Liam’s POVCrestwood University wasn’t just a school—it was an empire built for the rich, by the rich. A place where last names mattered more than merit, and money was the key to everything. If you weren’t born with a silver spoon, you were just another background character, an extra in the story of the elite. That was me. I had learned that the hard way.As I walked through the grand marble halls, my shoulders throbbing with pain from the excessive book I had stashed into my bag.I could feel the sneers, the sideways glances. My faded shoes, the second-hand clothes I had carefully ironed this morning, and the cheap wristwatch my mom had given me on my last birthday—all of it shouting I don't belong in here. I don't fit in. I was the charity case, the scholarship student. The poor kid surrounded by royalty.“Hey, loser.” I heard a voice behind me. I barely had time to react before a hand slammed into my back, shoving me forward. I stumbled, barely catching myself before my books

Liam’s POVThe moment I clicked the link, my phone screen went black.I frowned, tapping the power button repeatedly, but nothing happened.Then, suddenly, a loading bar appeared. “Initializing… Verifying Identity…”A chill ran down my spine.What the hell was this?My heart pounded as the screen flashed the dim light against my face, displaying a single message in bold letters:“Welcome, Liam Carter. You are the rightful heir to the Carter Conglomerate.”I froze.The Carter Conglomerate?Was this some kind of joke?I had no father. My mother worked herself to the bone to keep us afloat. There was no way I was connected to something so powerful.I should have closed the app. Should have ignored the ridiculous claim.But I couldn’t.I needed to know more.A new message appeared.“Access your inheritance now?”Two options flashed below it:[YES] – [NO]My fingers hovered over the screen.This was insane. This had to be a scam, right?But… what if it wasn’t?I hesitated for a long moment

Liam’s POVAs the elevator went down, my heart beat fast against my ribs.This morning, I was just another scholarship student at Crestwood, surviving on part-time jobs and some minimal jobs I could find. But now?I was a billionaire. The heir to a conglomerate. A man with power that I barely understood.And, according to Charles Davenport, a target. I wonder why he said that to me when I was just a kid, a teenager. The elevator doors slid open to the underground parking lot, where the same black luxury car was waiting. The driver from earlier stood beside it, his face devoid of any emotions.I guess he was a chauffeur meant to drive me up and down. “Where to, Mr. Carter?” he asked.I hesitated for a moment before answering.“Crestwood.”The ride back was quiet, but my mind was anything but.How much had my life changed in just a few hours?It felt strange and I still didn't understand what was going on. It felt like a dream. The money, the power, the weight of an entire empire no

Liam’s POV“Ryan killed someone.”The words Ryan killed someone was all I could think about after the call ended.I stared at my phone, gripping it so tight it threatened to break.Could it be true? I pictured him in my gut. Ryan was not someone who was capable of doing such a thing. He might have been a bully in school, but can he be ruthless, a murder?That was a whole different level.I knew Ryan was not someone I can handle. This was a whole new level and I knew I had to be careful. I glanced at the screen and the document in front of me. I gently rubbed my temple. I grabbed my phone immediately and called Charles. “How did you get all of this?” I asked over the phone, my voice barely above a whisper.There was silence on the other end for a moment before Charles sighed. “Liam, you’re not ready for this.”My grip on the phone tightened. “You think I wasn’t ready when he humiliated me? When he stole Melissa and made my life hell? I don’t care what it is, Charles. Tell me.”Charle

Liam’s POVI turned slowly, my pulse rising as I came face to face with Ryan Blackwood himself. He stood there, arms crossed, a smirk playing on his lips. Behind him were two of his lackeys—Zane and Cole, Ethan looked like he was about to pass out. His hands trembled as he shut his book and scooted back in his chair, his gaze darting toward the exit like a trapped animal.Ryan tilted his head, his smirk sickening. "Liam Carter," he drawled. "Didn’t expect to see you here. And with Ethan, of all people. What’s the occasion?"I forced my expression into something neutral, though my mind raced. This wasn’t good. Not here. Not now.My eyes darted around trying to find a possible escape route. “Just catching up on some reading,” I said evenly, tilting my head toward the books.Ryan let out a short, amused chuckle. "Oh? And here I thought you were digging where you shouldn’t."Zane and Cole stepped closer. Ethan’s breath was caught in his throat, gripping the table so tightly his knuckles