Nathan Rhodes stood in front of the tall mirror in his tiny off-campus apartment where he lived with his grandmother, adjusting the collar of the suit he had rented just for tonight. The fabric was smooth, elegant even, but it didn’t belong to him. He knew that much. The suit hugged his lean frame perfectly, the polished shoes beneath it gleaming under the dim yellow light of the room. To anyone who didn’t know better, he looked like a young man born into privilege—confident, refined, and ready for a night of luxury.But Nathan knew the truth.Every thread on his body was borrowed. Every dollar that made tonight possible had been scraped together over weeks of skipped meals, juggling multiple errands, and tutoring sessions that drained his energy but kept his bank account barely alive. This night meant everything to him.Tonight, he planned to make things official.At twenty-two, Nathan Rhodes was a student of Elite Society University—ESU—one of the most prestigious institutions in Ma

Nathan was still being dragged toward the exit when fate decided to add salt to his already bleeding wounds.His shoes scraped helplessly against the polished marble floor as the security guards hauled him forward. His arms burned from the tight grip on them, but the pain in his chest was far worse. Every step felt like another nail hammered into his dignity. Around him, murmurs rose and fell—mocking, curious, entertained. No one tried to help. No one even asked for his side of the story.At the entrance of the restaurant, the manager and the security suddenly stopped.Nathan’s head jerked up instinctively, hope flickering for the briefest moment. Maybe they had come to their senses. Maybe someone had spoken up.Standing right in front of them was a tall, well-dressed young man, his posture relaxed, his hands casually tucked into the pockets of a tailored coat that probably cost more than Nathan’s entire wardrobe combined. He carried himself with an effortless authority, the kind that

Nathan’s hand went deeper into his pocket, and when he pulled it out, it wasn’t a fist.It was cash.A thick bundle of clean, crisp bills—about one thousand dollars.The club went quiet.Nathan raised the money slowly, his voice calm but sharp enough to cut through the music.“I’ll give this to anyone who punches that stupid boyfriend of hers in the face.”For a split second, everyone thought it was a joke.Then Nathan walked to the bartender’s desk and dropped the cash on it.The sound of money hitting wood echoed louder than the bass.Murmurs rippled through the crowd.“What kind of nonsense is this?”“Is he serious?”“At Club9?”Zea’s boyfriend burst into laughter, holding his stomach. “You think money can buy you help here?” he sneered. “Just watch and see how—”His words died in his mouth.A huge guy stepped out of the crowd.No warning. No hesitation.BAM!A clean punch landed squarely on Zea’s boyfriend’s chin.The man stumbled back, eyes wide, mouth hanging open.The puncher c

After Amelia and her friends finally walked away in laughter, the noisy tension they left behind slowly settled. Nathan stood still for a moment, his chest rising and falling as he tried to rein in the anger boiling inside him. His grandmother tugged gently at his sleeve, her wrinkled face filled with worry.“Nathan,” she said softly, “what was all that talk about seven women? Where will you even find them?”Nathan exhaled and gave a small, embarrassed smile. “Grandma… I honestly don’t know. I spoke too fast. I was angry.”She sighed, shaking her head slightly. “My boy, words spoken in anger are like stones thrown blindly. You can’t take them back.”“I know,” he replied. In his mind, however, a name surfaced—David Brune. The man who had called him earlier. The man who had told him the unbelievable truth about his father’s abandoned crypto project and the wealth attached to it. Nathan glanced at his phone briefly, then tucked it away. ‘I’m meeting David later today,’ he thought. ‘If an

Nathan’s taxi rolled to a smooth stop in front of the towering black-glass skyscraper with the silver letters:CLOVEN CORPORATIONHis heartbeat quickened.The building was a landmark—one of the most feared, revered, and powerful corporate headquarters in the world. Entire nations bowed when Cloven Corporation spoke. Billionaires trembled when its name was mentioned.And today… Nathan was walking into it.He paid the driver and stepped out. The air itself felt different here—colder, sharper, filled with the weight of wealth and authority.At the entrance stood a breathtakingly beautiful secretary—tall, poised, immaculate in her tailored navy skirt-suit. The moment she saw him, she straightened and gave a respectful bow, something she didn’t do for ordinary visitors.“Good afternoon, Mr. Rhodes,” she said smoothly.Nathan blinked. ‘She knows my name?’“I… I’m here to see Mr. David Brune.”“Yes, sir. He is expecting you.”No hesitation. Not even a question.She immediately stepped aside