Chapter Thirty-TwoMr. Lawson was a feared name in the East District's money market, and the surrounding elders stood entirely frozen, wondering what immense backing Adrian possessed to make such a formidable elite hit the concrete so submissively.Adrian, however, remained in a perfectly casual mood. Today was Lina's first official day in the Imperial Club cheerleading circle, and her celebratory dinner was scheduled for that very evening. It would be a complete waste of his time to ruin his clothes by dealing with Lawson too crudely. He looked down at the groveling director, his face entirely bored. Still, looking at the broken signs on the asphalt, he knew Auntie Martha deserved every bit of the rough treatment she received.“I can ignore this," Adrian said, his voice flat. "But you return every single cent of their money right now.”Terrified that Adrian would pull the execution order, Mr. Lawson scrambled forward on his knees. “Anything you want, sir! I will process it immediately

Chapter Thirty-FourThe Diamond Pavilion sat on the top floor of the Imperial Club, framed in floor-to-ceiling crystal that offered a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree view of the city skyline. The carpet was hand-woven silk, and the scent of rare sandalwood hung heavy in the air.Chloe, Trevor, and the other socialites walked inside as if they were stepping into a dream. Trevor’s eyes darted around frantically, his palms sweating. As an heir to a second-tier family, he had only ever seen photos of this exclusive room on the club’s private social media page."This is impossible," Chloe whispered, her voice trembling as she looked at the lavish surroundings. "The Diamond Pavilion requires a massive minimum spend just to open the doors. Lina, how did your broke boyfriend get us in here?"Lina could not answer her. She simply stared at Adrian, who walked toward the head of the long mahogany table with the exact same casual indifference he used when entering a college library. He did not spar

Chapter Thirty-SixThomas Jacob’s face was a map of cold, calculated cruelty. To him, the Diamond Pavilion was a place of business, and the business today was the total destruction of the boy who had dared to touch his son."Six of you," Thomas said to the mercenaries he brought along, his voice entirely flat. "Break his arms first. I want him to watch as I personally revoke his girlfriend's membership. If the Chairman asks, tell him I was merely cleaning a stain off his carpet."Lina’s face went white. She lunged forward, trying to shield Adrian with her own body. "Mr. Jacob, please! He is just a student! He didn't mean any insult!""Lina, sit down," Adrian said calmly.His voice was terrifyingly steady. He didn't even look at the advancing men. Instead, he swirled the ruby-red wine in his glass, watching the light refract through the expensive liquid."Thomas," Adrian said, his gaze finally lifting to meet the patriarch's. "You spent thirty years building the Jacob Group's shipping l

Chapter Thirty-EightMartha wrestled the collection agent on the dark asphalt the night before, screaming that her brother's gambling debts meant nothing to her new money. She sprinted up the stairs, ran inside, and slammed the apartment door right in the man's face, clutching the gold-stamped check inside her dress like a shield.Adrian left the apartment complex early, stepping out of a regular yellow cab as he arrived at Greenhigh College. The campus served as the premier playground for the city's extreme elite, and on this particular morning, the entire student body buzzed with an intense, petty energy.As Adrian walked toward the Finance Building with his scuffed school bag, he felt the weight of dozens of judgmental eyes tracking his every move. The dramatic Imperial Club incident from last night traveled through the school apps like wildfire, but the wealthy students heavily twisted the gossip to save their own pride."There he is," a junior whispered loudly, leaning against the

Chapter FortyThe Great Hall of Greenhigh College was a cathedral of pure wealth. Crystal chandeliers hummed with light, reflecting off the diamond-encrusted watches of the city’s elite. But the center of gravity shifted entirely.Julian Vale stood by the buffet line, his face a hollow shade of gray. He watched the college President—a man who ignored Julian’s father for years—personally pull out a velvet-lined chair for Adrian at the Sovereign Table."This is a mistake," Julian hissed to Chloe, his wine glass trembling in his hand. "A Founder's Key? That is a legend. It belongs to the primary shareholder of the Grand Azure Trust. There is no way a scholarship loser like Adrian represents that person. He stole it! He found it while cleaning some executive's trash can!"Chloe nodded frantically, her pride clinging to the lie. "Exactly! Look at his suit! It is polyester garbage! A real representative of the Trust wears tailored Italian silk, not clothes from a bargain bin. Julian, we have