Chapter 1

Dan sat in his room, feeling a sense of accomplishment as he stared at the laptop screen displaying $200,000 on his web account. Being only 19, he did it by taking some risks, investing in cryptocurrency, selling things he owned, and saving some of his salary. It was more money than his dad, who worked at a fancy bank, had ever thought of having.

Suddenly, his train of thought was interrupted by the sound of the door swinging open. His mother entered the room, adorned with circular earrings over her ears, and stood at the threshold.

“Danny, why aren’t you dressed yet?” She was a stunning tall, trim brunette with a firm shape, slender figure, and mesmerizing curves. While others saw her as a beauty icon, to Dan, she was just his mom - someone who was obsessed with her figure, and diets, and who people considered being 35, despite being 44.

“We’re going out soon,” her lips were glossy and plump as she spoke. “The play starts in an hour and a half.”

Dan let out an exasperated sigh. The play his mom had won at the corporate event had slipped his mind entirely.

“Yeah, I’m getting dressed now,” he replied half-heartedly.

“Your brother’s ready to go. I give you 10 minutes to get dressed,” she said, closing the door with her painted nails and disappearing into the hallway.

“I wish I could stay at home just like Dad.”

The numbers refused to leave Dan’s mind as he adjusted his tie and returned to the laptop, desperate for one last glance at his account. “I can’t believe it,” he muttered to himself, the weight of his recent financial windfall still sinking in. The betting website that had led him to this point was still open in another tab. Had it all been thanks to this site, with its secret tips and tricks?

With a sigh, Dan decided to take one last look at the website. It was like bidding farewell to a close friend or savoring the final moments of a good movie. As he moved to close the tab, his cursor hovered over a small detail that caught his eye: a link. It was a new guide, from the same user who had previously provided him with valuable advice – EdiPCard.

“Hmm, something new?” Dan checked his wristwatch to ensure he had a few spare minutes. “Why not?” He settled back into his chair, eager to learn more from EdiPCard’s latest insights.

What happened next left Dan utterly baffled.

The link led him to a porn site, its categories all featuring the tag “MILF.” Dan double-checked the browser for any errors, but the site kept redirecting him. “Maybe I just clicked the wrong link.” He closed the tab, but then noticed a notification on his browser:

“Let’s talk?”

Without a second thought, he dismissed the message as spam and vowed to check his protection filters. But then, another message appeared - this time on his web account, the very same place where he kept his hard-earned money.

The text was short and to the point: all $201,423 had been transferred to an anonymous account. Panic seized Dan, his hands clammy, his tie feeling like a noose around his neck. It had to be a joke, a glitch in the system, something he could fix with a simple refresh of the page. But no matter how many times he clicked, the money remained gone.

The world around seemed to grind to a halt as Dan struggled to comprehend what had just happened. What was going on? Was this all some elaborate prank? He looked around his familiar surroundings, searching for a sign that it was all a mistake. But everything was the same - the same room, the same house, the same account. Only now, it was missing a quarter of a million dollars.

As Dan read the message once more, his mind raced with disbelief. Had he really lost his entire fortune because of one reckless click on a porn link? The words on the screen taunted him, mocking his mistake and the consequences it had wrought.

The next notification only added to his confusion and fear. “If you want it back let’s talk.” What does it mean? A cold sweat broke out on his forehead as he frantically searched for answers, but found none.

And then, another message that made his blood run cold. “Send me a photo of your mother and I’ll return your money”. The demand was sickening, and Dan felt a surge of anger and fear wash over him. What kind of sick individual was behind this?

“Danny!” His mother’s voice reverberated through the door, her impatience clear. “It’s been ten minutes already!”

“Let’s just leave him, Mom,” his brother’s, Jack’s, voice chimed in, soft but unmistakable.

But their mother was having none of it. “No way. I’ve got exactly three tickets, and we’re going there as a trio. I’ll take you out somewhere for once.”

Danny sighed and closed his laptop. He straightened the tie, still trying to shake off the feeling of unease that had taken hold of him. “This is just a stupid joke,” he muttered to himself. “Some bug or spam ... or something else. There must be a logical explanation for this.”

When he emerged from the room, his mother and brother were waiting for him. Jack, with his black hair and easy grin, looked every bit the former class president he was. Danny, shorter and less confident with brown hair, always felt like the odd one out next to his brother.

“Well, finally,” Jack teased, hands in his pockets. “I thought you wouldn’t show up.”

“I wasn’t planning on it,” Danny shot back, pulling on his shoes.