The Hidden Billionaire

CHAPTER 5: GETTING HIS REVENGE

Later that night, Ava returned to the hospital room.

She stopped at the door for a moment.

Thomas was sitting quietly beside Emma's bed. The scratches on his arms were still there, and the exhaustion on his face was impossible to miss.

For a brief second, her expression softened.

Then it was gone.

"In a few days, it's my grandfather's seventy-fifth birthday," she said.

Thomas didn't look up.

"The whole family will be there."

She hesitated before continuing.

"You should talk to my dad."

Thomas finally glanced at her.

Ava lowered her eyes.

"It's better than living like this."

The room fell silent except for the steady beeping of the monitor beside Emma's bed.

"For Emma's sake..." Ava said quietly. "Can you do it?"

Thomas let out a faint laugh.

Ask Adam Bailey for help?

The same man who had looked him in the eye years ago and said, "You think someone with nothing can marry into my family?"

"I'll never accept you and anything that comes from you."

Even after all these years, those words were still clear in his mind. Thomas looked at his sleeping daughter and said nothing.

Ava mistook his silence for stubbornness.

She shook her head.

"Do you really want to keep living like this forever?"

When he didn't answer, she turned and walked away.

"Think about it."

___The Next Morning ___

After a few hours of restless sleep, Thomas got up and stretched his sore back.

Emma was still sleeping peacefully.

Ava had already left for work, and the caregiver Scott arranged had arrived early.

After making sure Emma was okay, Thomas headed for school.

A few minutes later, the massive gates of Meadow Hall Academy came into view.

The school looked more like a private city than a campus.

Tall buildings.

Perfect lawns.

Luxury cars lined up outside.

This was one of the most expensive schools in Lake City, a place where only wealthy families could afford to send their children.

Thomas checked the time.

7:50 AM.

He quickened his pace.

Just as he reached the entrance, the iron gates began sliding shut.

"Wait!"

Thomas broke into a jog.

"Hold on!"

But the gates closed with a heavy clang right in front of him.

He stopped and let out a breath.

Before he could react, the gates slowly opened again.

A group of people walked out.

Teachers.

Department heads.

School executives.

Leading them was Principal Bryce Reed.

The moment Bryce spotted Thomas, his face darkened.

"Thomas Brown."

His voice carried across the entrance.

"You're late."

He adjusted his expensive tie before adding,

"I'm officially informing you that you're dismissed from Meadow Hall Academy."

A few teachers immediately started whispering.

Some openly laughed.

"About time."

"He should've been gone months ago."

Standing near the front was King Emerson.

The smug grin on his face made Thomas instantly lose whatever patience he had left.

King loved showing off around rich students and influential parents. In his eyes, teaching wasn't about education.

It was about connections.

Money.

Status.

He stepped forward and folded his arms.

"Thomas, people like you shouldn't even be working here."

Thomas looked at him calmly.

That calm look only irritated King more.

"What are you staring at?"

He walked closer.

"You really don't know your place, do you?"

King reached out as if to grab Thomas by the collar.

But Thomas simply stepped aside.

King missed completely.

"Whoa!"

He stumbled forward and nearly crashed into the ground.

Several teachers quickly covered their mouths to hide their laughter.

King's face turned bright red.

Thomas raised an eyebrow.

"You all gathered this early just for me?"

The crowd stared at him before bursting into laughter.

"For you?"

"You're dreaming."

King brushed dust off his clothes and sneered.

"We're here to welcome the school's new shareholder."

Thomas narrowed his eyes.

New shareholder?

Bryce stepped forward again.

His patience was clearly running out.

"I've already fired you."

He pointed toward the road.

"So why are you still standing here?"

His voice grew colder.

"Stop embarrassing the school and leave."

The truth was, Bryce was nervous.

The school's ownership had changed overnight.

Nobody knew much about the new shareholder except one thing.

They were powerful.

Very powerful.

Bryce had spent years using his position to line his own pockets. If the new owner decided to investigate the school's finances, he could lose everything.

The last thing he wanted was Thomas causing trouble in front of his new boss.

"Security should've thrown you out already," Bryce muttered.

Thomas quietly clenched his fist inside his pocket.

Just then, a black Range Rover rolled up beside the entrance.

Everyone turned immediately.

Bryce's eyes lit up.

The nervousness vanished from his face.

"The shareholder is here."

He quickly straightened his tie and smoothed his suit.

Then he glared at Thomas again.

"Get out of here right now."

"If you ruin this meeting, I'll have security drag you away."

Thomas met his gaze.

"Are you threatening me?"

Bryce's face darkened.

Seeing an opportunity to impress the principal, King stepped forward immediately.

"Leave him to me, Principal Bryce."

He cracked his knuckles and smirked.

Then he looked at Thomas.

"You brought this on yourself."

Thomas looked him up and down before letting out a small chuckle.

"Idiot."

The word wasn't loud.

But King heard it clearly.

His face froze.

"What did you just call me?"

Thomas ignored him completely.

King's anger exploded.

He was about to rush forward when the Range Rover's door opened.

A middle-aged man in an expensive suit quickly stepped out.

The moment Bryce saw his face, every bit of confidence vanished.

His expression changed instantly.