“Sorry, I’m late.” Hayden took the offered umbrella, flashing an apologetic smile.
Diana Drake did not seem to care in the slightest that he had kept her waiting.
Her eyes were full of gentle concern as she carefully wiped the rainwater from his dark hair.
In this world, the two had known each other for years, dating back to middle school.
Hayden might be a transmigrator, but over the past year, he had come to deeply appreciate her genuine affection.
The rest of the graduating class was already present.
The two of them walked into the private dining room, taking their seats under the collective gaze of their peers.
“Well, look who finally made it!
The busiest man in Rookwood!” Marcus Vance, the class president, eyed Hayden with a sneer.
“CEO Brooks!
It is an absolute honor that you could take time out of your packed schedule to dine with us peasants.” A chorus of snickers rippled across the table.
Everyone knew Hayden came from nothing.
He was an orphan who grew up in the system.
The title of “CEO” was nothing short of an insult.
Marcus, on the other hand, came from serious old money.
His family’s corporation consistently ranked in the top five taxpayers of Rookwood City.
The rest of the students in this room also came from wealth.
Their parents were powerful business tycoons or high-ranking government officials.
Before even graduating, their futures were set in stone.
They would study abroad, inherit corporate empires, or walk into high-level government positions.
“Sorry, everyone,” Hayden said, forcing a tight smile.
“I got held up.
It’s my fault.
I just finished an interview.” Marcus swirled the red wine in his glass, his smirk widening.
“An interview?
Wow, CEO Brooks is still looking for a job.
What number is this?
Twenty?
Thirty?” He turned to the rest of the table.
“Do you guys think our resident ‘interview king’ is going to set a new world record?” More muffled laughter erupted.
A few students who made a habit of sucking up to Marcus eagerly chimed in.
“Hayden, you aren’t actually still applying for those entry-level gigs paying minimum wage, are you?
Delivery drivers make more than that!” Diana’s best friend, Chloe, had always despised Hayden.
She did not miss the opportunity to twist the knife.
“Why don’t you let Marcus hook you up with a job?
The janitors at his dad’s company probably pull in a better salary.” Diana shot Chloe a sharp glare.
Chloe merely patted Diana’s hand and leaned in, making sure she spoke just loud enough for Hayden to hear.
“Seriously, babe, you need an upgrade.
The guy is a deadbeat.
He’s broke, and he’s just going to drag you down.
There’s no future with him.” Listening to the unrelenting mockery, Hayden’s eyes grew cold.
“How does that old saying go?
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
And a rat’s son will always be a…” Marcus trailed off, his eyebrows raised in arrogant amusement.
“Speaking of which, I actually have an announcement to make!
My grandfather officially handed me the reins to one of the Vance Corporation’s subsidiaries today.
If any of you ever need a business favor, just say the word.
I’ll take care of you.” The table erupted in a chorus of sycophantic praise and congratulations.
Marcus casually glanced in Diana’s direction.
To his intense irritation, her expression had not changed at all.
She was entirely focused on rolling up Hayden’s soaked sleeves.
The sight made Marcus burn with jealousy.
Diana was the undisputed beauty of their graduating class.
With her striking looks and undeniable elegance, she was the absolute goddess of the campus.
Everyone assumed she would inevitably end up with a tall, handsome heir from a wealthy family.
Rich men and beautiful women were the ironclad law of their world.
Marcus firmly believed that a prize of Diana’s caliber belonged to him by right.
Instead, Hayden stood like an impenetrable brick wall between them.
Marcus had been born with a silver spoon in his mouth.
He had coasted through life on a wave of privilege and flattery.
Losing to someone he viewed as lower than dirt tasted like poison.
He could not fathom how a penniless loser like Hayden had managed to steal Diana’s heart.
“Actually, that reminds me.
I do have an opening for a security guard at the front gate,” Marcus sneered, leaning forward aggressively.
“Hayden, all you have to do is call me Boss Vance…” “That is enough!” Hayden’s voice cracked like a whip.
He locked an icy, unwavering glare onto Marcus.
“What the hell are you so smug about?
So what if you have a rich daddy?
You were just lucky to be born into the right family.
Do you actually think you have any real talent?” Marcus froze in shock.
Hayden was usually passive.
Where did this sudden backbone come from?
Was he just trying to show off in front of Diana?
Marcus gritted his teeth, tossed back a mouthful of red wine, and abruptly stood up.
“You really don’t know your place, do you?
Since you want to play hardball, I’ll have to teach you a lesson…” “Stop it!” Diana’s face flushed with anger.
She picked up her chopsticks and let her clear voice ring out across the room.
“Everyone is here.
Let’s just eat before the food gets cold.” Marcus’s jaw tightened in fury, his cheeks bulging.
A second later, his expression smoothed over.
A charming smile completely replaced his scowl.
He nodded eagerly at Diana.
“You’re right, Diana.
It would be a shame to ruin the meal.
Dig in, everyone.
I had the lobster air-freighted directly from Australia.” Seeing Marcus back down, the rest of the table wisely dropped the subject.
The clinking of glasses and cheerful chatter quickly resumed.
Hayden sat silently in his chair.
He watched his classmates surround Marcus, taking turns toasting the wealthy heir.
He realized with absolute clarity that his student days were truly over.
Once they stepped out of the ivory tower of university life, everyone inevitably returned to their predetermined social classes.
After dinner, Marcus offered to cover the tab at a high-end nightclub for anyone who wanted to keep the party going.
Outside, the storm had intensified.
Hayden and Diana stood on the hotel steps under an umbrella, waiting for their cab.
Suddenly, two blinding headlights pierced the darkness of the rainy night.
A crimson Porsche Panamera roared up the street.
It glided to a smooth halt directly in front of the hotel entrance.
The gleaming, flawless paint job reflected a brilliant light that shattered Hayden’s silhouette in the rain puddles.
Marcus rolled down the driver’s side window.
He deliberately ignored Hayden, locking his eyes entirely on Diana with a winning smile.
“It’s pouring out here, Diana.
Get in.
Don’t let your dress get ruined in the storm.” Several female classmates, including Chloe, were already giggling in the backseat.
The passenger seat was completely empty, practically waiting for her.
The headlights of the Porsche were blindingly bright.
It was a two-hundred-thousand-dollar luxury machine.
An ordinary person could work their entire life and never afford the down payment.
Hayden could feel the mocking glances of his classmates lingering on him from the hotel lobby.
In their eyes, he was just a pathetic, broke loser trying to compete with a billionaire heir.
To everyone’s absolute shock, Diana simply tightened her grip on Hayden’s arm.
“No thank you,” she waved politely.
“We already called a cab.
The driver is almost here, and it would be rude to cancel on him now.” A fleeting look of disbelief flashed across Marcus’s eyes.
He shot a venomous glare at Hayden, forced a tight smile, and rolled up the window without another word.
The Panamera crept forward a few feet before the engine roared.
Marcus floored the accelerator.
The tires violently displaced the standing water, sending a tidal wave of filthy street water splashing onto the curb.
Hayden watched the sports car speed off into the night.
His gaze grew dangerously cold.
A few minutes later, their cab arrived.
Hayden pulled the door open for Diana, but he did not step inside.
Through the sheet of heavy rain, he noticed a man in a baseball cap standing on the opposite sidewalk.
The stranger was perfectly still, silently watching them from the shadows.
Hayden traced the man’s gaze down the street.
Four black Mercedes-Benz SUVs were crawling down the block.
They boxed in the street and rolled to a stop right behind the watcher.
The heavy doors swung open.
A dozen men in black suits stepped out into the downpour.
Even through the rain, Hayden could clearly see the cold glint of pistols tucked into their waistbands.