Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
The rhythmic ticking of the clock was deafening in the suffocating silence of the small, dimly lit apartment. Ethan Vance sat on the cold wooden floor, his back pressed against the peeling wallpaper. His hands trembled as he clutched the final notice from the bank—a stark reminder of his colossal failure.
"FINAL WARNING: FAILURE TO REPAY WILL RESULT IN LEGAL ACTION."
A bitter laugh escaped his lips.
"So, this is it…?"
Ethan had always believed in the power of digital wealth. While others worked their bodies to the bone, he saw the future in stocks, crypto, and online investments. He had borrowed big, taken risks—trusted the wrong person.
And that trust had killed him.
"I swear on my life, Ethan, my dad will invest in your project!" His best friend, Nolan Hayes, had grinned just months ago, shaking his hand. "We're in this together, bro. Just take the loan—you'll be rich in no time!"
A lie.
A cold, calculated betrayal.
