Arkanza stepped into the campus area with a relaxed expression, even though his mind was spinning with countless thoughts. It had been a long time since he last set foot in this place. After being so preoccupied with his grand plans to bring Adam down, returning to an academic environment felt… strange.He walked through the corridor with an indifferent gaze, passing by several students who whispered as they saw him. It was no surprise—his name was still quite well-known on this campus. Some knew him for his achievements, while others knew him because of the wild rumors that had spread about him.Arkanza didn’t really care.However, in the middle of his thoughts, something unexpected happened.Thud!Someone bumped into him from the side, causing his body to be slightly pushed back. He frowned and turned around, intending to reprimand the person. But the moment he saw their face, his entire body tensed.Amber.It felt as if time had stopped for a moment.The girl stared at him with a s

Silence enveloped the Smith family dining room. Norman stared intently at his mother, his eyes burning with ambition that he could no longer conceal. He gripped the spoon in his hand tightly, as if trying to restrain himself."Mom, I've thought this through," he said, his voice filled with determination. "I want to learn directly at Dad's company."Maria, sitting across from him, let out a long sigh. She had expected this to happen sooner or later. Norman, her pride and joy, had grown up with great ambition. However, Maria knew that this was not the right time."Norman," Maria spoke gently, trying to calm her son. "You still have a lot to learn before stepping into the business world. The company is not a playground.""But Arkanza can," Norman interrupted, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. "Why can't I?"Maria fell silent. She had anticipated this comparison. Arkanza, the son of another woman, had received opportunities that Norman had not. However, the situation was different. Arkan

The night sky was pitch dark when Arkanza finally arrived at the Smith residence. He had just stepped out of his car when he noticed the living room lights were still on. Someone was sitting inside, waiting for him. It wasn’t hard to guess who it was.With a relaxed yet cautious stride, Arkanza opened the front door. The faint scent of cinnamon from the aromatherapy candle, which was usually lit in the family room, drifted through the air. He found Maria sitting on the sofa with a cup of tea in her hand, her gaze fixed on the door as if she had been waiting for a long time.Maria gave him a thin smile. “You’re home late,” she said in a tone that was hard to decipher—somewhere between worry and an attempt to sound casual.Arkanza took off his jacket and hung it near the door. “Lots of assignments,” he answered briefly before walking to the kitchen to get himself a glass of water. He knew Maria wanted to talk, but he had no intention of extending the conversation beyond what was necessa

The air in the room was piercing, gripping the bones down to the marrow. The windowless concrete walls reinforced the stifling, enclosed atmosphere, while the dim yellow light overhead flickered gloomily. There was no heater, no blanket—only the merciless cold gnawing at the body.Arkanza stood in the middle of the room, his hands bound above his head by iron chains hanging from the ceiling. His wrists burned from the rough friction of the cold metal. His breathing was ragged, but not from fear—rather, from the fury boiling inside him.In front of him, Adam stood with a leather whip in his hand. His face was devoid of expression, only sharp eyes radiating full dominance. Albert and Milan stood in the corner of the room, their faces tense, yet they dared not defy their master's orders.Adam stepped closer, the sound of his shoes echoing in the room."Tell me what you did at school," his voice was cold and intimidating.Arkanza lifted his head, glaring at Adam with pure hatred. "I did n

The gentle breeze blew softly, carrying the scent of damp earth and aging leaves. The morning sunlight filtered through the gaps between the lush trees, creating shifting patterns of light on the protected forest floor.Arkanza walked among the group of university students participating in the study tour. Their university had organized a trip to the protected forest near campus as part of an ecology and environmental awareness program. Each student was placed in a group selected by lottery.Arkanza didn’t really care who was in his group. He just wanted to complete the trip without much trouble. However, when he glanced at the other groups, he saw Norman with his usual noisy and cheerful friends.From the beginning, Norman had looked at him with a mocking smile."Hey, look who’s strolling around with his bodyguards," Norman said in a sarcastic tone.Some of Norman’s friends laughed."Seriously, bro. You’re like a national asset. Always escorted everywhere, just like a president," one