Everyone fell silent immediately. The mocking voices died in their throats as they took in Sophie's presence. Carlos's smug expression faltered for just a moment before he recovered, his eyes narrowing with surprise. "Sophie? What are you doing here?" His tone carried confusion and wariness because he knew exactly who Sophie was—the daughter of Richard Sterling, CEO of Sterling Financial. Sophie's cold gaze fixed on him. "What's going on? That's what you should be asking yourself, Carlos." "I don't understand –" Carlos started. "Declan is my friend," Sophie stated firmly, her voice cutting through his words. "Is that so hard to understand?" The crowd murmured in shock. Students exchanged confused glances, trying to process this unexpected development. Laura stared at Sophie with wide eyes, clearly not recognizing her. "Your friend? That's ridiculous. Why would someone like you be friends with someone like him?" "I know exactly who you both are," Sophie interrupted, her gaze s

Carlos blinked. "What?" "Why shouldn't I let Declan humiliate you?" Sophie's voice carried a hint of amusement. "Haven't you been constantly humiliating him for years? Treating him like trash in his own adoptive home? Making sure everyone knew he was beneath you?" She took a step forward, her eyes hard. "You can dish it out, but you can't take it? That's pathetic, Carlos." The crowd murmured in agreement. Some students were nodding, clearly enjoying seeing Carlos taken down a peg. Carlos's face went even darker. The humiliation was bad enough, but having it pointed out so publicly, having his own behavior thrown back in his face, made it a thousand times worse. "You're making a mistake, Miss Sterling," Carlos said, his voice dropping to a dangerous , threatening time, "My family may not be equal to yours in terms of wealth or power, but we're not people you want as enemies." He straightened his shoulders despite the pain, trying to reclaim some dignity. Blood still dripped from h

Declan turned to look at the restroom door, frustration burning through him. Carlos was safely locked inside, making his call where Declan couldn't reach him."Haven't you learned anything, Carlos?" Declan called out, his voice loud enough to carry through the door. "Nathan publicly humiliated you just days ago at that fraternity dinner. He told you to your face that you weren't worthy of his help. How can you still be so spineless as to be his lackey?"There was a brief pause in Carlos's conversation. Then his voice came back, louder and defensive."What happened days ago was my fault, not Nathan's!" Carlos shouted through the door. "I was the one who didn't understand my place. I was the one who overstepped. But now I have to make you pay for my own mistake and for making me look like a fool in front of him. So isn't it normal that I received Nathan's cold treatment?"His logic was twisted, born of desperation and humiliation, but he seemed to believe it completely."You're pathetic

Nathan released Laura's arms and stepped forward into the bar. Behind him, four men emerged from the elevator. They were all dressed in dark suits, their builds suggesting they were more than just business associates. These were Nathan's personal security. They spread out behind Nathan in a loose formation, their presence immediately dominating the bar. The crowd of students instinctively pressed back against the walls, making room. Nathan's cold gaze swept across the scene, taking in everything. The disheveled Sophie standing beside Declan. The crowd of students with their phones raised. Carlos emerging nervously from the restroom, his face still bearing the marks of Declan's earlier beating. "Sophie," Nathan said, his voice carrying easily through the now-silent bar. "You're truly audacious." He took another step forward, his expression hard and unforgiving. "To publicly cheat on me with this man, just to try to break free from me? Did you really think I wouldn't find out? Did y

Everyone was stunned into complete silence.The students stared at Declan with wide eyes, their phones still recording but their expressions showing pure disbelief. Some mouths hung open. Others shook their heads slowly, as if they couldn't process what they'd just heard."Did he really just say no to Nathan Pierce?""He's insane. Completely insane.""He's going to get destroyed."Carlos's triumphant expression faltered, replaced by confusion and a hint of concern. Laura's eyes went wide with shock.Even Sophie turned to look at Declan, her face showing a mixture of gratitude and fear for what was about to happen.Nathan's confident smile vanished completely and his expression hardened. For a moment, he just stared at Declan, as if trying to determine whether he'd heard correctly.Then his jaw clenched tight."You're making a very serious mistake," Nathan said, his voice low and threatening.“I could say the same to you,” Declan said, holding Nathan's gaze.Nathan's patience snapped