Chapter One“Hey,” a young man with curly locks said, snapping his fingers. “You want easy money or not?”Adrian Vale did not flinch when the words hit him. He stood in the corridor outside the business block, shoulders relaxed and eyes lowered, as if he had heard worse before.He had.Words like these came easily to people who never worried about rent, tuition, or tomorrow. Lukas Leonardo was one of the richest students in the university, known for his extravagant lifestyle and constant showing off. He was the undisputed leader of the campus bullies.Adrian thought of his wallet, the empty space where money should be. His feeding allowance had run low. He would do any work as long as it did not involve stealing. Even if it involved them laughing at him, he would bear it.Lukas leaned against the wall with careless confidence, surrounded by others who looked exactly like him. They wore expensive watches and polished shoes, faces that had never learned the meaning of restraint.“We are

Chapter Three The call came as Adrian stepped out of the bank. For a moment, the city felt unfamiliar to Adrian. Not because anything had changed, but because he had. The black card rested in his pocket, heavier than its weight suggested. It was not the card itself that altered the air around him. It was what it represented. Access. Finality. A quiet end to certain conversations. His phone vibrated bringing him from his head into reality, he checked the screen. Lina. He paused before answering. Lina had been there when no one else was. She never laughed and mocked him when the other student did. Never looked away when he spoke rather when people whispered about him, she shut them down without drama, without expecting gratitude. She did not see him as poor or useful or temporary. She saw him as her true friend Adrian answered. “You answered atlast I’ve called you countless times.” Adrian eyes widened and he scrolled through his phobe to find several messages and calls, his pho

Chapter Five The manager turned to the salesgirl. “Especia,” he said evenly. “Bring the card validator.” Her head snapped up. “Sir, the transaction already went through and it was certain that it's a stolen card.” “I am aware,” the manager replied. “I want internal verification.” A murmur rippled through the store. “He stole it,” Jason said again, pointing openly at Adrian. “There is no way that card belongs to him. Look at him,” he spoke to Mira loud enough for everyone to hear. Mira folded her arms tightly, her lips curled in disgust. “This is embarrassing. How are you even entertaining this? Better find out now.” Especia who had mocked Adrian earlier stood rigid behind the counter while ignoring the manager word, panic flickering behind her eyes had vanished, she had felt something was off with Adrian it was only a matter of time before they verify he's a fraud and she just couldn't wait for that moment but the manager believing Adrian made her blood boil. The younger

Chapter Seven The Irritation on Lina's features was immediate as she gave a one clear look at Lukas. She shot Lukas a sharp look, her jaw tightening as his smirk widened, as if he had struck exactly where he intended. “What is the meaning of this, Lukas.” the dorm head finally spoke, his tone warning. “Do you have something against Adrian?” Lukas laughed, lifting his glass lazily. He was the kind of bully who found pleasure in the discomfort of others, who thrived on provoking reactions and pretending innocence afterward. “I’m just having fun,” he said, taking a slow sip of the wine. Wines were prohibited in high school since they were students that needed to study hard but exceptions were quietly made for events like birthdays for influential families and for people like Lukas rules bent around him easily since he was a bully and a disobedient student at that. After the heat dies down, Lina places the glass beside Adrian. And tapped him on the shoulder apologetically, Adrian c

Chapter NineThe taxi stopped in front of the Vista Hotel. Luxury supercars lined the entrance, their engines humming softly under the brilliant golden light.Adrian stepped out, his worn sneakers hitting the pristine pavement. He gripped his phone tightly as the $50 million notification was still burning in his mind like a hot coal.He hadn't walked five feet before a hand blocked his path.“Where do you think you're going? Deliveries are at the back, kid," the doorman said. His white-gloved hand remained held out like a wall. He didn't even look Adrian in the eye, he was too busy opening a door for a man in a tuxedo."I'm not a delivery driver," Adrian said, his voice calmer than he expected. "I’m here to see Chase Goodman."The doorman finally looked at him and sneered. "The General Manager? You think a man who manages the portfolios of oil tycoons has time to meet a student in a thrift-store jacket? Get moving before I call security."“I have a meeting with him. At least let him k