The sun rose like a slow-burning secret over Silvershade, bathing the campus in gold, but underneath that warmth was ice—whispers, screenshots, panic.
The video of Ochieng chained and bleeding had spread like wildfire.
He walked through the university gates as students paused mid-step, phones in hand, jaws agape. His white hoodie flapped in the breeze, blood from the night before still crusted at the sleeve.
---
Lola Vasquez – 24, law student, fiery Latina, gossip queen of the campus with a secret affair with a married professor. She walked beside Ochieng with no shame.
"You broke the internet," she smirked.
"They want me broken."
"Then maybe they're not ready for what's next."
---
The university Chancellor—Ezekiel Marsh, 63, tall, ice-grey beard, known for his obsession with order—stepped forward.
"Whoever leaked that footage… has violated the sacred trust of this institution."
From the crowd, a female voice rang out.
"Or maybe it exposed the rot you've tried to hide."
Heads turned.
Jade Mirembe – 21, Journalism major, rebellious, dark-skinned beauty with short natural curls, a silver lip ring, and eyes that burned with truth. Daughter of a prominent judge.
She stared straight at the Chancellor.
"People like Ochieng aren't the shame. People like you are."
Naomi sat with her sister, Alvina Kerr, 23, ballet dancer turned CEO of a skincare empire.
"What if this brings everything crashing down?" Naomi asked.
Alvina sipped her tea. "Maybe it needs to crash… so he can rebuild it higher."
She paused.
"And besides… you weren't the only one who loved him."
Naomi blinked. "What?"
Alvina stood up and left.
---
Juliette screamed, throwing her glass against the wall.
"Why didn't Ace kill him!"
Her father, Mr. Alistair Blackthorne, one of the nation's richest men, stood calmly. "Because Ochieng is protected."
Juliette: "By who?!"
Alistair lit a cigar. "By shareholders you never knew existed. Your little love games just became a business war."
---
Lights flashed. Music roared. A prom-style event was organized as a distraction.
In the middle of it, Ochieng showed up in an all-black tux, hand-in-hand with Naomi.
But then…
Tasha appeared. Cousin. Hacker. Now billionaire. Wearing a backless emerald gown. On her arm?
Ace Maddox.
The crowd froze.
Ochieng's eyes narrowed. "What are you doing with him?"
Tasha: "Balancing the chessboard."
She handed him a sealed envelope.
Inside: Confidential shareholder documents. His name… listed as majority owner of Silvershade Tech Alliance.
---
Underneath the dance floor, a countdown blinked red on a digital tablet:
PROJECT ETERNUM – 23:59:59…
A timer.
And in a hidden basement room… something began to wake.
---