San Fernando Valley, Thomas Clinic.
“Waaah… waaah…”
A sharp, wailing cry pierced the air.
On the hospital bed, a blonde, blue eyed woman in her twenties, still dressed in a maternity gown, lay drenched in sweat, utterly drained of strength.
“Rosalie, congratulations.
It’s a boy!”
Mark felt himself being lifted into someone’s arms.
A woman’s voice, bright with joy, reached his ears.
“Daphne, please, please contact Hollywood Weekly for me.
Tell them I have news big enough to shock the entire nation…”
Another voice spoke up, weaker and hoarser than the first.
“Rosalie, are you sure you want to do this now?
You just gave birth.
You need to rest!”
“No.
It has to be now.
I’m fine, Daphne.”
“All right, then.”
Mark felt himself being set back down.
Footsteps faded into the distance.
“Sweetheart, we’re about to be rich.
I swear, I’ll give you the life of a nobleman.
You won’t have to squeeze into some cheap apartment with me…”
The hoarse voiced woman leaned close to his ear, her tone gentle but firm.
*What…
what is happening to me?*
Mark struggled to open his eyes, taking in the shabby little hospital room and the striking but unfamiliar woman lying on the bed beside him.
But he distinctly remembered drinking with a group of coworkers the night before.
How had he woken up somewhere so utterly foreign?
He forced his arm to move and saw two small, pink, chubby fists.
*I…
I’ve been reborn as a baby!*
His eyes went wide with disbelief.
Mark never imagined that a plot device straight out of a novel would actually happen to him.
His infant brain wasn’t fully developed yet, and before long his thoughts grew hazy, pulling him back down into sleep.
“Hello.
You’re Ms.
Rosalie Payne, correct?
I’m Marcus Dalton, a reporter with Hollywood Weekly.”
“I’d love to hear what big news you’ve got.
Rest assured, if what you’re offering has real value, our paper will pay generously for it.”
A low, courteous male voice jolted the sleeping Mark awake.
Any ordinary infant startled from sleep like that would have burst into tears immediately.
But Mark simply opened his eyes, quietly studying the sharply dressed middle aged man who had suddenly appeared beside the bed.
“Yes, I’m Rosalie Payne.”
With Daphne’s help, Rosalie pushed herself up into a sitting position, leaning back against the pillows.
“Mr.
Dalton, this is my son.
His name is…
Mark.
Yes, his name is Mark.”
Rosalie gazed at Mark with love in her eyes, then turned to Marcus.
“Mark’s father is a wealthy man.
A billionaire, in fact!”
“Oh?
Is that so?”
Marcus seemed to perk up with interest.
He pulled over a chair and sat down beside the bed.
He gave the baby in the crib a scrutinizing look, then turned back to Rosalie.
“Ms.
Payne, would you care to tell me who little Mark’s father is?”
“Tony Stark.
Mark’s father is Tony Stark!”
Rosalie declared, her expression solemn.
“Who?
Who did you say?”
Marcus looked as though he couldn’t trust his own ears, and asked again.
“The billionaire.
The president of Stark Industries, Tony Stark!”
“Ms.
Payne, do you have any proof this child is Tony Stark’s?
You should know, every year there are eight or nine hundred women claiming to be Tony Stark’s girlfriend, or claiming to have slept with him, or even claiming to have borne his child!”
“Everything I’ve told you is true!”
Rosalie grew anxious.
“If you don’t believe me, I can have Mark take a paternity test with Tony Stark!”
“Do you have any idea who Mr.
Stark is?
Why would he spare a single moment for a paternity test just because you said so?
If you can’t produce evidence, then I’m afraid I’ll have to take my leave.
Let’s not waste each other’s time.”
Marcus shook his head, looking as though he’d already lost interest, and rose to his feet.
“Mr.
Dalton, I’m not lying to you!
We could find a way to get a sample of Tony Stark’s hair or saliva, then bring it to the hospital to test against Mark’s.
I don’t think that would be too difficult, would it?
Once this story breaks, I guarantee Hollywood Weekly’s sales will skyrocket…”
Rosalie’s words came out in an urgent rush.
“Ha!
Ms.
Payne, I don’t know if doing what you’re suggesting would send our sales skyrocketing, but I do know Stark Industries’ legal team would sue our paper straight into bankruptcy!”
Marcus paid her no more mind and turned to walk straight out of the room.
“Mr.
Dalton, Mr.
Dalton…”
Watching Marcus leave without so much as a backward glance, Rosalie could only slump back against the bed in despair.
“Rosalie, you just gave birth.
You need to rest now, you can’t let your emotions run this high!”
Seeing Rosalie looking so utterly defeated, Daphne, still in her nurse’s uniform, hurried over to comfort her.
“Daphne, you have to believe me.
Mark’s father really is Tony Stark!”
Rosalie gripped Daphne’s arm, her voice trembling with emotion.
“Okay, okay, I believe you, Rosalie.”
Daphne soothed her gently.
Lying in his crib, Mark had taken in every word of the exchange.
By now, his mind was completely overwhelmed with shock.
*I…
I’ve been reborn into the world of Marvel?*
The thought of all those superpowered villains wreaking havoc across the world, and the string of deadly crises still waiting to unfold, filled Mark with despair.
This world was simply not a kind place for an ordinary person.
Compared to all that, being Tony Stark’s illegitimate son suddenly didn’t seem like such a big deal.
Besides, without solid proof, Rosalie would probably never get Tony Stark to acknowledge him in this lifetime, let alone let him inherit a single cent of that billion dollar fortune.
*Buzz.*
Just then, as the sun dipped toward the west, a beam of light slipped through the window and fell across Mark where he lay in his crib.
**[Sunlight Points +1]**
A line of text suddenly appeared in his mind.
Alongside it, an image surfaced.
A comic book figure in a blue bodysuit and red trunks, a red cape billowing behind him, and a bold “S” emblazoned across his chest.
*Wait, isn’t this the comic book I bought for my niece before I died?
Don’t tell me it came with me into this life, and became my cheat power!*
Staring at the glowing image of Superman in his mind, Mark was struck with a rush of astonished delight.
He focused on the figure, and more information unfolded before him.
**[Sunlight Points: 1]**
**[Superpower Unlocked: Super Brain]**
**[Super Brain LV0 (0/100)]**