Roy strolled across the sun-drenched campus lawn, casually tossing a worn baseball from one hand to the other. The leather slapped softly against his palm with every flip, the rhythmic sound cutting through the distant chatter of students. Marsh walked beside him, matching his stride.
"So you gonna tell me or what?" Marsh asked, elbowing him with a grin. "You said you took Leo's girlfriend out yesterday. What happened? Spill."
Roy caught the ball with a soft thwack and gave a lazy smile, the afternoon light glinting off the gold chain at his throat. "Nothing happened, bro. What do you think I'd do with another guy's girlfriend? We just ate, talked, and went our separate ways."
Marsh let out a low, knowing chuckle and playfully kicked Roy's shin. "Like hell nothing happened. Don't I know you, punk? You must've already banged her brains out by now."
Roy shook his head, the smirk never leaving his lips, but inside his thoughts turned sharp. Like that girl would spread her legs so easily.
Just then, Marsh whistled low and nodded ahead. "Roy, look — your date's over there… eating Leo's face."
Roy's gaze snapped forward. For a split second, his jaw tightened, and his fingers clenched hard around the baseball until the stitching bit into his skin. A dark, possessive heat flared in his chest, but he quickly masked it with an easy grin. The group changed direction, footsteps crunching on the dry grass as they approached.
"Well, well…" Roy called out, voice smooth and teasing, though it carried a razor's edge. "Look at the love birds. Couldn't keep your hands off each other even on campus, huh?"
He saw it immediately — the visible tension that flashed across Jennifer's face the moment she recognized him. Her shoulders stiffened, her fingers tightened around Leo's hand, and a faint flush crept up her neck. That small reaction sent a sharp, satisfied thrill through him, warm and addictive.
Leo glanced up, calm as ever. "Dude, privacy, man."
Roy laughed lightly, raising his hands in mock surrender, though his grip on the baseball never loosened. "Haha, my bad. Talked without thinking." He tilted his head, eyes flicking between them. "Anyway, Leo — we've got a little thing with some bastards from the business department tonight. You coming?"
Leo checked the time on his phone and shook his head. "Sorry, guys. I need to head out. There's a part-time job I applied for that I have to check on."
Roy's smile stayed perfectly friendly, but his eyes sharpened. "Can't help it then. If only you had more money, bro, we could hang out all the time."
Leo laughed easily, the hidden jab sliding right off him like water. "If only…"
Marsh clapped his hands. "Let's go then. We don't have much time."
Roy nodded, but before turning away, he looked straight at Jennifer and flashed her a warm, lingering smile. "See you around, Jennifer."
Jennifer side-eyed Leo for a brief second, then gave a nervous smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Yeah… see you."
The group started walking again, the baseball now slapping harder against Roy's palm. One of his friends shook his head. "Damn, if only Leo joined us. That guy could smash those bastards single-handedly."
Another laughed. "Yeah, bro's a ghost on the court. You can't even stop him."
A third sighed. "Aish… so what if he's good at sports and girls? He can't all be rich like Roy."
The conversation died into an awkward silence. The only sound was the rhythmic thwack… thwack… thwack of the baseball hitting Roy's palm — faster now, sharper.
Roy's grip tightened until his knuckles turned white and the leather creaked under the pressure.
So if I didn't have my wealth, I couldn't even compare to Leo, huh?
We'll see about that.
**
Roy and his friends eventually wandered off, their laughter fading into the campus noise. Leo watched them go for a moment, then turned back to Jennifer. She was still holding his hand, but her grip had loosened.
"Everything okay?" he asked quietly.
Jennifer forced a small smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. She let go of his hand and brushed a stray strand of silver-gray hair behind her ear.
"Yeah… I'm fine," she said, voice a little too bright. "I actually have some plans with my friends this afternoon. We're supposed to work on a group project. I totally forgot."
Leo studied her for a second, sensing the slight tension in her shoulders, but he didn't push. "Alright. I'll catch you later then."
Jennifer nodded quickly and leaned in to give him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Text me, okay?"
Leo watched Jennifer disappear into the crowd of students, her glossy black skirt swaying with each hurried step. He stood there for a moment longer, the echo of her words still lingering in his ears. Then he turned and headed toward the parking lot where his old silver Honda waited under the afternoon sun.
He slid behind the wheel and started the familiar, tired engine. The car rattled to life with its usual reluctant cough. As he pulled out of the university grounds and drove the short distance toward the private parking garage near his house, his mind churned.
She said she had plans with her friends… He knew it was a lie. Or at least, only half a truth. Roy was probably already waiting somewhere, ready to pull her deeper into that glittering world of luxury and ease.
Leo's grip tightened on the worn steering wheel. Part of him hated it — hated the idea of another man's hands on her, hated the slow corruption he was allowing to happen. But another part, the colder, hungrier part, reminded him why he had to let it continue.
If I stop it now, I go back to being numb. No erections. No pleasure. No real life. The System had given him a way to feel again, to experience everything he had been denied for years. And that came with a price.
As much as I hate it… I have to let it happen...For now.
He parked the old Honda on the street just outside the garage entrance, the engine ticking as it cooled. He sat there for a few seconds, staring at the concrete building ahead, then stepped out and walked inside.
The echo of his sneakers against the concrete floor was the only sound in the quiet garage. His heart picked up speed as he approached the spot the System had indicated.
There it was.
Under the cool fluorescent lights sat the 2022 BMW M340i in full Matte Black. The aggressive lines of the body caught every shadow, making the car look like it had been carved from midnight itself. Low stance, wide fenders, subtle M badges glinting on the rear. It was sleek, dangerous, and unmistakably expensive.
Leo stopped a few feet away, key fob clutched tightly in his hand. He ran his palm slowly over the hood. The paint felt smooth and cold under his fingers, almost unreal.
Just days ago, I was driving that beat-up Honda that rattled every time I hit a bump… and now this.
He pressed the fob. The lights flashed once with a satisfying chirp. He opened the driver's door and slid into the seat.
The interior wrapped around him like a glove — black leather with red contrast stitching, digital cockpit glowing to life the moment he settled in. The new-car smell hit him hard: rich leather, faint metallic tang, and that unmistakable scent of luxury. He gripped the steering wheel, feeling the perfect weight of it in his hands.
Leo leaned back in the seat and closed his eyes for a second, letting it all sink in. A low, disbelieving laugh escaped him.
"A fucking BMW M340i…" he whispered, voice cracking with disbelief and excitement. "Custom matte black."
He started the engine.
The twin-turbo inline-six roared to life with a deep, aggressive growl that vibrated through the entire cabin and straight into his chest. The sound was raw, powerful, and addictive. Read the latest chapters at novelping.com.
For the first time in his life, Leo Cross sat behind the wheel of something that truly felt like it belonged to him.
He revved the engine once, letting the growl echo through the empty garage. A wide, almost feral grin spread across his face as he shifted into drive and pulled out smoothly. As he passed the old silver Honda still parked on the street, he glanced at it one last time.
"You still have some job to do, buddy," he murmured under his breath. "I'll come for you tomorrow."
Leo gripped the steering wheel, and the difference hit him instantly. The leather was thick, butter-soft, and perfectly weighted — nothing like the cracked, faded plastic of his old Honda.
The accelerator responded with silky smoothness under his foot, no lag, no rattle, just pure, responsive power. Though it was one of a million cars on the road, for Leo it felt like a dream he had never dared to imagine.
He eased the BMW through the quiet streets, the twin-turbo engine purring low and throaty beneath him. A faint smile tugged at his lips as the city lights blurred past the tinted windows. For once, the weight on his shoulders felt lighter.
His phone suddenly rang, the screen lighting up on the dashboard.
Trouble – Adam
Leo let out a short breath and answered through the car's Bluetooth, his voice calm but edged.
"Adam," he said flatly, "what trouble did you bring this time?"
There was a heavy, nervous silence on the other end. Then Adam's voice came through, shaky and forced.
"Hehe… Bro, it's really not my fault this time… I swear—"
Before Leo could respond, a deep, gravelly voice cut in, cold and threatening.
"Kid. If you want to see your friend breathing, you'll get your ass to the Eclipse Club. Right now."
Leo's eyes narrowed dangerously. His grip on the wheel tightened until the leather creaked.
"You can keep him."
He ended the call with a sharp tap, the line going dead.
The BMW continued straight for half a second before Leo smoothly spun the wheel, executing a clean U-turn. The tires chirped sharply against the asphalt as the car accelerated hard in the opposite direction.
Leo exhaled slowly, one hand still locked on the perfect leather wheel.
"I curse the moment we became friends, Adam…"
The matte-black M340i surged forward into the growing night, the engine's low growl echoing his own reluctant resolve.
/c/DevilsWhisper