Transmigrating Into a novel as a Rich Second-Generation.-Chapter 28: Exchange Mall [1]

[Ding! Major Achievement Unlocked!]

[Congratulations! You have successfully destroyed the relationship between Ethan Cole and Isabelle Tian!]

[Major opportunity has been plundered!]

[The protagonist’s romantic development with the heroine has been completely sabotaged. The heroine now views the protagonist negatively and desires distance from him.]

[Rewards: 100 Villain Halo, 500 Villain Points]

[MILESTONE ACHIEVED: Villain Halo has reached 300!]

[EXCHANGE MALL NOW UNLOCKED!]

Staring at the notifications in his room, Sebastian laughed.

"Hahahaha!"

The sound echoed through his bedroom, filled with genuine satisfaction and triumph.

He’d done it. Actually done it.

Without even being present at the restaurant, without lifting a finger personally, he’d orchestrated Ethan’s complete humiliation and destroyed whatever fragile connection remained between the protagonist and the heroine.

Sebastian leaned back in his chair, still grinning as he reviewed his updated status.

===Status===

Host: Sebastian Fairfax

Combat Power: 82 (Average human: 100)

Villain Points: 2,850

Villain Halo: 365

Luck: E

Charm: E+

→ Skills: None

→ Inventory: Empty

→ Assets: $1,000,000

→ NEW: EXCHANGE MALL - UNLOCKED

365 Villain Halo and 2,850 Villain Points.

Most importantly—the Exchange Mall was finally open.

Sebastian immediately focused on the new option that had appeared in his interface.

[EXCHANGE MALL - NOW AVAILABLE]

He selected it, and a new window materialized before his eyes, displaying categories of items he could purchase with his Villain Points:

• Cultivation Resources

• Skills & Techniques

• Equipment & Weapons

• Consumables & Elixirs

• Miscellaneous

Sebastian was about to dive into the categories when his phone suddenly rang.

The caller ID showed: Isabelle.

He answered immediately. "Isabelle?"

Sobbing came through the phone. Hard, gasping sobs that made it clear she’d been crying for a while.

"Sebastian," Isabelle’s voice was thick with tears, barely coherent. "I’m sorry to call so late, I just—I didn’t know who else—"

"What happened?" Sebastian’s tone shifted instantly to concerned. "Are you hurt?"

"No, I’m not hurt, I just—" Another sob cut her off. "Tonight was a disaster. Everything went wrong. Ethan was so... he got so angry about everything, and then his card didn’t work, and I had to pay, and—"

She broke down again, crying openly.

Sebastian stood up, already grabbing his jacket. "Where are you right now?"

"I’m... I’m at the bus stop near Fifth Avenue," Isabelle managed between sobs. "I just need a minute before I go home, I don’t want my parents to see me like this—"

"Stay right there," Sebastian said firmly. "Don’t move. I’m coming to get you."

"You don’t have to—"

"I’m already on my way. Five minutes."

He ended the call and rushed downstairs, calling for his driver.

"Fifth Avenue, the bus stop near Bella Vista. As fast as you can."

The limousine was already pulling out of the driveway as Sebastian settled into the back seat.

True to his word, they arrived in less than five minutes.

Isabelle was sitting on the bench at the bus stop, her face buried in her hands, shoulders shaking with quiet sobs. She looked small and vulnerable in her cream-colored dress, completely unlike her usual composed self.

Sebastian stepped out of the limousine and walked over to her.

"Isabelle."

She looked up, her eyes red and puffy, mascara slightly smudged. When she saw him, her face crumpled again.

"Sebastian," she whispered.

He sat down beside her, and without hesitation, Isabelle turned and buried her face against his shoulder, crying into his expensive suit jacket.

Sebastian wrapped an arm around her, letting her cry.

"It’s okay," he said quietly. "I’ve got you."

They sat like that for several minutes, Sebastian holding her while she let out all the frustration and embarrassment and hurt from the evening.

Finally, her sobs began to subside into occasional hiccups and shaky breaths.

"I’m sorry," Isabelle said, pulling back slightly and wiping at her eyes. "I’m getting your jacket all wet."

"I don’t care about the jacket," Sebastian said gently. "Tell me what happened."

And she did. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

The whole story spilled out—the terrible table by the kitchen, the forgotten water, the wrong order, the overcooked food, Ethan’s increasingly sour mood and snapping at servers, his outburst in the restaurant, and finally the humiliation of his card being declined multiple times while everyone watched.

"And I had to pay," Isabelle said, her voice trembling. "Which I didn’t mind doing, but it was supposed to be his treat, you know? He specifically invited me. And then he got so upset about it, like it was somehow my fault for helping—"

She took a shaky breath.

"And the whole time, he was just... angry. At the servers, at the restaurant, at everything. It scared me a little."

Sebastian’s expression remained sympathetic, but inside, he was cataloging every detail with cold satisfaction.

Everything had gone exactly as planned.

"You did the right thing by leaving," Sebastian said. "You don’t owe him anything, Isabelle. Especially not after how he behaved tonight."

"I feel bad though," Isabelle admitted quietly. "He’s going through so much with his sister and his father, and I just... I cut him off."

"His circumstances don’t excuse his behavior," Sebastian said firmly. "Plenty of people deal with difficult situations without taking it out on others. You deserve to be treated with respect, not to be someone’s emotional punching bag."

Isabelle looked up at him, her eyes still glistening with tears. "You’re right. I know you’re right. I just... I wanted to give him a chance, you know?"

"And you did," Sebastian assured her. "Multiple chances. But there comes a point where you have to protect yourself."

He pulled out a handkerchief from his jacket pocket and gently dabbed at the mascara under her eyes.

Isabelle’s breath caught at the gentle gesture, her cheeks coloring slightly even through her tears.

"Thank you," she whispered. "For coming to get me. For listening. For... everything."

K

"Always," Sebastian said simply.

He stood up and offered her his hand. "Come on. Let me take you home."

Isabelle took his hand and let him guide her to the limousine.

Inside the car, she curled up in the corner of the leather seat, exhausted from crying.

"Isabelle," Sebastian said as they drove, "I need you to do something for me."

"What?" she asked quietly.