“I repeat, all shoppers are to return to the counter for an immediate search and payment before they can exit the premises,” the announcer’s voice echoed across the store, sharp and commanding.Michael had spotted John from across the room and, like a shadow, slipped behind him and Anna. He moved quietly, waiting for the perfect moment to add more fuel to the fire already brewing. His eyes glinted with malicious delight—this was the chance Jerry had promised him.Anna gripped John’s arm tightly, practically dragging him toward the counter. He let her pull him along without resistance, his steps heavy, his expression distant, like a lost child being led home. They reached the counter, and Anna quickly dropped the clothes they had been trying on for the cashier to check and bag.Her plan was simple—pay quickly and leave before more people began recognising John from that humiliating video. But her timing was already off.“Isn’t that the guy from the video? The one who was beaten and cal

Confused as to what his next steps should be, John rushed forward, his heart pounding so loudly it drowned out every other sound. From where he stood, all he could see were the person’s legs sprawled awkwardly on the ground.The first thought that crashed into his mind was that he had killed someone. His chest tightened at the horrifying idea of ending up in jail, his entire future reduced to a headline. He froze for a moment, almost afraid to look, but he knew he had no choice. If he ran, that would be the end of him. He had to face this.John swallowed hard and took slow, deliberate steps toward the body lying motionless on the pavement. When his eyes finally reached her face, he gasped and almost lost his balance.She was… stunning. The most beautiful girl he had ever seen. Her delicate features seemed unreal, like she had stepped out of a painting, yet here she was, lying unconscious and frighteningly still. His heart wrenched at the sight, panic gnawing at the edges of his though

The banging on the door had barely faded when a tense murmur spread across the lecture hall. Students glanced at each other, whispering like they were swapping ghost stories.“Mr Edward has a few rules,” a girl with green extensions said from two rows ahead, her voice low but sharp. “Just abide by them and you’ll have peace.”“He hates opposition,” muttered the guy sitting behind John. He wasn’t from their department—just another student borrowing this course. “I wonder what he’ll do this time.”The girl beside Anna leaned closer, her tone almost conspiratorial. “Last year, when someone opposed him, the person went missing for days. They found him unconscious at the cemetery near the school.”Anna’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Woah… that’s insane.”“That’s even better compared to what happened to someone else,” another student chimed in. “They lost an eye. Everyone called it an accident, but we all knew better.”“I guess this person is a freshman, that’s why he’s so headstrong,” someo

Both John and Rita stared at each other for a while, frozen in that uncomfortable silence, until the registration officials cleared their throats loudly, calling them back to reality.John shifted in his seat, his jaw tightening, while Rita quickly turned away, pretending to adjust her dress. Her heart, however, raced uncontrollably.John looks so fine, she thought, her eyes betraying her for a brief second as they trailed over his perfectly tailored suit. It hugged his frame in all the right places, showing off the broad shoulders and lean muscles that had once held her close. Money really does make anyone look good.But her admiration quickly turned into panic. This was no ordinary situation. John was a threat—a serious one. If he was registering for the Campus King and Queen Pageant, then Jerry’s chances of winning had just been cut in half. Rita knew how brutal the competition was, and she also knew how easily John could sway a crowd. His charisma, his name, his presence—it was ev

John and Anna could hardly keep their eyes off each other. Every time one of them looked away, the other would steal a glance, as if trying to confirm the fragile reality of what had happened the day before. The air between them was heavy, filled with silence that wasn’t hostile but tense, uncertain, almost trembling with possibility.Their classes had been separated, but their paths still crossed. Some courses brought them together, and Anna had also promised something that made John’s heart stir—she would be his teacher. She had insisted on helping him prepare for the campus pageant, particularly the catwalk auditions that would soon decide everything.For John, it was both a blessing and a torment. He could not shake off the new feelings rushing inside him for Anna, feelings that had only grown since the night she chose to stand by him. And now, standing beside her, he no longer wanted to be the shadow of the man he had been. He wanted to be someone of worth, a man of standards—wor