THE REJECTED GENIUS

9

Chapter 9: A Threat in the Shadows

The message haunted me long after I read it.

"You've made a mistake. Walk away before it's too late."

I reread it several times, searching for any clue—any hint of who sent it. But there was nothing. No number, no signature. Just a warning.

Whoever it was, they were watching me. But instead of scaring me, it only fueled my determination. If someone was this desperate to make me back off, it meant I was getting close to something—something big.

And I wasn’t about to stop now.

[ The Campus Frenzy ]

By the next morning, Northvale University was a battlefield.

Rumors had exploded overnight. Some claimed Sophia and I were secretly engaged. Others insisted I had blackmailed her into being with me. A few even whispered that Nathan had tried to fight me but backed down.

The truth?

I was winning.

I walked through campus like I owned the place, with Tessa by my side. Eyes followed us everywhere—some filled with curiosity, others with jealousy.

Nathan was nowhere to be seen.

Sophia, on the other hand, was struggling to keep up the act.

She sat with her usual group at the outdoor café, but her attention wasn’t on them. It was on me.

I could feel her stare burning into my back. I turned slightly, locking eyes with her for just a moment. She looked away, biting her lip, her expression unreadable.

I smirked.

She was cracking. But before I could focus on her, a voice interrupted my thoughts.

“Well, well, well… if it isn’t the man of the hour.”

I turned.

A group of students stood in front of me, led by none other than Damien Sinclair—one of Nathan’s closest friends.

Damien was tall, broad-shouldered, and always had an arrogant sneer on his face. He wasn’t as powerful as Nathan, but he was just as dangerous.

Sophia stiffened beside me. “What do you want, Damien?”

He ignored her, his gaze locked on me. “You’ve been making a lot of noise lately, Hayes.”

I raised an eyebrow. “And?”

Damien’s smirk widened. “And some people don’t like it.”

The students around us had started paying attention. Conversations quieted. Everyone could sense the tension building.

I crossed my arms. “Let me guess—you’re here to put me in my place?”

Damien laughed. “Oh, I don’t have to. You’ll do that to yourself.”

I tilted my head. “That so?”

His eyes darkened. “You don’t belong here, Hayes. No matter how much money you suddenly have, you’ll always be nothing more than a scholarship nobody.”

Silence fell.

I could feel the weight of every gaze on me, waiting for my reaction.

I took a slow step forward.

“Funny,” I said, keeping my voice calm. “I thought Nathan was the one calling the shots, not his little sidekick.”

A few students chuckled.

Damien’s smirk faltered.

I pressed on. “Or is that what this is about? Nathan's losing control, and now you’re trying to clean up his mess?”

His jaw tightened. “You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into.”

I leaned in slightly. “Then maybe you should enlighten me.”

Damien held my gaze for a long moment. Then, he smiled—a cold, calculated smile.

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

With that, he turned and walked away, his group following close behind.

Sophia exhaled sharply. “That was reckless.”

I shrugged. “Maybe. But it was necessary.”

She studied me, then shook her head. “You like this, don’t you?”

I smirked. “I like winning.”

And so far?

I was winning.

[ The Trap is Set ]

By the time classes ended, a strange energy had settled over Northvale.

Something was coming.

I could feel it in the way people whispered when I passed, the way certain students exchanged knowing looks.

And then, it happened.

A message appeared on my phone.

"Library. Private Study Room 5. Come alone."

I frowned.

Sophia leaned in, glancing at my screen. “That’s a trap.”

“Obviously.”

“Then why are you considering going?”

I slipped my phone back into my pocket. “Because I want to see who’s stupid enough to set it.”

She grabbed my arm. “Adrian, think about this. If Nathan or Damien set this up, you could walk into an ambush.”

I gave her a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry. I can handle myself.”

She hesitated, then sighed. “Fine. But if you’re not out in twenty minutes, I’m coming in.”

I nodded before turning toward the library.

[ The Showdown ]

The library was nearly empty by the time I arrived.

Most students were either in their dorms or off-campus, which made the atmosphere even more unsettling.

I found Private Study Room 5 easily.

The door was slightly ajar. I stepped inside.

The room was dimly lit, lined with bookshelves. A single chair sat in the center, facing me.

And in that chair?

Nathan Sterling

He looked perfectly composed—legs crossed, hands resting on his lap. But his eyes?

They were filled with fury.“So,” I said, closing the door behind me. “You finally decided to talk.”

Nathan didn’t move. “Sit.”

I didn’t. “What do you want, Nathan?”

His gaze darkened. “I want to know what your game is.”

I smirked. “I thought it was obvious.”

His jaw tightened. “You think this is funny?”

I tilted my head. “A little.”

Nathan exhaled sharply, standing up. “I don’t know what kind of luck you stumbled into, Hayes, but it won’t last. Money doesn’t make you powerful. Influence does. And you?” He stepped closer. “You have none.”

I met his glare without flinching. “That’s where you’re wrong.”

He scoffed. “Oh, really?”

I leaned in. “You want proof?” Nathan narrowed his eyes.

I smiled. “Step outside.”

His expression flickered with confusion, but he didn’t move.

I turned toward the door and opened it.

And outside?

A crowd. Dozens of students had gathered in the hallway, whispering, and waiting.

They all wanted to see what was happening between me and Nathan.

Because I had become the story of Northvale.

Nathan slowly stepped forward, realizing what had happened.

I wasn’t just fighting him in secret anymore.

I had dragged him into the spotlight.

And from the way his hands clenched at his sides, I knew one thing for certain.

He hated it. This was just the beginning.

But before I could revel in my victory, my phone buzzed again.

Another anonymous message.

"You should have listened."

And this time? There was an image attached. I opened it.

And froze. It was a picture of my old apartment.

The one I used to live in before my life changed.

And in the corner of the image?A shadowed figure. Watching. Waiting.

A cold chill ran down my spine. This wasn’t just a game anymore.