2026-01-09 07:43:57The new program coordinator stood at the microphone, voice steady despite the stunned silence that still gripped the hall. The screen behind him displayed the final figure in bold red: $2 million from Marcus.
The chancellor stepped forward, taking the spotlight. He gestured toward Marcus with an open hand.
“Marcus, please come up here.”
Marcus rose slowly from his seat. Every eye followed him. Whispers followed him. The path to the stage felt longer than it should have. When he reached the chancellor, the older man placed a firm hand on his shoulder.
“Congratulations, young man. You are the top donor of this fundraiser. This university is proud of you.”
He handed Marcus the gleaming award plaque—gold trim, engraved with his name and the record amount. The hall began to applaud, hesitant at first, then building into a full roar. Students who had laughed at him minutes earlier now clapped like they had always believed in him.
The chancellor leaned in closer. “As part of your reward, you have the honor of selecting the new ESU Social President.”
Marcus did not hesitate.
“I choose to keep Freya Starling in her position as ESU Social President. She has earned it, and she deserves to continue.”
Freya’s hand flew to her mouth. Tears glistened in her eyes. The applause grew louder.
The chancellor nodded approvingly. Then his expression hardened. He turned to the side of the stage where the previous coordinator stood, still red-faced from the slap.
“You. Come here.”
The man shuffled forward, head bowed.
“On your knees,” the chancellor ordered. “And apologize to Marcus. Right now. In front of everyone.”
The coordinator dropped to his knees without protest. His voice shook.
“Marcus, I am deeply sorry for my earlier behavior. I laughed at you. I mocked you. I was wrong. Please forgive me.”
Marcus looked down at him. He said nothing, only nodded once.
The chancellor placed a hand on Marcus’s back. “Come with me.”
They walked off the stage together. Behind them, the hall exploded into chaos. Phones were already out. Videos uploaded. Posts flooded every platform.
By the time Marcus and the chancellor reached the exit, the headlines were everywhere:
“ESU Top Secretly Rich: Marcus Donates $2 Million!”
“From Expelled to Legend: Marcus Shocks Everyone!”
Memes spread like wildfire—the program coordinator on his knees, Baron and Jackson’s frozen faces, Thalia’s smug post about becoming Social President now edited with crying emojis and the caption “ESU 5-Minute Social President.”
Thalia’s own accounts were blowing up. She had posted victory photos only minutes ago. Now the comments were ruthless.
Baron pushed through the crowd and climbed back onto the stage. He grabbed a microphone.
“Everyone, calm down. Let me clear this up.”
The noise quieted slightly.
“There’s no way Marcus has that kind of money. This was obviously the chancellor helping out the top student in each department—like he always does. It’s just a tradition. Nothing more.”
Some students nodded. Others looked doubtful. Whispers continued.
Baron raised his voice. “And if anyone thinks this is unfair, come prove it at the student car show tomorrow. Bring your best. We’ll see who really has the power here.”
The crowd shifted. The trending topic flipped almost instantly. #MarcusLegend gave way to #CarShowChallenge.
Outside the hall, reporters and students swarmed. Cameras flashed. Questions flew.
“Marcus! How did you get $2 million?”
“Is this real?”
The chancellor and security formed a tight wall around him. They guided Marcus straight to the chancellor’s sleek black car. The door closed behind him. The engine purred to life.
Inside, the chancellor glanced at him. “You did well tonight. Rest. Tomorrow will be even bigger.”
The car pulled away, leaving the flashing lights behind.
When they reached the hostel, the chancellor wished him good night. Marcus stepped out, still holding the award plaque. He walked to his room in a daze.
As he reached for the door handle, his phone rang. Mr. Leo.
“Young Master.”
“Mr. Leo.”
“Do you know the Galaxy Corporation?”
Marcus’s breath caught. “Yes. Everyone on campus knows it. They own the best hotels, the biggest party grounds, the most luxurious event halls. They control almost every major business around ESU and the other schools.”
“Correct. Tomorrow morning, you will go to their headquarters to sign the documents. You are the new CEO. It is time you began learning how to handle real business matters.”
The line went quiet.
Marcus stood frozen. “CEO… of Galaxy Corporation?”
“Yes, Young Master. We will send a car for you at nine. Good night.”
The call ended.
Marcus pushed open the door, walked inside, and collapsed onto his bed. The award plaque clattered to the floor. He stared at the ceiling.
CEO. Of the most powerful corporation on campus. The one that hosted every major event, owned every luxury spot, controlled the social life of thousands of students.
It felt like a dream. A few hours ago, he had been crawling on the floor, milkshake dripping from his face. Now this.
His mind raced through the day—the mockery, the ring, the expulsion, the $2 million, the black card, the grandfather’s voice. Everything had flipped so fast.
Exhaustion finally pulled him under. He fell asleep still dressed, the award plaque lying beside him.
Heavy knocking jolted him awake.
The pounding continued. Loud. Insistent.
Emmanuel stirred on the other bed. “Who the hell is that?”
Marcus sat up, heart racing. The knocking grew harder, shaking the doorframe.
He got out of bed and opened the door.
Julian stood there, arms crossed, her boyfriend Daniel right behind her. Both looked furious.
Marcus blinked. “What—”
Julian’s hand cracked across his face before he could finish.
“Don’t you ever talk to me like that again,” she snapped.
Emmanuel jumped up. “Hey! You can’t just—”
Daniel stepped forward, chest puffed. “You want to do something about it, roommate?”
The two squared off, fists clenched.
Marcus moved between them quickly. “Stop! Emmanuel, it’s fine.” He turned to Julian. “Why are you here?”
Julian smirked. “I came to tell you personally that I’m giving your cleaning job to another poor student like you. You’re done. Fired. Gone.”
Daniel laughed. “Yeah. Go find somewhere else to scrub floors, loser.”
They turned to leave, still chuckling.
As they stepped away, Julian’s phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen.
A single text message glowed in the dark corridor:
“I captured everything.”
Previous Chapter
Latest Chapter
Chapter 13
The school campus buzzed with life as students hurried in every direction. Groups lounged under the trees, scrolling through their phones, laughing at videos, or gossiping about the latest drama. But inside the quiet classroom, Marcus sat alone at the back, his head buried in his notebook. He was trying desperately to make sense of the complex formulas Professor Frost had thrown at them before the break. The man was ruthless. Everyone knew it. Professor Frost was not just strict; he was wicked. One wrong answer, one late submission, and you could find yourself on the verge of expulsion. Most students feared him like death itself. A few who had dared challenge him had already packed their bags and left the university for good.Marcus flipped page after page, his brow furrowed in concentration. He could not afford to fail this course. Not again. Professor Frost already disliked him for reasons Marcus could never quite understand. Maybe it was the way he asked questions in class, or perh
Chapter 12:
Marcus lowered the phone slowly after his grandfather’s words faded from the line. The black SUV hummed beneath him, the city lights streaking past the tinted windows. Mr. Jack glanced at him in the rearview mirror.“What did he say, Young Master?”“He wants me at the Empire. Now.”Mr. Jack nodded once. “Understood.”Within minutes, the road ahead filled with headlights. A convoy of sleek black Mercedes-Benz vehicles appeared, pulling up in perfect formation. Engines purred like distant thunder. The lead car slowed, doors opening in unison. Men in dark suits stepped out, saluting sharply.Mr. Jack brought the SUV to a stop. He turned to Marcus.“I am sorry for everything you endured today, Young Master. It will not happen again.”He saluted deeply, then drove off into the night.Marcus stepped out. The white Mercedes in the center of the convoy waited, door held open by a silent driver. He slid inside. The door closed with a soft, expensive thud. The convoy moved as one, gliding throu
Chapter 11
Marcus slipped the phone back into his pocket as Emmanuel’s call ended. The taxi driver glanced at him in the rearview mirror.“Campus, right? Which gate?”“Main entrance,” Marcus said. “And hurry.”The driver nodded and pressed the accelerator. The city blurred past the windows, but Marcus’s mind raced faster. Professor Frost was looking for him. That never ended well. Yet after everything—the fundraiser, the Galaxy Corporation, the black card—fear felt distant, almost foreign.The taxi pulled up at the campus entrance. Marcus handed over more than enough cash. “Keep the change.”The driver’s eyes widened. “Thanks, boss!”Marcus was already moving, legs carrying him across the quad. Students stared as he passed. Whispers followed. Some pointed. He ignored them and headed straight for the lecture hall.The room was empty when he arrived. Chairs pushed back. Chalk dust still floating in the air. Professor Frost had already left.Marcus exhaled, shoulders dropping slightly. Maybe the da
Chapter 10: The Heir Returns
Marcus lowered the phone slowly after his grandfather’s words faded from the line. The black SUV hummed beneath him, the city lights streaking past the tinted windows. Mr. Jack glanced at him in the rearview mirror.“What did he say, Young Master?”“He wants me at the Empire. Now.”Mr. Jack nodded once. “Understood.”Within minutes, the road ahead filled with headlights. A convoy of sleek black Mercedes-Benz vehicles appeared, pulling up in perfect formation. Engines purred like distant thunder. The lead car slowed, doors opening in unison. Men in dark suits stepped out, saluting sharply.Mr. Jack brought the SUV to a stop. He turned to Marcus.“I am sorry for everything you endured today, Young Master. It will not happen again.”He saluted deeply, then drove off into the night.Marcus stepped out. The white Mercedes in the center of the convoy waited, door held open by a silent driver. He slid inside. The door closed with a soft, expensive thud. The convoy moved as one, gliding throu
Chapter 9: The Truth Beneath the Mask
After Emmanuel ended the call, Marcus did not waste a single second. He opened the taxi door and slid inside, his movements swift and urgent.“To campus,” he said firmly.The driver nodded and drove off immediately.Marcus sat back, his mind racing. Professor Frost was looking for him. That alone was enough to make most students panic. But Marcus had already faced worse in a single day. Whatever awaited him now, he would face it head-on.When the taxi stopped at the campus entrance, Marcus pushed the door open before the driver could even speak.“Keep the change,” he said as he stepped out and shut the door.The driver stared at him in surprise as Marcus took off at a hurried pace, heading straight for his faculty building.By the time he reached his classroom, he realized he was already late.The room was empty.His heart sank slightly. Professor Frost had already left.Before Marcus could even process his next move, two campus security guards approached him.“Marcus Hale?” one of th
Chapter 8: The Crown Revealed
After they threw Marcus out of the gate, he stood still for a moment, his chest rising and falling slowly. The laughter from the security and Frank still echoed faintly in his ears, but his expression did not change. Calmly, he reached into his pocket and brought out his phone.He scrolled through his contacts and placed a call.The line connected almost immediately.“Yes, this is Marcus,” he said quietly. “I am outside the Galaxy Corporation.”There was a sharp intake of breath on the other end.“Outside?” the woman asked anxiously. “Please stay where you are.”The call ended abruptly.Within a few minutes, the sound of speeding cars broke the calm outside the gate. A sleek black car pulled up sharply, followed closely by another vehicle filled with private security. The car door opened, and a woman stepped out in a rush.She was the manager of the Galaxy Corporation.Ignoring the shocked looks of passersby, she ran toward Marcus as fast as her heels would allow. Her security struggl
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