THE HELLISH SYSTEM

chapter seven

I pulled out my phone and tapped on the banking app, my thumb hovering over the "Transfer" button. The silence around me was deafening. Every student in the courtyard was frozen in place, their eyes locked onto my screen, waiting.

Frank scoffed, crossing his arms. "Yeah, right. No way you're actually doing it."

Selena chuckled beside him, flipping her blonde hair over her shoulder. "This is just for show. He’s stalling."

I didn’t respond. Instead, I tapped the transfer option and entered the university’s account number.

$20,000.

My finger hovered over the "Confirm" button.

"Alright," I said, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Let’s see if I’m bluffing."

I pressed the button.

A moment later, my screen flashed: Transaction Successful.

Then, almost immediately, a chime echoed from the administrative building. The Dean's phone.

The crowd turned toward the building in slow motion, like a wave of disbelief washing over them.

Seconds later, the Dean himself stepped outside, adjusting his glasses as he stared at his phone. His lips parted, eyes scanning the notification over and over.

He looked up at me.

Then back at his phone.

Then back at me again.

“Ethan Summerville…” his voice carried over the stunned silence, “just paid his tuition in full.”

And that’s when the campus erupted. The murmurs turned into gasps. The gasps turned into chaos.

"What the hell?!"

"Where did he get that kind of money?!"

"Is this a joke?"

"That’s twenty grand! Who the hell is he?!"

I smirked.

Frank's face turned pale. His jaw clenched as his hands balled into fists.

Selena took a step back, her eyes wide with confusion.

Paul looked like he’d swallowed a rock. "No freaking way."

I slid my phone back into my pocket and turned to face them, my voice calm but laced with satisfaction. "You were saying?"

Frank’s expression twisted into something ugly. "You—you got lucky! That doesn’t mean anything!"

I let out a short laugh. "Oh, Frank. I’m just getting started."

And then I walked away, leaving them to stew in their humiliation.

I knew this wasn’t enough. Paying my tuition was just the first step. If I really wanted to make my mark, I needed to do something bigger.

Something that would shake the entire school to its core.

And that’s when an idea struck me.

Tracy Stewart.

The Icy Queen of the campus.

No one had ever managed to date her. No one had even come close. But I wasn’t just anyone anymore.

I found her exactly where I expected—sitting alone in the VIP section of the university café, sipping on an iced caramel macchiato, her long, jet-black hair cascading down her back like silk. She looked as untouchable as ever, her sharp blue eyes scanning the campus like she was royalty overseeing her kingdom.

I pulled out the chair across from her and sat down.

She barely looked at me. "You have three seconds to leave before I call security."

I smirked. "Three seconds? That’s longer than I expected."

She finally glanced at me, her brows slightly raised. "Ethan Summerville. The new talk of the campus. I assume you’re here to beg for my number like the rest of the desperate losers?"

I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table. "Not exactly."

She sighed, tapping her perfectly manicured nails against her cup. "Then what do you want?"

I took out my wallet and slid two crisp $1,000 bills across the table. "A deal."

Tracy tilted her head, unimpressed. "What kind of deal?"

I smiled. "I want you to help me humiliate Frank and Selena. In return, I’ll pay you two grand."

For the first time, she looked intrigued.

She leaned back, crossing her arms. "You want me to date you, don’t you?"

I nodded. "For as long as it takes to ruin them."

Tracy studied me for a long moment before chuckling softly. "I have to admit, this is new. Most guys throw themselves at my feet, but you? You’re paying me to fake date you just to get revenge?"

I shrugged. "Call it a business transaction."

She tapped a finger against her lip, considering. "I could get any rich guy I want. Why should I waste my time with you?"

I smirked. "Because I’m not just any rich guy. I’m the most talked-about name on campus right now. And when we walk in together? That status will skyrocket."

She exhaled, shaking her head with a slight smile. "Alright, Ethan. You’ve got my attention."

I pushed the money toward her. "Do we have a deal?"

She picked up the bills, flipping them between her fingers before tucking them into her bag. "We do. But if we’re going to do this, we do it my way."

I raised a brow. "Your way?"

She nodded. "Rule one: no touching unless I allow it. Rule two: you follow my lead in public. Rule three: if I say we’re done, we’re done."

I smirked. "Fair enough."

She finished her drink and stood up. "Good. Now, if you’re going to be seen with me, you need to look the part."

I frowned. "What’s wrong with how I look?"

She let out an exasperated sigh. "Everything. Your clothes scream ‘average nobody.’ If we’re making a grand entrance, you need a wardrobe upgrade."

I stood up. "Fine. Where do we start?"

She grabbed her purse and tossed me a wicked grin. "Leave that to me."

An hour later, I stood in front of the mirror in one of the most expensive boutiques in the city.

Gone were my cheap sneakers and faded jeans.

In their place? A sleek black dress shirt, tailored slim-fit jeans, and polished leather boots that screamed money.

Tracy circled me, inspecting every detail.

"Much better," she said, nodding approvingly. "Now, let’s go show them who’s really in charge."

The moment we stepped back onto campus together, it was like a bomb had gone off.

Students stopped mid-stride. Conversations died in throats. Phones went up, snapping pictures at lightning speed.

It was chaos.

"NO FREAKING WAY!"

"ETHAN AND TRACY?!"

"HOW DID HE—?!"

"THIS CAN’T BE REAL!"

Frank and Selena stood near the courtyard, their faces frozen in disbelief. I caught Frank’s gaze and smirked.

Selena’s mouth opened and closed like a fish.

Tracy tightened her grip around my arm and leaned in, whispering, "Oh, this is so worth the money."

I chuckled. "Told you."

As we walked through the stunned crowd, one thing was certain. The tables had turned.