The sun had barely risen over the horizon, casting a pale light across the city. Julian sat alone in his room, the soft hum of the morning breeze the only sound breaking the silence. His mind, however, was far from peaceful. It had been a restless night, filled with conflicting thoughts and hidden fears.
The information he had received was a game changer, but it also presented new dangers. The list Marcus had compiled wasn't just a group of people who could help him climb the ladder of power—it was a collection of individuals whose connections spread deep into every corner of society. Julian wasn't just playing with university politics anymore. He was stepping into a web of intrigue, corruption, and power plays that reached beyond his imagination.
There was a knock at the door, breaking him from his thoughts.
"Come in," Julian called, sitting up straighter, his gaze fixed on the door.
Liam stepped inside, his face serious. "We've got a problem."
Julian's eyes narrowed. "What is it?"
Liam closed the door behind him and sat across from Julian, lowering his voice. "Someone's been following us. I'm not sure who, but I've caught them a few times. They're too good to be amateurs."
Julian's heart skipped a beat. This wasn't just a coincidence. They were being watched—and whoever was doing it wasn't just doing it for curiosity.
"Do you have any idea who it is?" Julian asked, trying to keep his voice steady.
"I don't think it's anyone we know directly," Liam replied, eyes scanning the room like he was expecting an ambush. "But I'm starting to think it's someone connected to Sophia. She's playing both sides, Julian. And she's much deeper into this than we initially thought."
Julian stood up, walking to the window, his mind churning with this new piece of information. If Sophia was involved in this surveillance, it meant that she had eyes on him at every turn. But why? Was she trying to stop him? Or was there something more to her motives?
"We can't let this go on," Julian muttered, his thoughts racing. "We need to find out who's behind this—and we need to do it before they can make their next move."
Liam stood as well, his posture tense. "You want to confront Sophia directly?"
Julian turned, meeting his gaze. "Not yet. I need to understand the bigger picture. We move on the people from the list first. If she's involved, she'll make a move. And when she does, we'll be ready."
The door creaked open suddenly, and Marcus stepped inside, looking more frazzled than usual. "Julian, we've got a bigger problem. I've been going over the details from the list, and one of them is connected to the highest level of the government. If we make a move, we could be walking into a trap."
Julian's jaw tightened. "So we're not just fighting for control of the university anymore. We're fighting for our lives."
"We have no choice," Marcus said, his voice a mix of determination and worry. "We can't let them know we're onto them. We'll have to play this carefully—no more mistakes."
Julian walked over to the desk and picked up a pen, tapping it against the wood. Every move from this point forward would have consequences. There was no turning back. But he had come too far to back down now.
"We proceed as planned," Julian said, his voice cold and decisive. "We get the first target on the list. Once we've got them, we'll see who's really pulling the strings."
Liam and Marcus exchanged a look, both knowing how high the stakes were. They nodded in agreement, but Julian could see the unease behind their eyes. This wasn't just about power anymore—it was about survival.
As the trio made their plans, Julian couldn't shake the feeling that the walls were closing in on them. They weren't the only ones playing the game. And the longer they waited, the more dangerous their enemies became. Time was running out.
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