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: 233Chapter 233Later that night, when the celebrations had calmed, I stood on the balcony of the presidential residence, Zee leaning against my chest.The city sparkled below us, alive with joy and hope.“Do you think she’s watching?” Zee asked softly.I kissed the top of her head. “I know she is. And she’s smiling, knowing her sister didn’t just find love… but found a reason to keep fighting.”Zee closed her eyes, and for the first time since Tessa’s death, her lips curved in peace.I held her tighter, gazing out at the horizon.The battles were over. The wars behind me.Now, with her at my side and an entire nation looking to me, I wasn’t just Adrian the warrior.The dawn crept slowly over the horizon, painting the skies in hues of gold and soft crimson. I remained on the balcony, my arms wrapped protectively around Zee as the warmth of the first morning light touched her face. She stirred slightly, blinking her sleepy eyes open, and smiled at me.“Good morning, Mr. President,” she tea
Last Updated: 2025-08-28
Chapter: 232Chapter 232“ We need to get you out of here,” Park said immediately after I was done with my speech. My gaze darted around. I could have sworn that I saw her. Sophia, walking towards my guard. Zee looked at me, and I could see the joy in her eyes. The happiness of finally knowing that she belonged to me and that I am here. “ I love you.” She whispered.I smiled around the eyes, “I know.” I grabbed her by the waist and planted a kiss on her lips, making the crowd go wide. “ Adrian for the president!” They all kept chanting my name as I walked down the podium. The night had already burned itself into history. Fireworks lit the sky, the chants of my name echoed through the square, and Zee clung to my arm with trembling joy. But just as I allowed myself to breathe, I noticed the shadow moving through the crowd.The figure stepped forward, pushing past the chaos like a ghost. My eyes sharpened. I knew that face.“Tessa…” Zee’s voice broke beside me, her fingers tightening on mine.
Last Updated: 2025-08-28
Chapter: 231Chapter 231The cathedral was still burning with echoes of the fight. I stared at Edwin’s lifeless body one last time, then turned away. His shadow had haunted my family for years, but now it was gone. Dead. Forever.Park clapped a hand on my shoulder, his expression weary yet proud. “You ended it, Adrian. It’s finally over.”I looked at him, but my mind was elsewhere. Ending Edwin was one thing—but life wasn’t about ending battles, it was about building something worth protecting. My gaze drifted to the thought of her. Zee. Her laughter. Her fire. The one who had stood beside me even when I was buried in the darkness of my past.I couldn’t wait any longer.The next morning, I was pacing my room when Park walked in.“You haven’t slept a wink, have you?” he asked, grabbing an apple from the table and biting into it.“Sleep can wait,” I muttered. My chest felt heavy with the decision. “I need to do this. No more hiding, no more secrecy. I’m done letting fear decide for me.”Park narrowe
Last Updated: 2025-08-28
Chapter: 230Chapter 230I slammed my fist against the arm of the couch, the wood cracking under the force. My anger was boiling over, and Park knew better than to interrupt. He just sat there, his eyes steady on me, waiting for the storm inside me to settle.“Protecting her means putting a target on her back,” I growled. “And Edwin doesn’t miss his targets. He’ll come for her the same way he came for Mother.”Park leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “And you’ll come for him. Isn’t that the point, Adrian? You’ve been dancing around this for too long. Either you kill Edwin, or he kills everything you care about. There’s no middle ground.”His words struck me like a blade. He was right. There was no more running, no more waiting for him to make the first move. Edwin had already gone too far.Before I could respond, my phone vibrated violently on the table. The name flashing across the screen made my blood run cold.Edwin.I picked it up slowly, pressing the speaker button.His voice was
Last Updated: 2025-08-27
Chapter: 229Chapter 229At first, we both stood still. Parked looked at me. “Did you hear that?” He asked slowly, walking towards the table that was far from us. “I did, but it can't be,” I replied, even though I wished I was sure I heard correctly. The sound was faint at first, then it came again, the second time, almost like the room itself groaned under the weight of our grief. Park and I turned at the same time, our eyes locking onto the table.Alisha.Her lips parted ever so slightly. A gentle breath escaped, fragile and fleeting, but it was there. My heart lurched inside my chest.“No…” I whispered, stumbling toward her. “No, that’s not possible. She was gone. I—I felt it—”“Did you do something, Adrian?” Park asked with his eyebrows arched. It was not as if it could not be done, but I had never tried bringing anyone back. Did my blood do this?“I only gave her my blood.” Park’s bloodshot eyes widened as he leaned in closer. “She’s breathing, Adrian. She’s… she’s alive.”I dropped to
Last Updated: 2025-08-27
Chapter: 228Chapter 228 When the light came back on, I stared at the empty eyes in front of me. Her blood pooled straight to my feet. I felt my leg weakening. My lips quivered like I had been locked in an ice cave for a long time. The room was silent. Edwin was gone, and so were his men. I rushed to her side and called her name silently. “ Alisha. Can you hear me?” Her eyes were open, staring at me. I felt guilty crawling up my skin. My chest felt like it was going to explode from the pain I was feeling. I immediately cut my skin open and poured my blood right into her mouth. “ Please, mother. Wake up!” I shouted as my voice echoed through the empty room. Her skin was now pale. I felt the world around me collapsing. Everything I have tried to live for, I have built. It was all slowly crumbling around me. I gently carried her up and laid her on the table in front of me. My wound slowly healed up as I stared at her face, whispering a silent prayer. I have never believed in God. Where was
Last Updated: 2025-08-26
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
