When I opened my eyes, the world was soaked in gold.The curtains were drawn open, and sunlight poured through the spotless glass, glowing haze. For a moment, I just lay there, staring at the ceiling of the presidential suite. Yesterday had been madness — a blur of blood, fear, power, and Clara. The rollercoaster hadn’t stopped until I fell asleep, half-dazed, in a room that looked like it belonged to a movie star.Now, it was real.The golden light, the soft hum of the air conditioner, the faint smell of fresh linen — all of it reminded me: I wasn’t dreaming.I pushed myself up, rubbing my eyes, and looked at the clock on the wall. Eleven. Damn. I hadn’t slept this late in years.After a quick stretch, I slipped out of bed and opened the door to the living room.Clara was there — seated elegantly on the sofa, phone pressed to her ear. She had changed into a white pleated skirt and a matching blouse that framed her slender waist. The sunlight caught on her skin, making her look almos

Hearing my words, Mario only got more dramatic. He sighed heavily and muttered, “You really didn’t have to,” before turning to glare at Alora, who didn’t even flinch. She’d already grabbed his phone and was happily scrolling through shopping apps like she owned the damn thing.Mario rubbed his temples, defeated. “Forget it,” he said finally, then turned back to me. “Anyway, there’s a party tonight. You showing up?”Back then, when I was broke, parties like that were off-limits. I couldn’t even afford a proper meal at the cafeteria—what business did I have wasting money on booze and loud music? But now… things were different. The thought made me smile. This wasn’t just any party; it was our pre-graduation gathering. It would be awkward not to go.And besides, I wasn’t the same Ethan anymore.There were fifteen million sitting quietly in my bank account.“I’ll go,” I said with an easy grin.The bell rang. The chatter quieted down. We all waited for Ms. Summers, but she never came. After

“Don’t worry, Gideon.” Kenny nodded, his grin slimy and eager. Then his voice dropped into something more cautious. “You aren’t really planning on splitting the bill with Ethan, right? Do you have enough cash to cover the entire room?”Gideon snorted. “It’s just a premier room. You think I can’t afford a few of those?” He puffed his chest out like a rooster, but even from behind, I could see the tension in his shoulders. He was bluffing, and the thought of me agreeing to split the bill had clearly thrown him off.Still, pride is a dangerous drug. He wouldn’t let anyone see the sting. “That arrogant loser dared to go against me,” he muttered through clenched teeth. “When the bill comes, I’ll make sure he’s destroyed. He’ll regret even opening his mouth.”“You’re so cool!” Kenny said immediately, his tone dripping with flattery. “Eden will definitely be impressed. Maybe you’ll get lucky with her tonight.”Gideon chuckled darkly. “Why do you think I spent so much money on the premier roo

Apart from Mario and me, everyone seated at the head table was one of Gideon’s cronies.We sat around a large circular table. I ended up directly across from Gideon.The seat to his left was left conspicuously empty. Everyone knew who it was reserved for Eden, the girl Gideon had been flaunting around all semester like a trophy.On my side, the seat next to me was also empty. The reason was just as obvious no one besides Mario had the guts or willingness to sit beside me. It wasn’t subtle either. Their glances, their whispers, their smug little smirks all screamed the same thing — you don’t belong here.Kenny, Gideon’s lapdog and self-proclaimed “comedian” of the group, sauntered toward the empty chair beside me. He made a show of it by pulling the chair halfway out, pretending like he was about to sit down, then froze mid-motion as if he’d suddenly noticed I existed.His expression morphed from fake surprise to exaggerated disgust.“Oh hell no,” he muttered loud enough for everyone t

Eden’s sudden actions startled me, but I’d be lying if I said they weren’t thrilling. The risk, the secrecy, the fact that we were surrounded by nearly forty people—it sent a strange jolt through me. I took a silent sip of wine and placed the glass back on the table. Beside me, Eden stole a quick glance at me, then turned away as if nothing happened. Her lips curved into a small, teasing smile. Under the table, hidden by the long cloth, her hand continued its sinful exploration. Her fingers pressed and stroked along my inner thigh, rubbing through the thin fabric of my pants. Her hand was soft—cold at first, then warm from the friction. Each slow movement was deliberate. Seeing we weren’t speaking anymore, Gideon finally relaxed. His shoulders eased, though he still shot me occasional hateful looks. Then, in an attempt to redirect the room, he raised his voice. “Guys, we’re about to graduate. Any plans for the future?” The table instantly warmed up. “I’m go