The school campus buzzed with life as students hurried in every direction. Groups lounged under the trees, scrolling through their phones, laughing at videos, or gossiping about the latest drama. But inside the quiet classroom, Marcus sat alone at the back, his head buried in his notebook. He was trying desperately to make sense of the complex formulas Professor Frost had thrown at them before the break. The man was ruthless. Everyone knew it. Professor Frost was not just strict; he was wicked. One wrong answer, one late submission, and you could find yourself on the verge of expulsion. Most students feared him like death itself. A few who had dared challenge him had already packed their bags and left the university for good.Marcus flipped page after page, his brow furrowed in concentration. He could not afford to fail this course. Not again. Professor Frost already disliked him for reasons Marcus could never quite understand. Maybe it was the way he asked questions in class, or perh

Marcus froze in the doorway, one foot already outside the classroom. Professor Frost’s cold eyes bored into him like knives. The man opened his mouth, voice sharp and commanding.“Marcus! Where do you think you are going? If you step out of this room right now, if you miss even one second of my lecture, you know exactly what will happen. I will make sure you never set foot in this university again.”The threat hung in the air, heavy and final. Students turned to watch, some smirking, others whispering. Marcus felt their stares like needles on his skin. But his scholarship—$300,000 due in five hours—was slipping away faster than any professor’s punishment could touch him. If he stayed, he would lose everything anyway. He would be out on the streets by nightfall.Without a word, without even looking back, Marcus bolted.Professor Frost’s voice chased him down the corridor. “You will regret this, boy! Mark my words!”Marcus did not stop. His legs pumped harder, carrying him out of the bu

Marcus stepped through the doors of the grand hall, the thumping bass of the music hitting him like a wall. The place was packed. Lights flashed across the ceiling, students danced in clusters, and the air smelled of expensive perfume and excitement. The moment he appeared, heads turned.Whispers spread fast.“Isn’t that the guy who got expelled?”“Why is he still on campus? Security must have forgotten to drag him out.”Laughter followed. Someone shouted, “Go home, scholarship trash! You don’t belong here anymore!”Marcus heard every word. He kept his face calm, eyes forward, and walked straight toward the table where Freya, Victoria, and Emmanuel sat. They waved him over, concern still lingering on their faces from dinner.As he reached the seat, the program coordinator climbed onto the stage, microphone in hand.“Ladies and gentlemen, please give a huge welcome to our special guests who have just arrived—Baron Thorn, Jackson, and their crew!”The sentence was barely finished before

Even after Julian and her boyfriend had left, Emmanuel was still burning with anger. He paced the room, clenching his fists, muttering under his breath about how shameless some people could be. Marcus watched him quietly for a moment, then spoke in a calm voice.“Let it go, Emmanuel.”“How can I?” Emmanuel snapped. “She slapped you in your own room and laughed about it like it was nothing.”Marcus shook his head slowly. “It is over.”Emmanuel stopped pacing and stared at him. “You are too calm. This is not like you.”Marcus did not answer. He simply turned and walked into the bathroom. He locked the door behind him and leaned against it, closing his eyes. The sound of running water soon filled the room as he began to bathe.As the water poured over him, his thoughts drifted. Less than twenty four hours ago, he had been chased, humiliated, expelled, and treated like dirt. Now he was heading to the Galaxy Corporation, the most powerful corporation connected to ESU. Life truly had a way

After Emmanuel ended the call, Marcus did not waste a single second. He opened the taxi door and slid inside, his movements swift and urgent.“To campus,” he said firmly.The driver nodded and drove off immediately.Marcus sat back, his mind racing. Professor Frost was looking for him. That alone was enough to make most students panic. But Marcus had already faced worse in a single day. Whatever awaited him now, he would face it head-on.When the taxi stopped at the campus entrance, Marcus pushed the door open before the driver could even speak.“Keep the change,” he said as he stepped out and shut the door.The driver stared at him in surprise as Marcus took off at a hurried pace, heading straight for his faculty building.By the time he reached his classroom, he realized he was already late.The room was empty.His heart sank slightly. Professor Frost had already left.Before Marcus could even process his next move, two campus security guards approached him.“Marcus Hale?” one of th