<b>8:17 </b><b>Thu</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>25 </b>
Badass in Disguise
<b>Chapter </b><b>179 </b>
<b>97 </b>
Two dayster, Princeton’s official forum exploded with activity. Two video clips had been posted by the university administration: one showing the student who had spread rumors confessing to being paid, and another featuring Catherine Sullivan admitting she was the mastermind behind the smear campaign.
The official statement from the university announced immediate expulsions for the student who created the posts and Megan Hayes, who had aided in spreading the rumors. Catherine’s two roommates received formal reprimands- their third strikes, which meant they also faced potential expulsion.
“Did you see the statement?” a girl with bright blue hair asked her friend as they walked across the quad. “Total nuclear fallout. They’re not even trying to keep it quiet.”
“Sullivan Enterprises stock dropped fifteen percent this morning,” her friend replied, clutching her textbooks tighter. “My dad says Haxton Capital is circling like sharks, ready to–oh my God.”
She stopped mid–sentence, her jaw dropping open. Across thewn, Ethan Haxton was walking toward the economics building, his tall figure impossible to miss. Students froze in their tracks, phones immediately raised to capture the moment. His tailored charcoal suit and confident stride drew every eye on campus.
“What’s Ethan Haxton doing here?” someone whispered loudly, furiously typing on their phone.
“Probably checking on Jade,” another replied, nodding toward Jade who was walking several yards behind him, seemingly unbothered by themotion. “Must be nice having a billionaire friend to fight your battles.”
“Look at him,” another girl sighed, watching Ethan disappear into the building. “That height, that face, that presence. Sorry, Chris Jensen, I’m officially switching teams. There’s something about the way he moves, like he owns everything his eyesnd on.”
“So what exactly is Jade’s rtionship with Ethan Haxton?” a freshman asked, pulling her beanie lower against the autumn chill. “That can’t just be an old family friend, right? The way he looks at her…”
‘Looks more like lovers to me,” an older studentmented, adjusting her sses.
The fallout spread beyond the university. Ethan Haxton’s appearance at Princeton topped trending topics on every social media tform. Sullivan Enterprises stock continued its downward spiral, with financial analysts predicting serious repercussions for thepany’s future.
Dominic Sullivan took his wife Thalia and daughter Catherine out of the country, but the damage was done. Catherine had be theughingstock of Cloud City’s elite circles, her name synonymous with petty jealousy and spite.
8:17 Thu, Sep <b>25 </b>
97
A weekter, Jade stood in the arrival area of the airport, absently scrolling through her phone. She was waiting for someone important, someone she hadn’t seen in years. The flight from Russia hadnded twenty minutes ago, and passengers were beginning to filter through customs.
From the corner of her eye, she noticed amotion near the VIP arrival gate. Ethan Haxton stood there with two security personnel, his attention fixed on the arrival board. He hadn’t noticed her, his profile sharp against the bright airport lighting, eyes focused straight ahead with that characteristic intensity of his.
<i>Interesting</i>, Jade thought, pausing her scrolling. <i>Who’s </i><i>important </i><i>enough </i><i>for </i><i>Ethan </i><i>Haxton </i><i>to </i><i>personally </i><i>pick </i><i>up</i><i>? </i>She watched him curiously, wondering about the connection.
Her attention shifted back to the main arrival gate as passengers from the Russia flight began emerging. She scanned the faces, looking for one in particr. The crowd parted and closed like waves, familiar faces nowhere to be seen.
And then she saw him–a vic man with shoulder–length curly hair, dressed impably in designer clothes that somehow managed to look both expensive and slightly mboyant. A Versace scarf was draped artfully around his neck. <i>Typical</i><i>, </i>she thought with a small smile. <i>Always </i><i>the </i>peacock<i>. </i>
Night spotted her immediately, his sharp eyes finding her in the crowd as if guided by radar. Without hesitation, he. dropped the handle of his sleek luggage and rushed toward her, pushing past disgruntled travelers with single- minded purpose. He gathered her into a tight embrace that lifted her off the ground.
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