He met her gaze, calm and steady. “No, I don’t think it’s funny. But I do think it’s reality. Not everything is guaranteed, Camila.”She crossed her arms, her anger flaring. “What would you know about it? You wouldn’t understand what it’s like to work so hard and still lose.”Leander raised an eyebrow, his voice sharpening slightly. “Oh, I think I know more than you realize. I just learned to handle it differently.”She scoffed, her eyes flashing with resentment. “Of course. You’ve always been so ‘resilient,’ haven’t you?”Leander held her gaze, his expression unfazed. “Camila, maybe if you’d focused on more than just appearances, you’d see that setbacks are a part of success. You don’t always win, but it doesn’t mean you don’t deserve better.” Camila’s face softened, just a touch, as she searched his eyes, perhaps looking for the man she once knew. But then her pride flared up again, blocking any hint of vulnerability. “I don’t need advice, Leander. I know what I’m doing.” “Do you?
As Leander strolled through the airport terminal toward his private Gulfstream, a spring in his step and a calm sense of purpose, he was already mentally preparing for the meeting ahead. Time was tight, but he had it all perfectly mapped out. Or so he thought.Suddenly, a security officer stepped in front of him, blocking his path. “Excuse me, sir,” the guard said brusquely, looking him up and down with an air of suspicion. “I’ll need you to step aside for a random security check.”Leander blinked, slightly taken aback. “A random check?” he echoed, his tone measured. “I’m just on my way to my jet. My clearance should already be approved.”The officer didn’t budge, arms crossed. “Doesn’t matter. Random means random.”Sighing, Leander nodded and stepped aside, though a few people nearby had started to take notice, their curious gazes making the situation feel unnecessarily conspicuous. He watched as the officer signaled to another guard, who walked over with an imposing expression.“Ple
The moment Leander stepped off his Gulfstream, a cool breeze hit him, carrying with it a mix of anticipation and urgency. The tech summit was already buzzing, and he could feel the energy as he made his way through the city. Every banner, digital billboard, and street sign seemed to be promoting the event, boasting the names of the biggest players in the industry.An official car was waiting for him at the exit, and he settled into the back seat, scrolling through his schedule on his phone. It was packed—panel discussions, exclusive meetings, and a closed-door dinner with a select group of CEOs. One name on the list caught his eye: Jason Becker, CEO of Circuitron, one of the tech industry’s most notorious power players.As they pulled up to the summit venue—a towering skyscraper wrapped in sleek glass panels—Leander took a moment to appreciate the architecture. The building seemed to glow with an artificial aura under the evening lights, a fitting choice for a gathering of innovators
The moment Leander stepped off his Gulfstream, a cool breeze hit him, carrying with it a mix of anticipation and urgency. The tech summit was already buzzing, and he could feel the energy as he made his way through the city. Every banner, digital billboard, and street sign seemed to be promoting the event, boasting the names of the biggest players in the industry.An official car was waiting for him at the exit, and he settled into the back seat, scrolling through his schedule on his phone. It was packed—panel discussions, exclusive meetings, and a closed-door dinner with a select group of CEOs. One name on the list caught his eye: Jason Becker, CEO of Circuitron, one of the tech industry’s most notorious power players.As they pulled up to the summit venue—a towering skyscraper wrapped in sleek glass panels—Leander took a moment to appreciate the architecture. The building seemed to glow with an artificial aura under the evening lights, a fitting choice for a gathering of innovators
Leander leaned against the kitchen counter, his sleeves rolled up and his hands busy chopping vegetables. The soft hum of the refrigerator filled the air as the smell of garlic and herbs began to waft through the spacious, sunlit kitchen. Brianna walked in, barefoot and carrying a tablet, her face lighting up when she saw him."Wait—are you actually cooking?" she teased, placing the tablet on the island.Leander shot her a mock offended look. "You doubt my abilities? I can cook, you know."Brianna laughed, walking over to peer at his chopping skills. "You’re slicing those peppers way too thick. You’re lucky I like you; otherwise, I’d kick you out of the kitchen."He smirked, sliding the chopped peppers into a bowl. "I don’t remember inviting you to critique my culinary masterpiece. What are you working on, anyway?"She grabbed a piece of carrot from the counter, munching on it as she leaned against the island. "Just reviewing some proposals for the charity gala. But clearly, you’ve go
At approximately 7:30 a.m., Leander Hawthorne and Camila dashed into the library, textbooks in hand, their minds set on the looming final exams.Although attractive and brilliant, Leander faced financial struggles while his peers enjoyed a lavish lifestyle. Despite their efforts to reduce social inequality, their resentment served as a reminder of his low status. They engaged in various behaviors, from gloating and monopolizing resources to making his path to success more challenging. He was belittled for his part-time job, mocked for his second-hand clothes, and excluded from expensive social events because they believed he didn't deserve special treatment.In the absence of any festive arrangements, murmurs and whispers, accompanied by background music boomed. Irritated, Leander and Camila glanced up from their books to see what was happening."Camila, come over here!" They heard their friends' voices echoing as one. Additionally, Leander couldn't help but wonder if those students w
"Hahaha, I thought people claim you're very intelligent and most brilliant. Can't you pass without reading? I bet this final exam you won't make it to the top like other semesters because I want you to fail miserably. You won't be the best this time; I'm the next!" Rex admitted with a deep scowl, his eyes filled with excitement."Tearing my textbook won't solve the problem, but do you know how important it is to me? Rex, I won't let this go for belittling me and destroying my belonging." In frustration, Leander insisted, his expression stern and authoritative.Rex nodded in agreement. "Go ahead, spoiled brat! Let's see what you can do,” Irritated by his statement, Leander retaliated by lunging at Rex, seizing his pricey Rolex. With trembling hands, he smashed it against the wall until it shattered. "Fuck you," Rex muttered through gritted teeth. Rex, trembling with anger, landed a feeble kick on Leander, who nearly lost consciousness from the impact and fell to the ground. The kick
Back on campus in the evening, Leander experienced what he never wished for—he bumped into Camila. Tension surged as they locked gazes, memories of Leander’s humiliation flooding back.Enraged, Leander's voice quivered with hurt. "You cheat," he accused. "You dumped me all because of that brilliant fool, Rex. Imagine someone just waking up one day and telling you that he loves you; now you're falling for a playboy," he lamented, his words heavy with a mix of disbelief and unease.“Ergh, I can't fall for a bigger coward… a scum like you! Go to hell,” Camila exclaimed with a deep scowl. “Imagine, you even had the audacity to call an asshole,”Laughter erupted from nearby students as they eavesdropped on their conversation, finding Camila's insult to Leander amusing, simply mocking him.They whispered, "Is this poor soul here to win over Camila?" The murmurs from a set of students continued, "Camila is off-limits to you, got it? Don't let the catch you here, or you'll be treated like