Sunlight filtered through the thin curtains of William’s apartment, brushing against his face like an uninvited reminder that another day had begun. He groaned softly, shifting under the thin blanket. His body still ached from yesterday’s mission — that ridiculous challenge that somehow ended with him walking out of the store a millionaire.
He reached for his phone on the nightstand, squinting at the bright screen. Then his thumb froze.
$500,000.00 CREDIT ALERT
For a few seconds, he couldn’t breathe. His heart kicked hard against his ribs, the reality almost too absurd to grasp. He opened the banking app again, thinking it was a glitch. The balance was real. Five hundred thousand dollars — sitting there, waiting for him.
A faint chime echoed in the air. His surroundings dimmed for a mo
