Jackson was furious. He grabbed Marcus by the shirt collar and pulled his fist back, ready to hit him.Suddenly, a loud, confident laugh rang out across the entrance. Everyone turned to look.A tall woman walked through and the crowd parted as she moved, Rejoice Quinn walked forward. Her high heels clicked on the marble floor, and she looked very calm."Brother," she said to Jackson, "don't waste your time hitting this trash. We have very important guests coming today. You don’t want to look messy in front of them."Jackson let go of Marcus’s shirt. "You’re right," he grumbled. "But this pauper is lying! He’s claiming to be the official representative."Rejoice just laughed. "Who cares what he says? He can pretend to be Santa Claus for all I care. The event is starting, and the real guests will be here any minute."Marcus stood up straight and brushed off his hoodie. He had no intention of explaining who he really was, not yet. He didn't need to, the power shift was already beginning.

Marcus felt it before he understood it.A firm grip closed around his shoulder from behind.His body reacted on instinct. His back stiffened, his fingers curling slightly as he turned, already expecting the familiar sneer, the mocking laugh, the face of another rich student who thought his past still defined him.He turned around slowly, but he was shocked by what he saw.Standing there was a girl he hadn’t expected to see tonight.Freya.She looked… different.Not just dressed well—she looked radiant. Her long hair fell neatly over her shoulders, soft waves catching the lights of the hall. The dress she wore shimmered gently, a deep, elegant color that reflected the blue and silver glow around them. The kind of dress that didn’t need attention to command it.And yet, her expression was warm.“Marcus." she said, smiling. “How are you?”For a moment, he forgot how to respond.“I—” He cleared his throat. “I’m fine. Just got here.”Her brows lifted slightly. “Really? I’ve been looking

Jackson stepped off the stage and onto the side podium. The room went quiet slightly as all eyes turned toward him.“All right, ladies and gentlemen." he began, his voice ringing with confidence, “are you ready for the moment you’ve all been waiting for?”Cheers erupted from the crowd, students clapping, some jumping in excitement.Jackson raised his hands to calm them. “Tonight isn’t just about luxury cars, parties, or networking. It’s about opportunities, connections, and the chance to meet people who could change your future.”He continued.“On behalf of Elite Star University, it’s our absolute pleasure to welcome the representative from the CEO of Galaxy Corporation to the stage. Please join me in giving a warm round of applause!”The crowd erupted again, clapping and whistling, and everyone was craning their necks to spot who would step forward. Students whispered among themselves, guessing, “Could it be him? Or her? Maybe it’s that tall guy from the lobby…”Marcus, standing nea

Jackson’s smirk stayed on his face as he lowered the paper a little bit. His fingers gripped the edges of the document tightly.The whole room leaned forward at the same time.Every single phone stayed raised in the air.Every camera stayed locked on the scene.Jackson let the silence stretch out just long enough to make it feel painful for everyone watching.“Well,” he said at last, turning his body toward the crowd. “This is… very interesting.”A ripple of excitement rushed through the hall like a wave.George stood up straight beside Marcus. Confident, as if the fight was already over and he had won. He didn’t even look at Marcus anymore. To George, Marcus was already finished.“This document,” Jackson continued, tapping the paper with his finger, “is stamped, signed, and verified. It clearly states that Mr. George is authorized to act for the Galaxy Corporation.”The crowd exploded into noise.Cheers broke out instantly.Some students laughed out loud. Others shook their heads at M

The hall remained quiet. Every camera was zoomed in, phone screens glowed with the scene, and every eye was locked on the stage.Jackson’s arm cut through the air, aimed straight at Marcus’s face. A sharp gasp came from the audience.Marcus stepped back instinctively. It was one clean, precise motion. Jackson’s fist missed by inches. The force of his own swing made him stumble. For a heartbeat, he wobbled, his arms flailing as he nearly fell off the stage.The crowd exhaled all at once, a mix of awe and disbelief. Phones shook in nervous hands as murmurs of shock swept through the front rows.Jackson caught his balance, his chest heaving and his veins throbbing with pure rage. He charged again, faster this time, trying to hit Marcus. His face was twisted with uncontrolled anger.The hall was filled with chaos. People cried out in shock, some laughed nervously, and dozens of phones recorded every single second.But before the blow could land, the security team moved. They hurried forwa