2025-04-11 18:15:53Nancy skidded to a stop in front of them, her breath coming fast. “Wait… what?” She looked them over, confused. “You guys are out? Just like that?”
James and Andrew exchanged glances, still unsure how to process what had just happened themselves.
“I thought you were in trouble,” Nancy continued. “I was literally on my way to help. The whole thing was on Tyler’s livestream. What happened?”
Jackson took control before anyone could blurt out too much. “We were allowed to pay for what we could afford.”
Nancy’s brows furrowed. “That doesn’t sound like Julian.”
He shrugged. “It’s done now.”
She exhaled, shaking her head, then turned to Jackson with an apologetic look. “I’m really sorry for what happened back there. I should have been there sooner.”
Jackson gave her a small smile. “It’s not your fault.”
“Well, I can at least make sure that salesgirl gets fired,” Nancy said firmly. “The manager’s a close friend of my mom. She’ll handle it.”
Jackson said nothing, but deep down, he didn’t care what happened to Julian anymore. The whole ordeal was already behind him.
Then, Nancy changed the topic. “Listen, I invited someone to Tyler’s party tonight. She’s a friend of mine, and I want you to meet her.”
Jackson raised a brow. “Why?”
Nancy hesitated before saying, “Because you deserve better after what Emily did to you.”
Jackson sighed. He had zero interest in Tyler’s party, much less in meeting some random girl. He had planned to avoid the scene altogether. But then Nancy added, “It’s also my birthday.”
His eyes widened slightly.
Damn.
He had completely forgotten.
Now, skipping out wasn’t an option.
Nancy smiled, sensing his hesitation. “Don’t worry, you don’t have to pretend to be excited about the party. Just come for me, okay?”
Jackson nodded. “Yeah… I’ll be there.”
As they walked back to campus, Jackson’s mind was elsewhere. He needed a gift.
Nancy had always been one of his closest friends, someone who genuinely looked out for him. She deserved something special.
So he called Mr. Copper.
By the time he arrived at the venue, a delivery guy was waiting for him.
A Birkin bag.
Worth $75,000.
Ultra-rare. Ultra-exclusive. Ultra-coveted.
Only 999 were made each year—the kind of item that people waited years to own. A true status symbol.
But Jackson had connections.
Still, he had no time for the extravagant packaging, so he stuffed the bag into a simple black nylon sack and headed inside.
Inside the lounge...
Nancy was seated comfortably, surrounded by her close friends. Beside her sat Claire Staunch—a certified school goddess, beyond beautiful, and from a wealthy background.
Claire was everything Nancy had described—tall, elegant, and effortlessly sophisticated. She had the aura of someone born into money, someone used to the finer things in life.
The girls had been friends since childhood, inseparable through every phase of life. Tonight, Claire had joined Nancy’s party with some of her dormitory friends, and though it was Tyler’s event, this was Nancy’s night too.
She had made sure Claire came for one reason—to meet Jackson.
Meanwhile, a familiar unwanted presence entered the lounge.
Jonah.
Nancy’s face hardened the moment she saw him.
Jonah, one of Tyler’s closest friends, had been part of the humiliation Jackson suffered on his birthday. Once upon a time, he and Nancy had been close—friends since high school. But when Jonah’s behavior turned toxic, she cut ties with him.
And after what he did to Jackson? She had nothing to say to him.
Jonah approached with his usual arrogance, but this time, there was an attempt at humility in his voice.
“Nancy,” he started, flashing a practiced smile. “Are you still mad at me because of what happened with Jackson last night? Who would have thought he would meet his girlfriend and Tyler in such position?”
“Shut up, Jonah.”
Her words were ice.
Jonah winced but chuckled, trying to brush it off.
Claire, watching the exchange, turned to Nancy. “Who is he?”
Before Nancy could answer, Jonah took the chance to introduce himself to Claire instead.
He straightened his posture, flashing a grin that screamed confidence. “Jonah. And you must be Claire.”
Claire gave him a polite nod. “Nice to meet you.”
Jonah’s smile widened. He had wanted Claire for a long time—she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. Tonight was his chance.
Jonah wanted to use his apologize to Nancy as an opportunity to meet with Claire when he heard she was around.
She glanced at Nancy. “Is he the Jackson you wanted to introduce me to?”
Nancy’s expression turned disgusted.
Jonah? Jackson?
The insult.
Jonah laughed, seizing the opportunity to speak first. “Nah, Jackson’s my classmate. A broke dude we made fun of last night.”
Nancy’s temper flared.
“Jonah, shut up,” she snapped.
Jonah held up his hands in mock surrender. “Relax. I won’t say anything else.”
But the damage was done.
Claire’s expression shifted.
She had been curious about this Jackson guy. But now?
Her excitement disappeared.
If Jonah’s words were true—if Jackson was just some pauper—then she had no interest in him at all.
Her eyes lowered in disappointment.
Just then—
Jackson walked in.
His friends rushed to greet him, and Nancy instantly hugged him, excited that he came.
Jackson smiled, embracing the warm welcome.
Then, his gaze landed on Jonah.
Jonah was already smirking, arms crossed, watching him like a predator eyeing weak prey.
If Jackson had walked in wearing a designer suit, Jonah would have acted differently. But Jackson?
Wearing cheap clothes.
Carrying a black nylon bag.
Jonah was disgusted.
Claire also looked up at Jackson.
She had wanted a boyfriend, but if Jackson wasn’t rich, then… what was the point?
She studied his outfit.
Nothing expensive.
Nothing impressive.
She sighed internally.
Meanwhile, Nancy was beaming.
“Jackson, this is Claire! Claire, this is my friend, Jackson.”
Nancy introduced both of them with a smile on her face.
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Chapter 228: The Resistant One!
Mr. Copper and Dr. Sam stopped just outside Celestine’s room, close enough to hear the steady pulse of the heart monitor through the wall, but far enough that their words would not carry back to her or Jackson.“I think she’s the one,” Dr. Sam said first, his voice low but weighted with certainty.Copper turned his head slowly, the deep lines in his face tightening. “You mean the resistant one?”“Yes.” Dr. Sam’s answer was immediate, his eyes narrowing as though even saying it aloud carried danger. “Her DNA… it’s unlike anything I’ve studied before. It’s coded strangely—almost reversed. It mirrors the same shift Philip’s body underwent after he stumbled upon the Flameborn. Only with her, it’s not temporary. It’s permanent. Written into her blood.”Copper exhaled hard through his nose, the sound more like a growl than a sigh. The revelation hit him like a ton of bricks. He pressed his palm against the wall as though steadying himself against the weight of it. “So you’re saying… there’s
Chapter 227: Questions Without Answers!
The room hummed with the faint buzz of machinery as the last scan flickered across the monitor. A thin green line danced up and down on the screen, steady, unyielding, almost too perfect. The doctor, Sam Simpson—an older man whose years in medicine had carved deep grooves in his face—stood still for a long while, staring as if waiting for the machine to correct itself.Sam Simpson was an old friend of Copper and Philip Hart while Philip was still alive. As a mater of fact, he was the doctor who attended to Philip all through his life time down to the day he died.He had been out of the country for over a year and had just returned three days ago. Copper had called him in when Jackson called to report what had happened, as the only doctor he could trust with such sensitive issues was Sam.Copper had not been himself all day as he was still trying to make sense of what could be responsible for Celestine's immunty, and the only thing that could come to his mind was the possibility that
Chapter 227: Questions Without Answers!
The room hummed with the faint buzz of machinery as the last scan flickered across the monitor. A thin green line danced up and down on the screen, steady, unyielding, almost too perfect. The doctor, Sam Simpson—an older man whose years in medicine had carved deep grooves in his face—stood still for a long while, staring as if waiting for the machine to correct itself.Sam Simpson was an old friend of Copper and Philip Hart while Philip was still alive. As a mater of fact, he was the doctor who attended to Philip all through his life time down to the day he died.He had been out of the country for over a year and had just returned three days ago. Copper had called him in when Jackson called to report what had happened, as the only doctor he could trust with such sensitive issues was Sam.Copper had not been himself all day as he was still trying to make sense of what could be responsible for Celestine's immunty, and the only thing that could come to his mind was the possibility that
Chapter 226: Shaken Allies!
The elevator hummed as it carried Jackson, Bella and Celestine back into the familiar safety of Sky Tower, but there was no comfort in its polished walls or in the quiet sweep of lights overhead. Jackson leaned against the glass panel, his mind refusing to settle. Bella stood across from him, arms folded over her chest, her face pale from what they had just endured. Celestine remained silent, her hands clasped together as if still testing whether they would tremble.When the doors slid open, the penthouse floor greeted them with its usual hush, but even here, the air felt heavy, brittle, as though the chaos they’d escaped had followed them inside.Mr. Copper was the first to break the silence. He turned, his expression drawn in stone, his voice low but firm.Jackson had called him earlier to report to him what had just happened and how Celestine had shielded them from Tyler's attack.Copper had requested that Celestine be brought back to Sky Tower but didn't say anything further befo
Chapter 225: The Replica’s Demand!
The air shimmered between them like a heatwave, the unnatural hum of Tyler’s corrupted energy pressing on their lungs, bending the light, warping the space itself. Jackson could feel it crawling against his skin as though it was a distorted reflection of the person he once used to be.Tyler’s smile widened, his voice unsteady yet sharp. “The Flameborn Compass, Jackson. Hand it over, or…” His gaze slid to Bella, predatory. “…she burns.”Bella’s breath hitched, but she didn’t back away. She stood tall behind Jackson, though her fingers gripped the edge of the car door so tightly her knuckles whitened.“You won’t touch her,” Jackson said, voice low, steady, and deadly serious. Tyler laughed, the sound fractured like glass cracking. “Always the protector. Always playing the hero. But you don't have that ability anymore Jackson."The distortion in the air thickened, swirling into jagged arcs of light, splitting cracks in the ground. Bella stumbled back, shielding her face from the stingi
Chapter 224: A Fractured Heart!
The safehouse lobby was quiet, too quiet for a city that never seemed to sleep. Jackson kept his hood up as he slipped through the revolving doors, the night air still heavy with the drizzle from Dylan’s funeral. His shoes squelched faintly against the floor, his body heavy as if every step dragged the weight of another coffin behind him.He didn’t want Sky Tower. Didn’t want the suite where memories waited at every corner. He needed somewhere no one would look, somewhere Elara’s eyes wouldn’t reach. That was why he had hidden Celestine here. And now, in his grief, his steps carried him straight to her.After leaving the small hotel on the night that Dylan had died, Jackson was able to find a safehouse that was off the radar and he believed Celestine would be safe there.She had been there for two days, and in those two days, Celestine has been safe and untracked by Elara's men.The key turned and the door opened.Inside, Celestine was curled on the armchair by the window, a thin bla
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