The Discarded Heir's Billionaire Vengeance

Chapter 5

The rumors grew faster than Daniel expected.

By the next morning, half the campus was talking about the black card. Some students believed it was real. Others said Liam’s story made more sense — that Daniel was either lucky, used, or lying. Liam’s friends worked hard to keep the second story alive.

Daniel walked to class with his head down. A few people still stared. One guy from the year above muttered “fake rich kid” as he passed. Daniel ignored it, but the words stuck.

In the lecture hall Liam sat two rows in front with Maya. He never looked back, but Daniel could feel the cold pressure from him. Maya kept her eyes on her notebook. She looked tired.

After class, Daniel’s roommates pulled him aside in the hallway.

“People are saying Liam’s dad is asking questions around town,” one of them said. “Be careful, man.”

Daniel just nodded. He already knew.

At lunch the cafeteria felt louder than usual. Daniel took his usual seat by the window. He had barely started eating when Liam walked over again, this time with only one friend. Maya stayed at their table, watching from a distance.

Liam stopped in front of him and spoke in a calm voice that still carried.

“You’ve been quiet today. No more waving that card around?”

Daniel looked up. “I don’t need to wave it every time you walk by.”

Liam smiled, but his eyes stayed hard. “Good. Because I did some checking. My father knows people who deal with high-level cards. He says real Reid cards leave a trail. Yours doesn’t show up anywhere normal. Interesting, right?”

Students nearby went quiet and listened.

Daniel put his fork down slowly. “Maybe your father doesn’t know every trail.”

“Or maybe the card is still a prop,” Liam said. “You’ve shown it three times now. Every time someone important looks at it and says it’s real. But none of them can explain how a broke orphan suddenly owns one. That part still doesn’t make sense.”

He leaned closer.

“So here’s what I think. Someone is using you. Or you stole it. Or this is some long joke. Either way, I’m going to keep digging until the real story comes out. And when it does, everyone who believed you will look stupid.”

Daniel felt the old heat rise in his chest. He reached into his pocket and pulled the black card out once more. He placed it on the table between them.

“You keep asking the same question,” he said. “You want another look?”

Liam stared at the card. For a second real uncertainty crossed his face. Then pride locked it away.

“I’ve looked enough. Looking doesn’t answer the real question.”

Before either of them could say more, a man in a dark suit walked into the cafeteria. He was older, maybe in his fifties, and carried himself like someone used to being obeyed. Several professors stood up quickly when they saw him.

It was Mr. Victor Lang. He sat on the university’s main board and also ran a large private equity firm in the city. Everyone in the business department knew his name.

Mr. Lang walked straight toward the table where Daniel and Liam stood. The cafeteria went almost silent.

He looked at the black card on the table, then at Daniel.

“May I?” he asked in a calm voice.

Daniel nodded. Mr. Lang picked the card up, turned it once under the light, and studied the crest carefully. His face stayed serious.

He handed it back and spoke loud enough for the nearby tables to hear.

“This is an authentic Reid Consortium executive card. The material and crest match the highest level. I have only seen four of these in twenty years.”

He looked at Daniel for a long moment.

“I don’t know your full story, young man. But the card itself is real.”

Then he turned and walked toward the professors without another word.

The cafeteria stayed frozen for several seconds. Whispers started again, louder and more confused than before.

Liam’s face had gone tight. His hands were clenched at his sides. Four people of status had now looked at the card and said the same thing. Every confirmation made it harder for him to laugh it off. But his pride would not let him stop.

He forced a short, cold smile and spoke so the listening students could hear.

“Four people saying the card is real still doesn’t explain how he got it. I’m not done asking questions. Not even close.”

He looked straight at Daniel.

“Enjoy the attention while it lasts. Sooner or later the real story will come out. And when it does, I’ll be the one who finds it.”

Then he turned and walked back to his table. Maya watched him sit down. Her face showed a mix of worry and something that looked like doubt.

Daniel picked up the card and put it away. His roommates stared at him with wide eyes.

“This is getting crazy,” one of them whispered.

Daniel didn’t answer. He finished his food quickly and left the cafeteria.

Outside, the afternoon air felt cooler. He walked across the open path toward the dorms. His black phone buzzed once.

A message from Alexander:

Young Master. Liam Baxter’s father has contacted three mid-level banking officers today. He is pushing hard for information. Shall we block the questions or let them continue?

Daniel stopped under a tree and typed back.

Let them continue. I want to see how far his pride takes him.

He put the phone away and kept walking.

Across campus, Liam sat in his car with the door closed. He was on the phone with his father again. His voice was low and tight.

“I don’t care how many people say the card is real. Find the trail. Use every favor we have. I will not let this nobody keep standing over me.”

He hung up and stared at the steering wheel for a long time. His pride hurt. His position on campus felt less solid than it had three days ago. Fear of looking weak pushed him harder than anger ever could.

He opened a new message to one of his father’s quiet contacts and began typing.

The four confirmations had not ended the fight.

They had only made Liam more dangerous.

And Daniel still chose not to strike first.