THE REJECTED GENIUS

3

Chapter 3: The Click That Changed Everything

My fingers hovered over the screen, my pulse loudly rising in my ears.

“Congratulations, Adrian Hayes. You are the rightful heir to the Hayes Conglomerate. Access your inheritance now?”

I reread the words, my breathing was reggae and I could feel my skin burn up.

Is this true?

This had to be a joke.

I had no rich relatives. No secret billionaire grandfather. The only Hayes I knew was my mother, who worked herself to the bone-cleaning hotel rooms just to make sure I could afford food.

I looked up again, searching for the man in the suit.

But he was gone. A chill ran down my spine. Was I being watched? Targeted? I clenched my phone tighter, my mind racing.

This was a scam. It had to be.

And yet…

My thumb hovered over the YES button.

I should ignore it. Delete the email. Walk away.

But a voice in my head whispered, What do you have to lose?

I was broke. Humiliated. Barely surviving in a world that didn’t want me.

If this was real—even a tiny chance—it could change everything.

I swallowed hard, my throat dry.

Then, before I could second-guess myself, I tapped YES.

For a moment, nothing happened.

“ I knew it! That old man was playing games “ I said, cleaning the sweat off my forehead. I was about to dip my phone in my pocket when the screen flickered. Then, a loading symbol appeared.

A few seconds passed.

Then—

[ Ding! ]

A new notification popped up.

I frowned, clicking on it. My bank account balance flashed across the screen.

My breath caught in my throat and I almost fainted at the huge amount of money that landed into my bank account.

$50,000,000.00

I almost dropped my phone.

I blinked rapidly, my heart beating fast against my ribs. No. This had to be a mistake. A glitch. I refreshed the page—

But the number didn’t change.

Fifty. Million. Dollars.

My hands trembled. My body felt weightless like I was floating outside of myself. This wasn’t real. It couldn’t be real.

And yet, it was staring me right in the face.

A second notification buzzed again.

"Your personal financial advisor will be in touch shortly. Please check your new asset details."

I sucked in a sharp breath.

New assets?

I scrolled down, my hands sweating.

Real estate. Stocks. Businesses. The list went on.

I wasn’t just rich.

I was powerful.

I was lost for a bit. It was too good to be true but then I remembered it all. The mockery, the laughter, and the harsh words being uttered at me.

Nothing.

I slowly exhaled, gripping my phone tighter.

They had no idea.

But they were about to find out.

The next morning, Cresthill Academy looked the same as always.

The marble floors still gleamed. The rich kids still strutted through the halls, flashing designer brands and laughing like the world belonged to them.

But something was different.

Me.

I wasn’t the same Adrian Hayes who had walked these halls yesterday.

I wasn’t the scholarship loser struggling to afford a meal.

No.

Today, I had power.

But no one knew it yet.

Not Sophia. Not Nathan. Not the students who whispered and sneered as I walked past.

And that made it even better.

Because when the time was right, their shock would be delicious.

I kept my head down, moving toward my locker.

Then—

[ BAM! ]

A heavy force slammed into my shoulder. I stumbled, nearly dropping my books.

Laughter erupted.

“Watch where you’re going, Hayes,” Nathan drawled. He smirked, leaning against the locker beside mine. Sophia stood next to him, giggling.

I forced my expression to stay neutral. Not yet.

“Oh, come on, Nate,” Sophia teased. “He’s already had a rough enough week. No need to make it worse,” she said gently like she wasn't enjoying the show.

Who wasn't?

Almost all the students liked it when Nathan taunted me.

She turned to me, tilting her head. “Adrian, be honest… you’re not still mad about the whole rejection thing, right?”

I clenched my jaw.

Mad?

That was an understatement.

I had spent years believing she was different. That maybe—just maybe—she saw me as more than a joke.

But last night shatter that illusion.

She had laughed at me. Humiliated me.

And now she wanted to act like it was nothing?

I inhaled sharply. Not yet. I needed to lower the pace and savor the power I was building. They won't ever expect it to be me.

I forced a smile. “Why would I be mad, Sophia? You did me a favor.”

She blinked, clearly expecting me to be devastated. “I—”

Nathan threw an arm around her. “Damn, Hayes. You’re taking this better than I thought.” He grinned, amused. “But come on, man. You really thought you had a chance? Sophia belongs with winners.”

He leaned in, lowering his voice. “Not charity cases.”

I stared at him, my pulse steady. Nathan had no idea. None of them did.

I smiled. “We’ll see about that.”His smirk faltered, just for a second.

Then, with a scoff, he shook his head and walked off, dragging Sophia with him. I exhaled slowly.

My hands were steady. My mind was clear. It was time to take my revenge.

By lunchtime, the whispers had already started. Not about me—yet.

But about a rumor.

Apparently, someone had just purchased a huge stake in Blackwood Enterprises—Nathan’s father’s company.

A mystery investor.

Nathan didn’t look happy. He was on the phone, his brows furrowed, his expression tense.

I watched from across the cafeteria, calmly eating my meal. Because I already knew the truth.

That mystery investor?

Me.

And this was just the beginning.

As I stepped out of the cafeteria, my phone buzzed.

A new message.

Unknown Number: “Your new estate is ready for viewing. Would you like a car to pick you up?”

My breath hitched.

I exhaled slowly, my lips curving into a smirk.

My time at the bottom was over.

It was time for the world to meet the real Adrian Hayes.