Mr. Luggard led the way, his usual confident stride now laced with curiosity and a hint of wariness.Richard followed silently, hands in his pockets, scanning the room with the relaxed poise of someone who was used to being watched—but not concerned by it.The doors closed behind them.Mr. Luggard turned, now face-to-face with the man who had just flipped the entire social balance of the evening without lifting a finger.“I must admit,” Luggard began, his voice measured, “I was… surprised. To say the least.”Richard gave a faint smile. “I figured.”“That pendant,” Luggard continued, moving toward a small cart with aged whisky and crystal glasses, “that was no ordinary gift. Only a handful of those pieces exist. Most went to European royalty or oil families.”Richard nodded. “I’m aware.”“You didn’t buy that with scholarship money,” Luggard said, watching him now—closely.“I didn’t.”The silence stretched for a long second.Mr. Luggard poured a drink, offering one to Richard, who decli

“I didn’t change overnight. But I’m done letting people tell me what I can and can’t do.”The bell rang, signaling the start of class, but Richard wasn’t thinking about the lessons or the work ahead. He was thinking about the choice he’d made.He wasn’t a nobody anymore.And from that day forward, everyone in the room would know it.The bell rang, signaling the end of another class, but Richard’s mind was elsewhere. He had just experienced the most public moment of his life—his declaration of independence in front of Eliza’s friends, his unspoken shift from quiet student to someone who could stand his ground—and yet, something was gnawing at him. His interactions with Eliza had changed, his standing among his peers had shifted, but there was still a quiet weight in the back of his mind, a presence he couldn’t escape: the past.As he gathered his things, slipping his laptop into his bag and adjusting his coat, Richard’s phone vibrated on his desk. His fingers hovered over the screen. H

Richard sat in the quiet of Mr. James’s office, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the polished wood of the desk. The decision was made. He was going to do this. The path ahead was risky, but there was no other choice. If he was going to take down Victor Carmichael, he would need to get inside the beast’s den—his company—and slowly, piece by piece, tear it apart.The room around him seemed to hold its breath as Mr. James paced in front of him, the older man clearly troubled by the course Richard had chosen. Every few steps, he would glance at Richard, his face a mix of concern and disbelief.“You can’t be serious,” Mr. James said, stopping to face Richard. His voice was steady, but there was an undercurrent of worry. “This is a dangerous game, Richard. Getting inside Carmichael’s company? That’s not something you walk away from without scars. This man—he’s ruthless. And if he even suspects you’re playing him, he won’t hesitate to make you regret it.”Richard met his gaze with a

It had barely been a month since Richard had joined Carmichael Enterprises, yet the impact of his presence was undeniable. In just a short period, he had transformed from a fresh-faced employee to one of the most talked-about people in the company. His connections, his quick thinking, and his ability to navigate the corporate landscape had granted Carmichael Enterprises several high-profile partnerships, and their position in the industry had grown exponentially. Victor Carmichael himself had taken note of Richard’s rapid ascent, a rare feat in a company where loyalty was earned through years of backbreaking work. At first, it had been subtle. Richard had helped secure a deal with Baldwin Industries, bypassing months of stalled negotiations. Then came another deal—this time, a partnership with a consortium of government contractors that pushed Carmichael Enterprises into new, uncharted territories. Richard’s business acumen and ability to leverage connections had made him invaluable.

Richard’s breath came in shallow bursts as he stood in front of Victor Carmichael, the man who had orchestrated the destruction of his family, who had built his empire on lies and bloodshed. The safe, which he had just been moments away from opening, now felt like a distant memory. His hand was still resting on the lock mechanism, but his focus was entirely on the man standing before him—Victor Carmichael, his face a mask of calmness, but with eyes that betrayed a flicker of unease.Victor’s calm voice echoed through the room. “So, you thought you could get away with this, Richard?”Richard straightened, his gaze unflinching as he met Victor’s cold stare. “I didn’t think I could get away with it. I planned for it. And I made sure my friends know exactly where I am. You can’t touch me, Victor.”There was a long pause as Victor took a step back, seemingly surprised by Richard’s resolve. His lips curled into a tight smile. “You’ve really thought this through, haven’t you? Always one step