter. In ten months, money would be worthless anyway.
With the loans, he gathered another $50,000.
Total liquid funds: $109,111.
But Gab still wasn't satisfied.
He clenched his phone tightly and made a call.
"Hello, Mr. Ramon? Yes, this is Gab. Do you remember your offer eight months ago about buying my family's property? …Yes, I agree to sell it."
On the other end, Ramon's voice perked up.
"I'm selling you the four apartment buildings and the parking lot near my mother's house. But on one condition you have to wait at least five months before asking the tenants to move out."
"Deal," Ramon said without hesitation. He had always wanted the land for a shopping mall.
"
"Good. Let's meet at the Starbucks near Manila Station."
"Agreed."
Gab ended the call. His hands trembled as he exhaled.
At the café, a heavy-set man in his fifties wearing a suit and tie waited, his gold watch glinting under the lights. Mr. Ramon looked every bit the wealthy investor he was rumored to be.
They shook hands, then sat across from each other. Gab slid a folder across the table the land titles of his family's property.
Two apartment buildings, each 2,000 square meters, plus a 1,500 square meter parking lot. In total, 3,500 square meters of prime land walking distance to a school, a train station, and the bustling wet market.
"This is everything," Gab said firmly. "Nine million dollars. That's the price. It's my family's entire net worth."
Ramon raised an eyebrow. "Why sell now? Prime location like this… usually people hold on for generations."
Gab forced a laugh. "I wouldn't sell under normal circumstances. But I need the funds to start a new business. Don't worry the land and buildings are solid. If you want to demolish and build a mall, that's your choice. All I care about is securing the money."
Ramon considered him for a moment, then smiled. "Five months for the tenants to vacate. That's acceptable."
They shook hands. The old man's grip was firm, sealing the deal.
When the funds cleared into his bank, Gab nearly staggered at the sight. Nine million dollars. Combined with what he had before, he now had over $9,109,111 in his account. Enough to make his move.
He opened his Binance app and immediately went all in. One hundred forty-six Bitcoins purchased. Added to his six earlier, that made one hundred fifty-two in total.
Only $57,111 remained in cash, enough for living expenses.
But that didn't matter. His future wealth was secured.
From the bank, Gab drove straight to the gym. If he wanted to survive the apocalypse, his flabby body had to go. He hired the best personal trainer available, Eddie a tall, broad-shouldered man with years of experience, charging $800 a month for coaching sessions.
The first day was brutal.
On the bench press, Gab's arms trembled under even the empty barbell. Sweat poured down his face, his chest heaving as if he were lifting a mountain.
"Don't lock your elbows," Eddie corrected, spotting him from behind. "Control the bar. Strength isn't just about lifting it's about discipline."
Gab gritted his teeth, forcing the bar up again. His muscles screamed in protest.
Squats were worse. His knees shook violently, the weight threatening to crush him. He nearly collapsed on the first set.
"Core tight. Back straight. Don't fold!" Eddie barked, steadying him. "You're weak now, but weakness is temporary. Every rep breaks the old you and builds the new one."
Gab nodded, gasping for air, his shirt drenched with sweat. His arms burned from curls, his legs wobbled from squats, his chest ached from presses.
By the end of the session, he could barely stand.
Eddie handed him a towel. "This is day one. You'll hate me for the next few weeks. But if you listen, if you push past your limits, I promise you'll transform. Not just your body, but your mind."
Gab wiped his face, panting, but his eyes burned with determination.
"I don't care how much it hurts," he muttered. "I only have ten months. I need to be ready."he said to himself.
Eddie studied him, then gave a small nod. "Good you can do it"
When Gab got back home, his wife was asleep on the couch, clearly waiting for him so they could eat dinner together.
"Angela," he whispered, kissing her forehead.
"Honey," he said softly, giving her another kiss.
Angela stirred awake. "Ohhh, honey, you're here… I waited for you. Where did you go?"
"Ah, me? I just had some business to attend to… and I went to the gym," Gab replied.
Angela's eyes widened. She knew Gab always mocked muscular guys and hated the idea of working out.
"You… went to the gym? Why?" Angela asked curiously.
Gab scratched his head, trying to cover up. "Uhmm, actually… to be honest, I feel like I'm getting too fat and unhealthy. After all, I noticed that you're pregnant, right?"
Angela froze in shock. "How did you know? I was just about to tell you."
Gab laughed nervously, almost forgetting that he had regressed. "Ahhh, me? Hahahah… I just noticed your behavior. You've been acting differently your temper changed too. That's usually a sign of pregnancy."
Angela's eyes softened, and she gently hugged Gab without another word.
The two of them finally sat down and ate their dinner together.