Jason dragged himself through the final sets of the Day 4 training routine late into the night. The system hadn't gone easy on him—push-ups, sprints across the compound, weighted squats, and stamina drills that left his body trembling as though every muscle fiber was about to snap. He could feel his lungs burning, his arms aching, his back coated in sweat that soaked his shirt until it clung to his skin.
> [System Prompt: Training Complete. +2 Endurance. +1 Strength. New passive skill unlocked: Iron Will.]
Jason collapsed onto the bare ground, his chest heaving. "Iron Will, huh? That better be worth all this pain…" he muttered.
When he finally stumbled back into the house, Sophie was already fast asleep. Her soft breathing drifted faintly from her room. Jason smiled faintly, dragging himself toward his bed. He barely had time to pull off his shirt before he passed out.
---
Morning light filtered into the small home. Jason forced himself up, his body aching but more resilient than the day before. He headed to the kitchen, determined to make breakfast for Sophie—something to keep her smiling, even if their pockets were getting thin again.
He fried up eggs, toasted bread, and opened the last can of baked beans they had in the cupboard. It wasn't fancy, but the way Sophie's eyes lit up when she walked into the kitchen made it worth it.
"Smells good!" Sophie said, sitting down.
Jason grinned, sliding a plate over to her. "Eat up. Big brother's masterpiece."
She dug in with a happy hum, while Jason nibbled on his share quietly. But in the back of his head, the numbers were weighing down on him like bricks—rent, food, debts, and now, the growing expenses of living with Sophie in the city. His savings were thinning fast, and yesterday's good paycheck from the speedboat job had already been split among the crew.
By the time he got to the workshop later that morning, Jason already had a frown carved on his face. To make things worse, the shop was oddly quiet. Customers were few today, and most of the guys were lounging around, cracking jokes or sipping cheap soda.
Then came the sound that broke the silence—an engine roar, powerful, smooth, and unmistakable.
Heads turned. Every mechanic in the shop stopped what they were doing as a sleek, blood-red Ferrari F8 Tributo pulled up in front of the workshop. The sunlight bounced off its polished surface, and for a second, everyone looked like kids watching candy through glass.
"Damn…" one of the younger guys whistled. "That's not a car. That's art."
Jason blinked, his stomach twisting. He didn't need to guess who it was. He already knew.
The Ferrari's door opened with a soft hiss, and sure enough, Mariana stepped out in her usual confident stride. She wore a white jumpsuit that hugged her figure effortlessly, a pair of designer sunglasses perched on her head, and the kind of smile that told you she knew the world bent around her wealth.
"Morning, gentlemen," Mariana said, her voice smooth, commanding attention.
Some of the mechanics straightened their clothes nervously. Others just stared too long.
Jason sighed. "Of course it's her…"
But before anyone could say anything, the second door opened—and a girl stepped out.
She was younger, clearly in her late teens or early twenties, and everything about her was a contrast to Mariana. Where Mariana was bold and radiant, this girl was soft and shy. Her name, as Jason would soon hear, was Elena.
Elena had long chestnut-brown hair that fell in delicate waves over her shoulders. She wore a light blue dress, simple but elegant, and her big hazel eyes looked down at the ground as though she hated the idea of people staring at her. She stayed close behind Mariana, clutching her small purse like a shield.
Mariana smiled as if introducing royalty. "This is my sister—Elena."
Elena gave a quick, awkward smile and a small nod before quickly lowering her gaze again.
Jason studied her quietly. She didn't seem like the type to flaunt money or power like her sister. If anything, she looked like she wanted to disappear into the Ferrari rather than stand in the center of so many staring mechanics.
"Come on, don't be shy," Mariana teased her, looping an arm around her. "She just came back from abroad, and I thought I'd show her around. And what better place than a workshop like this, right?"
The mechanics chuckled awkwardly. Some nodded too eagerly, their eyes still flicking between the Ferrari and the sisters.
Jason crossed his arms. "What do you want, Mariana?" he asked flatly.
Her grin widened. "Straight to the point, huh? Relax. I came here because the Ferrari needs some adjustments. And…" she tilted her head, glancing at him, "I wanted to see you."
Jason rolled his eyes, but before he could say anything, Elena's voice—soft and careful—slipped in.
"Um… Mari… maybe we shouldn't… bother them too much?" Elena said timidly, tugging on her sister's sleeve.
Her voice was light, barely above a whisper, but it carried a kind of genuine nervousness that caught Jason off guard. She wasn't like Mariana at all.
"Don't be silly, Elena," Mariana said, patting her sister's hand. "They love a challenge. Don't you boys?"
The other mechanics immediately started agreeing, throwing in enthusiastic "Of course!" and "Anytime!"
Jason just sighed again, wiping his hands on a rag. He could already feel this was going to be another long day.
Still, his eyes drifted once more to Elena. She avoided looking at anyone directly, her cheeks slightly flushed as she lingered near the car. He could tell she wasn't used to this environment at all, and honestly, she looked more out of place than the Ferrari itself.
Jason wiped his hands on a rag, brushing the grease off his palms before unzipping the dark-blue mechanic coveralls. Beneath it he wore a fitted white T-shirt and jeans—casual, but not sloppy. His coworkers whistled playfully.
"Look at this guy," one of them teased. "All cleaned up just because a Ferrari pulled in."
Jason ignored the laughter, though a faint smirk tugged at his lips. He tossed the coveralls over the bench, ran his fingers through his hair to tame it, and glanced toward Mariana, who was waiting patiently beside her Ferrari. Her younger sister stood close, almost hiding behind Mariana's presence. Jason caught Elena stealing a glance at him, her cheeks warming instantly as her eyes darted away.
Before he could step forward, Sam approached and clapped Jason on the shoulder.
"Don't worry about the Ferrari. I'll handle it," Sam said with a knowing grin.
Jason raised an eyebrow. "You sure?"
"Positive. Go deal with your millionaires, champ. I'll make sure the car runs smoother than ever."
Jason chuckled lightly, grateful. He turned to Mariana, who smiled knowingly, and gestured for them to step outside. As they reached the entrance of the workshop, the purr of another engine rolled into the air. A sleek black Rolls-Royce Phantom slid to a stop in front of them, its polished chrome catching the sunlight.
The driver—a tall man in a tailored suit—stepped out and opened the rear door without a word. Jason didn't even blink at the sight. He had expected something like this.
Mariana glanced at him with a faint smile. "After you."
Jason shrugged. "Ladies first."
Elena gave a small, hesitant nod before slipping into the car beside her sister. Jason followed, taking the opposite seat. The moment the door shut, the world outside vanished, leaving only the quiet hum of the luxury vehicle and the faint scent of leather mixed with expensive perfume.
Jason leaned back, arms folded. He didn't say a word. He had learned long ago that silence sometimes spoke louder than anything else.
Mariana tilted her head, regarding him with playful annoyance. "You didn't answer my calls."
Jason smirked slightly. "So that's why you came all the way here? To scold me?"
"Not scold." She lifted her chin. "But I don't like being ignored, Jason. Not by people I've chosen to trust."
Her words carried weight—half challenge, half test. Jason met her gaze evenly but said nothing.
Elena, sitting beside her, fiddled with the strap of her small purse. She cleared her throat softly, speaking for the first time. "M-my sister doesn't mean to sound harsh. She… she just worries too much." Her voice was delicate, almost fragile.
Jason turned his eyes toward Elena, and for the first time, he noticed the subtle differences between the sisters. Mariana was striking and commanding—her confidence wrapped around her like a designer gown. Elena, however, was softer, quieter. Her beauty wasn't in the way she demanded attention but in how she seemed almost afraid of it.
Jason chuckled lightly, his voice calm. "If that's worry, I'd hate to see what she's like when she's angry."
Mariana smirked at the jab. "Careful, Jason. I don't get angry. I get even."
The driver pulled smoothly into the city streets, weaving them toward an unfamiliar part of town. Jason glanced out the tinted window, then looked back at the two sisters.
"Where exactly are we going?" he asked.
Mariana smiled mysteriously. "Patience. You'll see."
Jason raised an eyebrow, feigning irritation. "That's usually what people say before they drag you into something crazy."
Elena giggled quietly, surprising both Mariana and Jason. Her laughter was soft, like bells in the wind. She quickly covered her mouth, cheeks flushing.
Jason tilted his head, amused. "You find me funny?"
Elena's eyes widened. "Oh—I didn't mean—I wasn't laughing at you—"
Jason waved his hand, a half-smile breaking through. "Relax. It's okay. Laughing's allowed, you know."
Mariana watched the exchange with sharp eyes but said nothing, only leaning back comfortably in her seat.
Minutes later, the Rolls-Royce slowed, pulling into the private parking of a glittering building. Jason's eyes widened just slightly. The restaurant's name, written in bold golden letters above the glass entrance, read:
"La Sombra Étoile"
The Star's Shadow.
Jason whistled under his breath. Even he had heard of this place. It wasn't just a restaurant—it was the restaurant. A sanctuary for politicians, billionaires, and international celebrities. Reservations alone had a six-month waiting list.
"Luxury, huh?" Jason muttered.
Mariana smirked. "You sound surprised."
"I'm not surprised." Jason glanced at her with a sly grin. "Just curious. Is everything in your life made of gold and diamonds?"
Mariana leaned closer, her perfume filling his senses. "Would it bother you if it was?"
Jason held her gaze steadily. "It would make me wonder if you ever get tired of pretending the world is only silk and champagne."
The air thickened with tension for a moment, but Mariana only chuckled, leaning back with a smile that hinted at intrigue. She wasn't used to men speaking to her like that.
Elena glanced at Jason shyly, almost as if she were studying him. Unlike most people around Mariana, he didn't shrink in her presence—he matched it.
The driver opened the doors, and the trio stepped out. Heads turned instantly as Mariana entered La Sombra Étoile. People whispered her name, acknowledging her with subtle nods. She carried herself with the ease of someone who belonged among the elite.
Jason, however, took everything in with quiet observation. The chandeliers above glittered like frozen rain, and the scent of rare dishes floated through the air. Tables were filled with men in suits worth more than most houses and women in gowns tailored by hands that charged fortunes.
Jason leaned toward Mariana with a smirk. "So this is your playground?"
Mariana smiled. "One of them."
They were escorted to a private corner table overlooking the city through floor-to-ceiling glass. The waiter pulled the chairs for them, bowing slightly. Mariana sat first, Elena followed, and Jason took the seat opposite them.
As menus were handed out, Jason didn't even bother opening his. "Everything on here probably costs more than my rent."
Mariana smirked. "Then don't worry about the price."
Jason shot back smoothly. "That's easy for you to say. For me, a steak like this is at least a week's worth of groceries."
Elena laughed quietly again, though she quickly tried to hide it. Jason caught it and smiled faintly.
Mariana tilted her head. "You like making jokes, don't you?"
"Helps me survive," Jason said simply.
The conversation flowed—sometimes sharp, sometimes lighthearted. Mariana challenged him, pressing at his composure, while Jason always found a way to turn it into a clever reply. Elena remained mostly quiet but added small comments, her shyness slowly melting the longer she listened.
Halfway through the meal, Jason finally leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "So tell me. You didn't drag me out of the workshop just to feed me the most expensive lunch of my life. What do you really want, Mariana?"
Mariana's smile curved slowly, deliberately. "Now we're getting to the point."
Elena shifted in her seat, lowering her gaze nervously.
Jason's eyes flicked between them both, curiosity sparking. Whatever this was, it wasn't just about Ferraris or casual meals. Mariana had something in mind—something bigger.
And Jason was already caught in it.