Chapter Twelve Dean Halloway sat behind his massive dark oak desk, flanked by the Board of Directors. Opposite them sat Erica, her eyes red, and Robert Leonardo, looking disheveled but desperate. When Adrian walked in, still wearing his worn sweater, the Dean didn’t bother to look up. "Sit down, Vale," Halloway barked. "We’ve reviewed the report. Stolen cards, fraud, and what happened at the Vista Hotel. Mr. Leonardo here has provided all the evidence we need and Erica has confirmed your... unstable behavior. You’re nothing but a parasite, Adrian."Adrian sat down and leaned back calmly, his eyes on Erica. "A parasite? Erica, you’ve spent three years eating at the Leonardos' table and wearing Lina’s hand-me-downs while pretending to be a socialite. You should be careful with that word."Erica’s face flushed with rage. "How dare you! My cousin Lina and Lukas are like siblings to me. The Leonardos are my family. You? You’re just a scholarship rat who is sucking my Aunt Martha dry, thi

Chapter FourteenThe Grand Ballroom was a room full of people who spent more on watches than most people did on houses, and tonight, they were all here to watch the Vance Clan swallow another victim.Caspian Vance stood at the center of a circle of admirers, looking like a prince in his white tuxedo. He didn't just look rich; he looked untouchable. His hand was clamped tightly on Lina’s waist—a little too tight that the grip left a bruise.Behind him, Jason Whitmore and Mira were standing like well trained house pets.“Look at her,” Mira whispered to Jason, her eyes glittering with envy. “Lina thinks she’s special, but she’s just a trade-in for the Vances.”“She’s lucky, at least she’s with a Vance. My father says the Whitmores have been waiting three generations just to be mentioned in the Vances father's will. She gets it all in one night.” Jason smirked, adjusting his cufflinks. He felt ten feet tall standing in Caspian’s shadow. “We’re closer than anyone. It’s a massive upgrade fro

Chapter Sixteen “Let's board a cab,” Adrian said, stepping toward the roadside. Lina forced a smile, though her heart was still hammering against her ribs like a trapped bird. When the cab pulled up in front of the girls' dormitory, Adrian climbed out to walk her to the gate. “Why are you coming down here?” Lina asked, her brow furrowing. “How will you get back to your own dorm this late? It’s a forty-minute walk.” “I’ll just walk. Besides, there are lights everywhere. You’re starting to sound like a worried old lady, Lina,” Adrian teased, idly kicking a piece of gravel with his beat-up sneaker. Lina smirked, shaking her head. “Fine. Get home safe, Adrian.” She turned and headed inside, the warmth of his joke lingered for only a second before the heavy dorm doors shut behind her. Lina heaved a heavy sigh as she stepped inside, the whoosh of air hitting her was cold. Lina shared a suite with four other girls, all of whom were members of her cheerleader squad. The moment she st

Chapter Eighteen “What can you actually fix, Sarah?” Lina asked daringly, her voice steady as she watched Sarah hand tremble against the printed notice. Sarah's face flushed a deep red, she stared at the notice, her mind racing in panic. She couldn't do the triple twist nor could she even stick a landing without Lina's hand on her wrist to steady her. Without a team to hide her flaws she was nothing more than a girl in an expensive outfit. “You are not the school proprietor.” Lina said, her voice turning ice cold. “So I believe there is nothing you could do about the new notice. You wanted to be independent? Well, now you have your wish. Don't trip over your own ego on the way to the stage.”The door flew open. Mira stormed into the room, slamming her copy of the notice onto Lina’s desk. “You think this solo audition is your big break, Lina?” Mira laughed, and the sound was like glass breaking. She leaned down, her face inches from Lina face. “Look at you. Your father is a bankrupt

Chapter Twenty The imperial club charity gala was held at the Grand Azure pavillon, a venue so exclusive that even the air inside seemed to cost a thousand dollars a breath. Outside the Pavillion line luxury cars stretched for blocks—Rolls-Royces, Maybachs, and custom Bentleys idling like resting beasts. Miana stepped outside her grand Lemousine in her expensive gown worth more than a suburban house. Beside her Jason walked with smug grin adjusting his cufflinks as if he already owned the evening. "Tonight, Lina and that rat will learn the true meaning of background,” Miana whispered, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. "I want them to see us standing on the podium while they’re relegated to the server’s entrance." Sarah and Mira followed close behind, giggling. They had been checking their phones every five minutes, waiting for a desperate text from Lina. But Lina had been silent. Mira breath hitched as she saw Jason dressed in the expensive suit walking side by side with M