2025-04-21 07:31:34Gerald was left there lying in the grass. The crowd dispersed, people crossed over him, no one offered a hand. The laughter echoed in his ears like his own personal humiliation playlist.
It wasn’t just the betrayal or the beating—it was the shame, the mockery, the way Susan had looked him in the eye and denied knowing him like he was some worthless stray.
His friends—Terry and Juliet— soon came, harried and frantic. They pushed through the crowd, panicked and breathless, only to find their friend on the ground, bloodied and silent.
“Gerald! Oh my God! Gerald, can you hear me?” Juliet cried out as she cradled his head.
Gerald couldn't respond. His head was spinning, his vision blurry, his hearing distorted.
Terry didn't waste time, he flagged down a cab and together, he and Juliet got him to the hospital. His wounds were cleaned and stitched, but still Gerald said nothing. He lay there staring blankly at the ceiling, his mind spiraling into a thousand places at once— but always returning to the same thing.
Susan.
Her voice, her smile… her lies.
He thought she’d at least cared about him. He’d thought that despite knowing he loved her more, there was some small spark of truth in what they shared. He never even got to kiss her, never touched her the way she practically begged Alex to touch her with her body language. Yet, he had loved her. Deeply, completely… naively.
When the doctor finally gave him clearance to leave, Terry and Juliet began debating which of their apartments he should stay in. But he stopped them. He'd decided. He was going to talk to Susan privately. Surely she'd only done what she did because she didn't want to humiliate Alex in public, it wouldn't be good for her family connections. She'd known he would understand.
Terry and Juliet looked at each other in shock and horror. Was he being serious?
“G, haven't you been through enough?” Terry demanded, his voice low and annoyed. “She let him put you in this condition! How can she possibly care about you?”
“Exactly,” Juliet added. “She’s not worth your peace, Gerald. You need to stop torturing yourself.”
Gerald knew what they were thinking. They'd warned him when his ‘relationship’ with her had started. But he couldn't just give her up…
Gerald shook his head. “I need to hear it from her mouth,” he said softly. “I need to look her in the eyes and ask why.”
His friends shook their heads in exasperation. Gerald's stubbornness was great in certain situations, but this? This was just foolishness. But they let him go. They were sure that he'd learn his lesson this time.
Gerald left the clinic, limping and clutching his torso, but he was determined. He made his way to Susan’s place. Every step was painful, but the pain in his chest was even worse. The betrayal burned like fire in his bones. He needed to find water to put it out quickly.
He reached her dorm and knocked.
The door opened almost immediately, a wide smile on Susan's face, her hands moving to open the robe she was wearing, revealing her full breasts.
Gerald was shocked speechless. She was clearly expecting someone— someone who wasn’t Gerald.
“Oh, what the hell? Gerald?” She spat, her brows knitting together and her hands quickly wrapping the robe around herself as her eyes scanned him in disgust. “What are you doing here?”
Gerald stood frozen for a second. She was obviously getting ready for a date. He hadn't been ready for the sight of her like this— so made up, so seductive... He didn't know what he felt, there were so many emotions. He wanted her so bad, but at the same time, she’d exposed herself thinking it was Alex. The minute she realized it was him, she'd….
“I—I just came to ask…” Gerald’s voice cracked. “Was it all fake? Everything between us?”
Susan folded her arms, one hip cocked to the side. “Between us? Don’t make me laugh, Gerald. There was never an us. You were just… convenient. Someone to do my assignments, help with my studies. You assuming it was something more, helped my cause, but that's on you.”
Gerald’s jaw clenched. “You used me.”
“Of course, I did, and you should be grateful I even bothered,” she scoffed. “You're nobody. You’re broke. What did you think this was, a fairy tale? That we’d fall in love and ride into the sunset on a bicycle?” She laughed cruelly. “Please.”
His heart dropped further. “I thought… I thought...”
She rolled her eyes. “Save yourself a crumb of dignity and leave now. I don’t need you anymore. Alex is rich, connected, and can give me everything I want, I don't even need those grades anymore. Why would I stick with a loser like you?”
Gerald stood there, breath shallow, blood boiling.
“I swear, Susan,” he said through gritted teeth. “He’s going to break your heart one day. He doesn’t love you. You’re just another girl to him.”
The moment those words left his mouth, Susan’s expression changed.
“How dare you?” she hissed. “You think that makes you better than him? Leave, now!”
“Susan—”
She rushed inside the house. He stood there, wondering if he should follow, then, without warning—splash!!!
She'd poured a bucket of water on him. Gerald stood there, drenched and humiliated, water dripping from his face and clothes. She slammed the door on him, her laughter echoing through the hallway.
He didn't know how long he stood there before he was finally able to turn away. He limped down the street in silence, the cold from his wet clothes a perfect match for the emptiness he felt inside. But his mind wasn’t done. He promised himself that one day— when her dreams came crashing down— he would be there to remind her of this very moment.
As he reached the end of the street, two black luxury SUVs screeched to a halt in front of him. His heart skipped. Alex again?
The car door opened.
A tall, silver-haired man in a tailored suit stepped out. His aura screamed money, power, and importance. He looked directly at Gerald.
“Gerald.”
Gerald flinched. “I don’t want any trouble. If Alex sent you—tell him he can keep Susan. I’m done.”
The man frowned. “Alex? I'm not affiliated with any such person. I am Samuel Arnold. I’m your uncle.”
Gerald blinked, confused.
“My… what?”
“Your uncle. Your father’s older brother and the patriarch of the Arnold clan. We’ve been searching for you.”
Gerald’s world tilted slightly. His father had told him when he was young that they came from a big family. But he'd never met any of them before his father's death.
“I know,” Uncle Sam interrupted his thoughts. “There’s a lot you don’t know. But I need you to come with me. There’s something important we need to discuss.”
Still unsure, Gerald hesitated. He looked at the bodyguards, the cars, the obviously powerful man. But what more could go wrong after the day he'd just had? He nodded and climbed into the car.
As the car drove through the city’s elite districts, Uncle Sam turned to him.
“You must be wondering what this is all about,” he began. “Well…” he sighed. “I hate for us to meet under these circumstances, but the Arnold family is in trouble. Deep financial trouble.”
“I don't understand…” Gerald croaked.
“We need money. At least $25 billion to save our businesses.”
Gerald choked. “25… billion? Dollars?”
Gerald had never talked about money that extended to that part of the denomination. In fact, it was almost impossible to believe it existed.
Sam nodded grimly. “Yes. And the only person who can save us is you.”
Gerald chuckled bitterly, surely this was a prank. “Sir, I can't even afford my tuition.”
“Because you don’t know the truth about your father,” Sam said. He sighed and shook his head, glancing down at his clasped hands for a moment.
“He was the heir to the Arnold fortune. But years ago, when you were just about a year old, he made some bold investments the family didn’t agree with. We were all angry, it looked like he'd been stealing from the company and… well, he was disowned.”
Gerald listened in stunned silence. He recalled his father talking about something like that. The biggest mistake of his life he'd called it, all the time—even until his death when Gerald was just ten years old.
“But you wouldn't believe it,” Sam continued. “Those investments? They matured. Wildly. The smallest of them is worth over $55 billion now. And your fortune is at least 200 billion. Your father was a genius. If only we'd understood then...” He turned to face Gerald squarely, “And you… you are his only heir.”
The world blurred around Gerald.
“I—I don’t understand.”
“You don’t have to right now,” Sam said, handing him a sleek black card. “This is the contact card of Aventos Bank. Your father’s account manager is waiting for you. That account holds the power to change your life. And frankly, the future of our family.”
Gerald took the card slowly, his fingers trembling.
“Please know that we're all very sorry for what we put your family through.”
Gerald was barely listening as he looked over the card; from nobody… to billionaire?
The moment hadn’t sunk in yet. But one thing was certain.
The world that mocked Gerald today… would kneel tomorrow.
Previous Chapter
Related Chapters
The Super-rich Gerald Arnold Chapter 3
Gerald walked through the school gates that morning with a different air around him. His mind was a raging storm. The conversation with Uncle Sam replayed in his head on loop like a broken record.Each time, it hit harder. It wasn’t just some tale to make him feel better, Uncle Sam didn’t look like someone to joke. The man was serious, calm, and matter-of-fact when he revealed the truth. Gerald Arnold, the poor orphan everyone pitied and mocked, was now the heir to a fortune so vast it could buy the entire city if he wished. Two hundred billion dollars. At least. That number alone could paralyze a man.But with the truth came anger. Boiling, pulsing anger. Why did they let him suffer? Why did no one come to help when he lost everything—when his parents died, and he was tossed around like baggage with no one to care? His so-called family watched him starve while they basked in luxury. They turned their backs on his father and pretended Gerald didn’t exist. And now that he had become th
The Super-rich Gerald Arnold Chapter 4
The moment she heard the name “Gerald Arnold,” the tone of the bank receptionist changed completely.“I– I’m so sorry, sir,” she stuttered, her voice suddenly soft with deference. “Please hold on just a moment, I’ll transfer you to the President immediately.”She didn’t even wait for the answer to her second question before forwarding the call. Gerald blinked, then slowly broke into a grin. It was his first time being treated like someone important. The respect was almost… intoxicating.Seconds later, a man’s deep, composed voice came through the line.“Good day, Mr. Arnold. This is Marcus DeLorean, President of Aventos. It is an honor to finally speak with you.”Gerald was stunned for a moment. This man's tone didn't just sound like respect, there was something else… reverence, in the way he addressed Gerald. He could practically hear the man bowing on the other end of the line.“I’m calling to confirm something,” Gerald said slowly. “I was told my father, the late Henry Arnold, had
The Super-rich Gerald Arnold Chapter 5
“Don’t you dare,” he warned.Her eyes widened, she'd not expected resistance.Alex stepped forward. “Let go of her.”Gerald released her hand and stepped back, glaring at both of them.“You both had better apologize now.”Susan narrowed her eyes. “Who do you think you are now?”The noise drew attention faster than flames drew moths. The head of security came striding toward the scene, eyes scanning the tension in the air like a general assessing a battlefield. As soon as he recognized Alex Lambert and Susan, his posture shifted. He softened his approach, gave a quick salute of acknowledgement, and immediately began apologizing for the "unfortunate incident."“We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience,” he said, bowing slightly. “Please don’t worry, sir. The store will take full responsibility for the damage done to your car.”Susan looked smug, arms folded like a queen expecting her tribute. Alex gave a curt nod, soaking up the attention like it was his birthright. But before they
The Super-rich Gerald Arnold Chapter 6
After everything that went down at Crimson & Crown, Gerald didn’t have the time, or luxury to revel in his win. He spent the rest of the day being advised, measured, and prodded for a perfect wardrobe fitting.Steph was exceptional at her job, and while shopping was not something he had interest in, he enjoyed the attention and respect he got during the entire process.After that, he'd signed the documents making him the new owner of the most prestigious luxury clothing brand in the country.Uncle Sam called not long after to offer his congratulations, although it came wrapped in a reminder that the family was still in desperate need of his help. But right now, none of that mattered. He was planning to have the most relaxing night he'd had in a very long time. The VC's birthday party was the perfect occasion.Gerald barely had enough time to dash home, take a quick shower, and throw on something clean. He wasn't one given to flashy appearances, so most of the clothes he'd gotten today
The Super-rich Gerald Arnold Chapter 7
Inside the grand Dalton mansion, the party was already in full swing. Golden lights bathed the massive interior in a warm glow, and framed posters of Mr. Dalton lined the walls with each photo capturing a different milestone in the man’s life—obviously Juliet's idea.The DJ filled the space with mellow tunes that gave the entire party a touch of quiet elegance. Waiters floated past with trays of champagne, and laughter mingled with the soft clinking of glasses.The guests, adorned in designer suits and glittering gowns, were all seated at beautifully arranged tables containing their name tags and intricate floral centerpieces. It was clear this wasn't just a birthday celebration—it was an event for the elite. And it made sense. Professor Julian Dalton wasn’t just the Vice Chancellor of one of the most prestigious universities in the country, he was also a prominent businessman and millionaire, with connections that stretched beyond academic circles.Professor Dalton himself moved from
The Super-rich Gerald Arnold Chapter 8
Freddy Blanks.The name alone was enough to make Gerald clench his jaw. If Alex was the betrayal that cut the deepest, Freddy was the one who sharpened the blade. Gerald’s hatred for the guy had risen to new levels ever since finding out from Freddy that he was the reason Susan had been poached from him by Alex, and everything had been part of a grand scheme to humiliate Gerald for refusing to fall in line and become one of his loyal, mindless followers. Freddy couldn’t stand people he couldn’t control. And seeing as Gerald had made it clear he was one of those people, it was obvious Freddy had made it his life’s mission to ruin him every chance he got.And that made him public enemy number one.It didn’t surprise Gerald that Freddy had been made MC of the party. The guy was energetic, funny, charismatic, and undeniably entertaining. He had the crowd wrapped around his finger like some hyped-up ringmaster, orchestrating laughter at anyone’s expense— but especially Gerald’s.“Ladies a
The Super-rich Gerald Arnold Chapter 9
Freddy told the crowd to calm down as he still had a gift to present to Professor Arnold.“I mean, you all didn’t expect me to be like some imposter here who didn’t bring anything tangible right?” Everyone cackled again.He moved to the side of the stage where someone handed him something then strutted back to the centre of the stage with his usual exaggerated flair, a smug smile stretching across his face as he reached into a velvet pouch and pulled out a glistening object. He raised it high like a prize. It was a Rolex—shiny, diamond-studded, and screaming for attention. The crowd gasped in admiration, the light bouncing off its face and creating sparkles that danced across the room.“This right here,” Freddy boasted, “is a 50,000 dollar Rolex handcrafted and engraved with Mr. Dalton’s initials. A small token of appreciation for the best man we all know!”Applause thundered through the room. Even Professor Dalton nodded approvingly as Freddy bowed dramatically.“And that,” Freddy a
The Super-rich Gerald Arnold Chapter 10
Gerald’s feet hit the pedals hard as he sped down the quiet streets, the cold night wind whipping against his face. His jaw was clenched, eyes sharp with a rage that was simmering just beneath the surface. The party was over. At least for him. He had no interest in watching people toast Steven like some kind of savior while mocking him behind his back. Let them laugh, he thought. It wouldn’t last long.He could still hear Steven’s words echoing in his head—"You, an Arnold? What a joke." Gerald chuckled darkly. ‘If only you knew how right you were, Steven.’Then came the memory of Amara’s smug grin, Freddy’s cowardice, the way they had mocked Juliet and pushed her into humiliation. They had gone too far. They had crossed a line they could never uncross.Gerald parked his bike outside and stepped off, brushing dust from his pants, he immediately pulled out his phone as he headed up to his apartment. He had only one person to call—Uncle Sam.The phone barely rang once before the old man
Latest Chapter
Chapter 10
Gerald’s feet hit the pedals hard as he sped down the quiet streets, the cold night wind whipping against his face. His jaw was clenched, eyes sharp with a rage that was simmering just beneath the surface. The party was over. At least for him. He had no interest in watching people toast Steven like some kind of savior while mocking him behind his back. Let them laugh, he thought. It wouldn’t last long.He could still hear Steven’s words echoing in his head—"You, an Arnold? What a joke." Gerald chuckled darkly. ‘If only you knew how right you were, Steven.’Then came the memory of Amara’s smug grin, Freddy’s cowardice, the way they had mocked Juliet and pushed her into humiliation. They had gone too far. They had crossed a line they could never uncross.Gerald parked his bike outside and stepped off, brushing dust from his pants, he immediately pulled out his phone as he headed up to his apartment. He had only one person to call—Uncle Sam.The phone barely rang once before the old man
Chapter 9
Freddy told the crowd to calm down as he still had a gift to present to Professor Arnold.“I mean, you all didn’t expect me to be like some imposter here who didn’t bring anything tangible right?” Everyone cackled again.He moved to the side of the stage where someone handed him something then strutted back to the centre of the stage with his usual exaggerated flair, a smug smile stretching across his face as he reached into a velvet pouch and pulled out a glistening object. He raised it high like a prize. It was a Rolex—shiny, diamond-studded, and screaming for attention. The crowd gasped in admiration, the light bouncing off its face and creating sparkles that danced across the room.“This right here,” Freddy boasted, “is a 50,000 dollar Rolex handcrafted and engraved with Mr. Dalton’s initials. A small token of appreciation for the best man we all know!”Applause thundered through the room. Even Professor Dalton nodded approvingly as Freddy bowed dramatically.“And that,” Freddy a
Chapter 8
Freddy Blanks.The name alone was enough to make Gerald clench his jaw. If Alex was the betrayal that cut the deepest, Freddy was the one who sharpened the blade. Gerald’s hatred for the guy had risen to new levels ever since finding out from Freddy that he was the reason Susan had been poached from him by Alex, and everything had been part of a grand scheme to humiliate Gerald for refusing to fall in line and become one of his loyal, mindless followers. Freddy couldn’t stand people he couldn’t control. And seeing as Gerald had made it clear he was one of those people, it was obvious Freddy had made it his life’s mission to ruin him every chance he got.And that made him public enemy number one.It didn’t surprise Gerald that Freddy had been made MC of the party. The guy was energetic, funny, charismatic, and undeniably entertaining. He had the crowd wrapped around his finger like some hyped-up ringmaster, orchestrating laughter at anyone’s expense— but especially Gerald’s.“Ladies a
Chapter 7
Inside the grand Dalton mansion, the party was already in full swing. Golden lights bathed the massive interior in a warm glow, and framed posters of Mr. Dalton lined the walls with each photo capturing a different milestone in the man’s life—obviously Juliet's idea.The DJ filled the space with mellow tunes that gave the entire party a touch of quiet elegance. Waiters floated past with trays of champagne, and laughter mingled with the soft clinking of glasses.The guests, adorned in designer suits and glittering gowns, were all seated at beautifully arranged tables containing their name tags and intricate floral centerpieces. It was clear this wasn't just a birthday celebration—it was an event for the elite. And it made sense. Professor Julian Dalton wasn’t just the Vice Chancellor of one of the most prestigious universities in the country, he was also a prominent businessman and millionaire, with connections that stretched beyond academic circles.Professor Dalton himself moved from
Chapter 6
After everything that went down at Crimson & Crown, Gerald didn’t have the time, or luxury to revel in his win. He spent the rest of the day being advised, measured, and prodded for a perfect wardrobe fitting.Steph was exceptional at her job, and while shopping was not something he had interest in, he enjoyed the attention and respect he got during the entire process.After that, he'd signed the documents making him the new owner of the most prestigious luxury clothing brand in the country.Uncle Sam called not long after to offer his congratulations, although it came wrapped in a reminder that the family was still in desperate need of his help. But right now, none of that mattered. He was planning to have the most relaxing night he'd had in a very long time. The VC's birthday party was the perfect occasion.Gerald barely had enough time to dash home, take a quick shower, and throw on something clean. He wasn't one given to flashy appearances, so most of the clothes he'd gotten today
Chapter 5
“Don’t you dare,” he warned.Her eyes widened, she'd not expected resistance.Alex stepped forward. “Let go of her.”Gerald released her hand and stepped back, glaring at both of them.“You both had better apologize now.”Susan narrowed her eyes. “Who do you think you are now?”The noise drew attention faster than flames drew moths. The head of security came striding toward the scene, eyes scanning the tension in the air like a general assessing a battlefield. As soon as he recognized Alex Lambert and Susan, his posture shifted. He softened his approach, gave a quick salute of acknowledgement, and immediately began apologizing for the "unfortunate incident."“We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience,” he said, bowing slightly. “Please don’t worry, sir. The store will take full responsibility for the damage done to your car.”Susan looked smug, arms folded like a queen expecting her tribute. Alex gave a curt nod, soaking up the attention like it was his birthright. But before they
Chapter 4
The moment she heard the name “Gerald Arnold,” the tone of the bank receptionist changed completely.“I– I’m so sorry, sir,” she stuttered, her voice suddenly soft with deference. “Please hold on just a moment, I’ll transfer you to the President immediately.”She didn’t even wait for the answer to her second question before forwarding the call. Gerald blinked, then slowly broke into a grin. It was his first time being treated like someone important. The respect was almost… intoxicating.Seconds later, a man’s deep, composed voice came through the line.“Good day, Mr. Arnold. This is Marcus DeLorean, President of Aventos. It is an honor to finally speak with you.”Gerald was stunned for a moment. This man's tone didn't just sound like respect, there was something else… reverence, in the way he addressed Gerald. He could practically hear the man bowing on the other end of the line.“I’m calling to confirm something,” Gerald said slowly. “I was told my father, the late Henry Arnold, had
Chapter 3
Gerald walked through the school gates that morning with a different air around him. His mind was a raging storm. The conversation with Uncle Sam replayed in his head on loop like a broken record.Each time, it hit harder. It wasn’t just some tale to make him feel better, Uncle Sam didn’t look like someone to joke. The man was serious, calm, and matter-of-fact when he revealed the truth. Gerald Arnold, the poor orphan everyone pitied and mocked, was now the heir to a fortune so vast it could buy the entire city if he wished. Two hundred billion dollars. At least. That number alone could paralyze a man.But with the truth came anger. Boiling, pulsing anger. Why did they let him suffer? Why did no one come to help when he lost everything—when his parents died, and he was tossed around like baggage with no one to care? His so-called family watched him starve while they basked in luxury. They turned their backs on his father and pretended Gerald didn’t exist. And now that he had become th
Chapter 2
Gerald was left there lying in the grass. The crowd dispersed, people crossed over him, no one offered a hand. The laughter echoed in his ears like his own personal humiliation playlist.It wasn’t just the betrayal or the beating—it was the shame, the mockery, the way Susan had looked him in the eye and denied knowing him like he was some worthless stray.His friends—Terry and Juliet— soon came, harried and frantic. They pushed through the crowd, panicked and breathless, only to find their friend on the ground, bloodied and silent.“Gerald! Oh my God! Gerald, can you hear me?” Juliet cried out as she cradled his head.Gerald couldn't respond. His head was spinning, his vision blurry, his hearing distorted.Terry didn't waste time, he flagged down a cab and together, he and Juliet got him to the hospital. His wounds were cleaned and stitched, but still Gerald said nothing. He lay there staring blankly at the ceiling, his mind spiraling into a thousand places at once— but always returni
