Ross hummed a soft tune, his voice barely audible yet somehow captivating, as he strolled toward his next class.
His relaxed demeanor, combined with his average looks but commanding aura, drew attention like a magnet.
Students around him couldn't help but steal glances, some bold enough to follow him with curious whispers.
Despite the attention, Ross remained composed, his focus drifting elsewhere. As always, the crowd eventually thinned, leaving only Dennis and Daryl, his two closest companions, walking alongside him.
Dennis nudged Ross with his elbow, a sly grin spreading across his round face.
"So... I smell something fishy in the air, Ross," he said, his voice dropping conspiratorially. "Word on the street is you and your new girlfriend snuck out earlier. Spill it, man. The juicier, the better." His pudgy cheeks puffed up as he grinned, his anticipation palpable.
Ross smirked but didn't immediately respond, which only made Dennis more impatient.
"Yes, please," Daryl chimed in, his tone light but equally curious. "Share some soup with us, Ross. You've already eaten all the meat!" He chuckled at his own joke, patting his stomach.
Unlike before, when he was lanky and underweight, Daryl's improved finances had clearly done wonders for his health.
He looked fuller, healthier, and more confident—a transformation that Ross silently took pride in. Seeing his friends thrive alongside him was something he genuinely appreciated.
Ross finally let out a soft chuckle and shook his head. "Nothing happened," he said, his tone calm but firm. "April and I just talked."
Dennis groaned in frustration. "C'mon, man! Don't give me that boring answer. You don't just sneak off with someone like April for a talk!"
Ross simply smiled and slid into his chair as they entered the classroom. He was unfazed by Dennis's prodding, his thoughts momentarily drifting to the earlier moment with April.
Her confession echoed in his mind—I love you. The way her voice trembled, her cheeks flushed, and her eyes sparkled with sincerity had been unforgettable.
Ross understood all too well why women were drawn to him. It wasn't just his money or charisma; it was the aura of strength and capability he exuded.
Women were hardwired to seek security and stability, and Ross provided both effortlessly. It was a loophole in their psychology, one he exploited without hesitation.
Yet, Ross wasn't the type to toy with someone's feelings only to discard them. No, that wasn't his style. April had secured her place in his life, just as others had before her—and others would after.
He saw her as a permanent part of his future, a piece of the grand puzzle he was assembling.
His lips curved into a faint smirk as his thoughts grew darker. April didn't know it yet, but she was already his, body and soul. Ross's plans for her went beyond mere affection.
He would cherish her, yes, but he would also claim her in ways she could never imagine.
He envisioned her as an integral part of his growing harem—a collection of extraordinary women who would stand by him, devoted and bound to him forever.
Dennis's voice snapped him out of his reverie. "You're zoning out, man! What's on your mind?"
Ross shrugged, the smirk never leaving his face. "Nothing much. Just thinking about how things are falling into place."
Daryl raised an eyebrow. "You mean with April?"
"Maybe," Ross said vaguely, leaning back in his chair. He enjoyed keeping them guessing.
The bell rang, signaling the start of class, but Ross's thoughts remained elsewhere. His future stretched out before him, a life of power, pleasure, and control.
He wasn't just living a dream—he was shaping it, bending the world to his will one step at a time.
* * *
The weekdays of school quickly fell back into their usual rhythm. Soon enough, the weekend rolled around again, and April found herself hatching another plan.
Weekends were now her only opportunity to visit her parents, ever since Ross had claimed her as his girl.
To explain her prolonged absences from coming home, she'd lied to her parents, saying she had moved into the school dorms to focus on her studies as graduation loomed closer and the coursework became more demanding.
In reality, it was all a fabrication to cover her new lifestyle of sex and even more sex with Ross.
"Mom! Dad! I'm home!" April called out cheerfully as she stepped through the front door, her arms full of grocery bags and gift parcels.
Following behind her was Freddie, a hulking man Ross had assigned as her bodyguard. Freddie carried the bulk of the load with ease, his towering frame drawing attention.
At first, April had mistaken Freddie for the man Ross had once called Brandon, but since she couldn't be certain, she decided to let the thought slide.
"April, come! I've prepared your favorite dishes," a warm voice called out. A strikingly beautiful woman, clearly an older version of April, emerged from the kitchen.
Behind her came April's father, a middle-aged man whose handsome features had aged gracefully.
They greeted April with hugs, but their smiles soon turned curious as their eyes landed on Freddie, who was unloading the bags in the living room.
The calloused hands of April's parents, a testament to years of hard labor, momentarily paused. They were long-time employees of a large grocery store in the city, working tirelessly to make ends meet.
Even the modest house they lived in was rented, with payments that grew steeper year after year.
"Who's this?" April's mother asked, her gaze shifting between Freddie and the numerous items he was unpacking. "And what's all this?"
"Ah, this is Freddie, Mom," April said with a casual smile. "He's the bodyguard my boyfriend assigned to me."
"Oh?" her mother replied, raising an eyebrow but smiling warmly. "Julian really is such a thoughtful young man to provide you with a bodyguard. The city's crime rate has been getting worse lately."
April hesitated for a moment before dropping the bombshell. "I... broke up with Julian, Mom. I have a new boyfriend now."
"What?!" her parents exclaimed in unison, their shock evident.
They had met Julian on several occasions and were quite fond of him. He was a charming, handsome young man who had always seemed polite and dependable.
"It's a long story," April said with a soft laugh, steering her parents to the sofa.
She began weaving another carefully constructed lie, explaining how she and Julian had grown apart due to irreconcilable differences.
Then, she launched into a glowing tale about Ross and the whirlwind romance that had brought them together.
As the story unfolded, April casually dropped the biggest surprise yet. "Oh, and tomorrow, I'm taking you both to look at houses. We'll pick one to buy together!"
Her parents froze in disbelief. "What?!" her mother gasped, her hands flying to her mouth.
"You're buying us a house?" her father repeated, his voice thick with emotion.
"Yes!" April beamed. "It's long overdue, and it's all thanks to Ross. It's his money. He wants to make sure you both live comfortably." April's words sparked an intense debate between her parents about whether to accept this gesture as a genuine gift or view it as a potential bribe.
The discussion grew heated, with her father leaning toward gratitude and her mother hesitating out of pride. In the end, however, April's persistence won them over.
Rejecting such a rare opportunity, especially in today's world, felt like foolishness. To turn away luck and a precious boon was simply not an option.