Born Into Villain's Family: I Have a 200\% Rebate System-Chapter 564: Second Chance?

A bitter smile formed on his lips, fragile and broken.

"Of course..." he whispered to himself, his voice barely audible.

Tears slipped down his cheeks, warm against the cool night air.

He turned around slowly.

Each step felt heavier than the last.

’I knew this would happen someday...’

But knowing it... Didn’t make it hurt any less. Not even a little.

The night swallowed his figure as he walked away, leaving behind the quiet scene that had just shattered his heart.

That night, as he lay flat on his back, staring into the suffocating darkness of the ceiling, he slowly let his eyelids fall shut.

’What if... what if everything could just change?’

A fragile hope flickered inside him, trembling like a dying flame. ’Maybe... just maybe... when I open my eyes, Olivia will be there again.’

Regret came crashing down on him like a relentless tide. He clenched his jaw, his chest tightening painfully.

’Why didn’t I watch her more closely... why didn’t I stay near her... we were in the same high school... the same place... the same time...’

The memories twisted inside him, sharp and merciless.

’If I had just taken one step forward... maybe I could have held onto her... maybe I wouldn’t have lost her...’

The more he thought, the deeper the regret sank its claws into him, suffocating him until he could barely breathe. In the end, exhausted by his own thoughts, he could only surrender to the darkness and let sleep take him.

..................

When he opened his eyes again, the world felt... wrong.

He sat up abruptly, his heartbeat quickening, his fingers brushing against the rough fabric of the bedsheet beneath him.

His gaze swept across the room, and his breath hitched.

This place was both familiar... and unfamiliar.

The worn-out walls, the small window with chipped paint, the faint creaking of the ceiling fan, this was his childhood room. The rented house his family used to live in years ago.

’How...?’

Confusion surged through him as he quickly got out of bed and rushed downstairs.

The moment he stepped into the living area, he froze.

The soft clatter of utensils echoed from the kitchen, accompanied by the warm aroma of freshly cooked food. His mother stood there, moving with a calm, practiced rhythm as she stirred something in the pan.

His father sat nearby, flipping through a newspaper, the faint rustling sound filling the room.

Everything looked... normal. Too normal.

He swallowed hard, his throat dry, and stepped forward.

"Mom... Dad..."

His voice trembled slightly, betraying the storm inside him. Both of them looked up at him, their expressions shifting into mild confusion.

"What’s the date today?"

His father frowned, lowering the newspaper slightly.

"8th January 20XX... what kind of question is that?"

The words struck him like lightning.

His eyes widened, his pupils trembling as realization dawned upon him.

’Five years... I came back... I really came back...’

A faint shimmer of excitement flickered in his eyes, quickly replacing the shock.

’Reborn... I’ve been reborn...!’

Without hesitation, he rushed toward the corner, searching for a mirror, but there was none. Not even a small reflective surface.

’No mirror...?’

The thought felt strange, but he pushed it aside. It didn’t matter right now. There was only one thing he needed to do.

’Olivia.’

Since they were in the same high school, he could meet her. This time, he wouldn’t hesitate. This time, he wouldn’t lose her.

.............................

The classroom buzzed with quiet chatter, the faint scraping of chairs and murmured conversations filling the air.

The moment he stepped inside, his eyes locked onto her. Olivia.

She was sitting beside her best friend, laughing softly, her expression light and carefree as if nothing in the world could touch her.

The sight made his heart skip violently. ’She’s... really here...’

His chest tightened as he slowly walked toward her, each step feeling heavier than the last.

Sensing someone’s presence, Olivia turned her head slightly, her eyes meeting his.

For a moment, she seemed surprised. Then, a faint blush crept onto her cheeks, and she gave him a shy smile. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"Hello, Miller."

Her voice was gentle, soft like a whisper brushing against his ears. Miller’s eyes lit up instantly.

"Hello, Olivia."

He couldn’t stop staring at her, as if afraid she might disappear if he looked away. Gathering his courage, he spoke again.

"Would you mind... if I sit here?"

Before Olivia could respond, her best friend smirked mischievously.

"Oh, I think I suddenly remembered I have somewhere to be," she said with a teasing grin before standing up and walking away, giving Olivia a quick wink.

Olivia’s cheeks turned even redder. Miller sat down beside her, his gaze lingering on her face.

She fidgeted slightly under his stare before glancing at him.

"Do you... need something?"

He nodded without hesitation, his voice steady despite the storm in his chest. "A date."

Olivia blinked, clearly caught off guard. Then, to his surprise, she let out a soft laugh.

"Well... if it’s you, Miller... I think I’m ready."

His lips curved into a smile. "Then let’s go."

She hesitated for a brief second before nodding.

..........................

The small coffee shop was filled with the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee, the warm lighting casting a soft glow over everything.

They sat across from each other, talking, laughing, sharing moments that felt both new and strangely familiar.

As time passed, Miller found himself completely captivated.

’She’s... even more beautiful than I remember...’

Not just her appearance, but her kindness, her warmth, everything about her drew him in. For the first time in what felt like forever, he felt... happy.

But time was cruel. When it was finally time to leave, a reluctant heaviness settled in his chest.

’I don’t want this to end...’

Still, he forced himself to return home.

.....................

The moment he stepped inside, something felt... off. His mother was still in the kitchen, cooking. His father was still sitting there, reading the newspaper.

Exactly the same. Not a single thing had changed. A chill ran down his spine.

"Why... haven’t you moved since morning?"

Both of them looked at him, confused.

"What are you talking about?" his father replied, frowning. "It’s already evening."

Miller’s breath hitched. Something wasn’t right. This wasn’t how things used to be.

His father should have come home from work, loosened his tie, walked through the door, and taken off his shoes. That was how it always happened.

But now... it felt like everything was stuck. Repeating. Artificial.

A disturbing realization crept into his mind.

’This... isn’t real...’

His heart sank. ’This isn’t a second chance... this is just... a dream...’

The moment that thought settled in... He opened his eyes.

He was back. Back to reality. Back to being twenty-one.

Tears welled up in his eyes as he stared blankly at the ceiling, his chest rising and falling unevenly.

The dream had felt so real. So vivid. So perfect. ’I... actually got to live it...’

A bitter smile formed on his lips. For a brief moment, he had experienced the life he never had the chance to live.

He remained there, unmoving, lost in his thoughts.

He had read novels where protagonists were given a second chance, where they could return to the past and fix everything.

’Why can’t that happen to me...?’

Just as that thought crossed his mind, his phone rang.

The sharp sound broke the silence. He reached for it and answered the call. From the other end came Emily’s calm voice.

"Miller, Miss Dawn is inviting you for a meeting."

He paused for a second before replying, "Alright... I’ll come."

The call ended. As he lowered the phone, unease crept into his chest.

’Did she find out that my plan is nothing but rubbish...?’

His thoughts spiraled quickly. ’Is she going to ask for a refund...?’

The more he thought about it, the more anxious he became.

.....................

When he arrived at the meeting location, he saw her. Miss Dawn sat elegantly, with Emily standing beside her.

He took a seat across from them, his posture stiff. Dawn looked at him calmly before speaking.

"Miller, I want your shares."

He froze. "I want to buy all of them."

For a moment, he was completely stunned. Then, after a brief pause, he nodded.

"Alright."

Without hesitation, he handed over all his remaining shares. In return, he received another one million dollars.

A small smile appeared on his face as he stood up. "Thank you."

He turned and began to walk away. Just as he reached the door, Dawn’s voice stopped him.

"In the future, don’t come begging for them back."

Miller waved his hand dismissively without turning around. ’Beg?’

A faint smirk appeared on his lips. ’Even if that company succeeds... it won’t make more than a fraction of this.’

With that thought, he walked away without a single regret.

He had already earned a few million dollars before. Now, with Miss Dawn handing him another one million dollars for his remaining shares, his total wealth had increased yet again. And yet...