The Return Of Adrian Raines

3. Expelled

"Wow... Rachel is way too generous."

One of the students shook his head in amazement.

"Seriously. Five thousand dollars?" another chimed in with a sneer. "That's probably the first time a piece of trash like him has ever seen that much money. He should spend the rest of his life thanking Rachel."

"She's right, though," someone else added. "He has absolutely no shame. Imagine actually accepting that money. Then again, what else would you expect from a broke nobody?"

The crowd erupted into mocking laughter.

For once, Daniel barely heard them.

Their insults faded into meaningless noise, but his mind refused to accept what had just happened.

This couldn't be real.

He couldn't believe that his Rachel would do something so cruel to him. Deep in his heart, a part of him still hoped it was just a joke, an anniversary prank that had gone on for way too long. There had to be another explanation.

After everything they had shared... after every promise, every late-night conversation, every dream they had built together...

Had none of it meant anything to her?

Just yesterday, they had told each other how deeply they loved one another.

"...Rachel." His voice came out barely above a whisper as he slowly stepped toward her. "I don't understand."

His eyes searched desperately for the woman he thought he knew. "What changed overnight?"

He swallowed hard. "We promised we'd exchange gifts today... that we'd celebrate our anniversary together."

A bitter smile tugged at his lips. "Was... was this your surprise for me?"

Rachel remained silent, she didn't even look at him.

Instead, her gaze drifted somewhere beyond the crowd as she released a quiet sigh.

Charlie's patience finally snapped. "Hey, dog."

His voice rang through the hallway. "We get it. Stray dogs bark whenever they feel like it." He smirked. "But why don't you take your pathetic whining somewhere else? Your stench is making me sick."

Daniel acted as though Charlie hadn't spoken, instead he took another slow step toward Rachel. "...Please."

His voice trembled. "Look at me."

She didn't. "You told me you loved me."

For the first time, Rachel responded.

"...Love?"

The word rolled off her tongue with unmistakable disdain. "Love is nothing more than an illusion." A faint, mocking smile appeared on her lips. "It doesn't exist."

"Only fools waste their lives believing in it."

She finally turned to face him. "In this world, power, wealth, and connections are the only things that matter."

Her eyes remained cold. "Charlie can give me all of those."

She paused. "What can you give me?"

Another humorless laugh escaped her lips. "Love?" She shook her head. "You're an even bigger fool than I thought."

"Stop.” Daniel's voice cracked as he clenched his fists. "Stop it, Rachel."

His breathing grew uneven. "Don't talk to me like that."

Before Rachel could respond, Charlie stepped forward. He planted himself between them and shoved Daniel hard in the chest. "Who the hell do you think you are?"

Charlie's voice thundered through the hallway. "You don't get to raise your voice at my girl."

Caught completely off guard, Daniel stumbled backward before crashing onto the floor.

Pain shot through his body.

But he barely felt it.

His composure, restraint, everything he had desperately tried to hold onto had finally slipped away, leaving behind only one emotion. Anger.

Something inside Daniel finally snapped.

He rose to his feet and drove his fist straight into Charlie's face.

Crack!

A sickening sound echoed through the hallway as Charlie's nose broke instantly.

A chorus of shocked gasps erupted from the surrounding students.

Blood streamed from Charlie's nose, dripping onto the polished floor. For a brief second, he simply stood there, stunned. He hadn't seen the punch coming.

But there was no way he would allow himself to be humiliated in front of everyone.

Especially not by Daniel.

His expression twisted with fury. "You're dead, you unclaimed dog," he growled through gritted teeth.

His bloodshot eyes swept toward his followers. "Get him!"

The moment the words left his mouth, Charlie's lackeys charged.

Daniel barely had time to react before fists and kicks came crashing down from every direction.

One punch struck his jaw.

Another slammed into his ribs.

A kick landed squarely in his stomach, forcing the air from his lungs.

Within seconds, he was knocked to the floor.

Curled into himself, he shielded his head with both arms as the relentless blows continued to rain down.

The pain was unbearable and he couldn't fight back… or maybe he chose not to. Maybe, in a way, this was exactly what he wanted.

Maybe enough pain would finally wake him from this nightmare, or better still… it would simply end everything.

"Move." Charlie's cold command cut through the chaos.

His followers immediately stepped aside.

Charlie walked over slowly before driving his foot into Daniel's side. He stomped on him without mercy, each kick fueled by rage and humiliation.

It wasn't enough that his followers had beaten Daniel, he wanted the satisfaction of doing it himself.

He only stopped when Daniel was barely conscious, his body lying motionless on the cold floor.

"Charlie!" Rachel's voice rang out sharply.

She had watched in silence until now. "That's enough."

Charlie breathed heavily, sweat beading across his forehead.

After delivering one final kick, he stepped back and roughly brushed his hair away from his face.

He spat onto the floor beside Daniel. "It's over for you, beggar. Your life ends here."

---

A short while later, Daniel was dragged to the dean's office alongside Charlie and Rachel.

Bruised, bleeding and barely able to stand.

The moment he stepped inside, he wasn't even given the chance to explain.

Smack!

A powerful slap landed across his face and the force sent him crashing onto the floor. Fresh blood filled his mouth as pain exploded across his cheek.

Every bruise from the beating outside screamed in protest. His ribs felt as though they had shattered and his muscles burned with every breath.

Yet no one had allowed him to receive medical treatment. Then again, he hadn't expected fairness.

After all, the dean was Charlie's father.

"I knew admitting lowlife strays like you was a mistake." The balding dean glared at him with undisguised disgust. "You had the audacity to assault Miss Rachel Crawford and attack Charlie."

His voice thundered throughout the office. "That kind of behavior will never be tolerated at this university."

Daniel's head shot up in disbelief. "...What?"

His eyes immediately found Rachel. Assault? That accusation was absurd.

Rachel avoided his gaze completely. There was no hint of guilt on her face, nor did she speak up about the accusation being a lie.

"But... Sir, I didn't—"

Before he could finish speaking, a heavy kick slammed into his side. He cried out in pain as he was sent sprawling across the floor once again, his trembling hand clutched his ribs.

It felt as though every bone in his body was breaking apart and he could barely breathe.

"Did I ask you to speak?" The dean's furious voice echoed through the room.

Standing with his hands planted firmly on his hips, he looked down at Daniel with nothing but contempt.

"I've already made my decision." He paused deliberately, allowing the silence to stretch. "You are hereby expelled from this university.”

Daniel's eyes widened in horror. His scholarship was the only thing he had left.

He had endured years of ridicule and humiliation because he believed that graduating from a prestigious university would give him a chance at a better future.

Now even that future had been taken from him.

"No... Sir!" He stumbled forward in desperation. "Please, this isn't right! This is completely unfair! Charlie was the one who—"

His voice trembled as he struggled to find the right words to defend himself. "Sir... this school is all I have."

The dean's face darkened with fury. "Get out before I have security lock you up!" His roar echoed through the office. "Get out!"

Daniel slowly lowered his head. He finally understood that no amount of pleading would change the outcome. And none of his explanation would matter. The verdict had already been decided long before he walked into the office.

Every movement sent waves of pain through his battered body, but he endured it in silence.

If he was going to lose everything, then at the very least, he would leave with what little dignity he still possessed.

Without another word, he turned and walked out of the office. The hallway outside felt strangely quiet and Daniel stood there blankly, unsure of where to go or what to do next.

His future had vanished in a matter of minutes.

The office door opened behind him and Charlie and Rachel stepped out together.

"Come on, babe," Charlie said with a satisfied grin, wrapping an arm possessively around Rachel's waist.

Neither of them spared Daniel a second glance.

As Charlie walked past, he deliberately slammed his shoulder into Daniel's chest.

Daniel staggered back a step and Charlie smirked before continuing down the hallway with Rachel.

Daniel remained rooted to the spot, his mind had gone completely blank. He didn't really understand what just happened.

Just then, the sharp vibration of his phone broke through his thoughts. He frowned before reaching into his pocket.

The caller ID displayed an unfamiliar number. He hesitated for a brief moment before answering. "...Hello?"

"Am I speaking with Mr. Daniel Shaw?" A deep, composed voice came from the other end of the line.

Daniel blinked. Few people knew that last name, it was one he gave himself since he didn't remember his real name. "Yes... This is Daniel. How can I help you?"

The man's voice suddenly became filled with excitement. "Young Master!"

He sounded as if a heavy load had just been lifted from his shoulders. "Thank heavens, we've finally found you."

Daniel's brows knitted together in confusion. "...What?”