Bitcoin Billionaire: I Regressed to Invest in the First Bitcoin!-Chapter 89: The Pendulum (3)

A quiet pause.

Darren leaned back, crossing his legs. "So your proof is that I used to have an enthusiasm for crypto in college. Which by the way, I already mentioned in the beginning of this conversation? This is quite awkward if I'm being honest, Mr. Anders. I'm not any mystery investor. When I make moves, I'd like people to know. Brings traction. Traction helps with business."

Ryan's fingers drummed lightly against the table. He wasn't buying it. "But the paper trail doesn't just lead to Malegreen Street. It led straight to your house. Right on your roof. Right... where... you... live."

Ryan tilted his head, still smiling. "What now? Are you about to say you don't live there?"

Darren's lips quirked up, slow and knowing. "I mean, yeah I don't."

Ryan's face fell flat to confusion. "What?"

Darren let the words roll off his tongue, as if tasting it. Then, effortlessly, he tilted his head toward Amelia. "Maybe your assistant could be a dear and confirm something for me?"

Amelia didn't move, but her eyes sharpened.

Darren folded his hands together. "I don't live in Malegreen anymore. Not since last month. So I know that what you just said is either a straight up lie or an unfortunate misunderstanding."

Ryan's brow twitched. 'What is happening right now?'

Darren continued to act ignorant and honest. "I live in Greenbaby now."

"Greenbaby? The exclusive street?"

"Yes." He pulled out his phone with a practiced ease, scrolling for a moment before selecting an image in his gallery and placing the phone face-up on the table. "Here. The property records. The house in Greenbaby, recently purchased. Bought under my mother's name."

Ryan's gaze flickered to Amelia. She had pulled out a laptop and was already typing.

They waited for her to get done while continuing to stare off. Darren maintained his phlegmatic expression of honesty, while Ryan was slowly finding it difficult to mask his frustration with his serene smile.

Then, Amelia's voice, cool and professional, broke the silence. "Sir, it is true. The property had been for sale for close to a year, and was sold last month, under the name… Pamela Steele."

Ryan's jaw tightened slightly. 'Pamela Steele is the same woman Gareth says is the boy's mother. The one now being treated in Holloway's hospital. Is this boy intentionally working with enemy companies? Am I interested in him for the wrong reasons?'

Darren spread his hands. "Like I said, that's my mother. Which means—" He gestured lazily. "I haven't even stepped foot in Malegreen for weeks. And yet, your hacker traced this so-called Bitcoin purchase directly to Malegreen. Worse—" his voice took on an air of mock disappointment, "—you even claimed it led straight to my house."

Ryan said nothing.

Darren chuckled, shaking his head. "And here I thought MWMO prided itself on due diligence. How embarrassing this must be for you, Mr. Anders."

Ryan's fingers curled against the table.

Darren wasn't just denying it— he was mocking him. And the worst part?

It was working.

Ryan stole a glance at Amelia. She wasn't looking at him, but the stiffness in her posture told him everything.

He glared at Darren. 'This audacious scallywag. Is he really not FuglyDuckling?'

Darren exhaled, leaning forward now, elbows resting on the table. His voice softened, almost sympathetic. "In fact, the first time I stepped foot in Malegreen in a month was today. I needed to reclaim some old files. And, as luck would have it, I ran into Amelia. Great timing on her part."

Ryan felt a slow burn coil in his gut. Was this all just a complete coincidence? That Rico Evans just happened to say the exact name of the person Gareth Smithers had mentioned.

He had decided to ignore Gareth and treat Darren like an ally. At least, until he had completely drained him.

Whoever FuglyDuckling was, Ryan had believed that the person was so extremely wealthy, that they would spend millions on an unproven and unsafe investment.

He believed that since the person was a new name, it was a chance to manipulate and lead them to wherever he wanted, becoming rich off shady investments he pointed to.

But what was this now? This boy seemed more interested in challenging him and their ally companies than in anything concerning crypto.

Taking away his mother from Morrison's Hospitals and going to a rival? Changing the contract of an ally company and starting a revolution because of it.

Ryan had ignored all this because he wanted this boy to be the mystery investor so badly. But he was just a nuisance

Suddenly, the math wasn't mathing.

Nothing was lining up anymore.

It wasn't just the house alone. Darren's entire demeanor was wrong.

There was no guilt, no hesitation, no panic. He wasn't scrambling to cover tracks. He was comfortable, perfectly at ease, like a man watching a movie without any prior knowledge of it.

Was he just that good of an actor?

Ryan could feel it slipping. His mask.

Calm. Remain... calm. Pretend.

He inhaled sharply, schooling his expression. "Then clearly, this was a misunderstanding."

Darren lifted one brow. "Clearly."

Ryan hated this.

Darren had something else to say. "I actually thought this meeting was about something else. You see, I'm launching a startup. Thought you might be interested in managing my wealth."

Ryan stared at him.

Then, he let out a slow, deliberate sigh.

'This little shit.'

He cleared his throat, smoothing his tie. "Mr. Steele. Moon Wealth Management does not entertain… startups."

Darren side-glanced at Amelia, as if to say told you so.

With his teeth clenched, Ryan forced himself to accept the shameful defeat, exhaling through his nose once more. He turned to Amelia. "We're done here."

She nodded, rising smoothly.

Ryan was already on his feet, adjusting his suit as he started to leave.

Darren stopped him again. "But wait."

Ryan stopped. Right beside Darren.

Darren lifted his head to him, and suddenly, that innocence was all gone. It was just the face of a dubious, scheming son of a bitch.

"I thought you were also going to try to pay me a settlement."

Ryan froze.

Slowly, he turned back.

Darren's smile was still there, but his eyes?

They were bloodshot cold.

"When I said I went back to Malegreen to get some files… didn't you wonder what was in those files?"

A silence, sharp as a blade.

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The singer ended her song with a beautiful high note, and everyone clapped for the wonderful performance.

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A/N: Had some spare time in my hands, and rather than writing like the lazy SOB I am, I spent it in creating character arts for all the characters in this novel. The aux chapter will be available later today with all the art, please check it out later. Characters will be added each time they appear for the first time in the novel. Whether major or minor.