Born Into Villain's Family: I Have a 200\% Rebate System-Chapter 486: Dorothy

If it was, he would not hesitate to press down on it until she broke.

For now, though, he needed to play along. Hence, the talk of compensation.

Aurora, on the other hand, saw through him instantly.

'He's not done,' she thought, unease tightening her chest.

This man was playing a long game, and he might strike again at the Waters family from an angle she could not immediately see. Worse, there was a chance he could even succeed.

'No,' her thoughts hardened. 'This cannot continue.'

She knew she could not protect her family alone forever. The realization sent a ripple of anxiety through her.

There was no other hacker in the family, no one else who could stand guard in the digital shadows beside her. Then, like a spark catching fire, an idea formed.

'If I build my own hacking company,' she reasoned, 'one that exists solely to safeguard my family and monitor every individual who approaches them, then the chances of anyone hurting them would drop to nearly zero.'

The moment that thought solidified, Aurora moved.

She set up a shell company with ruthless efficiency and immediately released a recruitment announcement, boldly stating that she was taking in disciples.

The response was explosive. The announcement spread like wildfire through underground forums and private networks.

Hackers from all corners rushed to submit their resumes, temptation shining through every carefully worded introduction. Soon, even Aurora found herself swamped.

She made an AI agent to filter the applications based on her requirements.

Within hours, the chaos turned orderly, and a refined list emerged.

This time, she did not limit herself to only top-tier talent. She chose those ranked lower as well, people who showed hunger and discipline rather than raw brilliance.

'There's a vast gap between me and the second rank,' she acknowledged quietly. 'Talent alone isn't enough. Willpower and hard work matter just as much.'

One by one, she reviewed the selected resumes and finalized the structure of her company. Once the list was complete, she contacted them all.

"Be prepared," her message read. "I'll train you myself. Only after that will you take on missions."

The reaction was overwhelming. The hackers she contacted were thrilled beyond belief.

None of them had ever imagined they would be given the chance to learn directly under Aurora.

By the time everything was settled, exhaustion finally caught up to her.

She stretched, the tension easing from her shoulders, and allowed herself a short nap.

The next morning, sunlight filtered softly into the room as Aurora woke and checked her emails.

Victor's response had already arrived. The compensation this time was far greater than before. Estate properties, bonds, gold bars, silver bars, all listed neatly, all destined for the Waters family.

Aurora read through it calmly, her expression unreadable. After a moment, she typed a brief reply.

"Not enough."

She shut the laptop without another glance. After all, money and assets were meaningless now. This time, she wanted Victor to bleed. Otherwise, he would never remember the lesson she had taught him.

After waking up, Aurora went through her usual routine, the quiet rhythm of stretching and light exercises grounding her restless thoughts.

The air in her room still carried the faint chill of early morning, and her muscles protested softly as she moved.

Today was supposed to be simple. She was meeting Mia and Selena, and they had insisted they had something very important to tell her.

Their seriousness had stirred her curiosity, leaving a faint knot of anticipation in her chest.

By the time she reached the coffee shop, the rich aroma of roasted beans drifted through the air, warm and comforting. She was just about to step inside when someone suddenly called out her name.

"Aurora!"

She turned around instinctively. The moment she saw the girl walking toward her, confusion flickered across her face.

'Who is this?' The person in front of her felt completely unfamiliar, from her confident stride to the bright smile she wore.

The girl stopped in front of her and smiled wider. "You really don't recognize me?"

Aurora shook her head slowly. "No… I don't think I do."

Instead of looking offended, the girl laughed lightly and pointed toward a sleek car parked nearby.

"I was your rich best friend back in nursery."

For a second, Aurora's mind went blank.

Then, like dust being blown off an old photograph, memories surfaced. Dorothy.

One of the richest girls back then. Someone Aurora had compared herself to countless times.

She had once thought Dorothy was incredibly lucky, born into wealth without lifting a finger, and envy had quietly taken root in her heart because of that.

That envy had lasted until Aurora discovered the truth. Dorothy had been faking it all.

The luxury, the status, the effortless superiority, it had all been a carefully constructed lie. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

That realization had changed Aurora forever. She had learned that by faking confidence and wealth, one could gain respect and admiration. And so, Aurora had started faking it too.

Dorothy had known the truth all along. Yet she never exposed Aurora in front of others.

She only mocked her privately, sharp words hidden behind fake smiles. In return, Aurora had also kept Dorothy's secret, never revealing that Dorothy herself was a fake rich girl.

Now, the two fake-rich best friends from childhood stood face to face again. Sparks were bound to fly.

Dorothy looked Aurora up and down, then chuckled. "You still haven't learned your lesson."

Aurora frowned slightly. "What lesson?"

Dorothy's gaze flicked meaningfully toward Aurora's clothes.

Only then did Aurora understand. She glanced down at herself. She was wearing clothes from a highly popular brand, Miss M, a brand known for producing only a handful of customized pieces.

'Oh,' Aurora realized inwardly. She hadn't updated her wardrobe herself.

That had been Emily's doing again. Emily always handled these things, which was exactly why Aurora paid her so generously.

Emily made her life effortless, sometimes to the point where Aurora didn't even realize what she was wearing.

Now that she paid attention, the fabric felt luxurious against her skin, the stitching flawless. She chuckled softly. "These aren't fake."

Dorothy burst into laughter, as if she had just heard a joke.

"Of course, of course. I understand. The clothes are real, and so is your bank balance. What is it now, billions?"

There was a hint of mockery in her eyes, sharp and familiar. Aurora caught it instantly and snorted.

'She hasn't changed at all,' Aurora thought. Dorothy was still the same, always looking down on others, even when she herself was no better.

But this time, things were different. Aurora really did have billions in her account.

She was about to say something when another voice suddenly called out, "Dorothy!"

Aurora sighed and turned toward the sound. The moment she saw who it was, her body stiffened. Dorothy's friend was none other than Dana.

The same woman who had once tried her hardest to become Aurora's best friend, only to be calmly ignored.

'What a strange twist of fate,' Aurora mused. Dorothy and Dana knew each other.

Dana froze the moment her eyes landed on Aurora, surprise flashing across her face before she quickly composed herself.

Over time, Dana had learned more and more about Aurora, and with every new detail, regret had eaten away at her.

Aurora had not only cleared universities with ease, but she had also skipped grades, built immense wealth, and even mastered hacking.

The clothes Aurora wore alone were worth more than Dana could imagine spending in a lifetime.

'How did I ever think I could compare myself to her?' Shame washed over Dana.

If only she had known earlier, she would have swallowed her jealousy, maybe even flattered Aurora, if that was what it took to be close to her.

Dorothy waved enthusiastically. "Dana! Come here."

When she noticed Dana staring at Aurora, Dorothy tilted her head. "You know her?"

Dana nodded. "How could I not? She's Aurora. The homecoming queen. The one who skipped grades. She's also incredibly wealthy and comes from a very rich background."

Dorothy's eyes widened, and she looked at Aurora with open amazement.

Aurora understood instantly. This wasn't admiration. It was disbelief. Dorothy was convinced Aurora was lying.

Just as Aurora opened her mouth to speak, Dorothy patted Dana's shoulder and laughed.

"Of course, you know her. Aurora has always been rich. Even back in nursery, she used to talk about all the different cars her family owned."

Aurora fell silent, a faint smile tugging at her lips. 'Some things really never change,' she thought, as the past and present tangled in the most ironic way possible.

Dana, not sensing the faint schandrufe in Dorothy's tone, couldn't help but become hopeful. Maybe... maybe... Dorothy and Aurora were acquaintances.

Then... her chances of becoming friends with Aurora may increase.

"So... Dorothy, aren't you going to invite your friend to have a meal?" Dana suggested, her eyes fixed on Aurora for a response.

Dorothy frowned and shook her head. Her bank balance was almost close to $1000; how can she let Aurora join?