THE RETURN HEIR

Chapter 01

The dorm room was filled with laughter and jokes, the four friends sprawled across the couches, unwinding after a grueling week of classes. Max Reid sat on the edge of his bunk, his mind elsewhere, though he offered the occasional nod and smile.

“You guys see that Porsche in the parking lot this morning?” Dan asked, his eyes widening. “That’s David Lesley’s new car—the Carrera GT. Man, two million dollars. Can you even imagine?”

“Lesley’s living the life we all wish we had, huh?” muttered Jake, shaking his head in disbelief.

Just then, their dormmate, Ethan, burst into the room, panting with excitement. “Guys! David Lesley is proposing to Lily Ginn right now—on live stream!” He held up his phone triumphantly, opening the Groove app, where the proposal was indeed trending.

“Are you serious?” Dan leaned in, his eyes glued to the screen. “This guy doesn’t waste time.”

Max, however, remained seated, his expression neutral. Lily wouldn’t say yes, he told himself. She’s with me. She told me so.

“Come on, Max!” Jake called, waving him over. “You’re missing campus history here!”

Max sighed, glancing over reluctantly. He trusted Lily, he reminded himself, but he couldn’t deny his curiosity. “Fine,” he muttered, moving closer.

The stream showed David standing at the center of the Sky Golden Hotel’s lavish dining hall, a place where every meal likely cost more than Max made in a month. David was dressed in a sleek black suit, his every gesture exuding confidence and wealth. He held a microphone as he looked at Lily with adoration, drawing in cheers and applause from the onlookers.

“Look at this setup,” Ethan muttered, marveling. “Can you imagine the price tag? They say just reserving a spot at that hotel can set you back ten grand. Ten grand—for a table!”

Jake snorted. “No wonder Lily’s got every reason to say yes. Who wouldn’t? Lesley’s loaded!”

Max’s stomach twisted. He and Lily had shared modest dinners, quiet moments where she’d insisted their connection went deeper than money. She’s not swayed by this stuff, he thought, forcing himself to believe it.

Then David’s voice broke through the screen, amplified across the restaurant. “Lily, I don’t just want you to be my girlfriend… I want you to be by my side, forever.”

The boys leaned closer, completely engrossed in the spectacle. Max’s heart pounded. She’s going to turn him down, he thought, clinging to the hope. We’ve been dating. She told me it was real.

Lily blushed as David lowered himself to one knee, holding out a glittering diamond ring. Her expression softened, and she reached out her hand, letting him slide the ring onto her finger.

“No way!” Dan’s voice cut through Max’s thoughts. “She actually said yes!”

Max felt his throat tighten as he watched Lily beam up at David, her eyes sparkling as she whispered something he couldn’t make out. A murmur went through the crowd, but it was David’s next move that shattered Max’s last hope.

David leaned in, and with everyone watching, kissed her—long, deep, and full of passion. The audience cheered, the live comments exploding with congratulatory messages.

She agreed… just like that? Max thought, his heart sinking. She hadn’t hesitated, hadn’t looked back.

“Did you see that kiss?” Jake grinned, nudging Max. “Lesley scored big time!”

Max quickly wiped his cheeks, hoping his friends hadn’t noticed the silent tears that had fallen. But the screen’s glare still highlighted the painful truth he couldn’t escape. All those moments we shared, the promises… Was it all just lies?

Ethan laughed. “Man, Lesley is the luckiest guy alive. Who’d have thought? Lily Ginn and David Lesley—Harvold’s newest power couple!”

The laughter, the excitement—it was too much. Max felt his chest constricting as he stood abruptly. “I… need some air,” he muttered, barely able to keep his voice steady.

He turned and walked out of the dorm room, leaving his friends absorbed in the stream. He could still hear their laughter echoing down the hall, each chuckle piercing his already shattered heart.

Outside, Max found himself drifting toward the city, toward the Sky Golden Hotel where Lily and David were celebrating their new relationship. How could she do this? The question spun in his mind. She told me we needed to keep things private, that she wanted to protect what we had. All the time he had spent, six months just to gain her trust, only to lose her in one night to a man she barely knew.

As he neared the hotel, he could see the lights of the lobby illuminating the evening streets. The glamour of it all was daunting, a sharp reminder of just how far apart their worlds were. But Max pushed past the ache, his determination hardening.