Chapter 101The crisp morning air at Columbus University felt different—charged with an undercurrent of tension and hope. The once-familiar campus grounds now seemed like a battleground, not of fists and fury, but of ambition, rivalry, and relentless pursuit of dreams. For Jamal, it was another day to face the mounting pressures that weighed heavily on his shoulders—Skilbridge, university deadlines, and the complex web of personal relationships that had grown thicker with time.Jamal sat in the university library, his laptop open but untouched. The blinking cursor on his screen mirrored his scattered thoughts. The last investor meeting still echoed in his mind, the doubtful expressions of potential backers haunting him like shadows. Despite his confidence, Milo’s interference had shaken the very foundation of what he’d built.Leah slipped into the seat across from him, her notebook tucked under her arm, and a tired smile on her face. “You’ve been staring at that screen for twenty minu

Chapter 103 Jamal Davenport walked out of the café with Leah, Zoe, Ethan, and Evan, his mind spinning from the conversation they'd just had. No matter how much support he had, the weight on his shoulders never seemed to ease. Between Skilbridge’s growing complications, university deadlines, and Milo’s constant scheming, he felt stretched thin.The cold night air hit him as they stepped onto the campus sidewalk. Streetlights cast long shadows over the pavement, and students milled about in groups—some heading to late-night study sessions, others just enjoying a break from the academic grind."You sure you’re good, Jamal?" Leah asked, nudging his shoulder. "You’ve got that ‘thinking too hard’ face on again."Jamal exhaled. "Just processing everything. Calloway, the research project, the finance issues… It’s a lot.""You’re not alone in this," Zoe reminded him. "We’re handling Milo together, and now that we’re working at Skilbridge too, that should lighten your load a little.""Hopefull

Chapter 105 Jamal Davenport sat at the head of the table in Leah’s apartment, surrounded by his closest allies—Leah, Ethan, Zoe, and even Evan, who had surprisingly decided to stick around. Their expressions were serious, their gazes fixed on the documents and laptop screens before them. The weight of saving Skilbridge rested on their shoulders, and there was no room for hesitation.“We don’t have time to waste,” Jamal began, his voice steady but firm. “If we’re going to rebrand Skilbridge and attract investors, we need a full plan in motion by the end of the week.”Leah tapped her pen against the table. “That’s ambitious, but necessary. What’s our first step?”Jamal took a deep breath, knowing the next part would be the most difficult. “We need a pitch that sells Skilbridge as a must-have investment. Not just another start-up struggling to survive, but a company with real potential.”Ethan leaned forward. “We need success stories. Testimonials. Something that proves Skilbridge isn’t

Chapter 107 Jamal Davenport had thought securing an investor would be the hardest part of the journey. He was wrong.With the ink barely dry on the contract, the real challenge began—balancing Skilbridge, university, and life. Columbus University was unforgiving; professors didn’t care about his startup, deadlines didn’t wait for board meetings, and exams loomed like an unstoppable storm.It was just past midnight, and Jamal sat hunched over his laptop in the student lounge, eyes scanning Skilbridge’s latest analytics report. The numbers weren’t bad, but they weren’t great either. Growth had to be faster if they were going to meet Langford’s targets.“Still at it?” Leah’s voice cut through the quiet.Jamal looked up to see her standing by the vending machine, a bottle of water in hand. She wore an oversized hoodie and sweatpants—her unofficial study attire.“I have to be,” he muttered, rubbing his temples. “If these numbers don’t improve, Langford might start thinking we aren’t worth

Chapter 109 Jamal Davenport had always known that running a startup wouldn’t be easy, but this was a full-on war. ByteEdge wasn’t just moving aggressively; they were dominating.Their latest move—securing exclusive deals with two universities—was a brutal blow. Skilbridge was fighting against a corporate giant with deep pockets and powerful connections. If they didn’t strike back fast, they’d be buried before they even had a chance to grow.As soon as Jamal ended the call with Ethan, he headed straight for their dorm. Leah, Ethan, Zoe, and Evan were already waiting inside, tension thick in the air.“We need a new plan,” Leah said, arms crossed. “ByteEdge isn’t playing fair.”Jamal dropped his bag onto the chair and ran a hand through his hair. “We knew this would happen. We just didn’t expect them to move this fast.”“They’re leveraging money,” Ethan muttered. “Universities can’t say no to a fat check.”“But that’s their weakness,” Zoe said, adjusting her glasses. “They’re focusing o