Chapter 30: Rising Numbers

Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Rising Numbers "Fairy Godmother?" she muttered under her breath, her lips curling into a faint smile. "What is this, a prank?" Curiosity got the better of her, and she carefully opened the box. Inside, she found a delicate gold ring, that looked exactly like one of the ones she owned. The only problem was...it looked as if it was made from pure gold! Adriana was nervous and instantly asked her mother and siblings, but all of them asked clueless. At last, she could only accept it. Does a fairy godmother, truly exist? ...... Aurora smirked inwardly and instantly stood up and walked up to the computer. She filled out the details. What did you buy? And for whom?: Adriana, pure gold ring. How much did it cost?: $593 She clicked on the submit button. Soon a line appeared on the screen. "Transaction verified. 200% rebate credited: $1,186. Your new balance is $1,186." Aurora then filled in the money spent on Theodore and the new balance became $1200. "Yes! Yes! I have hit the $1200 mark!" She scrolled through her mental checklist: Mom’s "vintage" handbag, Theo’s faux leather jacket, Dad’s "Rolex" from the flea market... So for the next few weeks, like a busy worker bee, Aurora focused on replacing every knock-offs from the house into real one. First, she replaced the vintage bag with a real vintage bag and got a rebate of $2000. Then she replaced the faux leather jacket for $2000 and got a rebate of $4000. However, the money was still not enough to buy a real Rolex. Aurora could only shift her shift and replace all the fake jewelry with real gold. In this way, her family members could redeem the money by selling the gold rings. In the end, she was able to jump from $4000 to a whopping $8000. Aurora leaned back in her chair, staring at the impressive balance on her screen. Eight thousand dollars. A slow grin spread across her face. She had done it—turned a simple rebate system into a golden opportunity, quite literally. Her heart pounded with excitement as she thought about what to do next. The Rolex was finally within reach, but a part of her hesitated. If she played this right, she could push the balance even higher. No need to rush, she thought. So, she made a decision. Instead of splurging on the Rolex immediately, she continued her meticulous process. She carefully picked out elegant gold necklaces and rings, ensuring that each purchase had the highest possible rebate. She subtly encouraged her family to sell some of the "mysterious" real gold items that had appeared in their possessions. They didn’t question it too much—after all, who would complain about free luxury? With each transaction, Aurora watched her balance double, triple, skyrocket. $8,000 turned into $16,000. $16,000 became $32,000. By the time she hit $50,000, her hands trembled on the keyboard. This wasn’t just a game anymore. She was sitting on a fortune. With a deep breath, she clicked on the search bar and typed: "Luxury watches – Authentic Rolex." This time, she wasn’t looking for a fake. She was going for the real deal. Her mouse hovered over a pristine Rolex Oyster Perpetual, its polished surface gleaming in the product images. Price: $45,000. The next day, she went to the nearest Rolex store and bought a Rolex for her father. She asked the saleswoman to deliver it to the address and instructed her not to mention the buyer’s details to the family. In a good mood, Aurora returned to her home. That evening, Aurora sat in the living room, pretending to scroll through her phone, though in reality, she was anxiously awaiting the delivery. Every distant sound of a car pulling into the driveway made her heart race with anticipation. But before the expected knock on the door came, the front door opened with a quiet creak, and Adam stepped in. Aurora looked up, immediately sensing something was off. Her father wasn’t his usual self—there was no warm smile, no tired yet content sigh of relief after a long day at work. Instead, his shoulders slumped slightly, and his eyes, usually sharp and steady, held a dullness she hadn’t seen before. She stood up from the couch, concern replacing her excitement. "Dad? You’re home early," she noted, walking toward him. "Did something happen?" Adam barely met her gaze, shaking his head. "It’s nothing, sweetheart." His voice was quiet, almost resigned. Aurora frowned. Her father was a man of few words, but this—this was different. There was an invisible weight pressing down on him, something unspoken yet heavy. Without another word, she hurried to the kitchen, poured a glass of cold water, and returned to him. "Here, Dad," she said softly, holding out the glass. Adam looked at her, his lips tugging into a weak smile. He took the water, his fingers slightly trembling as he sipped. "Thank you, Aurora." But there was something in his expression—an unspoken grief, an exhaustion that water wouldn’t fix. Aurora wanted to ask again, to push him for an answer, but she knew her father well enough. He wouldn’t say anything unless he was ready. So, she swallowed her questions and let the silence stretch between them. Later that night The family gathered around the dining table, the air thick with the warmth of a home-cooked meal. Aurora watched as her mother, Mary, placed a fresh serving of roasted vegetables onto Adam’s plate, her eyes flickering with concern. She had noticed it too—his silence, his lack of appetite, the absent-minded way he picked at his food without taking a proper bite. Finally, Mary placed her fork down and broke the silence. "Adam," she said gently, yet firmly, "what’s wrong?" Adam exhaled slowly, his fingers tightening around his utensils. He hesitated for a moment as if weighing whether to keep his burden to himself. But then, he set his fork aside and straightened his posture, his expression grim yet composed. "I lost my job," he said quietly.