The rooftop echoed with the scream of wind, but Ochieng didn't hear it. All he could hear was his own heartbeat—a chaotic drum of rage, confusion, and panic.
Maggy's body lay in his arms, blood staining her white dress. But then she coughed—alive. Barely.
"She wore… the vest," a gruff voice said behind him.
Kaiden, dressed in all black, stepped out of the shadows with a tactical rifle slung across his shoulder. "I'm not ready to let her die just yet. Not until she tells the full truth."
Ochieng rose slowly, his jaw tight. "You knew she was alive?"
Kaiden nodded, throwing him a hard stare. "And so did Clara."
--
Jared Mwangi, the rebel entrepreneur and half-brother to Ochieng, lounged on a red velvet couch surrounded by Ridgefall's most dangerous youth. They weren't just students—they were heirs, hackers, and hustlers. Billionaires in disguise.
At his side sat Zena, 22—a fiery-eyed half-Arabic socialite known for her obsessive love affairs and manipulation games. She was here for one reason only: to seduce and destroy Ochieng.
Jared tapped a glass.
"Tonight," he said, "we break the Ridgefall status quo. No more golden kids. No more secret inheritances. We take everything."
---
Vivienne Rossi strutted through the halls like a queen. She had already caused a stir—bumping into teachers, flirting with the student council president, and even getting three seniors suspended through false accusations.
She now stood face-to-face with Zahra, who had just been elected Prom Committee Head.
"Enjoy your crown," Vivienne smirked. "Because I'm taking everything from you… including Ochieng."
Zahra didn't blink. "Try me."
But Vivienne leaned in, whispered one name in her ear—"Lucian"—and walked away as Zahra's face drained of color.
---
Maggy lay under surveillance, her vitals steady. Ochieng sat beside her, his hand covering hers.
She opened her eyes slowly. "Clara… lied about everything."
Ochieng's voice cracked. "Why didn't you come to me?"
"They threatened to kill my brother. The one you never knew existed. They're using him to control the board votes. Ochieng, the tech company your father left behind—it's no longer yours."
Ochieng stood up. "That company was named after me. I built its foundation."
She coughed again. "Clara now owns 37%. And Vivienne... she's after your shares."
---
Clara stood before a mirror, dressing in a stunning blood-red dress for the upcoming billionaire families' gala. She tightened her necklace and spoke to her reflection.
"Ochieng always underestimated me. But I didn't come this far to play second. I will own him—body, mind, and legacy."
Behind her, Lucian Ray buttoned his shirt.
"He's more dangerous than you think," Lucian warned.
Clara smiled, touching her lips with crimson lipstick. "So am I."
---
A new poster appeared, causing a stir across the entire student body:
Ridgefall University Couples Prom & Billionaire Family Ball — 7 Days Left. Formal Invitation Only.
And scribbled across it in blood-red ink:
"The end begins here."
---