Marcus slipped the phone back into his pocket as Emmanuel’s call ended. The taxi driver glanced at him in the rearview mirror.“Campus, right? Which gate?”“Main entrance,” Marcus said. “And hurry.”The driver nodded and pressed the accelerator. The city blurred past the windows, but Marcus’s mind raced faster. Professor Frost was looking for him. That never ended well. Yet after everything—the fundraiser, the Galaxy Corporation, the black card—fear felt distant, almost foreign.The taxi pulled up at the campus entrance. Marcus handed over more than enough cash. “Keep the change.”The driver’s eyes widened. “Thanks, boss!”Marcus was already moving, legs carrying him across the quad. Students stared as he passed. Whispers followed. Some pointed. He ignored them and headed straight for the lecture hall.The room was empty when he arrived. Chairs pushed back. Chalk dust still floating in the air. Professor Frost had already left.Marcus exhaled, shoulders dropping slightly. Maybe the da

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