Bitcoin Billionaire: I Regressed to Invest in the First Bitcoin!

The sound of splashing water softened the day around the premises. The sun shimmered against the vast blue sky, reflecting off the rippling surface of the infinity pool that stretched before Darren Steele.

The water, cool and refreshing, lapped gently against his skin as he leaned against the edge, allowing himself a moment of indulgence.

He took in deep breaths, his mansion standing behind him, a fortress of stone and wood, secluded in luxury.

The tranquil atmosphere should have been soothing, but Darren's mind was restless. Even in the time of relaxation, she was unable to actually relax.

His thoughts swirled in his mind like the water beneath him.

It had been a silent week.

Brooklyn had agreed to cancel her plans of releasing the Teschmacher family exposè, and change the story to the FuglyDuckling reveal.

He could still recall the precise moment he told her, the way her entire face shifted, as if her mind couldn't process the words. He had never seen someone's eyes widen that much.

There wasn't an emotion of suddenness that he didn't see in her face. Shock, disbelief, and at times it looked like she felt betrayed that he hadn't told her sooner. Darren didn't think she had the right to feel hurt over that.

In fact, Brooklyn was so shocked that she had straight out refused to believe it at first, outright laughing as if he was playing some cruel joke.

But when he presented the proof — showing her his portfolio and the former Bitcoin purchases he's made that were the exact same made by FuglyDuckling — her laughter died in her throat.

"You're serious? You really are him?" she had muttered.

The world had suddenly seemed smaller in that second to Brooklyn. How could it be that one person was a spider that created the web that connected a lot of all her stories?

How was it that he was FuglyDuckling? How was he now involved in almost every story she investigated?

For Darren, he couldn't lie, it stung that he had ended up telling Brooklyn before Sandy. Sandy deserved to hear it earlier way more.

But at least, he got what he wanted.

Rachel was safe.

He and Brooklyn had walked out that night, even though the air had been cold, there was tension in the air. The glow of streetlights was in the far distance, the moon was in the sky and crickets chipped the night away.

Together, they had burned the evidence on the Teschmacher Weapon Scandal and deleted the files from her computer, ensuring there was no turning back.

Darren had watched her carefully as they did so. She had barely spoken, lips pressed into a firm line throughout all of it.

He didn't need to be told that there was a major shift inside of her. He could feel it. She had started seeing him in a completely different light, he could tell.

Every now and then, he would catch her staring at him, not in her usual way of trying to unravel some enigma, but just like she was too awed not to stare.

He noticed this more when he had told her about the Red Fang. The way she stiffened when he admitted it had been him who orchestrated the takedown. He had only given a vague explanation of how he did it— enough to satisfy her curiosity without inciting more.

Darren had told her not to include that part in the report, and she had only nodded, obediently, wordlessly accepting his request.

This caused a random uneasy tension between them. And Darren wasn't really sure if Brooklyn was really over it till now.

If she wasn't, then what was the deal?

But speaking of Sandy...

Darren sighed.

He needed to apologize as quickly as possible. Making new friends and acquaintances was great, but it wasn't worth it if he had to lose the one that was there for him from the beginning.

He had to find a way to make it right with her, and he also had to tell her before everyone heard it.

It wasn't fair for her to find out at the same time as the rest of the world. She had been there for him before all of this, and he owed her that much.

Maybe the timing wasn't perfect. The way he had offered her the job before. But Darren knew he needed to bring her in. Not only would the company benefit from her financial management acumen, but he could also benefit with having her around.

But, on a lighter note...

His mother was finally coming back home that weekend, completely cured and cleared.

That was a rare thought that brought him genuine warmth. He smiled, remembering the moment he got the confirmation a few days ago when he had gone to see her and Dr. Holloway.

He had also sold two more medicinal cures to the doctor when he had gone to see her. And just two days ago, Holloway had officially released the Hepatitis C cure he had that long ago.

Ever since then, his name had been plastered across news headlines. The world was finally waking up to his work, and his hospital had been receiving a lot of government funding since the country could benefit from selling the cure to other countries.

Darren wondered what Dr. Richard Morrison thought about it? Did he ever imagine his college friend at Harvard would be the one to find the cure for Hepatitis C.

He sighed. Speaking of the cures, even with the two he had sold, they had only brought in an additional $13 million for the renovation fund.

Thankfully, the emergency investments in Apple and the Housing Market were steadily climbing, thanks to Rachel and Kara's work. They had done a fantastic job, but Darren knew the profits wouldn't arrive in time.

That was why he had planned ahead.

He didn't really think that the investments would be done in time to fund the renovations.

His real strategy was using the Elite Credit Status reward the system had granted him to secure the Helios Dome renovation on loan.

But Darren also knows how strict the system was on loans and debt, that was why he had prepared these emergency investments to ensure he would have the funds to cover the debt before it was even due.

Whatever cash remained — and he was sure it was plenty — he would put into the Bitcoin Investment funding.

On the last day of this month, it would happen.

Darren would throw his first ever party for the grand opening of the newly transformed Helios Dome, now officially renamed the Steele Complex.

That, along with the official launch of Steele Investments, would mark the next stage of his vision and the completion of the Start of an Empire Quest.

Darren exhaled slowly, leaning further back against the pool's edge.

It was funny, he had almost forgotten to enjoy the wealth he had accumulated. Since becoming a millionaire, all he had been doing was running from one project to the next, chasing objectives without ever truly stopping to revel in what he had built.

Darren sunk deeper into the pool.

Gladys arrived, carrying a silver tray with a fresh assortment of fruits and a glass of fine wine. She placed it beside him with practiced grace.

Darren got out of the water and returned to the edge.

"Thank you," he said, lifting the wine glass to his lips. The rich flavor coated his tongue as he let himself relax, just for a moment.

Tomorrow, the world — or at least those who cared — would know the truth about FuglyDuckling.