The Secret Life of a Billionaire

After finishing the hike, everyone was starving and started discussing where to grab lunch. Olivia suggested a trendy restaurant nearby, and someone immediately pulled out their phone to check it out. They started reading aloud, "This place has decent reviews on Yelp—3.8 stars. A lot of people rave about their signature burgers, but a few say the service is kinda slow. What do you all think?"

Another person chimed in, "I've heard it's super vegan-friendly too—plant-based burgers and dairy-free shakes. You know, plant-based diets are all the rage right now. Sounds like we can get the most 'on-trend' experience there."

The group kept discussing, debating which option was the best. Olivia added, "I just checked, though. This place is packed on weekends, so it's probably a good idea to make a reservation, or we might be waiting forever. Anyone want to give them a call and see if we can get a spot?"

Someone quickly dialed the restaurant, and after a bit of back-and-forth, they finalized the plans and agreed on the restaurant.

By the time they finished lunch, it was only 2 PM, and Olivia was still feeling energetic. "Hey, how about we check out the escape room nearby?" she suggested. "Escape rooms have gotten super popular in the U.S. lately, it'll be fun!"

Grace Li had never tried one before, but her curiosity was piqued. They entered the escape room lobby, and the walls were lined with posters from classic horror movies, from Saw to The Conjuring series. The dim lighting cast eerie shadows on the posters, adding to the spooky vibe. In the corner, an old-fashioned popcorn machine was popping away, filling the air with a sweet, buttery scent. A few early birds were hanging out, playing Uno and chatting while they waited.

Grace Li stared at the posters, feeling a chill run down her spine. "Uh, you guys go ahead. I think I'll just wait out here," she said, her voice betraying a hint of unease.

Ryan urged her, "Come on, don't chicken out, Grace. We'll all be in it together, it'll be fun!"

The others agreed, encouraging her with a chorus of, "Yeah, Grace, you should join us!"

Grace hesitated. "I don't know... I'm kinda scared of these things. I don't want to slow everyone down."

Olivia reassured her, "No worries, Grace! It's all about having fun together. You won't be alone, we've got your back!"

After a few more moments of hesitation, Grace finally agreed to join them. She wasn't sure what to expect, but seeing her friends so excited made her feel a bit more confident.

The escape room had a strict rule: no more than four people per group. With seven players, they split into two teams to tackle different themes. Olivia and Ryan, both escape room veterans, naturally became the team leaders. Before entering, the players handed over their phones and electronics, receiving flashlights and walkie-talkies instead. The flashlights had just enough battery for an hour, so they'd need to conserve power carefully. Most escape room veterans knew the average game took an hour to an hour and a half.

Stepping into the first cramped space, barely 10 square feet, Grace Li gripped her flashlight tightly. Ryan found a task card on the wall and read aloud:

"Dear players, this abandoned manor once belonged to a mining tycoon during the Wild West era. It was tied to the Gold Rush and violent gang disputes, rumored to hide a mysterious treasure. Over time, the family fell into ruin, and strange legends emerged: phantom gunshots at night, ghostly carriages. Your role as detectives is to uncover the truth behind the family's dark secrets and help the current owner, 'Jack,' identify the murderer hidden within the family's vendetta. The locked door before you requires a six-digit code to access the crime scene. Hint: The code is related to the owner. Note: You have three attempts. If you fail, you'll need to wait 30 minutes to try again. If you don't solve it within 90 minutes, the game ends."

Grace Li shined her flashlight around the small room. "The clue must be here," she said.

Ryan started feeling along the walls. "Grace, point the light over here. I'll check for hidden mechanisms."

Grace directed her flashlight toward him.

"Ryan, let me see the card," Aiden Thompson said, holding out his hand. After taking the card, he studied it intently. Meanwhile, Ryan tapped and pressed on the walls with practiced ease.

Grace had a thought. "The numbers on commonly used locks usually wear down more than the others."

Ryan snapped his fingers. "Good thinking!" He inspected the lock closely. "Looks like 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 0 are the most worn."

Aiden shook his head. "That might not mean much. Previous players could've guessed wrong a lot. Even with six numbers, the combinations are endless."

Grace felt a bit embarrassed, realizing she'd overlooked the game's design.

Aiden gave her an encouraging smile. "Still, it's a sharp observation."

Ryan sighed. "There's nothing else here. Maybe the default code is 000000? Let me try." He entered the numbers, and the lock beeped in error. "How about 888888?"

Grace grabbed his arm. "Don't waste the tries! We only get three chances."

Aiden spoke up. "Try 522579."

Both Grace and Ryan turned to him. "Why?"

Aiden explained, "The task card says the code is related to the owner. Earlier, I noticed Jack's birthday on the document: May 22. That's 522. Also, in the bottom corner of the paper, there's a faint imprint of 579—probably left by previous players as a subtle hint. Combining the two gives us 522579."

Ryan muttered, "That's a stretch."

"It's better than random guesses," Grace said. "Go ahead, Ryan."

Ryan entered the numbers. The lock beeped and clicked open.

"Damn, Aiden, you're a genius," Ryan said.

Grace shone her flashlight into the next room, revealing a simulated living room. On the coffee table sat a box. Ryan opened it, pulling out a document detailing Jack's life: he was 38, embroiled in a bitter divorce with his wife over their assets, and had a lover—a barmaid whose brother owned the bar. Jack also had a business partner he'd lost a fortune with.

Ryan analyzed the situation. "The killer's probably one of these people. We need more clues to figure out their motives and connections."

The group searched the room for 20 minutes and found the following clues:

Jack's divorce was stuck in a stalemate over finances.

Both his wife and lover knew the manor's lock code and could enter freely.

Last weekend, Jack and his wife's new boyfriend got into a bar fight.

Jack's lover's brother disapproved of their relationship and had threatened Jack.

Jack owed his business partner a large sum from a failed investment.

Grace remarked, "Jack seems to have beef with everyone except his lover."

Ryan nodded. "We need to check other rooms for more evidence."

He opened another door leading out of the living room. Grace followed, her flashlight illuminating the way. On the floor lay a lifelike corpse with black liquid dripping from its mouth.

"Holy crap!" Ryan shouted, jumping back.

Grace screamed, dropping her flashlight in panic. She spun around and collided with Aiden's chest, burying her face in his shirt. The impact made Aiden step back slightly, but he instinctively held her steady.

"It's fake," Aiden said softly, waiting for her breathing to slow.

Grace's heart was still racing, but she managed to calm down. In the darkness, the closeness felt awkwardly intimate. She quickly stepped back. "Sorry."

Aiden picked up the flashlight and led them back to the living room, ensuring Ryan wasn't left behind.

"That dummy looked way too real," Ryan muttered, clutching his chest.

"You okay?" Aiden asked Grace.

She nodded, glancing at his wrinkled shirt. "Yeah, thanks."

Aiden suggested they stick together, given the single flashlight. They re-entered the room cautiously. Grace kept her eyes closed, holding onto Aiden's shirt for guidance.

Near the body, Aiden noted the signs of poisoning: blackened lips and a spilled bottle of pills on the bedside table. The group also found a locked box requiring a code and a brainteaser puzzle to open it.

Grace stepped forward. "I've solved puzzles like this before. Let me try."

Aiden moved aside, standing protectively behind her. She quickly solved the puzzle, unlocking the box to reveal a recording device. Pressing play, they heard a man's voice:

"Jack, if it weren't for you, my parents would still be alive. My sister doesn't know you're our family's enemy, but if you go near her again, I'll tell her everything—and you'll regret it."

"That's the lover's brother," Grace said.

"Looks like there's bad blood between their families," Ryan added.

Aiden found a second box with a historical question: "In what year did the American Civil War begin?"

Ryan groaned. "Who remembers that?"

"1861," Grace said confidently.

Ryan entered the code, and the box opened. "Nice one, Grace. You're like a walking encyclopedia."

Inside was Jack's schedule on the day of his death, outlining his interactions with his wife, her boyfriend, his lover, her brother, and his business partner.

Grace pieced it together. "The lover had access to his medicine and could easily poison him."

Ryan grinned. "Let's lock in our answer."

They returned to the panel in the living room, selecting the lover as the culprit.

"Congratulations, players! You've solved the mystery!" the announcement declared.