THE REJECTED GENIUS
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For years, Adrian Hayes had been nothing more than a ghost at Northvale University. Despite his sharp mind and top grades, he was nothing but a scholarship student, a nobody among the elite. The rich kids mocked him, his professors barely noticed him, and even his so-called friends only stuck around when they needed help with their assignments.
But the worst betrayal came from the one person he had trusted—Sophia Lancaster. The girl he had secretly loved, the girl who once smiled at him in the library, humiliated him in front of the entire campus, choosing to be with Nathan Sterling, the heir to the Sterling Corporation.
"You? Compete with Nathan? Don’t be ridiculous. You’ll always be a pathetic charity case," Sophia scoffed, her hand laced with Nathan’s.
Adrian had never felt more worthless. But everything changed the next morning when a single notification appeared on his phone.
"Congratulations, Adrian Hayes. You are the sole heir to the Hayes Fortune. Your assets have been unlocked."
Thinking it was some cruel joke, he clicked the link. Within seconds, his bank account balance surged to $50 million.
Now, armed with wealth, power, and an identity no one saw coming, Adrian returns—not as the quiet, overlooked student, but as someone they’ll never forget.
This time, he’s the one in control.
The tables have turned. Nathan Sterling will fall. Sophia will regret her choices. And Northvale University will witness the rise of the Rejected Genius.
Will Adrian use his newfound fortune for revenge, or will he prove that the best success is living well?
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Chapter: 117Chapter 117The air was thick with tension. I didn’t move. I just stared at him, the image of his smug, composed face made me want to give him a dirty slap. A part of me wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it all. A deal? After everything?I stepped closer, just slightly, enough to make his fingers twitch. He was trying to play calm, but I could see it—the subtle flicker of nerves behind his eyes.“You think I came all the way here just to talk?” I said, voice low and calculative. “After what you did to those kids? After what you did to Park? And you stand there with your legs crossed like some fucking priest asking me to repent?”Jack sighed, almost bored. “You’re too emotional, Adrian. That’s always been your flaw. It makes you reckless.”“No,” I said quietly, “it makes me dangerous.”Behind me, a floorboard creaked—the signal. Marcus was in position. Ren would be watching us through the back window, ready to move the second things went sideways.Jack leaned back in his chair, fol
Last Updated: 2025-06-14
Chapter: 116Chapter 116The air was heavy and static as I stood at the edge of the woods, staring down at the flickering coordinates on my phone screen. Juno had marked it with a red dot, bold and pulsating—almost as if the location itself was alive, waiting for me.Nathan’s base. At least that was what I thought to myself.Finally,It felt surreal. We had been running after a goose chase for weeks, dead ends, and decoys meant to throw us off his trail. But this… this felt real. Too real. The kind of reality that didn’t let you walk away unchanged.Behind me, Ren and Marcus stood in tense silence. I knew they didn’t have to come—but they did anyway. Despite everything I’d said, everything I’d become, they still followed me into the hell hole. “ Does he know you are here?” I asked, looking at Ren. “ Who? Leo?” Ren replied and I nodded. “ He owes us too, Adrian. You are not the only one who wants to see his head on a spike.”I didn't say anything but felt the weight on my shoulder. I didn't have
Last Updated: 2025-06-14
Chapter: 115Chapter 115Everything was happening so fast and it almost looked like the students were not buying their usuals anymore. The school environment was back to the way it was. No smoking around the corridor and they were not passing contraband either. “ Do you think Nathan is dumb?” I heard a voice behind me and I turned. “ Do you think he is going to use the school to run his business when the news is going viral about what happened?" Marcus said, looking at me. “ If you are trying to get to him then you need to think outside the box. Think of what you are going to do if you are him.” Ren added. I looked at both of them and said nothing. But the truth was, they were right. Juno just received a message of their movements and I cannot but wonder where their base was. It was quite easy with Milrada but tracking Nathan had been tough. Tougher than I expected of course. “ When are you going to come back?” Ren asked, staring at me. “ Come back?” I flashed a set of angry eyes at him. “ Le
Last Updated: 2025-06-13
Chapter: 114Chapter 114“You shouldn't do that again.” Juno’s words caught me immediately when I got in. I looked back with an angry face. “Are you barking orders into my face?” I asked with my eyebrows arched. “I need to know where you are and keep you safe at all times. You are at risk when you go out on your own.” Juno said again. “At risk? Have you forgotten what I can do? Do I need to remind you that I alone took down Milrada and her business?” I said with anger. “Let me ask you again, Juno. Are you here to give me orders?” The room was thick with tension as we both stared at ourselves. “Why don't you both loosen up?” Juliet's voice broke the tension between us both. “Do I need to remind you that we have a bigger problem than to fight among ourselves?” She said, "Set the table." The aroma of the food she cooked caught my throat as I looked past Juno. “Why are you still here?” I asked, staring at Juliet, who was busy arranging the tables. “Is that a way of saying thank you?” she said back
Last Updated: 2025-06-13
Chapter: 113Chapter 113The silence in the car was thick as I drove Alisha to the safe house. Her presence beside me was comforting, familiar—like the only piece of home I hadn’t yet destroyed. But her words lingered in my mind like a song stuck on repeat.If I had left when your mother brought you here, who would take care of you?The truth was, I had never properly thanked her. Not for the meals she made when there was nothing left in the pantry. Not for the way she shielded me from the men who came asking questions about my father. And definitely not for loving me when I didn’t even know what love was supposed to feel like.“Do you ever regret it?” I asked, not taking my eyes off the road.“Regret what?” She replied, her voice calm, as always.“Taking me in. Raising a child whose bloodline was unknown from the start.”She chuckled. “You talk like you're a demon, Adrian. I raised a boy who had the strength to survive and the heart to still care. Cursed? No. You were a gift.”That word—gift—knoc
Last Updated: 2025-06-12
Chapter: 112Chapter 112I don't know why it hurts. I had been gone for months now, but seeing Zee in the arms of the one person I hated the most made me more pissed and annoyed than I care to admit.“You need to let her go,” Juno said with an icy tone. Like she doesn't have feelings. “I don't know what you both must have shared, but we don't want anything that is going to hinder our plans. Or is she going to be a problem?” She paused and stared at me.“Why are you really here?” I asked, looking at Juno. “I came because I thought you might be needing my area of expertise,” Juno replied.“Do I need to be worried?”“You took down Miralda because you were focused. That is what focused men do. They do the impossible and move mountains. I don't want you to forget the real reason you are back home, Mr. Carter." Juno said again. “I don't want to get my hands soiled.”“Are you threatening me now?” I asked, my body hot, and I could feel the electric current bubbling underneath my skin.“Why don't we slow d
Last Updated: 2025-06-11
Chapter: chapter 166Chapter 166Kohler slowly stirred awake the next morning to the soft strains of music drifting through the air. Her mind, still foggy with sleep, searched for the familiar warmth of Quincy beside her, but the space in the bed was cold and empty. Confused, she opened her eyes, blinking away the haze of dreams. As her gaze adjusted, something unexpected caught her attention—rose petals, scattered across the bed in delicate patterns of red. Her heart skipped a beat. She sat up, her fingers brushing over the soft petals, a surprised smile forming on her lips. The roses didn’t just cover the bed; they formed a trail on the floor, leading out of the bedroom like a path designed to guide her somewhere.Curiosity piqued, Kohler swung her legs off the bed and stood, her bare feet padding softly across the floor. The music played softly in the background, its romantic melody weaving into the air like a whisper meant just for her. Her heartbeat quickened, and she followed the trail of rose peta
Last Updated: 2024-10-14
Chapter: chapter 165Chapter 165Lauren stiffened in her seat, her eyes narrowing as she recognized Talia. Damien stood immediately, stepping in front of Lauren protectively. “Talia, this isn’t the time,” he said, his voice firm but calm.Talia ignored him, her eyes locked on Lauren. “I should have known you’d go crawling to her the moment I was out of the picture,” she sneered. “But you’re making a mistake, Damien. You’re supposed to be with me!”Damien clenched his jaw, frustration rising. “You need to leave. Now.”Talia took a step closer, her gaze flickering between Damien and Lauren. “You think she’s better than me?” she spat. “You think she’ll stick by you the way I did? She’ll break your heart.”Lauren stood up, her eyes steady and calm. “Talia, this is between Damien and me. I understand that you’re upset, but barging in like this won’t change anything.”Talia’s face twisted in anger. “You think you’re so special? You’re nothing, Lauren. Nothing compared to what Damien and I had.”Damien moved clo
Last Updated: 2024-10-13
Chapter: chapter 164Chapter 164Darius studied Kohler for a moment, his expression hard to read. The tension between them hung in the air like a thick fog, both of them playing a delicate game of manipulation and trust. "I'll be the judge of that," he replied, his voice calm but sharp, like the edge of a blade.Kohler chuckled lightly, masking the slight tremor that threatened to creep into her voice. "Fair enough," she said. "But you know I wouldn't be here if I didn't have what it takes."Darius took a step closer, his gaze narrowing. "We'll see." He glanced over at Quincy, who remained motionless in the backseat, supposedly unconscious. "You’ve done well to bring him here. Now, let’s see if you can handle what comes next."Kohler swallowed hard but nodded, reminding herself to keep calm. Quincy had drilled into her the importance of staying in control. "Of course," she said, standing tall.Darius gestured to one of the men, and he stepped forward with a syringe filled with a clear liquid. "This," Dari
Last Updated: 2024-10-13
Chapter: chapter 163Finally! Darius was ready to meet with Kohler as he had trusted her well enough. He had sent poison to her and told her to induce it in Quincy’s drink, and that’s only when he could trust her.“Is everything set?” Quincy asked Kohler.“Yes. I’m all set.” She responded. “Wow. The color looks just perfect on your body. He is going to fall for this.” Kohler chuckled.“I know, right? When he gets caught, he would never put his loyalty to a bad man.” Quincy said with a smirk. “Alright, it’s time to go,” Quincy said, then they left the house, and Quincy was laid in the backseat of his car.Kohler then got into the driver’s seat and drove off to the location to which she was asked to come over. The ride was a little long, and the only reason he would do that was because the place would be a secluded area.That was the best kind of place for them to carry out operations like that.“Just ensure you do not act tense. You have to be as fluid as possible.” Quincy lectured her, and she nodded. “A
Last Updated: 2024-09-30
Chapter: chapter 162 A few days passed, and a day came when Damien’s grandfather called, and said he wanted to see both him and Lauren. “What do you think he might want to say?” Lauren asked him, out of curiosity. “Well, I don’t know. But I’m hoping it’s good news.” Damien said as he drove. At least, for the past few days that had passed, they had learned to tolerate each other again, so Liam didn’t need to be interrupting at every interval. Lauren felt herself tense as she didn’t know what the outcome could be. For days now, she had not seen Quincy, and then he had also made up with her by calling her and explaining the situation to her. She was glad that he at least explained to her, but she just couldn’t help but feel that he still had at least, an atom of love for Kohler, and that hurt her deeply each time she thought about it. Soon, they got to his family house, and on getting there, it was only the grandfather who was present at the dining table. But there was no food served there. “Welcome,
Last Updated: 2024-09-30
Chapter: chapter 161Minutes before Liam answered the call, Damien was pacing around with his phone and leaned close to her ear, listening to the now annoying dial tone.“What the hell!” He said sharply under his breath as he kept on waiting.It was becoming frustrating that Liam hadn't answered his call ever since he left earlier with Lauren.The fact that he hadn't answered his call only made him a little worried because his phone was right in the car with him. He was hoping they hadn’t gotten into an accident or something.But then, even though they didn’t get into an accident, another reason he might not answer his call could be that his phone was on silent, but he wasn’t certain if it was on silent. But at least, he ought to know of their current whereabouts and if she was fine, but curiosity was beginning to eat her out.“If I still can't get through to them after calling and calling, I might have to get to the hotel to find out myself; hopefully Lauren would have checked in safely.” He said to him
Last Updated: 2024-09-30
