RISE OF THE BILLIONAIRE STUDENT HEIR

Two

The prison cell was small, dark, and smelled of sweat and urine. Jason Reed sat in the corner, his knees pulled to his chest. He had been thrown into this hell without a trial, without a chance to defend himself. The Harper family was too powerful. The police, the judges, even the government—everyone bowed to them.

Injustice had been in the society eversince. Only the rich had the privilege to enjoy justice. For a poor man like him, he’s nothing but a trash. 

Jason knew he was innocent, but in here, no one cared. 

The other inmates stared at him, whispering among themselves. Jason wasn’t just a prisoner; he was an outcast even here. His face, covered in scars and pockmarks, made him an easy target. His hollow cheeks and uneven jawline gave him a monstrous appearance.

He would not expect that he will be accepted as human. Even his parents hated him and abandoned him right after he was born. 

“Hey, freak!” A bulky inmate with a shaved head walked up to Jason’s cell. “How does it feel to be in here with real men?” He smiled, showing his black and uneven teeth. 

Jason ignored him, he didn’t want any trouble, not here where he will be helpless against these burly men. But the inmate banged on the bars.

“I asked you a question, ugly! Damn! What kind of face do you have? Are you some sort of a mutant or what?” 

Laughter filled the room as the others joined in. 

“He looks like a melted candle,” another inmate joked.

“If I had a face like that, I would jump off the bridge. That’s so fucking disgusting!” Another man laughed.

“Maybe someone should finish the job,” a voice whispered from the dark.

Jason’s hands clenched into fists, but he didn’t respond. He had learned that reacting would only make things worse. He just closed his eyes and accepted all sorts of insults from the inmates. 

Days passed, and the bullying didn’t stop. Inmates threw food at him, spit in his face, and called him names like ugly, monster and freak. Jason endured it all, keeping his head down. But one night, things changed.

A group of men cornered him in the yard. The leader, a man with a thick beard and tattoos covering his arms, cracked his knuckles. 

“You don’t belong here, monster. We don’t like your kind. We think it’s best to send you to hell, your hideous ass suited there.” 

The men cornered him. Some of them had sharp blades and knives in hand, ready to kill him. 

“We can have fun before we kill him, boss. What do you think? I missed the taste of blood in my tongue.” 

Jason braced himself, but before they could attack. He closed his eyes and held his breath as he accepted one blow and then another, until he lost count how many blows he endured. 

He was ready todie now. He’s hopeless and useless anyway. 

“That’s enough!” A voice boomed. All men halted as they glanced at the man.

A tall, muscular man with silver hair pushed his way between Jason and the attackers. His presence alone made the others hesitate.

“This one’s mine,” the man said, glaring at the gang. His voice rang authority and they all stepped back as he stood in front of Jason.

The bearded man spat on the ground but backed away. “He’s not worth it. You should be thankful we’re taking that ugly shit to hell.” He sneered and glared at the man.

As the gang retreated, Jason sat on the floor. He winced at his swallowed lips. 

“I think I broke my ribs.” He groaned in pain.

“Nah, I think you’ll be fine. 

The silver-haired man turned to Jason. “You need to learn how to fight, kid. Or you won’t last long in here.”

Jason wiped the blood from his lip. “Why do you care?”

The man smirked. “Because I see something in you. Something even you don’t see yet.”

Jason didn’t understand, but for the first time in weeks, he felt something close to hope. He watched the man as he walked. 

***

Jason spent the next few days training. The silver-haired man, who introduced himself as Kane, taught him how to throw a punch, how to dodge, how to use an opponent’s strength against them. Jason wasn’t strong, but he was fast. Kane drilled into him the importance of survival.

“Never turn your back,” Kane said, demonstrating a quick block. “And never show fear. Fear gets you killed.”

Jason listened, absorbing every word. It’s the first time he learned how to defend himself. And it feels surreal. 

But prison was still dangerous. And Jason was still a target. Many hated him because Kane saved him. 

One night, as he lay on his cot, the door to his cell creaked open. It wasn’t time for lights out, which meant something was wrong.

A shadow moved in the darkness. Jason barely had time to react before a blade slashed across his shoulder. Pain exploded through his body as he fell to the ground.

“You should’ve died outside, monster,” a voice hissed.

Jason rolled to the side, dodging another attack. Blood dripped down his arm, but adrenaline kept him moving. He kicked at the attacker’s knee, sending him stumbling backward.

The attacker lunged again, but this time Jason was ready. He grabbed the man’s wrist, twisting it until the knife dropped to the floor. Jason scrambled to his feet, his heart pounding.

Before he could react, the cell block erupted in chaos.

Smoke filled the air, and alarms blared. Someone had set the prison on fire. The flames spread fast, licking up the walls and consuming everything in sight. Inmates screamed, and guards shouted orders, but panic had already taken over.

Jason coughed, his lungs burning as he tried to find a way out. The fire raged, trapping prisoners inside their cells. He could barely see through the thick smoke.

“Jason!”

Kane’s voice cut through the chaos. Jason turned, spotting his only ally pushing through the flames.

“We have to get out of here!” Kane yelled.

Before they could move, Jason felt a sharp pain in his stomach. He looked down. The same attacker had stabbed him. A knife was buried deep in his side.

“Fuck!”

Jason gasped, his vision blurring. The world tilted as his knees buckled.

“No!” Kane grabbed him before he hit the ground.

Jason’s body felt heavy. His skin burned from the fire around him. He could hear the distant sound of sirens. Everything was spinning.

“Stay with me, kid,” Kane’s voice was desperate now.

Jason tried to speak, but only blood came out. His body was burning, his mind slipping away.

Then—darkness. Oblivion took over. 

***

Jason woke up in agony. His entire body felt like it had been torn apart. He was in a hospital bed, covered in bandages. The room was dim, the only sound was the steady beeping of a heart monitor.

He moved slightly and winced. His skin felt tight, burned. His fingers brushed over his face, feeling the roughness of scar tissue.

He had survived.

Barely. He could almost taste death. 

The door creaked open, and Kane stepped inside. His face was grim. “You’re awake.”

Jason swallowed, his throat dry. “What… happened?”

Kane sat down next to him. “The fire took out half the prison. A lot of people didn’t make it. You were close to dying yourself.”

Jason touched his bandages. “And the one who stabbed me?”

Kane’s eyes darkened. “Gone. But there will be more. You need to be ready.”

“Where are we?” he asked Kane. 

Kane just smirked. “We’re in the hospital. But don’t worry, they will never find us here, not even the police.. We’re safe, Jason. Just rest.” 

Jason exhaled slowly. He had come so close to death. He had been beaten, burned, and stabbed. And yet, he was still here.

Something inside him changed that night. The fear that had controlled him for years was fading. He felt like he was reborn into a person he never thought he would become. 

He wasn’t going to be a victim anymore.

Jason Reed was going to survive.