"DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I SACRIFICED!"
Three Months has passed,
Norman Osborn's roar shook the meeting room, his voice echoing off the glass walls as the board members sat stiffly in their seats.
Veins stood out on his neck, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white.
This was his company, his life's work, and yet they sat there calmly, stripping it from him piece by piece.
One of the board members adjusted his tie, clearly uncomfortable but resolute.
"Norman, the military has cut funding for the enhanced soldier serum. It has already been five years with no viable results."
Norman slammed his palm against the polished table, the sharp crack making several members flinch. "Five years of progress," he snarled. "Five years of brilliance you were too blind to understand."
Another board member leaned forward, folding his hands together. "Also, someone has stepped forward to buy Oscorp."
Norman froze for a moment, his breathing heavy. Slowly, he straightened. "Buy Oscorp?" he repeated, his voice low.
"Yes," the man continued. "A young prodigy, to be exact." Norman let out a short, humorless laugh, his lips curling in disbelief and disgust. "You cannot be serious, you buffoon."
"Truth be told, even I am shocked," another board member said. "Fifty billion is the company's valuation, and this young man is prepared to buy Oscorp outright. Either he is reckless… or incredibly confident."
Norman's smile twisted, his eyes burning with fury. "Like hell I will let someone like him buy Oscorp. I founded this company. I built it from scratch with my own hands!"
The distant chime of an elevator echoed through the room. The board members exchanged glances, some straightening in their chairs, others shifting nervously.
One of them cleared his throat.
"Finally, Norman, you can see yourself out."
Norman stood there for a long moment, chest rising and falling. Slowly, he turned and began walking toward the exit, each step heavy with resentment.
His mind raced with one question. Who would dare take everything from him?
Before he could reach the door, a calm voice cut through the room.
"Who said I am letting Mr. Osborn leave?"
The doors burst open, swinging wide with sudden force. Every board member turned in unison, shock flashing across their faces.
Norman stopped mid step. His head lifted.
His eyes widened.
The blood drained from his face as recognition set in.
"Peter…?" he whispered, stunned.
Peter Parker stood there casually, hands in his pockets, a faint, knowing smile on his face. His presence was relaxed, almost effortless, as if he belonged there.
"Sup, Mr. Osborn."
[Three months before]
Peter's POV —
Okay. I needed to make more than half of fifty billion to save Oscorp and make sure Norman did not go el poco loco. Yes, I even made air quotes in my head.
Classic me.
I leaned back in my chair, staring at the numbers glowing on the screen. Stocks. Trading. Markets.
In my past life, I was never much of a stock person. I gained some, lost some, and mostly stayed confused. It was never my world.
But this time was different.
Ever since I woke up in the past, I buried myself in books. Economics, market psychology, trading strategies, long term investments.
Day trading. Crypto. Anything I could get my hands on. Sleepless nights turned into routine. Coffee became my best friend.
And yeah, I had a little help from Mr. Stark. Not directly holding my hand, but nudges. Access. A few well placed conversations that pointed me in the right direction.
Of course, I also had experience no one else had. I knew how this story ended.
I knew how men like Dr. Octavius and Norman Osborn thought when it came to ambition, pride, and markets. I had lived through the rise and collapse once already.
This time, I was prepared.
My first breakthrough came fast. Starkcoins. Five million. Just like that. I stared at the screen for a long time, my heart pounding as the numbers settled in.
Five million.
Not even close to enough.
I cracked my knuckles and leaned forward.
"Alright," I muttered. "Time to get to work and earn more mau mau."
A grin spread across my face.
"Hehe boi…"
Yeah. I actually said it. Straight from that meme with the chef. No regrets.
Days blurred together. Nights disappeared. I invested nonstop, tracking trends, reading the latest news, predicting movements before they happened.
Every decision was calculated. Every risk measured. I was not gambling. I was rewriting fate.
This was not just about money.
This was about stopping the cycle.
Stopping Norman before he ever put on that mask. Making sure the Goblin was never born.
Making sure Harry did not grow up chasing his father's shadow and mistakes. Making sure history did not repeat itself again.
I stared out the window as the city lights flickered below, exhaustion settling into my bones but determination burning stronger.
I whispered softly, almost like a promise.
"Just hold on, Gwen. I will make sure you go to Oxford. No matter what."
And for the first time since I woke up in the past, I truly believed it.
A few weeks passed, and I was able to make a few billion, but it was still not enough. Day after day, week after week, I balanced my life carefully.
Family dinners. Hanging out with friends. Trying to act like a normal kid while secretly racing against time.
Of course, I went on dates with the girl who truly loved me. The one who accepted me as both Peter Parker and Spider Man.
"Hey, Petey. Aren't you scared?" Gwen asked.
We were having a picnic alone on a meadow hill, just the two of us under the shade of a large tree. The grass swayed gently with the wind, and the world felt quiet for once.
Gwen could cook, and she was good at it, but she always said she preferred my cooking.
Especially after that one time I brought her over to my place and tried way too hard to impress her.
Uncle Ben and Aunt May treated Gwen like she was their own daughter. Honestly, I bet Gwen's dad never saw that one coming.
But back to what Gwen asked.
Was I scared?
"Every day, Gwen," I said honestly. "Back when I was still new to my powers, revenge, and responsibility, fear was always there. But scared now?"
I let out a soft chuckle as I turned to her. I really looked at her this time. Her face was calm, warm, and impossibly beautiful.
Her eyes reminded me of jewels. Like the Heart of the Ocean from that Titanic movie. That blue necklace thing.
"I wear the mask to hide it," I continued. "Every day is a what if scenario. I think before I act. I double check everything. I imagine every possible outcome and choice before I move."
My gaze drifted down to her slender legs, and I hesitated for a moment.
"May I?"
She nodded without hesitation.
I gently laid my head on her lap, letting out a quiet breath I did not realize I was holding.
"Aww, you're such a baby, Pete," she teased.
Yeah. Real funny. Very mature of you.
But still.
"I don't care," I murmured. "You're all I need."
She smiled softly.
"Tired?"
"Hehehe," I replied weakly. "Very."
Her fingers brushed through my hair, slow and gentle, her touch calming every racing thought in my mind. She was so calm. So kind. Almost motherly in a way.
That was who Gwen was.
I did not deserve her.
Or maybe I did.
It did not matter whether I lived or died.
I will stop Knull. I will end it all. I will make sure we will have the life we dreamed of together, even if it only lasted for a moment.
My thoughts slowly faded as exhaustion finally won.
"….."
Gwen looked down at me, a soft smile forming on her lips. "Hehe. So cute when he naps."
I do not know how much time passed, but I can tell one thing for sure. It was the greatest nap of my entire lifetime.
It reminded me of something I once told myself long ago. Back then, there was one villain I faced who was truly difficult.
I fought him for twelve hours straight. No food. No water. He just kept coming. My costume was torn to shreds, blood soaked my face, and my body was bruised beyond recognition. At some point, I asked myself a question.
Can I just let this one slide?
Can it be someone else's problem?
I asked myself that once. Just rest. Just a little rest. But who was I kidding?
That was not me. Not after Uncle Ben's last words. Not after Gwen's death. I promised myself I would be the Spider Man I was meant to be.
But honestly… just a little rest. God, just a little rest.
And that rest turned into a nap. The greatest, most peaceful lullaby of a nap, held in the arms of the woman who carried me close to her heart.
And I would protect that heart. I would make sure it never broke again.
"Petey, wakey wakey. It's time to get going."
I slowly opened my eyes and froze. The sun was already setting, painting the sky in shades of orange and gold.
"Oh," I said quickly, sitting up. "Sorry, Gwen. I did not mean to…"
She smiled softly at me.
"You have done enough in the past. I do not know what kind of hell you went through after my death, but when I saw your face while you were napping on my thigh, you looked like you really needed that rest."
She buried her face into my chest and snuggled closer. I wrapped my arms around her, holding her tightly, letting her know what I felt without hesitation.
"I love you, Gwen."
"I love you more, Petey."
"I love you the most."
We looked at each other, faces inches apart, and leaned in for a small peck. But it did not stop there.
Slowly, naturally, the kiss deepened. Time felt like it stopped, and I wished that moment could last longer than it was meant to.
"I got a surprise for you."
Huh. A surprise?
"What is it, Gwen?"
She stood and gently pulled me toward the tree nearby. Carved into the bark was a heart, rough but careful, with letters inside it.
P + G.
I reached out and touched the carved wood with my fingers.
"It's beautiful," I said softly. "Just like you, Gwen."
She slipped her arm around mine and rested her cheek against my shoulder.
"I thought you would love it. I carved it while you were packing up."
"Well, I do love it," I replied. "It makes me feel like you are my wife."
Hahaha.
Her face turned red instantly, like a steamed bun fresh out of the basket. "You idiot," she said, covering her face. "You are going to make me think you actually mean it."
God.
She was so cute.
After the end of the third month, on the very last day, I finally made it. Around sixty billion.
Of course, I still had to deal with taxes and the IRS. That part was unavoidable.
But for this one time, thank you, Mr. Stark.
I checked the news again, scrolling slowly, and my heart sank just as I assumed it would. I was right.
In my past life, Oscorp would be responsible for the deaths of ten soldiers during the testing phase of the enhanced soldier serum.
It was supposed to be kept secret, buried deep within classified files, until a certain someone betrayed Norman and leaked the intel to the press.
The fallout was immediate.
Oscorp stocks plummeted nearly thirty percent overnight because of the news. Panic spread fast.
Investors pulled out. Confidence shattered. And the very next day, Norman Osborn was said to be willing to step down.
But that was a lie.
He did not step down.
He was forced out by the board members.
Fucking pricks. This is exactly why I never trusted board members. Power without accountability. Loyalty that vanished the moment numbers turned red.
If it were me, I would have written a legal clause so airtight that if I were ever forced to retire, the company would immediately shut down the moment I returned. Burn it all before letting vultures pick it clean.
But back to the matter at hand.
The moment the news broke, I moved fast. No hesitation. No second guessing. Within a few hours, I pushed everything into motion, buying Oscorp shares while the price was bleeding.
Piece by piece. Percentage by percentage.
And finally, it happened.
I became the largest shareholder Oscorp had ever seen.
The board did not even realize it yet.
Now, tomorrow was the meeting.
I leaned back in my chair, exhaling slowly.
Hold on until then, Mr. Osborn. Sir.
I will make sure you are saved. I will make sure you never walk down the path of the Goblin.
History ends here.
---
Chapter 21 End