The waiter hesitated for only a brief second before turning toward Rose. She had already stretched out her hand, her fingers slightly curled, waiting, expectant. Without saying anything, the waiter placed the payment device into her palm. The small machine felt light, too light for something that now held the attention of the entire restaurant. Rose took it smoothly, confidently. Her posture remained relaxed, her expression carrying a faint, almost amused smile. For a brief moment, she did not look at the screen. Instead, her gaze lifted and landed on Benjamin. He stood a few feet away, calm, composed, unbothered. There was no tension in his shoulders, no urgency in his stance, no sign that anything unusual had just happened. That alone made her smile deepen slightly. What was he doing? What kind of trick was this? Because in her mind, there had to be one. There was no other explanation. Benjamin transferring over a million dollars didn’t make sense, not even remotely. She tilte

Two weeks later, morning arrived quietly over Memoville Academy.The sky was clear, and the sunlight was soft but bright enough to stretch long shadows across the campus. Students moved in groups toward the main buildings. Some clutched their books tightly, while others held notes in their hands. Their faces showed focus and tension. It was exam day. Final year exams. The atmosphere felt different. Even the usual chatter was muted. There was less laughter, fewer distractions, and a stronger sense of urgency. Then something changed. It began near the entrance. A few students turned their heads. Then more followed. Soon, quiet whispers began to spread, growing steadily as attention shifted in one direction. Someone had just walked through the gates. Benjamin Lawson. He walked in calmly, his posture relaxed and his expression neutral, as if it were just another normal day. It was as though he hadn’t been gone for the past two weeks, as if nothing had happened. But everything had.

Ryan stood still long after Benjamin and Elise had left. The space they had occupied felt strangely empty. He kept looking toward the exit, his expression caught between disbelief and frustration. The noise in the restaurant had started to settle, but his thoughts had not. If Benjamin had been that confident… did that mean he had actually cleared everything? The question kept turning in his mind. He replayed the moment again. Benjamin’s calm voice. The way he had asked that question. Are you really sure? At the time, it had sounded ridiculous. Now, it didn’t. Ryan let out a slow breath and ran a hand through his hair before looking back at the students. The students around him had started talking again, louder this time. Their voices carried excitement, disbelief, and curiosity. “I’m telling you,” one of them said with confidence, “my family made their money dealing with these kinds of accessories. That was a Franck Muller.” The speaker was Ronan Pearson. Ryan glanced in hi

“Can I get your contact?” Benjamin stayed quiet for a moment. The question hung between them. It wasn’t strange, not really, but it still carried a bit of weight. The girl in front of him shifted slightly, as if realizing how direct she had been. “Hope I don’t seem weird?” she added quickly, a hint of nervousness in her voice. Benjamin blinked, then shook his head lightly. “Not at all,” he said. His tone was calm and reassuring. She relaxed almost immediately, letting out a small breath as a smile formed on her face. Benjamin extended his hand. “Your phone.” She handed it over without hesitation. He took it, opened the contacts, and typed in his number. His movements were smooth and natural, with no awkwardness. When he finished, he handed the phone back. She took it carefully, as if it suddenly meant more than it had a moment ago. Then she stretched out her hand toward him. “Well, I’m Maya,” she said with a smile. Benjamin glanced at her hand, then shook it. The handsha

The following days passed quietly, but things were not the same.Benjamin found himself talking to Maya more often. At first, it was nothing serious. Just simple greetings and short conversations between classes. But over time, those moments grew longer. Talking to her became easier, more natural.He started learning more about her, and what he found was interesting.Maya wasn’t from an ordinary background, but she wasn’t part of the elite circle either. She was somewhere in between. Her family was more well-off than most middle-class families, but not among the powerful names that dominated Boston’s upper class.Still, there was something refined about her. It became clearer when she talked about her past. She had spent years abroad, studying and living in a different environment. Eventually, she had been called back home. Not because she had to, but because her father wanted her to return.From what she told him, her father had been persistent about it. He didn’t just want her home