Bitcoin Billionaire: I Regressed to Invest in the First Bitcoin!-Chapter 84: Only Friend

Ding!

┏This person is saddened by you┛

That wasn't surprising.

Darren didn't know if it was the cold air or the weight of unspoken words that made him tense, but as he and Sandy took their seats at Castle Cottage, the awkwardness between them settled like a mist.

It had only been their initial greeting that had been spoken so far.

That was it. That was their grand reunion after weeks of silence.

Darren exhaled through his nose and rubbed his hands together, trying to ground himself. It had been so long since they'd sat here together, and now that they were, he had no idea what to say.

He glanced at Sandy, only to find himself staring longer than he intended.

She had always been beautiful.

Not in the flashy, attention-grabbing way of models or actresses, but in a softer, more grounded way — like someone you'd want to come home to after a long day.

Her features carried a timeless elegance, warm brown eyes framed by long lashes, and lips that always looked like they had just finished forming a quiet smile.

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She had a beautiful female mane that was so curly, they looked like waves of a chocolate ocean. They always fell in cascades down her back, a cape for the astonishing curvy body she possessed.

Especially now, in casual clothes — fitted jeans and a loose cardigan over a simple top — there was something different about her.

She looked... lighter. More at ease than she ever had in that soul-draining corporate office. And even though she appeared a bit disheartened because of how he'd been to her, she was still so...

Damn. In the end, Darren was only a man.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Sandy asked suddenly, hiding her nervousness.

Darren slightly jolted upright. "No, no, I wasn't looking—"

She gave him a knowing stare.

"Okay, I was looking, but not in that manner," he defended quickly. He grabbed the menu in front of him and buried his face in it. "Uh— place looks kinda empty today, doesn't it?"

┏System has discerned a spike in host's emotional state┛

┏Reason for spike: Nervous reaction to being confronted for host's feelings┛

'Oh, shut up.'

Sandy let the moment slide, sighing as she glanced around. "Yeah, I noticed that too. It's usually livelier."

The restaurant was indeed quieter than usual.

The wooden tables, normally filled with murmuring conversations and the occasional laugh, sat mostly empty under the golden fairy lights.

The scent of warm bread and roasted meat still hung in the air, but the absence of a bustling crowd made it feel… almost too peaceful.

Just then, a young gorgeous waitress — no older than nineteen — approached their table. Her blonde hair was tied in a neat ponytail, and her apron was embroidered with the name Penelope Castle.

"Welcome to Castle Cottage! Can I get you anything to drink?"

Darren set his menu down. "Actually, quick question, if you don't mind. Why is it so quiet today? Is something going on?"

Penelope hesitated for a moment before sighing. "It's… business stuff." She forced a smile. "We're struggling a bit. People are choosing the new franchise places over us. You know, the big brands that offer cheap combo deals. Even regulars are going there now."

Darren frowned. He had noticed a few of those big chains popping up around the city — soulless places with frozen food and conveyor belt service.

"That's awful," Sandy said, her brows furrowing.

Penelope shrugged. "It is what it is. We try our best, but it's hard keeping up when everyone's after convenience." She straightened, forcing another smile. "But enough about that! What can I get you both?"

They placed their orders, and as she walked away, Darren leaned back in his chair, his mind spinning.

Would this be a good investment?

The system did give him a monthly quest to make three solid investments.

Darren demanded an Insight Protocol and the system obliged.

Ding!

---------------------

┏Insight Protocol Complete: Information on Castle Cottage is as follows┛

┏Estimated Net Worth: $145,000┛

┏Primary Income: Family-owned restaurant, specializing in authentic homemade meals┛

┏Owner: Arnold Castle┛

┏Known for: Cozy atmosphere, excellent homemade dishes, strong community ties┛

┏Public Reception: ★★★★★┛

┏Tactics: Prioritizes quality over mass production, lacks aggressive marketing, struggles against corporate chains┛

┏System's Advice: High potential for revitalization. Strategic investment could turn this into a thriving boutique restaurant. Consider support.┛

-------------------------

Darren exhaled, tapping his fingers against the table. "Well the system advises me to go for it. Maybe this could be my first solid investment."

He could do a good thing for the Castle family and also start completing the 'Seeing is Believing' Quest the system gave him.

Darren had almost forgotten why he came here, but Sandy's voice pulled him back.

"You called me here, but you seem more interested in looking anywhere that's not my face."

Darren frowned. "That's not—" He stopped. She had just called him out for looking at her face earlier. There was no winning with her.

He understood it though. Women were like this when they were hurt.

Sandy leaned forward, her tone softer now. "You know, Darren… we were supposed to be in this together. We both escaped Gareth's hellhole of a company. We'd come here and talk about how they're doing in their separate dreams. Support each other. But you just stopped. You disappeared."

Darren clenched his jaw. "Sandy, I—"

"What was so important that you couldn't even text me?"

His throat went dry. He couldn't exactly tell her that he'd turned into a millionaire over a month from Bitcoin.

Could he? How would he even explain it?

"I was busy," he said lamely.

She scoffed. "Busy? Too busy to answer a single message? Too busy to let me know anything that was going on in your life?"

Darren's head fell.

Silence hung between them. Then, her eyes narrowed.

"Is it true?"

He narrowed his brows. "Is what true?"

"That you bought a mansion. That the car outside is actually yours. That you live on an expensive street now."

Darren froze.

He wanted to ask who told you that? But it didn't matter. It wasn't worth it.

He looked down, hands tightening into fists before relaxing. "Yes," he admitted. "It's true."

Sandy inhaled sharply, staring at him.

"It's not that way, Sandy. I've just been overwhelmed by the change and I'm trying to figure things out."

"And you couldn't call? When I did you never got back to me. Even the friend request you never actually sent it did you? I waited. I waited for it. I know this is weird because I'm older than you, but you were the only real friend I had. The only one who knew what I went through. And you just…" She looked away. "It felt like you were moving on. Leaving me behind."

"If you don't want to hang around with me because I'm older. Maybe I'm not as beautiful as the younger women you have now, then that's okay. Is that the reason why you've been avoiding me?"

Darren felt like the world had just punched him in the chest. "No. No. It's nothing like that?"

But apart from that, she was right. She was so right.

He had been selfish. He had been drowning in his new life, and he had forgotten about her.

But was it wise to bring her back into his world? Could he?

He looked up, a sudden idea sparking in his mind.

"Sandy?"

She wiped at the corner of her eye before looking at him.

He asked her a question:

"How would you like a job?"