RISE OF THE STUDENT BILLIONAIRE

Chapter 10

CHAPTER TEN

The entire lobby froze.

The guards who had been ready to pounce on Lucas stopped mid-step, their batons raised in the air, their eyes wide with shock. The receptionists gasped, their faces pale as though they had just witnessed something impossible. Jen, who had been shouting only a moment ago, felt her throat go dry.

And Ethan,confident, arrogant Ethan, stood frozen, his mouth half open, as though someone had slapped him hard in front of everyone.

Because Orion Johnson, the man they all worshipped, the one everyone feared, had just fallen to his knees before Lucas.

It made no sense. Not even a little.

“Manager Orion… what are you doing?” Jen’s voice cracked. She stepped forward, her heels clicking nervously against the floor. “You…You don’t have to kneel to this man. He’s just…”

“Shut up!” Orion barked, his face twisted with anger. He turned his head sharply, and Jen instantly took two steps back. Her lips trembled, and she lowered her gaze, too frightened to speak another word.

The guards exchanged glances, not knowing what to do. Ethan clenched his fists, his face darkening with humiliation.

Lucas stared at Orion, stunned himself. He had expected many things, mockery, perhaps being dragged out by the guards, maybe even beaten, but never this. Never the sight of one of the most powerful men in Blueville City kneeling before him.

“Why are you kneeling?” Lucas asked quietly. His brows knitted together. “Stand up.”

But Orion shook his head, his voice trembling. “I can’t. Young Master… forgive me for not recognizing you sooner. If I had known, I would never have allowed this insult to happen under my watch.”

The entire lobby buzzed with confusion. Receptionists whispered to each other, their voices shaky.

“Did he just call him Young Master?”

“What is going on?”

“Who is this Lucas?”

Ethan’s face turned pale. His mouth moved, but no words came out. He could not understand. Just minutes ago, everyone had been on his side. Everyone had looked at Lucas like a beggar, like trash. And now… the entire world seemed to flip upside down.

Lucas took a deep breath, his fists loosening at his sides. “Get up, Mr. Orion. You don’t need to kneel to me.”

Orion raised his head slowly, his eyes glistening with respect and a trace of fear. “I have to. Because… You are Miss Estelle’s younger brother. And that means…” He swallowed hard, his lips trembling. “That means you are the second boss of this entire commercial street.”

The words landed like thunder.

Gasps erupted from every corner of the lobby.

“What?!”

“Second boss? Him?”

“This can’t be true!”

Even the guards lowered their batons, stunned.

Ethan staggered back a step, his blond hair falling into his eyes. His chest rose and fell rapidly. He couldn’t believe it.

“This… this is a mistake,” Ethan stammered. His voice rose with desperation. “He’s nobody. He walked in here looking like a poor man. How can you say he’s the second boss? Mr. Orion, are you confused?”

Orion shot him a glare so sharp it cut him down immediately. “Are you questioning me?” His voice was low, deadly.

Ethan’s lips trembled. He opened his mouth but quickly closed it, lowering his head in defeat.

Jen’s legs grew weak. She wanted to melt into the ground. Moments ago, she had called Lucas a dog, told him to get lost, even summoned the guards to throw him out. And now… he was the second boss? Her knees wobbled, and she felt her pride collapsing.

Lucas, however, stood silently, still processing everything. His sister Estelle… he had known she was powerful, but he never expected her influence to extend so far.

Orion remained on his knees, refusing to rise without permission. “Young Master, please forgive everyone here for offending you. It was my failure as a manager to allow such disrespect.”

Lucas clenched his jaw. His eyes moved across the room, from the fearful receptionists to the trembling guards, then to Ethan, whose arrogant aura had shattered completely.

“Enough,” Lucas said firmly. “Stand up, Mr. Orion. I didn’t come here to cause a scene. I just wanted to handle my business quietly.”

But Orion shook his head stubbornly. “Young Master, if you do not allow me to kneel, how can I show my sincerity? Please… don’t think of yourself as ordinary. You are the blood of Miss Estelle’s family. That alone makes you someone we all respect.”

The crowd whispered louder now, their curiosity uncontrollable.

“Miss Estelle’s family? You mean the Estelle who dominates Blueville’s business world?”

“Yes!”

“Wait… that means Lucas is her brother? Oh my god…”

Jen’s chest tightened. Sweat rolled down her temples. She bit her lip hard, her pride crumbling. She wanted to speak, to explain herself, but every word felt stuck in her throat.

Ethan, on the other hand, could not take it anymore. His humiliation burned like fire in his chest. He stepped forward, forcing a smile. “Mr. Orion, this must be a misunderstanding. Even if he is related to Miss Estelle, so what? He came in here dressed like…”

“Silence!” Orion roared. His voice was so loud that it echoed through the lobby. “Do you think blood can be measured by clothes? Do you dare insult him again?!”

Ethan flinched. His lips trembled. For the first time in his life, he had no words. He lowered his head, biting down on his teeth so hard his jaw ached.

Lucas sighed, rubbing his forehead. “Mr. Orion, don’t make it bigger than it already is. I didn’t come here to prove anything. I just wanted to stay low-key.”

But Orion shook his head. “Young Master, with your identity, there is no low-key. Wherever you go, you carry the name of Miss Estelle. Everyone here must know their mistake. Guards! Receptionists! Apologize to him now!”

The guards stiffened, their eyes wide. Then, one by one, they lowered their batons and bowed deeply. “We are sorry, Young Master Lucas!”

The receptionists, including Jen, turned pale. They exchanged fearful glances. Finally, Jen stepped forward, her lips quivering.

“Young Master Lucas… forgive me. I was blind. I didn’t recognize you and I offended you with my words. Please, don’t hold it against me.”

Her voice was shaky, her pride shattered. She bowed deeply, her hair falling over her face.

Lucas looked at her for a long moment. He remembered her cold tone, the way she had called him a dog. His chest tightened, but he let out a slow breath.

“I’m not a petty man,” he said finally. “Just remember this moment, Jen. Don’t treat people like trash simply because they look ordinary. You never know who they are.”

Jen’s heart sank. Tears welled in her eyes, but she nodded quickly. “Yes, Young Master. I understand. I will never forget.”

The other receptionists followed, bowing and apologizing in unison. “We are sorry, Young Master Lucas.”

The lobby was filled with their trembling voices.

Lucas nodded slightly, his expression calm. “Fine. That’s enough.”

But Ethan… Ethan couldn’t accept it. His pride screamed inside his chest. He had always been the one admired, respected, envied. And now, in front of everyone, he had been reduced to nothing.

His fists trembled. He forced a laugh, his voice bitter. “Fine… so he’s the second boss. But don’t forget, my father is Sawyer. We are not people you can just trample over. Lucas, don’t think this changes everything between us.”

Orion’s face turned dark. “You dare?”

Ethan swallowed hard but didn’t back down. His pride wouldn’t let him.

Lucas, however, raised his hand. “Leave it, Mr. Orion.” His tone was calm, but his eyes were sharp. He looked directly at Ethan. “You can run around bragging about your father all you want, but remember this… respect isn’t inherited. It’s earned.”

Ethan’s face turned red. He wanted to argue, but the weight of everyone’s eyes crushed him. For the first time, he felt like the clown instead of the king.

Orion straightened finally, his respect for Lucas etched deep in his every move. “Young Master, please come with me. We have much to discuss.”

Lucas nodded slowly. “Alright.”

As Orion led him toward the private elevator, the entire lobby watched in stunned silence. The sound of their footsteps echoed like thunder in the hall.

The guards stood stiff, ashamed. The receptionists bowed their heads, not daring to look up. Jen bit her lip, tears threatening to fall, her heart crushed by regret.

And Ethan… Ethan clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his skin. His jaw tightened, and his eyes burned with hatred.

Lucas did not look back.

But in that moment, the entire Blueville Villa knew,

The man they had mocked only minutes ago… was no ordinary man.