My Life Changed with the Unlimited System

Jessica stepped into the warehouse, her heart pounding. Jordan stayed close beside her, eyes scanning every corner of the shadowy space.

The air was heavy, thick with tension. The dim overhead lights barely lit the room, casting long, distorted shadows along the cracked concrete walls.

Standing in the center was Donald.

The moment he saw them, his eyes narrowed.

But then his expression shifted. Irritation flickered across his face.

"What the hell is this?" Donald snapped, his voice echoing sharply. "Who are you supposed to be?"

His glare darted from Jessica to Jordan, and then back again. "You're not Ethan."

His eyes flared with anger as he turned on Verran, his voice rising. "You idiot! This isn't him!"

Verran, standing off to the side, shrugged and smiled as if it didn't bother him. His smirk was smug, lazy.

"Not Ethan?" he said, raising a brow. "Huh. Doesn't really matter, does it?"

Truth be told, he hadn't even looked carefully at the photo Donald gave him earlier. It felt like a waste of time then, but the scolding still stung.

Without warning, he shot forward.

In a blink, Verran grabbed Jordan by the collar and lifted him off the ground like he weighed nothing.

Jordan's breath caught. His feet dangled inches above the floor.

He didn't even have time to react.

'That speed… he's like Mark,' Jordan thought, struggling to move.

Verran's green eyes gleamed with menace as he tightened his grip.

"So who the hell are you?" he growled. "Talk."

Jordan forced himself to stay calm.

He raised his hands slowly, trying not to show the pain in his voice.

"Easy," he said. "I'm just as important as Ethan."

Verran frowned, clearly unconvinced. His grip didn't loosen.

Jordan smirked. "You hurt me… he'll come running. That's a promise."

Donald stepped forward then, slow and deliberate. His footsteps echoed across the room.

He looked at Jordan like someone studying a piece of furniture. He calculating, but unimpressed.

"Is that so?" Donald said, his voice laced with amusement.

He reached into his coat and pulled out a knife.

The blade glinted under the warehouse lights.

Jessica's breath caught in her throat. Her eyes widened in horror.

"Don't," she whispered, barely able to speak. "Let's talk, Donald. I can give you money."

Donald ignored her.

He stopped in front of Jordan and raised the knife to his abdomen. The tip hovered just above his side.

Jessica's whole body went stiff. She wanted to move, wanted to run to Jordan, but her legs wouldn't cooperate. She was frozen in place.

Donald tilted his head slightly and smiled.

"Let's see if you're telling the truth," he said softly.

Then, without warning, he stabbed the knife forward.

The blade sank into Jordan's side.

He gasped in pain, eyes wide. Blood bloomed across his shirt, soaking the fabric.

Jessica screamed.

"No! Stop! Please don't!"

Her hands flew to her mouth. She took a step forward but didn't know what to do, how to help. Her whole body trembled as she watched blood drip from Jordan's side.

But Jordan didn't scream.

He gritted his teeth and stayed upright, breathing hard, refusing to give Donald the satisfaction.

Donald slowly pulled the knife back, letting the blood trail behind it. Then he turned away, wiping the blade clean on his coat as if nothing had happened.

Jessica's heart pounded louder than anything in the room.

"Acting tough, huh?" Verran said as he let go, and Jordan fell to the ground, holding his side as he tried to ease the pain.

Donald stepped back, still smiling, as he cleaned the blood off the blade with a handkerchief.

"Let's say you are telling the truth," Donald said in a casual and mocking tone. "Now Ethan really will come running. That is… if he cares."

Jessica knelt beside Jordan, tears rolling down her cheeks as she looked at his wound.

"Please, don't hurt him anymore!" she begged as her eyes fixed on Donald, her voice shaky.

Donald looked at her with a mix of amusement and disdain.

"You're quite the little actress, aren't you?" he said mockingly.

He then pointed to Verran, who moved aside as two figures walked out from the shadows.

It was Kaida and Dravik, the other two Ascendants Donald had hired. Between them, they dragged a bruised and battered man. His hands were tied, his face was hurt, and he moved slowly.

Jessica felt a deep sadness when she recognized him.

"Dad!" she yelled, her voice shaking with emotion.

Joseph Moore barely lifted his head. His eyes were swollen and unfocused. His once-proud demeanor was completely shattered, leaving a broken shell of the man Jessica had grown up with.

Donald smiled as he saw Jessica's reaction.

"This is what happens when you try to play games with me," he said confidently. "Now you understand, don't you? I'm not open to any negotiation. You... will do exactly what I say."

Donald looked at Jessica with a sense of cruel pleasure as he noticed her tear-streaked face. Her distress was clear. He moved closer, making her feel small under his threatening presence.

"So... I want to know your choice. Who do you choose right now?" Donald asked, his tone mocking. "Is it your father…" He pointed at Joseph, who lay on the ground and looked barely awake. "…or your lover?"

He glanced at Jordan, who was trying to stand, pressing one hand against his bleeding side.

Jessica gasped, and her heart felt like it might break from what he said.

"He's not—" she began, but Donald stopped her with a wave of his hand.

"Spare me the explanations," Donald sneered. "The man came here knowing who I am and what I can do."

He tilted his head and smiled mockingly. "If that's not love, then what is?"

Jordan clenched his teeth, his face pale but determined.

"You don't know anything about me," he said, his voice strained from the pain.

Donald ignored him, turning his attention back to Jessica.

"Well? I'm waiting, sweetheart. Who will it be? Daddy dearest or your knight in shining armor?"