The Return of the Campus Trillionaire

Chapter 6

Chaos was already brewing around the lunch lounge before Director Hill even arrived. Kirby, convinced that she was about to witness Jared’s final downfall, flicked her hair sharply and turned to her friends.

“Start recording,” she ordered. “I want every moment caught on camera. When the director gets here, we will show him that this criminal snuck his way back into the school.”

Her friends obeyed immediately, pulling out their phones like paparazzi waiting for a star’s meltdown. Professor Bernard, energized by the attention, puffed out his chest and raised his voice.

“Everyone gather around!” he barked. “A student is about to face consequences for defying the rules of this university!”

In seconds, hundreds of students flooded the space—whispers, gasps, and curious glances filling the room. Some came because they despised Jared, but many came because they felt something was wrong with the way he had been expelled. Still, nobody dared challenge the system openly.

Brad and Becky watched the crowd multiplying. Their anxiety shot through the roof.

“Jared… we still don’t know how you got back,” Brad whispered urgently. “If we don’t know that, how do we defend you?”

Becky nudged Jared harder. “He’s right! You’re acting like everything is fine but the director is coming here. You know he’ll try to hand you over to the police for stepping foot on campus again!”

Jared simply leaned back in his seat and took another bite of his lunch, calm as still water. “Relax. Everything is fine.”

“Fine?!” Becky’s voice cracked. “How is this FINE? We’re talking about Director Hill! He could—”

But before she could finish, Kirby’s loud laughter sliced through her sentence.

“Aww, look at you,” Kirby mocked Becky. “Panicking like a scared little kitten. What will you do now, Becky? Save Jared with your tears? Save him with your family name? Or maybe you’ll kneel and beg?” She laughed, flipping her hair. “You should have known better than to hang out with… this.”

Her insult stung. Becky clenched her jaw, a retort burning in her mind—yet she held her tongue.

Kirby moved closer and sneered. “Your taste in friends is as trashy as your personality.”

Enough was enough.

Jared turned slowly to Kirby, his eyes sharp. “Be careful,” he said quietly. “If Sammy Jo and his mother could get served this morning, who are you not to get served too?”

Kirby froze. “What—what does that even mean?”

“Oh?” Jared blinked innocently. “You haven’t been online today?”

Whispers rose immediately among the surrounding students.

“You mean she hasn’t seen it?”

“How can she not know?”

“Wait until she watches…”

Kirby grew impatient. “What haven’t I seen?!”

Someone nearby stepped forward. “The video. The… hotel footage.”

“What hotel footage?” Kirby hissed.

Jared leaned back and folded his arms. “Check your phone.”

She scoffed, pulled out her smartphone, and opened her social media feed. A second later, her eyes widened so far they nearly popped out of their sockets.

There it was.

Videos—multiple angles—of Rosaline Joackin, Sammy Jo, and even Lisa being dragged out of Diamond Manor Hotel by security like criminals.

Crowds laughing.

Security guards tossing their bags onto the pavement.

Rosaline screaming in humiliation.

Sammy Jo on his knees begging.

Lisa crying and pleading.

And the captions… oh, the captions.

#JoackinDisgrace

#DiamondManorThrowOut

#GoldenBoyNoMore

#KickedOutLikeThieves

The whole world was laughing at them.

As Kirby watched, her jaw trembled. The laughter around her grew louder, and several students couldn’t resist mocking.

“Wow, Sammy Jo looked like a wet puppy!”

“She said she was better than everyone—look at her now!”

“Oh my God, Lisa was crying? That’s karma!”

Kirby’s cheeks burned in humiliation, even though she wasn’t in the video. She slammed her phone shut just as Professor Bernard walked up behind her, his face tight and grave.

“Everyone, silence!” he barked, trying to restore order. But even he couldn’t hide his shock. He stared at the floor for a long second, pity crossing his face.

Meanwhile, Jared simply continued eating.

And then—

Director Hill arrived.

Silence swept the crowd like a gust of icy wind. The students instantly stepped aside, forming a path for the man. He marched forward with fire in his eyes, his presence alone enough to intimidate anyone.

He stopped in front of Jared, nostrils flaring.

“You,” he growled. “Are you trying to provoke me? You were expelled! How dare you show your face on school property?”

Jared did not move an inch. He lifted his gaze lazily and said:

“Call your boss. Timothy Monrell.”

Silence.

The entire crowd blinked.

Director Hill’s expression cracked. He pointed rigidly at Jared.

“D-Do not lie to me. You don’t know Mr. Monrell.”

Jared raised one brow. “Call him.”

The director clenched his jaw, but just as he opened his mouth to argue—

His phone rang.

Everyone gasped when they saw the name on the caller ID.

Timothy Monrell.

A hush fell so heavy it could suffocate.

Director Hill trembled as he answered the call and bowed his head.

“Y–Yes, sir… Yes, sir, I… I understand… I deeply apologize… It will be fixed immediately… Of course, sir… It will not happen again…”

Every second of that call drained the color from his face.

By the time he hung up, he looked like he had aged ten years.

The entire crowd exchanged shocked glances. Something was wrong—very wrong.

Kirby stepped forward, her voice trembling. “Sir, you need to send Jared away! And his friends too! They helped him sneak in!”

Professor Bernard quickly added, “Yes, sir! It’s clear they disobeyed you—”

Jared lifted a hand and silenced both of them.

“Director,” he said calmly, “your decision?”

Director Hill swallowed repeatedly. Sweat dripped down his forehead. In his mind, he was calculating the danger.

If he obeyed Rosaline Joackin:

He kept her favor—but risked losing his job, benefits, pension, and status if he disobeyed the Atlantic Group.

If he obeyed Mr. Monrell:

He might anger the Joackins—but he would remain employed, protected, and aligned with the most powerful business conglomerate on the West Coast.

There was no comparison.

“Sir—” Professor Bernard pressed again.

SLAP!!!

Director Hill turned sharply and struck Professor Bernard across the face, the sound echoing throughout the cafeteria.

The students gasped in horror.

“SHUT. UP.” Director Hill roared. “I DID NOT ASK FOR YOUR OPINION!”

Kirby staggered backward, horrified. Professor Bernard clutched his cheek, stunned into silence.

Director Hill turned to Jared—bowing slightly.

“Mr. Stevens…” His voice cracked. “Welcome back to Los Angeles University.”