C6 New Way Of Life

Amelia worked tirelessly for a year, and even then, her earnings didn't come close to $200,000. Despite their newfound financial windfall, she kept herself grounded. High profits meant high risks. At least one of them had to remain cautious.

"I've been reading up on Bitcoin recently," Alex said with a grin. "The price swings are all part of the game. The earlier rally brought in tons of small investors. Now, this dip is meant to lull them into complacency. When they start chasing the next high, that's when the big players cash out."

Alex's insights stemmed from his memories of how the market behaved over the next four years. Back then, analysts dissected this very cycle. Major Bitcoin holders stoked the hype, drawing in even more unsuspecting investors. It was a tale as old as time, and yet, the lessons went unlearned. By 2021, the frenzy would peak, and the crashes would leave countless people bankrupt.

December 10

It was a Sunday, and Alex and Amelia stayed home. Alex remained glued to his Coinbase account, watching Bitcoin's price fluctuate. It had dropped to $13,400—close enough to his mental threshold.

He didn't remember the exact numbers but knew this was his moment. Without hesitation, Alex reinvested. He had $800K left in his account and used five times leverage again.

Once the trade was complete, Alex now held contracts for 484.126 Bitcoins.

Not long after, Bitcoin's price dipped further to $13,200, leaving Alex temporarily down by $100,000. But he wasn't worried. He knew a rebound was coming—and fast.

True to his prediction, within thirty minutes, Bitcoin surged past $14,000 and began leveling off. By the evening, the price approached $15,000.

"You invested again?" Amelia asked, catching a glimpse of Alex's phone. She was shocked—not just at his boldness but at the unrealized gains already showing: $760,000.

"Yeah, I did," Alex replied with a calm smile.

Amelia stared at him, bewildered. The price had been so high, and the drop had seemed so steep. Yet, he had the nerve to jump back in.

"Don't worry," Alex reassured her. "After this rally, I'll cash out most of the funds. Then I'll short Bitcoin for one last round and call it a day."

"Shorting?" Amelia asked, unsure.

Alex explained patiently, "It means betting on the price going down. It's a way to profit even when prices fall. Since it's an option, why not take it?"

Amelia nodded hesitantly. As long as he pulled out most of their money, she could accept the risks of what remained.

The next morning, after dropping Sophie off at preschool, Alex and Amelia headed to Hillside Vista Estates in Bellevue. It was time to sign the papers and make the payment for their new home.

The $500,000 Alex had withdrawn from Coinbase a few days ago had already arrived in their account. After completing the paperwork, they finally received the keys to their new house.

Standing inside their spacious new home, Alex and Amelia exchanged a look filled with shared satisfaction. Compared to their cramped rental, this was a palace.

For the first time in years, they had a place to truly call their own.

"Alex, let's buy a car," Amelia suggested suddenly.

"Let's wait until we get a license plate first," Alex said with a laugh. He'd been thinking about it too. They both had driver's licenses but had never owned a car.

With the house secured, a car was the logical next step. While public transportation in Bellevue was excellent, having their own vehicle would be far more convenient.

"Should we host a housewarming party?" Amelia asked, her tone half-serious.

"Not necessary," Alex replied. "After all, you know how we paid for this…"

Amelia chuckled. A house costing several million dollars, bought almost outright, would undoubtedly raise eyebrows. Even if they claimed it was financed, the $100,000 down payment would be hard to explain.

"Yeah, you're right," Amelia agreed. She was also wary of letting her family know. Her mother had already tried to borrow money for her brother's car, and if word got out about their house, the requests—and gossip—would never stop.

For now, keeping things low-key was best.

Looking at their account balance, Alex and Amelia exchanged a satisfied smile.

"Amelia, what if we buy the Shoreline Heights Residence property too?" Alex suddenly suggested.

After all, real estate was always a solid investment. While Bellevue allowed a maximum of two properties per household, Alex had briefly considered buying a luxury villa. But with prices starting at tens of millions, it felt too ambitious for now. Besides, single-family homes didn't appreciate as quickly as apartments in highly sought-after developments.

Amelia blinked in surprise before breaking into a grin. "Alex, I think that's a fantastic idea! Why didn't I think of it sooner?"

"Well, it's not too late now," Alex replied, yawning. The first light of dawn was already creeping in, but Alex had one more task to complete—shorting Bitcoin

Now holding $4.25 million in his account, Alex decided to withdraw $3 million for the new property purchase and other investments, leaving about $1.2 million for his shorting strategy.

"Are you using the rest to buy again?" Amelia asked, curious.

"This time, I'm shorting," Alex explained. "It's betting that Bitcoin's price will drop."

He acted quickly, shorting 312.24 Bitcoins at $19,938 each with a five-times leverage. He set the expiration for the quarterly cycle but knew he'd cash out long before that.

According to his memory, Bitcoin would crash to around $8,000 by early February 2018. That was when he planned to exit his short position. After this, he wouldn't dabble in Bitcoin again until late 2020.

Alex also set an automatic sell at $8,000 to ensure he wouldn't miss the opportunity, no matter what he was doing at the time. Watching Bitcoin prices constantly wasn't sustainable; he had bigger plans ahead.

With everything in place, Alex turned to his wife, who looked visibly drained. "That's it. Let's get some sleep."

Amelia nodded, lying down next to Alex and quickly drifting off. Alex followed soon after, his snores filling the room.

They were woken up at 9 a.m. by Sophie's excited calls for breakfast. While Amelia stayed in bed to catch up on sleep, Alex took Sophie out for pancakes at a nearby diner.

By the afternoon, despite their fatigue, they began the move into their new home. They couldn't wait any longer—Monday meant Amelia had to return to work, and Alex wanted everything settled.

The only issue was Sophie's preschool. The new house was much farther from her current school.

"We'll switch her to a better one," Alex said as they discussed options. Her current preschool, catered to lower-income families, charged only $900 a month. While it had served them well before, their circumstances were now very different.

Luckily, a highly-rated private preschool was just a short walk from Hillside Vista Estates. The tuition was steep—over $8,000 a year—but Alex felt it was worth every penny. Giving Sophie the best education possible was now his top priority.

"Daddy, Mommy, are we going to live here now?" Sophie asked, skipping excitedly through the spacious living room.

"Yes, Sophie. Do you like it?" Alex asked with a smile.

"I love it! Now I'll have a place to keep all my toys!" she beamed.

In their cramped rental, space had always been tight, leaving Sophie with little room to play. Alex's heart ached at the thought. "Sophie, you can have as many toys as you want. And if you ever run out, Daddy will buy more."

Sophie threw herself into his arms and kissed his cheek. "Thank you, Daddy! You're the best!"

Holding his daughter close, Alex stepped onto the balcony. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, he could see the wide expanse of the Puget Sound with ships moving busily along the water. The view was peaceful and lively at the same time, and Alex couldn't help but feel a deep sense of contentment.

That evening, the family shared their first dinner in their new home. It wasn't extravagant, but the simple meal in their spacious dining room symbolized how far they had come.

As Alex looked at his wife and daughter, he silently promised to do whatever it took to keep them safe, happy, and comfortable.

After dinner, the family took a leisurely stroll around their new community. Compared to the cluttered and noisy neighborhood of their old rental, this area was clean and organized, with shaded trees, fountains, and a dedicated fitness area equipped with modern exercise machines.

Both Alex and Amelia were delighted with their new living environment, but Sophie's joy was unparalleled. She ran and played freely, enjoying the expansive space for the first time in her life.

December 18, Monday

The next day, Amelia returned to work, while Alex took Sophie to the nearby private preschool they had researched: Little Explorers Academy.

Alex had already called ahead to confirm that they allowed mid-year enrollment. However, he learned that they required the full monthly tuition upfront, even for partial attendance.

It took just half an hour to complete Sophie's enrollment. The only thing on Alex's mind now was whether Sophie would adjust well to the new environment. She had spent two years at her previous preschool and had made plenty of friends there.

To ease his concerns, Alex stayed at the school for a while, monitoring Sophie's first day through the classroom cameras. At first, she seemed a little shy, but with the teacher's encouragement and a few well-placed questions, Sophie soon began interacting with her new classmates.

Alex was impressed. The teachers at Little Explorers Academy were clearly well-trained, and their approach to making children feel welcome was top-notch. With his mind at ease, Alex finally left the preschool.

With Amelia at work and Sophie settling into her new school, Alex found himself with unexpected free time. It was a strange feeling after months of being constantly busy.

Still, Alex wasn't one to sit idle. He had a clear vision for the next four years, knowing that the internet blow was just beginning. One platform stood out in his memory: TikTok.

Over the next few years, TikTok's short-form videos would revolutionize social media, capturing massive audiences and becoming one of the most dominant forces in the industry. Its rapid growth would even pose a significant challenge to established tech giants, securing its place as a cornerstone of the digital age.

Alex knew there were countless opportunities within this space, especially in live-streaming and social commerce. In the coming years, live shopping would become a massive trend, with celebrities and influencers engaging directly with their audiences to drive sales. It was an era where even the most glamorous stars embraced relatability, shedding their egos to connect with everyday consumers.