THE ORPHAN WHO INHERITED BILLIONS

Chapter 7

 

Alexander stood outside the library doors, his hands shaking with rage as the laughter from inside still echoed in his ears. The humiliation burned through him like acid, but this time it was different. This time, he didn't have to just take it. He pulled out his phone and scrolled to Samuel Romano's contact.

Daniel Ross needs to be taught a lesson. Break his right hand. Make it clear this is what happens when people cross me.

The response came within seconds: Yes, sir. Consider it done.

Alexander stared at his phone, a strange mix of satisfaction and unease washing over him. A week ago, he would never have imagined having this kind of power. Now, with a simple text message, he could change someone's life forever.

"Hey, poverty boy!"

Alexander looked up to see Daniel Ross strutting out of the library with a group of his law school friends, all of them grinning like they'd just witnessed the entertainment of the century.

"Leaving so soon?" Daniel called out mockingly. "I thought maybe you'd stick around to steal someone's lunch next."

His friends erupted in laughter. Alexander slipped his phone back into his pocket and faced Daniel directly.

"You set me up," Alexander said quietly.

Daniel's grin widened. "Prove it, you pathetic loser. Oh wait, you can't, because you're a worthless thief who got caught red-handed."

"I know it was you who put that cake on my table," Alexander continued, his voice steady despite his fury.

"Even if I did," Daniel said, stepping closer, "what are you going to do about it? Sue me? With what lawyer? What money?" He made an exaggerated gesture of looking Alexander up and down. "Face it, Rivera, you're trash. Pure, worthless trash."

Daniel's friends laughed and nodded in agreement. One of them, a tall guy named Brad, chimed in: "Seriously, dude, how does someone like you even afford tuition? Food stamps?"

"Maybe he's on some special poverty scholarship," another friend added. "You know, the kind where they feel sorry for homeless kids."

Daniel held up his hand to silence his friends, clearly enjoying being the center of attention. "No, no, guys. Let's give Alexander some credit. He's very resourceful. He steals cakes, works three menial jobs, and still manages to show up to class smelling like garbage. That takes dedication."

The group howled with laughter. Daniel made an obscene gesture, flipping Alexander off with both hands.

"This is where you belong, Rivera – at the bottom of the food chain, eating other people's scraps like the beggar you are. My family's net worth could buy your entire bloodline, and you know what? You'll never be anything more than a servant to people like me."

Alexander felt his jaw clench. "We'll see about that."

Daniel laughed so hard he nearly doubled over. "Oh, what are you going to do? Work extra shifts at McDonald's to afford revenge? Face it, you don't belong here. You don't belong anywhere decent people gather."

"You're right about one thing," Alexander said calmly. "I don't belong here."

"Finally, some self-awareness!" Daniel exclaimed. "Maybe now you can drop out and save everyone the embarrassment of watching you fail."

That's when they heard the screech of tires. A sleek black Mercedes with tinted windows came to a sharp stop directly in front of the library steps. The doors opened simultaneously, and three men in dark suits stepped out with military precision.

Daniel's laughter died in his throat. "What the hell?"

The men moved toward Daniel with purposeful strides. Students on the library steps began backing away, sensing immediate danger.

"Daniel Ross?" the lead man asked in a calm, professional voice.

"Y-yes?" Daniel stammered, his earlier confidence evaporating instantly.

"You need to come with us."

"What? No! I don't know who you are!" Daniel tried to back away, but the men surrounded him smoothly.

"This is a misunderstanding!" Daniel's voice cracked with panic. "I haven't done anything wrong!"

"That's a matter of perspective," one of the men replied.

Daniel's friends stood frozen as the men grabbed Daniel's arms and began dragging him toward the car. Students throughout the courtyard stopped to stare at the unfolding drama.

"Help me!" Daniel screamed, struggling against their grip. "Someone call the police! This is kidnapping!"

But his friends were too shocked to move, and other students just pulled out their phones to record the incident. Within seconds, Daniel was shoved into the backseat of the Mercedes, and the car sped away.

Alexander watched the entire scene with carefully composed surprise, though internally he felt a dark satisfaction. The power Lorenzo had given him was intoxicating.

The Mercedes didn't go far – just around the corner to a secluded area behind the gymnasium. Through the tinted windows, students could see shadows moving inside the vehicle. Daniel's screams echoed across the campus.

CRACK.

The sound was unmistakably bone breaking. Daniel's agonized shriek cut through the air like a knife.

CRACK.

Another scream, even more desperate than the first.

CRACK.

The third strike was followed by sobbing that could be heard even from a distance.

Moments later, the car door opened, and Daniel was literally thrown from the moving vehicle onto the asphalt. He rolled several times before coming to a stop, clutching his right hand against his chest. Even from fifty yards away, it was obvious that his hand was completely mangled.

Daniel's sobs echoed across the campus as the Mercedes disappeared around the corner. Students ran toward him, some calling 911, others just staring in shock at his obviously broken hand.

Alexander walked over with the crowd, maintaining his expression of surprise and concern.

"Oh my God, Daniel!" one of his friends exclaimed. "What happened? Who were those men?"

Daniel was in too much pain to speak coherently. He just kept sobbing and cradling his destroyed hand.

"Someone call an ambulance!" a girl screamed.

Alexander knelt down beside Daniel, his voice full of fake concern. "Daniel, can you hear me? What did they want?"

Through his tears and pain, Daniel looked up at Alexander. For just a moment, their eyes met, and Alexander saw something flicker across Daniel's face – suspicion, fear, maybe even recognition.

"I... I don't know," Daniel gasped. "They just... they said I needed to learn a lesson."

"A lesson about what?" Alexander asked innocently.

Daniel's eyes narrowed despite his pain. "I don't... I don't know."

But Alexander could see the wheels turning in Daniel's head. The law student in him was already trying to piece together the connection between their confrontation and this brutal punishment.

The ambulance arrived within minutes, and paramedics loaded Daniel onto a stretcher. As they wheeled him away, his friends gathered around, whispering theories about what had happened.

"Who were those guys?" Brad asked, still shaken.

"Maybe he owed money to the wrong people?" another suggested.

Alexander listened to their speculation with interest. None of them suspected the truth – that the poor student they'd been mocking minutes earlier had orchestrated the entire thing.

As the crowd dispersed, Alexander's phone buzzed with a text message from Sophia Martinez: Hey Alexander, can you meet me at the campus sports complex in an hour? I want to talk to you about something important.

Alexander stared at the message, wondering what Sophia could want. After last night at the restaurant, she'd been looking at him differently. Maybe she was starting to piece together that there was more to him than met the eye.

He typed back: Sure. See you there.